Issues with new solar power system on motorhome

[rls106]

Hi, I have recently had a new 300w solar power system fitted to my motorhome controlled by a Victron 100/30 MPPT. I also had a 110ah lithium battery fitted at same time.
For about 4 weeks (good sunlight ) worked well. I am currently on a c&CC site for ten days (little sunlight). First day and night tv and lights worked fine but night before last at 10.15pm all power stopped. The following morning around 7.30am started again although Victron app showed battery voltage at 8.9 v. This climbed during the day to 11.9v with tv and lights working. At about 7.30pm last night tv wouldn’t come on and no power to charging sockets. Lights stayed on for about 10 minutes and then went off.
So far this morning no power. Victron app can’t be accessed as seems to be powered off.
Is this normal? I was led to believe by installer that even on cloudy days system would produce sufficient charge to last for days.
Any help appreciated.

 

[headlight]

I spoke to installer today. Van going in again when I get back. He has suggested fitting a 20amp charger. Further cost but if it works should be worth it. I’m going to have a hunt around for a charger in the morning. In the meantime sticking on EHU.

I assume that you are talking about a mains charger so just make sure it has a proper lithium charging profile.
Also when you go back to your installer I would find out what engine charging you have.
If it is just a split charge I'd consider getting a B2B installed which will have a proper lithium charging profile and will charge your battery much faster.

 

[rls106]

You are looking for something like the below.
It could be in the wardrobe, I would have expected it under the seat where battery is but it could be anywhere. My old van had it under front seat!
If you find it there should be a small switch on the side, possibly been switched off when you had work done.
As Lenny has said it won’t get lithium to the level it needs but might get it most the way there and give solar a chance to finish it till you can sort a true lithium profile charger.

View attachment 825334

I found charger under floor. Exactly the same as the picture above. I couldn’t see a switch on it though.

 

[AdrianChen]

I found charger under floor. Exactly the same as the picture above. I couldn’t see a switch on it though.

Think it just relied on the 5 amp breaker on your 240v distribution unit (elcb), and the fuses in the fuse block. Assuming those are OK it's probably had its day. A decent charger with a lithium setting will be far better as others have said and recomended. When it goes back in to the instalers, get them to demonstrate that both the new charger, and the engine charging are both working, and that the ecotree is at 14.5v ish. They may offer a b2b charger if there is only the original relay in place, it will do a better job and help protect your alternator from the appetite of your new lithium. At a cost of course. Not absolutley essential given the battery size but best practice. Best of luck.....

 

[1967bowesj]

I found charger under floor. Exactly the same as the picture above. I couldn’t see a switch on it though.

If it’s working it will have a light on, could be red or orange.
you will hear it humming and should be able to feel it as they normally buzz.

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[Speve]

I think you will find it will work with a more powerful charger as others have said

 

[rls106]

I think you will find it will work with a more powerful charger as others have said

I think you will find it will work with a more powerful charger as others have said

A massive thank you for everybody’s contributions and help. I learned so much from the thread.
No lights, no buzzing on charger so it seems not working. Will get a more appropriately charger fitted when I get back.

 

[headlight]

A massive thank you for everybody’s contributions and help. I learned so much from the thread.
No lights, no buzzing on charger so it seems not working. Will get a more appropriately charger fitted when I get back.

As you have had solar and a lithium battery fitted I assume you want to use your motorhome off grid ie not on hook up ?
If that is correct do you want to use it off grid summer and winter ?

 

[rls106]

Not too sure about using over winter. I experimented this month. First two weeks were fantastic . Not quite as good right now but nice to have the option. Intention was to avoid EHU additional cost especially with likely increases and possible switching to on-site metering. I have physical mobility issues so like the disabled facilities on most C&CC sites. I also like to fish and certain sites offer ideal opportunities for me. I like the idea off totally off grid but not sure it’s really for me though.

 

[headlight]

rls106 the reason I ask is because with your set up, 300 watts of solar and 100amp lithium, and your usage ie cooking, heating and fridge on gas and no heavy drain 240v items then providing the weather is OK you should be OK off grid April to early October.
However the rest of the year you need some way of recharging your battery as solar won't provide enough and I'm guessing that your engine charging is via a split charge as opposed to a B2B ?
If your split charge is anything like mine was it will be pretty poor.
To give you an idea of what is possible this is my set up and usage.
I have 200 watts of solar, so 2/3rds of yours, and I have 200 amps of lead acid batteries.
The batteries gives me a usable 100 amps compared to your usable about 80 amps, so not much difference.
My electric usage sounds similar to yours.
In good weather April (last year end of March as we had some nice weather) to early October my solar easily replaces what I use.
Outside of these months my solar doesn't cope and I don't go on EHU so I needed some way of recharging my leisure batteries.
My split charge only gave 10-12 amps an hour when driving so if I needed to put 40 amps back into my batteries I would need to drive for about 4 hours.
Because of this I fitted a 60 amp B2B.
So now to put 40 amps back into my batteries it only takes about 45 minutes driving.
Because of this I am self sufficient and can use my motorhome off grid 12 months of the year.
Obviously I don't use it as much in winter as summer and winter trips tend to only be 2-3 nights away but most months in winter I can find 2-3 days of reasonable weather to get away so the motorhome still gets used.
Just an idea of what you can do if you want to, especially as you already have solar and lithium.

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[headlight]

Not too sure about using over winter. I experimented this month. First two weeks were fantastic . Not quite as good right now but nice to have the option. Intention was to avoid EHU additional cost especially with likely increases and possible switching to on-site metering. I have physical mobility issues so like the disabled facilities on most C&CC sites. I also like to fish and certain sites offer ideal opportunities for me. I like the idea off totally off grid but not sure it’s really for me though.

BTW when I say off grid I don't mean stopping in lay byes etc I mean not being on EHU.
In winter we do the odd "pub stop" where you overnight in a country pub car park for free, generally providing you have a drink or meal.
You need to be self sufficient.
Then on sites any time of the year but off grid ie not on electric hook up.

 

[1967bowesj]

rls106 the reason I ask is because with your set up, 300 watts of solar and 100amp lithium, and your usage ie cooking, heating and fridge on gas and no heavy drain 240v items then providing the weather is OK you should be OK off grid April to early October.
However the rest of the year you need some way of recharging your battery as solar won't provide enough and I'm guessing that your engine charging is via a split charge as opposed to a B2B ?
If your split charge is anything like mine was it will be pretty poor.
To give you an idea of what is possible this is my set up and usage.
I have 200 watts of solar, so 2/3rds of yours, and I have 200 amps of lead acid batteries.
The batteries gives me a usable 100 amps compared to your usable about 80 amps, so not much difference.
My electric usage sounds similar to yours.
In good weather April (last year end of March as we had some nice weather) to early October my solar easily replaces what I use.
Outside of these months my solar doesn't cope and I don't go on EHU so I needed some way of recharging my leisure batteries.
My split charge only gave 10-12 amps an hour when driving so if I needed to put 40 amps back into my batteries I would need to drive for about 4 hours.
Because of this I fitted a 60 amp B2B.
So now to put 40 amps back into my batteries it only takes about 45 minutes driving.
Because of this I am self sufficient and can use my motorhome off grid 12 months of the year.
Obviously I don't use it as much in winter as summer and winter trips tend to only be 2-3 nights away but most months in winter I can find 2-3 days of reasonable weather to get away so the motorhome still gets used.
Just an idea of what you can do if you want to, especially as you already have solar and lithium.

Have you noticed any deterioration to your lead acids from rapid charging?

 

[Otter Spotter]

Not too sure about using over winter. I experimented this month. First two weeks were fantastic . Not quite as good right now but nice to have the option. Intention was to avoid EHU additional cost especially with likely increases and possible switching to on-site metering. I have physical mobility issues so like the disabled facilities on most C&CC sites. I also like to fish and certain sites offer ideal opportunities for me. I like the idea off totally off grid but not sure it’s really for me though.

Don’t worry about on site metering, you will probably pay far less than the current set site price for EHU. Unless you have Tv and heater on all night

 

[headlight]

Have you noticed any deterioration to your lead acids from rapid charging?

No not that I've noticed.
Bear in mind though that of the 100-120 nights that we spend off EHU a year the B2B only charges the leisure batteries about 8 maybe 10 times, the rest of the time the solar does the charging.
Also the most amps I've ever used in a day is 40 amps (normally less), that's 20 amps per battery so the batteries have never been worked hard and never been below 80% SOC.
The B2B is capable of charging slightly over the batteries recommended charge rate but with the way lead acids internal resistance rises as it charges its not been a problem and Vanbitz who fitted the B2B assured me it would be fine which it is.
Although I could switch to lithium easily as the B2B and MPPT have lithium charging profiles I have stuck with lead acids as I don't need the high amp drain capabilities of lithium as I don't run any high drain 240v items.
Depending on how long these lead acids last then when they need replacing it will either be with another pair of lead acids or if they haven't lasted as long as I had hoped it will be a pair of lead carbons.

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

the charge does last for days, so long as you dont actually use your battery ......

and thats one of the things you need to identify, how much power are you taking from your battery and how much power youre putting back in .... and of course what was your starting point?

as an example we have a 304Ah lithium with 200w of solar, we can easily consume 15-20% of battery using 240v appliances via an inverter. the 200w solar is not enough to totally replenish what we use (even when we were overseas in very good weather). i reckon we could go 4 days max in the UK by just using whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, without moving in the winter months, relying purely on battery and solar.

perhaps a bigger battery or yours being fully charged every 2 or 3 days will help you get round the issue? which means either charging from the mains or topping up via driving for a few hours as you move around (if thats your modus operandi)

Could I suggest from experience that an MPPT is only half the story. We use the same MPPT and the Victron App. Fitting a Victron Smart Shunt is the game changer, taking all the guesswork out of the situation. The two units will also work together to ensure optimum performance.
I have to say also that there is rather a lot of the usual BS bandied about by some who aren't really knowledgeable. Victron do a series of quite technical YouTube videos which are THE FACTS.

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[MisterB]

Could I suggest from experience that an MPPT is only half the story. We use the same MPPT and the Victron App. Fitting a Victron Smart Shunt is the game changer, taking all the guesswork out of the situation. The two units will also work together to ensure optimum performance.
I have to say also that there is rather a lot of the usual BS bandied about by some who aren't really knowledgeable. Victron do a series of quite technical YouTube videos which are THE FACTS.

Petroleumblownapart
as you included my message in you response, was the suggestion that my message was BS?

 

[Diabalo]

Petroleumblownapart
as you included my message in you response, was the suggestion that my message was BS?

His comment was a bit off I thought. I will get the popcorn ready

 

[Happy Jack]

All the above reminds me of our experiences.
We have 320W Solar, Victron 100/30 mppt, 170A agm,
Alpha batteries own brand shunt. Fridge/freezer pulls 2A.
We don't have telly or inverter. Next possible big draw of power is Maxxfan deluxe (10A max) and Webasto hob.
From March to end August never saw less than 80% soc.
So used to being OK, stopped checking shunt....mistake.
Fast forward to September heatwave.
Fridge/freezer switched on 24 hours before trip as usual and filled with food. Didn't bother to plug in our EHU to use the onboard Sargent charger.....mistake.
Started out trip, hot but not sunny. Arrived at Crowden and used Maxxfan at 40 to 60% for rest of day to try to keep van cool.
Next 2 days similar, noticed agms down to 70% soc. Starting to get concerned. Next on to Lake Bala then Barmouth and by then down to below 50%. First time ever.
On to Claverley druidswood ccc cs. Had to have their ehu as by then the Webasto stopped working due to undervoltage. Easily reset but only when voltage back to normal.
Think the shunt by then was showing under 30% !!!
Lessons learned.
Have leisure batteries on charge overnight before trip.
Keep an eye on shunt values, especially in poor weather.
Reduce power usage if things looking even a bit dodgy.
Pay for site ehu when necessary.
Happy Jack.