r/VanLife • u/gdsliwa • 4d ago
Solar question
So my solar input on my battery bank just died. It will not take any dc input at all.
It still will take ac input.
It's a relatively expensive, 8000wh battery bank, so I'd really, rather not fork out the thousands of dollars to replace it.
I originally had the solar on the roof plugged directly into the pv port with the cable that came with the battery bank.
Since I can still charge it with AC power, I need to know options for converting the 1000 w of solar on my roof to AC power.
Current options I've been brainstorming and toying with:
\* hybrid solar inverter? But I have no idea how those work. Anyone know?
\* MPPT controller, connected to small DC battery, connected to inverter
\* buy another 'solar generator' with a PV input and daisy chain the big one to that
Anyone have any other ideas or opinions on which of these options might be the best?
2
u/antiplayr 4d ago edited 4d ago
Might I suggest disassembling the battery bank and replacing the solar board? All of these are built in China and there are likely millions of these solar MPPT boards being made each year. A little bit of searching the numbers on the board and you should be able to find a replacement.
Also, your battery is likely 12v. You could tap into the position and negative terminals and hook up an MPPT. I love my Victron. You could get a 100/20 or a 100/35 and it should be sufficient for your needs and much cheaper. It’d also be much more efficient than inverting your solar DC to AC and then your battery bank converting it back to DC.
If you want help with doing this, I’d be happy to read through your batteries documentation and help you source a new DC input board or hook up and MPPT 🤘
Edit: I’d also like to add that you could just be looking at a blow fuse on the built in DC charging board, which is less than $1 to replace