Solar Panel

I have a Warwick XL fitted with a 80W solar panel. I have been advised that when I put my van into storage I should isolate the 12v system at the main control box under the rear lounge seat. Am I right in saying that when the 12v system has been isolated, only the leisure battery is being charged from the solar panel. I left my van in storage for 2 months and found the vehicle battery to be flat and needed to be jump started, possibly due to powering up the alarm system. Can anyone tell me if the 80W panel is large enough to keep both batteries charged if I don't isolate the 12v system.

If kept outside during the spring/summer months I don't see why the solar panel wouldn't maintain both batteries.

The drain from alarms etc shouldn't be a match for 80W solar panel - I checked mine this morning (100W but not a massive difference) and it was in 'float' mode by 7.30am.

Anybody know what the output should be from an 80W panel. At present it is only showing .3 of an amp but the batteries are fully charged at the moment.

greycaster wrote:Am I right in saying that when the 12v system has been isolated, only the leisure battery is being charged from the solar panel.

Can anyone tell me if the 80W panel is large enough to keep both batteries charged if I don't isolate the 12v system.

Yes you are right, only the leisure battery will be charged.  Yes an 80w solar panel is large enough to keep both batteries charged.

Finally if both batteries are charged and you are not using the 12v supply then the current out of the solar panel will be minimal.

Thanks for the replies, I will keep an eye on the panel output when I am camping off grid.