Lithium Batt Solar Install 2015 Classic

[ghaynes755]

Patton

Since I have a Magnum Hybrid I use the ME-RC control head which includes battery monitoring and lots of other functions.

The momentary push switch is mounted up next to my BluRay player. I seldom use it.

Monitor is from Elite ($50) and includes cabling and power connection in one cable from the monitor until it splits. Makes it pretty clean to install.

[pattonsr]

ghaynes755,

My confusion was that your picture looks like the TFT LCD monitor that BoldAdventure provided a link for. The Elite web site shows a plain LCD monitor with a cable only for power. Elite probably hasn't bothered to update their web site.

Also since you said you used the Magnum BMK, did the BMK and Elite both use the same shunt? Did you find the state of charge calculated by the BMK to roughly match the state of charge from the Elite monitor? If not, which one was more accurate.

The BMK is an option for Magnum inverter/chargers and only uses the ME-RC as a display device. Unless the Elite state of charge is not very accurate, then I do not see the need for a BMK. I must be missing something.

[ghaynes755]

Single shunt but I've never said I am using a BMK. Haven't had one on either of the solar setups. I use the Elite screen and the IPN readouts.

No idea where Elite sources their monitors and just looked at the link from Bold. Looks like it might be the same. Not worth chasing down for saving $25 on a multi thousand lithium setup. One stop shopping with Elite.

[BoldAdventure]

Doesn't have to cost multi-thousand dollar. But oh yeah, you will pay for this project.

I just started working on disassembly of the packs into their individual cells yesterday. I'll start my own thread though.

Originally Posted by mixedpuppy

ghaynes755, the EMS you have from Elite Power Solutions has over and under voltage protection circuits that can drive a contactor relay (similar but not the same to the battery disconnect, one each for over[OV] and under[UV]). If you don't have the battery isolated by those circuits and you over or under charge the batter, you're warranty wont be valid. Elite warned me of this more than once while I was working out the electrical. The solution I came up with unfortunately also takes 0.4amp continuous power for each contactor.

I plan on having a 350A/12V continuous duty solenoid, UV control. Opens if any cell falls below 2.8 volts. On the negative side after the shunt. On the positive side I'll have another one with OV control. It will before PV and the Inverter positive but after all 12v positive loads. And that will isolate the battery in both directions.

[switz]

Just like Christmas Eve - some assembly required.

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by switz

Just like Christmas Eve - some assembly required.

I like the AM Solar install method (your pictures) over the Precision job personally. Looks cleaner.

So I plan on arranging my cells myself and then securing them in a box similar so I can maximize my space.

[pattonsr]

ghaynes755,

You said previously "Since I have a Magnum Hybrid I use the ME-RC control head which includes battery monitoring and lots of other functions".

Battery monitoring is shown on the ME-RC only if the BMK is installed. Are you trying to say that you have an SOC shown on the ME-RC without the BMK?

[switz]

The 600 amp-hour battery in the Classic beside the Magnum and under the front sofa of the Classic.

The 300 amp-hour battery before the plexiglas cover in the 23D between the street side wheel well and the furnace.

[lewster]

One of the reasons AM Solar uses the SinoPoly cells is the solid copper interconnects between the cells that use heavy bolts over the much smaller hex screws found on the Elite cells.

These cells also allow for direct connection of heavy cable eyelets to the battery terminals directly, without the use of adapters.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[BoldAdventure]

All of the prismatic batteries use those terminals, except for the GBS.

Anyone curious in the color coding:

Fluxpower/Voltronix cells come in Green and Yellow.
CALB cells come in either Blue or Gray.
Winston Battery cells come in Yellow.
Sinopoly cells come in either Yellow, Green or Black.
Realforce cells come in either Black or White.
GBS cells can be found in either Yellow or a Blue-ish hue.
Hipower cells come in White.

GBS seems to be the only one with the 4 hex screws, they claim it's a more secure connection with no stress on the connector. Take that as marketing.

I am bolting a copper bar straight to them.

PS: Naturally I found this after I purchased the GBS Cells: http://www.canev.com/batteries.php

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by lewster

One of the reasons AM Solar uses the SinoPoly cells is the solid copper interconnects between the cells that use heavy bolts over the much smaller hex screws found on the Elite cells.

These cells also allow for direct connection of heavy cable eyelets to the battery terminals directly, without the use of adapters.

Correction here, the GBS batteries do feature the same screw holes, but only on the 3rd generation 200Ah cells. Also should be noted that uses the 200Ah cells takes up less space than AMSolar's 400Ah setup which uses 16 100Ah cells.



That being said, I chose the 100Ah cells because of the $500 cost difference at the end of the day.

[ghaynes755]

Originally Posted by pattonsr

ghaynes755,

You said previously "Since I have a Magnum Hybrid I use the ME-RC control head which includes battery monitoring and lots of other functions".

Battery monitoring is shown on the ME-RC only if the BMK is installed. Are you trying to say that you have an SOC shown on the ME-RC without the BMK?

See post 42.

[BoldAdventure]

Phase 1, battery layout and compartment building



Eventually, this space will be fully enclosed.

[BoldAdventure]

This question is for the OP and anyone else with Lithiums combined with a Blue Sky Solar Controller and IPN Pro remote

I'm curious about your settings for these inside the advanced menu settings:

SET MAX BAT VOLTS

then inside charge settings

SET ACCEPT CHG

SET FLOAT CHG

SET EQUALIZE CHG

SET T-COMP (no clue what this even is for)
Mine is 05.00mV/C/C

SET FLOAT CURRENT


SET ACCEPT TIME

[kenen42]

Attached is the setup guide AM Solar sent me for the Blue Sky systems. I only have AGM's but the chart also has all the values they recommend for lithium.

If I remember right T-Comp is the slope of the temperature compensation curve.