Here we go - the beginning of my solar adventures

[Bigcgar]

Day one - assessment and evaluation of solar panels and gear

Tomorrow work begins with the full monty solar install? This will require:

40 amp Bluesky MPPT controller, 4 ga wire, all fusing and terminations, shunt, pro remote with battery monitor.
Roof electrical box
6 each 100 watt solar panels, for airstream, adj feet, 10 ga roof wire, weather tight, terminations heat shrink
2 each 200 AH Lithium battery,
2 each sense boards or BMS 200 AH
1 each battery BMS system, computer, lcd screen, cables, 500 amp
disconnect solenoid, Misc connectors,
Magnum 3012 hybrid Inverter,
Magnum MERC50 remote
Sub panel/ breakers estimate Class T Fuse and Holder
Misc Install inverter: 4/0 wire, Lugs, heat shrink, loom, 600 amp heavy duty on/off, 10/3 AC
wire
Misc supplies, Split loom, seal, 2/0 battery cable, Lugs, heat shrink, ties, battery straps, wood, seal,
shop supplies.

Should be great fun to have Marvin Braun leading the install.

More photos to follow as the week progresses.

Life is good!

Allan


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[Bigcgar]

Day 2 of solar install includes - goodies arrive, strip out old AS factory stuff and begin on the inside of the AS. Lithium batteries assembled, main lines connected and lots of build out and around and under the queen bed.






More to come tomorrow.....

Cheers,
Allan


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[KJRitchie]

Looks like you've done this sorta thing before. Are you working from a wiring diagram?

Kelvin

[trekerboy]

Do you have links to the components you used? Especially the batteries... Also would be interested to know if you're working from a diagram; seems like a lot of components!

[Bigcgar]

Kelvin:

I hired out the job to Marvin Braun at Precision RV (precisionrv.com) . He is an experienced solar consultant, contractor, installer and small business man. He is one of the few experienced guys who has a track record with the lithium batteries. He specifically used the Elite Battery brand. He drove up from AZ this week to my home in CO to do the full install. More photos later to post on Day 3. He came highly recommended by others on this forum and elsewhere on the RV circuit and so far I'm very happy with his work. He's very meticulous and in my humble opinion great to have around. Go to - http://wheelingit.us/2016/03/09/the-...rt-iv-summary/ if you want to see a video on another install he recently did. As far as tech layouts I would not be able to share them as I believe there in Marv's brain and on a tablet he has. We just talked about what it was I wanted and he pulled it all together. I also visited another AF member in CO who used him on his 2 AS and I got to see his work.

Sorry I can't offer more for you on this. I am handy but when it came to this project I wanted it done right as I'm still working (kinda).

Cheers,
Allan


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[Bigcgar]

Day - 3 on the solar install. Completed the lithium battery install and they are working! Yea! Hooked up the Magnum Hybrid inverter and got the remotes installed and working. A few more pieces and parts to be installed tomorrow the onto the outside roof work. Weather is perfect here in CO for this to be completed in the next day or so assuming Fedex delivers a few add ons I'm installing with this project. See photos below:





Be well, Fish on!
Allan


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[KJRitchie]

Are the panels mounted in the bath hall wall above the toilet area?

Kelvin

[theGMCRV]

Awesome,
I just installed 200 watts with a victron mppt and love it so far.
Let us know what kind of power output you get from that setup.
I love the overkill on the wiring, I did the same!

[Bigcgar]

Kelvin - yes this is in the toilet area which allows me to avoid lots of wire pulling and my wife likes it as its not visible in the main living area. We went under the drawer which is next to the bed the into the toilet area leveraging the plumbing hole, then up the angled wall. Again the is a 2015 - 25' International Serenity.


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[BAB]

I have much of the same system, though I have 4 Lifeline 6V golf batteries...my 6 100W solar panels coupled with the Magnum MSH3012 allow me to run one of my A/C's off battery power for about 4 hours. I've actually done this multiple times when we stop for lunch, it's blazing hot in the trailer, and too much of a pain to hook up the generator. If it's a sunny day, the batteries will be completely recharged by the time we stop for the night. The Magnum is probably the most useful modification I made to my Classic. You'll love your electrical system. Once my Lifeline's die, I'll be going to Lithium batteries.

[drboyd]

Six hundred watts. Seriously.

I thought you were going to tell us about the electric motors that you had added to the wheels!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHXK2t50S-8

[Bigcgar]

I liked the video and movie. Just preparing for the zombie apocalypse with the 600w. As they say, spend it now as you can't take it with you and this has a particular close connection with me at the moment as I deal with some serious sh#*. Some folks like Coors Lite while others like a fine single malt, it just depends on what you want, like and can afford. May or may not make sense to everyone.

Cheers,
Big Al



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[Bigcgar]

Day - 4 of the solar install included more internal finish work. Hey you can now see panels on the roof and now my neighbors know what I'm doing. 600w installed with a minor roof mod for the bathroom exhaust vent. Needed to go with a low profile vent which helped keep the other rooftop items as installed by the factory. Pics are below and I didn't get everything in the photo but you'll see 4 on one side of the AS and the other side has 2 panels. This allowed us to not have to fuss with other roof mods. Marv has more finish work tomorrow then it's time for product training, system usage and little nuances he's learned over the years.






BAB I think your comment on pulling over in the hot weather and flipping on AC while enjoying a road lunch without having to hassle is exactly what we've also been thinking. And again the watts/amps and all that solar stuff is just a math problem, easily figured out by many on this forum.

Slante,
Allan


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[BoldAdventure]

Knowing how much that Marv charges always makes me happy I installed all that myself. The labor costs about as much as all the equipment.

[Bigcgar]

BoldAdventure I'm happy for you that you've got what it takes to do this installation on your own time and were able to save some cash. That's awesome. Not many people today have installed the lithium batteries and all the little goodies that go with these and I wanted it done right the first time. For my peace of mind, knowing my limits, this is well worth my hiring it out to a master solar consultant, component distributor and installer (IMHO). A one stop shop if you will. My time is worth a value of money and I don't have enough of it as it is (time that is). I hope I'll get to enjoy my set up as much as it seems you have and I look forward to seeing you in the boondocks with lights and power running 😉.

Be well, fish on!
Allan


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[KJRitchie]

Someone hires all of us to do what we are good at and we get paid for our perceived value.

Those that own businesses must be special in order to put up with the economic and government roadblocks to becoming successful.

Thank you for sharing the installation. Let us know your experience with the system. Do you have some sort of set up to prevent the lithiums from being charged when the temperatures inside the trailer reach the minimum?

Kelvin

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Someone hires all of us to do what we are good at and we get paid for our perceived value.

Those that own businesses must be special in order to put up with the economic and government roadblocks to becoming successful.

Thank you for sharing the installation. Let us know your experience with the system. Do you have some sort of set up to prevent the lithiums from being charged when the temperatures inside the trailer reach the minimum?

Kelvin

X2

I'll not be installing solar or rebuilding multi-speed transmissions often enough to justify the tools, time and training. That the man has value-added experience (if you will) makes writing the check that much easier.

[Bigcgar]

Well said gentlemen. Yes on the temp monitoring. Some of the fine tuning that we are adding due to the lithium cold weather limitations. Going with some mobile monitoring tools so I can get alerts on my phone.


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[Bigcgar]

Day 5 of my solar installation - it's done!!! Marv finished all installation components and labeled all the wiring and switches. Boxed all the solar into its own compartment and finished out the under bed storage, so that when we load from the outside storage door no components are exposed to any items in my storage compartment. Installed the Weboost Drive 4G wifi booster and 12 volt power plug. Marv provided detailed training for all components and I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. I recorded training session so I can review later. Fried brain 😉. Now time to enjoy getting off the grid and basking in my new solar powered AS.



Life is good,
Allan


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[gandttimes]

Bigcgar. Where did you run the wires down from the roof. You may have mentioned it but I can't find it. Interested because I also have an FB international.


George