Replacing leisure batteries

What is the correct procedure for replacing 2 leisure batteries that are connected to a solar panel?
Thanks in advance for any advice

Pauljeff wrote:What is the correct procedure for replacing 2 leisure batteries that are connected to a solar panel?
Thanks in advance for any advice

As far as I know, there isn't a "standard" way to wire up a solar panel, so there probably isn't a single "correct" way. Different installations use different components (e.g. some use a dual-channel controller connected to both the leisure battery(ies) and vehicle battery, while others may use a single-channel controller, possibly combined with a Battery Master or similar to charge the vehicle battery).

If I were doing it, I would be looking to follow these steps:

1. Disconnect EHU & power off the habitation control panel
2. Cover the solar panel and confirm that the output is zero on the controller
3. Remove the fuse(s) between the solar controller and the batteries
4. Remove the fuses in all circuits between the starter battery and the habitation system - in simple installs this will just be the fuse in the split charge circuit. If a Battery Master is installed that may be on a separate fused circuit
5. Remove the fuse between the habitation power system and the leisure batteries
6. Check whether there are any other loads directly wired to the leisure batteries (there should not be)
7. Disconnect leisure battery earth wire and the link between the negative terminals of the two batteries.
8. Disconnect 12V supply wire on leisure battery and link wire between 12V poles on the batteries.
9. Remove batteries
10. before installing new batteries, check state of charge of each, and charge both fully if terminal voltage of either is less than 12.6V
11. Leave batteries for a minimum of 30 minutes after charging before installing them in the vehicle
12. After installing the new batteries, check that the voltage difference between the two is minimal (no more than 0.1V) before reconnecting them
13. Reverse steps 8-1.

There will be some minor variations here and there because, for example, there are different ways to link together 2 leisure batteries (though strictly there is only one correct way).