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Topic: Solar Install (Read 761 times) previous topic - next topic

Solar Install

Coach is coming along.  MOT is still waiting on a slide sync cylinder from HWH, hopefully soon as we are now into week 8 of the 4 to 6 week estimate and have been "slideless" until repaired.  However, we're real excited of what IS getting done, a roof refurbish and repaint at Xtreme a couple weeks ago, the solar installed last weeks and floors a couple weeks from now.  I'm not as smart or experienced as a lot of you, and found the info on fellow FT owner solar projects to be super helpful.  Cameron Belscher of Off the Grid Camper did an excellent job designing and installing a system on our Class C, and we brought him back to do this one for us.

We sized it with 1200 Watts of solar on the roof to start with.  Since we aren't running a residential fridge, so I think that will be fine, but we have the option and room to expand to up to 2200 watts if need be.  We also installed a secondary charger with a Zamp plug which allow plugging in a suitcase array or 2 should we be in shade and want to fire up those panels and point them sunward. 

We installed 600 ah of Battleborn Lithium batteries, and 3000 watt inverter and the primary charger.  Soft starts were added to both A/C units which I hope we allow us to get 3 or 4 hours off a single A/C unit before needing the generator.  We'll have to experiment with that.  We were delighted that the BBs fit like a glove into the old battery compartment with a little room left over for hookups and fuses.  Inverter fit nicely just above it.  The inverter is vented by repurposing the old battery conduits and I put a blue-tooth thermometer in that bay so we can keep an eye on the temperature.  At some point may had some heat to the batteries for cold weather, but need to do a little learning on that from as we aren't frequent (or intentional) cold-weather campers.

One note from the project on the Gen auto-start.  I wanted to be sure to have the generator auto-start enabled, and took Roger's advice and ordered a 12v timer so we could fire it up with a 12v signal from the BVM-712 battery monitor.  However, as it turns out, to make that work we need 2 timers .  The BVM only put out a signal with a constant charge on or off state.  One timer is need to sent a startup signal in the charge on state is present, and a second to send a shut down signal when it's removed.  We decided to save that for another day, and Cameron was able to use the existing Dynagen BCM-12 module for the auto start by reprogramming the auto-start voltages to 13.5 volts.  We don't plan to use A/C off-grid that often, but it does allow us to leave for a few hours on a hot day with the A/C on with auto-gen start on should we need to keep the cat cool.     

We have installed USB plugs throughout, and I'm busy replacing all the lighting with LEDs, including the fluorescents.

Off-grid is our preferred mode, so looking forward to getting back on the road again in a few weeks fully "solared-up"  Gonna be a lot nicer with all the electric, water tank and propane capacities.  Again, thanks to all for this amazing Forum.  I'm learning so much from everyone who posts here. 

Here are some pics from our project.
     
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Solar Install

Reply #1 –
Nice system.  Here is a chart from Battleborn that might help you in understanding SOC vs. voltage if you find your generator running more than you'd like.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Solar Install

Reply #2 –
Side note for anyone planning an install.  I just missed this before purchasing the batteries.  Battleborn is now selling a heated variation of their 100 AH battery.  Can be bought in 1 to 6 battery kits. 

600Ah 12V LiFePO4 Heated Battery Kit - 6 Batteries | Battle Born Batteries
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Solar Install

Reply #3 –
That is a $150 dollar add on to each battery.  I added heaters to my Battleborns for about $10 each.

Be sure you understand what the low temp limits are before investing in heaters.  The low temps limits are for charging the batteries at full rates.  Below those temps charging is very limited or turned off by the BMS.  You may see these conditions if your coach is in storage without being used and the outside temps gets below the temp limits.  At that point you can use the batteries for power, discharging is OK.  Warm up the coach, monitor battery temps (you should be any way) and as they warm up start charging. A fully charged LiFePO4 battery will stay charged even in very cold temps.

If you are using the coach, maintaining coach heat, charging and discharging the batteries and the batteries are in the battery bay it will have to get much colder before the batteries can get that cold.  Charging and discharging creates heat on its own.

This is one of those cases where waiting won't hurt until you know you are going to need the heaters.  And if you are using the coach it is not very likely you will need them.

Other battery brands may have different low temp limits and BMS safety controls.  Check carefully.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Solar Install

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
That is a $150 dollar add on to each battery.  I added heaters to my Battleborns for about $10 each.

Be sure you understand what the low temp limits are before investing in heaters.  The low temps limits are for charging the batteries at full rates.  Below those temps charging is very limited or turned off by the BMS.  You may see these conditions if your coach is in storage without being used and the outside temps gets below the temp limits.  At that point you can use the batteries for power, discharging is OK.  Warm up the coach, monitor battery temps (you should be any way) and as they warm up start charging. A fully charged LiFePO4 battery will stay charged even in very cold temps.

If you are using the coach, maintaining coach heat, charging and discharging the batteries and the batteries are in the battery bay it will have to get much colder before the batteries can get that cold.  Charging and discharging creates heat on its own.

This is one of those cases where waiting won't hurt until you know you are going to need the heaters.  And if you are using the coach it is not very likely you will need them.

Other battery brands may have different low temp limits and BMS safety controls.  Check carefully.

Thanks, Roger.  I agree, $200 is pricey and there are certainly some much less expensive alternatives.  Now that I read your message, I'm glad I missed out on the heated battery.  BB also has an outrageously price battery blankets. 

I have a Bluetooth thermometer inside the bay and between that and the Victron Battery monitor, should be able to do some learning next time we are in a cold snap.  I thin you are right, it's not going to be a big deal.  I don't plan to be in sub 20s weather often and even then, there's always the generator as a fallback.  I'm enjoying the learning on all this as we go along.

 
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Solar Install

Reply #5 –

As Roger posted, there are other choices, this is another low cost choice from Will Prowse along with his comments.  I have two battery temperature monitors in my battery bay and have monitored to see high and low temps in case I switch to lipo4 batteries.  In the moderate Oregon climate with temps fro 28 to 82 I have not had temps out of the range from 38-75F.  Temp extremes I've monitored have been only short few hour extremes, with daily temps returning to to the 60's F.  I get the same reading on both monitors mounted on my 8D AGMs.  One from Victron 712 and other is on my Xantrex SW2012.

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Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan
 

Re: Solar Install

Reply #6 –
I think the issue of cold for most people will be a non issue.  In my 1999 the battery bay is separated from the aquahot by a bulkhead so there is some heat transfer there.  If I need more heat then I could cut an opening to allow more heat in.  If it's that cold then the aquahot is running.  I've been in mid 20's for a few days and the battery bay never got below 35. 
Thankfully for those who are in colder temps there are some nice options like what Roger did.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell