Interaction of Solar and Alternator
My camper has a single 100W roof-mount panel, which meets my power needs (2 @ 6V batteries) when the sun shines. However, when camping among trees for several days it is easy to consume 70 to 100 Ah ...
Forum Discussion
You need to measure the amps at the camper battery itself with and without. You could risk your 10a multimeter if it has a fuse for blowing the 10a, but with no fuse it could fry the ammeter part.
You can park in the sun and try it different ways engine on and off, solar on and off. The battery will accept charging amps from both solar and alternator until the battery voltage rises to the same as one of them. After that the higher voltage source will do it all.
Alternator voltage usually starts in the 14s and drops to high 13s so after that, the solar set at 14.x will do it all--which could be what you are seeing.
The positive wire is so thin on the truck/camper connection you won't get many amps. It is not like "alternator charging" with a motor home, but is more like a trailer 7-pin.
If you are in a provincial park in the woods for several days you really need a small generator to use in allowed gen hours, but there is not much room to carry one in a TC set-up.
Maybe swap the small 100w panel for a 250w (and a controller for that--needs MPPT) or get more 100w panels up there and a higher amp PWM controller, and spend more of the camping day out of the woods someplace. Even the campground parking lot, then return to your spot in time for supper.
You can park in the sun and try it different ways engine on and off, solar on and off. The battery will accept charging amps from both solar and alternator until the battery voltage rises to the same as one of them. After that the higher voltage source will do it all.
Alternator voltage usually starts in the 14s and drops to high 13s so after that, the solar set at 14.x will do it all--which could be what you are seeing.
The positive wire is so thin on the truck/camper connection you won't get many amps. It is not like "alternator charging" with a motor home, but is more like a trailer 7-pin.
If you are in a provincial park in the woods for several days you really need a small generator to use in allowed gen hours, but there is not much room to carry one in a TC set-up.
Maybe swap the small 100w panel for a 250w (and a controller for that--needs MPPT) or get more 100w panels up there and a higher amp PWM controller, and spend more of the camping day out of the woods someplace. Even the campground parking lot, then return to your spot in time for supper.
