(Yet another) Lithium Upgrade!! (14 Viewers)

[lonnie]

Good evening all,

Thanks to the wonderful information I've gathered from other threads (particulary this one) and help from DJL220 and Two on Tour I think I've finally got a plan for my upgrade.

The kit is ordered (thanks mainly to RogerIvy) and with the help of the diagrams in the post above, I've tried to map out the installation. I dont have a great amount of space in the 'garage' under bed and the diagram below is to scale.

I'm limited with Visio skills and the cabling in real life will be more ordered - but I guess it shows the general positioning.

Does it look ok to you experienced funsters? Or is it a dog's dinner?

My main concern is whether I'm trying to get two much kit in a confined area. My plan is to sort of 'box' the install in with ply but with large mesh 'windows'. Something like this on the front and end panels...

I'd welcome any feedback.

TIA, Martin

 

[DJL220]

Hi Martin
I would take the feed from you Alternator for the XS not the starter motor. I would also make sure there is ample room around the install for airflow if you are looking at boxing.
I added 2 mmpt on my install as below.
1) 100w panel (75/15)
2) 2 x 175 w panels (100/30)
Sure as they are not the same size you should do the same.
Regards
Darren

 

[Two on Tour]

Hi Martin
I would take the feed from you Alternator for the XS not the starter motor. I would also make sure there is ample room around the install for airflow if you are looking at boxing.
I added 2 mmpt on my install as below.
1) 100w panel (75/15)
2) 2 x 175 w panels (100/30)
Sure as they are not the same size you should do the same.
Regards
Darren

I think that Martin is referring to the starter (cab) battery on the feed for the XS.

 

[lonnie]

Hi Martin
I would take the feed from you Alternator for the XS not the starter motor. I would also make sure there is ample room around the install for airflow if you are looking at boxing.
I added 2 mmpt on my install as below.
1) 100w panel (75/15)
2) 2 x 175 w panels (100/30)
Sure as they are not the same size you should do the same.
Regards
Darren

Thanks Darren, apologies, I should have put starter battery - or just cab battery

 

[ianp]

Might you benefit from an RCD on the inverter output too, or possibly put it downstream (if suitable) from the change over switch (relay) which should be 'break before make' also I think....that way the one RCD serves both EHU and Inverter inputs to sockets etc.....again....I think !
In terms of 'panelling' I'm intending to use clear polycarbonate sheet ( 10mm but think 5 or 6 would suffice) as it has a good fire resistance and is easy to work and very 'visual'...... and in order to maximise surface area I'm intending to use both sides and use copper studs to pass through the sheet etc where suitable.....!

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[StillGoing]

Personally, with LifePO4, I’d fit an Ablemail AMT12-2 battery maintainer instead of the Battery Master.

 

[lonnie]

Might you benefit from an RCD on the inverter output too, or possibly put it downstream (if suitable) from the change over switch (relay) which should be 'break before make' also I think....that way the one RCD serves both EHU and Inverter inputs to sockets etc.....again....I think !
In terms of 'panelling' I'm intending to use clear polycarbonate sheet ( 10mm but think 5 or 6 would suffice) as it has a good fire resistance and is easy to work and very 'visual'...... and in order to maximise surface area I'm intending to use both sides and use copper studs to pass through the sheet etc where suitable.....!

Thanks Ian, two great points. I like the idea of the polycarb sheet!

 

[lonnie]

Personally, with LifePO4, I’d fit an Ablemail AMT12-2 battery maintainer instead of the Battery Master.

Cheers. More money

 

[bigtwin]

I suspect that your current solar configuration will be current limited by the 90W panel. Probably better to use a separate controller for that panel.

Ian

 

[ChrisL]

Personally, with LifePO4, I’d fit an Ablemail AMT12-2 battery maintainer instead of the Battery Master.

Can I ask why? I have cbe battery maintainer which starts charging the engine battery once the leisure battery gets over 13.6 volts, my Fogstar Drift battery is set to float at 13.61 volts and the battery maintainer keeps the engine battery at a steady 13.1 volts providing up to 4 amps if it is required. The CBE unit is £40 the AMT12-2 is £90.

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[lonnie]

Hi Martin
I would take the feed from you Alternator for the XS not the starter motor. I would also make sure there is ample room around the install for airflow if you are looking at boxing.
I added 2 mmpt on my install as below.
1) 100w panel (75/15)
2) 2 x 175 w panels (100/30)
Sure as they are not the same size you should do the same.
Regards
Darren

Interesting thanks Darren. My current setup is the 90 and a 175w into a 75/15. It seems to work but I'll double check and might need to keep the 90w on the old controller.

 

[ChrisL]

You have your solar panels wired in series which will make them less efficient if partially shaded and also they will deliver less amperage then wiring them in parallel.

 

[Lenny HB]

That confused me, you have labeled your mains sockets as 12v.
I fitted a RCBO on the output of my inverter, neutral has to be grounded for a RCD/RCBO to work, not all inverters allow this.

As bigtwin says the solar output will be limited by the 90w panel. I would never connect panels in series on a Motorhome far better in parallel.

Biggest problem I had in a small space was getting tight bends on large cables.

Here is mine in an unfinished state.

 

[lonnie]

I suspect that your current solar configuration will be current limited by the 90W panel. Probably better to use a separate controller for that panel.

Ian

Thanks Ian. I must admit, I never seem to get high wattages, even on bright and cool days. The max I've had in the last month was 152w...

I actually added the 90w to give the existing 175w a little 'boost' but it seems I may have achieved the opposite!

"A fool and his money...etc"

 

[Lenny HB]

The CBE unit is £40 the AMT12-2 is £90.

Went off the CBE unit after having one fail costing me a starter battery.

The Ablemail is only £60.

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[lonnie]

That confused me, you have labeled your mains sockets as 12v.
I fitted a RCBO on the output of my inverter, neutral has to be grounded for a RCD/RCBO to work, not all inverters allow this.

As bigtwin says the solar output will be limited by the 90w panel. I would never connect panels in series on a Motorhome far better in parallel.

Biggest problem I had in a small space was getting tight bends on large cables.

Here is mine in an unfinished state.
View attachment 952558

It's a thing of beauty already Lenny, you must have dainty fingers

I'll do more research on the cabling of the panels and it looks like getting them parallel is a no brainer!

And good spot, I'll correct the voltage on the sockets, thanks

 

[ChrisL]

Went off the CBE unit after having one fail costing me a starter battery.

The Ablemail is only £60.

Sorry to hear that Lenny, I hope i'd spot that if mine were to fail as the battery voltage is displayed on the b2b section of the Victron app and the Vanbitz Growler/immobiliser sends out a low voltage text as I discovered when the IP22 went to storage mode which wasn't high enough to trigger the CBE, easily fixed by raising the storage voltage to over 13.6 volts.
Re. The cost of the Ablemail, they've gone up in price unless you know where to get a discount.

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