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Hi all,

I'm new to the site and wanted to say Hi.
Im UK based and have been in my van full time since March 2019. I am planning a full revelopment next spring now I have learnt what I need, and don't need. I have a really nice sketchup model so I'm now planning on routing my electrics, gas & heater hoses.
I'm in a mercedes sprinter, SWB, High roof, no windows (the redesign does have windows).
Being in a van for the past 18+ months I hope any newbies can take my advice, but I also hope to learn from the old and the new.
Always here to help,
but will always be in need of help

Hi All,

I am having issues that my battery is reaching 16V when I charge using my mains charger. It is a Paco, 7 stage, 12V charger that is advertised as plug and forget. So it switches off when the battery is fully charged and should only give a maximum of 14.4V when charging.

My solar controller is set to stop charging at 14.4V.
So why am I sometimes getting the 16V reading?
The mains charger is connected directly on the battery and obvioulsy the solar panels go through the MTTP controller. I got the mains charger because in the cloudy uk winter I was only getting between 6-10Ah of charge from the panels which isn't enough to power what I need.
I have a basic understanding of electronics so I have a couple of ideas on what may cause it;

1.   The mains controller is seeing the 14.4V from the panels and is trying to "charge them up?" Sort of like how a solar panel connected to a battery at night will draw current from a battery if you don't have the solar controller to prevent this.
2.   The solar panels are seeing the mains charger and trying to charge that up by allowing 16V from the panels? I don't think this is the case because the solar controller is set to 14.4V and when the mains charger is connected I would have thought that the panels will be disconnected.

I have thought that maybe I should connect the mains controller to the solar input on the MTTP controller. That way the mains controller becomes a 2nd solar panel.
I have also thought I should just disconnect my panels while I'm on electric Hook up and just allow the mains charger to do its thing.
If anyone can help that would be great. If you have a mains charger and solar panels I would love to know how they are connected.

Thanks for reading