Solar panel battery chargers

I would recommend a 100-150W solar panel fitted on the roof with a controller that charges the leisure battery and when full switches to the vehicle battery.

You could go for a full system

We switched to a MH just over a year ago and had solar panels installed on the roof. These total about 150 watts and through a solar controller feed both cab and leisure batteries. One of the reasons we had it installed was because our MH lives in storage with no access to EHU. We had no trouble keeping the batteries fully charged, even during the shortest of winter days. It also has the benifit that we have been able to use the MH off grid for several days on Aires in France, even using the 12 volt to watch TV.

Or you could just go down the route of a cheap battery maintainer. Although it does require easy access to the battery terminals. I bought one from Amazon for our XTrail battery during lockdown. £35 3.3 watts. Place with suckers on windscreen, attach to battery with crocodile clips. ( that would not be possible with our MH as it is under the floor) Starting with a full battery it maintained it fairly well in May and June. It would not stand a chance during shorter winter days.

yep solar panel. MMPT controller such as Voltronic that charges both leisure and cab battery.

Another, ‘yes’ definitely. Go for at least 150w, ideally with a variable split charge option so you can adjust how much charge goes to the starter or leisure battery depending on season/circumstances. Bonus is your batteries will last much longer than if frequently discharged. As others have commented also very useful ‘off-grid’. 

Many thanks to everyone, as I already have a solar panel on the roof I,m sure it won,t be too much of a problem to fit a controller to do both batteries.

Presumably your solar panel is only connected to your leisure battery . What you need is a battery master. Check out https://www.vanbitz.com/product/battery-master/

peedee

Since the lockdown and having to get Mayday out to get our car started (flat batt),if that is what you are looking for ,i have bought from Aldi a solar batt "charger" and have it on the car dashboard,connected to th e Batt with the supplied crocodile clips (there is a cigar lighter plug  not usable on most modern vehicles as sockets only live when ignition on) and it has kept batt "charged" since

I love solar energy, get something for free and gives you some green credentials to gloat about with the kids!

ps Vanbitz stuff = expensive.

We have certainly followed the route suggested by Peedee and had a Battery Master fitted to both our motorhomes. It is a fit and forget device and as far as I am concerned money well spent. We do have a solar panel but in their wisdom Bailey decided on the cheapskate route and only connected it to the leisure battery. I did have the choice of having the solar controller connected to the cab battery but decided on the Battery Master as it provides power when the motorhome is on hook up via the leisure battery. Particularly useful during the winter.

David

Aldi are currently selling battery maintainers I think they are 7.5W, I noticed them when I was i my local Aldi the other day.   I am sure that it would work during the summer but in the winter I’m not convinced.  Do not under estimate how little sun you can get in the winter   As you already have a SP on the roof a dual output controller might be the way forward.  I think that if Bailey fit “Truma” panel’s then that controller is dual output.  I think photonic Universe do the same controller with a different label on it and I would guess a different price  

https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/24-10A-dual-battery-solar-charge-controller--regulator-for-12V--24V-batteries.html

I think that the vanbitz thingy only works when connected to the mains? So not to much help on a non ehu storage site.