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Topic: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install (Read 3686 times) previous topic - next topic

Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Finally getting started on the solar install for my GV. To save time I had Dan Heming at RV Solar Consulting design the whole system for me. I've known Dan for a number of years now and trust him. He prepared the schematic attached below, the entire parts list (including tools), and saved me about $400 on my parts compared to what I could l have purchased them on Amazon for. His service is $300 so it paid for itself with the savings. I highly recommend it if you're going to DIY a big system.

I'm still waiting on the roof rails for the panels so I got started on the hardware inside yesterday.  Because of how the storage compartments are in these OREDs, I had to put all the hardware inside. This not only gives me the room I need but also solves the problem of keeping the LifePO4 batteries warm during cold weather. These are the batteries I chose: Amazon.com: Redodo 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery, Built-in 200A BMS,...

Once I removed the OEM icemaker, the first major hurdle was figuring out how to hang that much weight on the wall in the closet. I  built a weight distribution board and if you look closely there are some #14 tappers holding it to the metal studs at the roof line and one vertical stud as well as a bunch of smaller wood screws holding it to the wall.

I plan to run the wires from the panels down the fridge vent and also put my own 12v fan in the closet that pumps out of that same fridge vent to help with excessive heat.

P.S. The last picture is what it looked like before I took out the ice maker and cabinet door.

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1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #1 –
How do you get your 12v systems to work with 48v system?
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: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #2 –
Quote from: craneman –
How do you get your 12v systems to work with 48v system?
Victron makes a device that'll "dumb" it back down to 12v but my configuration will be native 12v
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #3 –
I use 2x2 screen room square tube for mounting.
Also.  A structural windshield glue as well as some screws into the frame rails.

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #4 –
I've said this before.  But.  When removing the ac on the flat roof buses.  There will be a low spot where the ac sat on the roof and be prone to leaks. 
If you can. Add some height to that area with wood, foam and glass to raise it above  the surrounding area.

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #5 –
 More  notes.    I have noticed water pooling on my flat mounted  panels  . I cant imagine that water aids the solar wattage numbers.    maybe a slight pitch would be better  overall . ?? 
  I tip my bus up a little , 2x12 under the front tires to help with water pooling, but it is not enough for the panels to shed water. 

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #6 –
I have water pooling on the panels after pressure washing the roof. It blows off before I get to where I am going. Never worried about after a rain any wattage loss.
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: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #7 –
If slow and steady wins the race I'm going to have more gold medals than Michael Phelps. I'm not super happy about how the wire runs look, should have found a better way to hide them.

Another day of running inside wires and I think I'll be done with this part of the project 
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #8 –
You could make a thin panel that goes over top of the whole setup with cutouts so the components stick through, but it hides the wiring. Then just attach it with a spacer and some thumb screws. That would hide the wiring while still allowing you to see all the components. It looks great!
1991 U300 Side Aisle 6V92 Silver #3897
2004 U320 40' #6246

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #9 –
Quote from: kgrover –
You could make a thin panel that goes over top of the whole setup with cutouts so the components stick through, but it hides the wiring. Then just attach it with a spacer and some thumb screws. That would hide the wiring while still allowing you to see all the components. It looks great!
  That's a great idea.  Maybe even a smoked panel type thing.
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: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #10 –
I wasn't sure how to get the AC wiring to and from the inverter without going down and under the coach. Given how much 6/3 Romeo costs, I opted for the shortest run possible, which meant putting it in the floor, so up came the new flooring that we had just put down. I cut a channel in the wood and the foam with my wonder saw and will fill it back in with expanding foam. Not a fun process.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #11 –
Elliott,

Not to invade your thread, but I wonder if you parted with the 4-button thermostat yet?

Jim Frerichs

Quote

I wasn't sure how to get the AC wiring to and from the inverter without going down and under the coach. Given how much 6/3 Romeo costs, I opted for the shortest run possible, which meant putting it in the floor, so it came the new flooring that we had just put down. Not a fun process.

This message has 2 images/files associated with it.
To see them please follow this link: Elliott's Grand Villa Solar Install

1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Jim Frerichs –
Elliott,

Not to invade your thread, but I wonder if you parted with the 4-button thermostat yet?

Jim Frerichs

No four button tstat on this coach. I have the old school coil ones with a slider on this bad boy
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #13 –
What surge protector are you running? I have a Hughes watch dog and I asked about the incompatibility with the Multiplus II. I picked up the same inverter as you. I'm just trying to figure out how to wire this all up. I could put the inverter between the transfer switch and the surge protector, but then the inverter is unprotected. Just wonder what your plan was.

Quote
Hello Kevin. The issue with inverters particularly victrons is the fact that the watchdog has a "missing neutral at the coach error" and when inverters kick on to charge batteries and what not, they pull the exact same amount of amps thus your watchdog will read identical loads for a period of time which is how missing neutrals are tested for and you may find yourself having to play around  with your loads making sure one leg is a decimal or 2 above the other. Be advised. - Ian
1991 U300 Side Aisle 6V92 Silver #3897
2004 U320 40' #6246

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #14 –
Quote from: kgrover –
What surge protector are you running? I have a Hughes watch dog and I asked about the incompatibility with the Multiplus II. I picked up the same inverter as you. I'm just trying to figure out how to wire this all up. I could put the inverter between the transfer switch and the surge protector, but then the inverter is unprotected. Just wonder what your plan was.
My surge protector is upstream from the inverter at the pedestal. That's how it's been with my last two Victron Multiplus units as well
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #15 –
Elliott, It's always a challenge in these installations to have neat wire installs. Your install looks pretty good to me!

My only thought I have for improvement is the wire angles on the second MPPT controller. It appears from the view angle that the DC input and output cables look like there is a hard 90 degree bend in the conductors as they enter the MPPT.  This is a situation that should be avoided. A wire bend radius like all your other DC connections, with the copper conductors coming straight into the  device connections would be safe and recommended as "best practices" for electrical connections.

Great job on the restoration of this 87 ORED, LOOKING REALLY GOOD!

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #16 –
The inside is all done and wired up. Just waiting for some more hardware to ship early next week so I can get the panels on the roof.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #17 –
NICE job Elliott....looks fantastic!

Kevin
Kevin and Donna
2000 Foretravel U295 Build #5613
2002 Jeep Wrangler
Motorcader #18561

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #18 –
 Thanks, it's turning out ok  :))

Here are some pictures of the two thermostatic computer fans I put in to move hot air out of there and up through the fridge vent
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #19 –
I'm successfully running one AC unit off the batteries without the help of a soft start  ^.^d

Edit: OK the AC was impressive but I turned on all the old 12 V lights at the same time which are still incandescent and draw about 30A accumulatively and it kept up. 160amps out in the second picture
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #20 –
But for how long.  And what's the ambient temp.  Just wondering.
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: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
But for how long.  And what's the ambient temp.  Just wondering.
I only tested for 15 minutes. The batteries, without any solar input, should be able to run the AC units for about 5 hours before they are run empty.

At the time of testing, the ambient temperature wasn't much higher than anywhere else in the coach. The fans were keeping up on their lowest setting. I had the closet doors off though.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #22 –
That's my goal, get my rear A/C wired into the inverter. How many amp hours of batteries do you have Elliott?

Kevin
Kevin and Donna
2000 Foretravel U295 Build #5613
2002 Jeep Wrangler
Motorcader #18561

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #23 –
Quote from: kjsifer –
That's my goal, get my rear A/C wired into the inverter. How many amp hours of batteries do you have Elliott?

Kevin
600
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

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

Re: Elliott’s Grand Villa Solar Install

Reply #24 –
Quote from: Elliott –
600
Quote from: Elliott –
I only tested for 15 minutes. The batteries, without any solar input, should be able to run the AC units for about 5 hours before they are run empty.

At the time of testing, the ambient temperature wasn't much higher than anywhere else in the coach. The fans were keeping up on their lowest setting. I had the closet doors off though.

We get about 5 hours on 600 AH with the Softstarts, so I think you are right on.  Its a little wonky using the auto-gen start with the existing relay.  One of these says I want to do what you did and add the Cerbo.  Its a rare day we run AC on battery anyways, so not a lot of urgency on that one. 
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