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Topic: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?  (Read 585 times) previous topic - next topic

Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

 I will need to add  battery storage.  What are you using ? and why?
 Thanks,MM

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #1 –
2 Ampiere Time 300 amp h in 8D format. Price, tear down review by Will Prowse, format, good availability, use by a couple forum members. No sub 0C degree charge protection in BMS. There are ways to work around that.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #2 –
Same as above only three 200 ahr lithium 8d's they fit right where the factory Lifelines were and weigh 123 lbs. vs 465 lbs. and have more capacity. A smaller system coach could just replace whatever came on the coach with the lighter lithium with more capacity.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #3 –
I have two Lithionics GTX315s. Internal heater, bms, great app for diagnostics and monitoring. UL rated and have the cranking amps to start the coach. They're much smaller and lighter than if you were to use 6 individual 100amp batteries and easier to diagnose any issues since there are only two. Now a days the price would deter me but at the time we were full timers and wanted the best of the best since we primarily stayed off grid.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
I will need to add  battery storage.  What are you using ? and why?
 Thanks,MM

  Battery storage?  Do you mean amp hrs or volume.  We were going to replace our two 8Ds with 6 lithium ( forward of rear tire ) because they would fit.  But due to shipping issue ended up with 7.  And then bought another to have even number.  So now 8.
  Of course now 8 wouldn't fit there but fortunately lithium don't care about configuration or need venting so I stuck them on edge in the dead space between the steps and the geny radiator vent ( GV only ).  Good to have batts close to inverter anyway ESPECIALLY if batteries don't need venting ?

    So I'm wondering what kind of storange we're talking about.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #5 –
6 Battle Born 100 AH. 

They fit perfectly in the old battery compartment.  The cover gives them added protection even when in the low teens, batteries have always been well above 32 degrees  So no need for a heating pad to keep them warm in sub-freezing temps.




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 batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #7 –
 So many of you are at 500 AH or better?

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
  Battery storage?  Do you mean amp hrs or volume.  We were going to replace our two 8Ds with 6 lithium ( forward of rear tire ) because they would fit.  But due to shipping issue ended up with 7.  And then bought another to have even number.  So now 8.
  Of course now 8 wouldn't fit there but fortunately lithium don't care about configuration or need venting so I stuck them on edge in the dead space between the steps and the geny radiator vent ( GV only ).  Good to have batts close to inverter anyway ESPECIALLY if batteries don't need venting ?

    So I'm wondering what kind of storange we're talking about.

 Energy of the solar  .

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
So many of you are at 500 AH or better?
With our residential fridge & roughly 600ah, we're down to about 60% the next morning. We never shut the inverter off. Back up to 100% by 10am-noon usually.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #10 –
Many of us have residential refrigerators, satellite tv and spend more time in the coach than you do. You could probably get by with less. Right now my 600 ahr batteries are at 100% and so are the batteries in my brothers Monaco as I am charging both with my solar. 
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #11 –
When I did my solar install on the Foretravel, I installed 2000 watts of solar, and (10) Lifeline AGM, GPL-L16, 6v batteries. (400ah each).
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
So many of you are at 500 AH or better?
I initially installed 400 AH of Battle Born lithium, but I felt like I needed more so I added an additional 300 AH. Battle Born says that there is no problem adding more batteries within two years of the initial installation. I don't know if that is true for lithium batteries in general or not.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
So many of you are at 500 AH or better?

We currently have about 700 watts of solar and two 270 AHr 8D Battle Born batteries. I consider that to be about the minimum. I would prefer to have about twice as much of each.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #14 –
My house batts are 2 8D start batteries from Rural king. About 100AH each but LA .    They run my 38 watt fridge easy for about 16-24 hrs.
  My solar runs the AC adding around 40-50 12volt amps.
 The AC uses around  4-5 122 volt amps. 
  I dont see enough battery to run the AC very long,  Adding more AH will only allow a few hrs at the most, discharging 40 amps.
    So thanks all for the input.  When these $150 LA 8D quit,  I will look for a few LIPO  and try for at least 200AH.
 
    Have you LIPO users added a 12 v to 12 v charger? or just use the stock alternator ?

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #15 –
I have the B to B charger and normally just let it do it's thing. If circumstances come where I want more amps I can use the boost switch.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #16 –
Victron Orion non isolated 30 amp B2B charger. Replaced isolator with B2B. Combination of solar and B2B seems quite adequate while rolling down the road. Have 900 watts solar.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
.    Have you LIPO users added a 12 v to 12 v charger? or just use the stock alternator ?
I use a Battery Isolation Manager to charge from the alternator, but it is only recommended for systems of at least 300 AH.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.
 

Re: Solar batteries. ? What do you use ?

Reply #18 –
We were almost at end of life with the old AGM's and the OEM  Inverter failed literally on the last 50 miles home of a six month trip, very lucky! So, we had the urgent requirement to replace or upgrade.

We've installed 600 AH of Battle Born GC-2 batteries, (six 100 AH). They fit into the 2002's center battery compartment with a small modification of the battery tray, one 75 watt tank heater mat under the batteries, (never use). There's 2,275 watts of solar on the roof, (seven panels) and a Sterling 60 amp B2B charger installed. Installed the Victron Inverter system that Roger posted. Did change as preventative maintenance to a new Delco brushless alternator, (found great black friday deal).

With the residential fridge, I think 600 AH is about right for our use model. Plus on travel days, there's always some appliance in the kitchen on; Instapot, Coffee Maker, Toaster... Yeah, I get great "in-flight" service! Nice part, the genny never runs...

This will be our third year of use and we have no energy anxiety anymore... LIFO batteries work very well on the charge side with the Solar, the Sterling rarely turns on if ever when driving. We've used extensively the Victron's power sharing capability to driveway park at friends, use a HD 120v extension cord and have one AC working, plus typical loads while limiting our draw from the home to 13 amps on a 15 amp home circuit. Max we've been dry-camping without power in very cloudy weather is 14 days. Despite lack of sunny days, the Solar would bring the battery bank back to 90+ percent everyday.

Haven't looked at LIFO prices in a while, anecdotal view is there are more good options, and likely better deals than were available a few years ago when we tackled the project. If you're not "power pedastal to power pedestal" people, we enjoy the freedom of a better battery technology and the Solar.

J & K
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!