Interstate Battery & Solar Panel Upgrade

[billrector]

Originally Posted by sheakev

Any idea why the Renogy (both the Eclipse and the Mono) appear to be considerably less expensive than the Zamp?



Also from whom did you purchase your panels?



I now have to carefully measure my available real estate and determine what size/shape panels will fit on my roof.

I purchase my Renogy Eclipse from Amazon.

[lewster]

Hi Alex,

I would surmise that your 3 flex panels will be OK for a while since you store your Interstate inside when not using it. The sun's rays do nasty things to any soft panel ( I have tried most of them), so storing your RV inside will definitely keep them working longer.

The time to replace will be when your panels won't put out much more than 3-4 amps per panel during the summer. That's when it's time for replacement. Just try to keep the surfaces clean and you should be OK for a while.

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

LEW - Does the 5yr/2yr longevity figure get affected by whether unit is garaged or not? Or is it just based on cell age degradation, irrespective of UV exposure? I live in Las Vegas, my rig is always garaged (fully enclosed) when not in use. My usage has averaged outdoor exposure is 2 days per week since new (9 mos & 9,000 miles). Las Vegas UV exposure is horrible and will destroy anything. About the only material that has stood up to it are the casings used by pool equipment manufacturers, specifically StaRite. My pool filter lasted 20yrs of 24hr UV exposure before developing a leak.

I am asking so I can proactively plan on when to remove my 3 flex to upgrade to glass panels.

Thanks for your contributions to this forum. Very informative.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by lewster

Hi Alex,

I would surmise that your 3 flex panels will be OK for a while since you store your Interstate inside when not using it. The sun's rays do nasty things to any soft panel ( I have tried most of them), so storing your RV inside will definitely keep them working longer.

The time to replace will be when your panels won't put out much more than 3-4 amps per panel during the summer. That's when it's time for replacement. Just try to keep the surfaces clean and you should be OK for a while.

LEW - Thank you again. This is good to hear. Appreciate your tips & expertise.

[Camerons]

Upon LEWs guidance I installed 4X 100w panels from am solar and a victron solar controller. It’s one of the best investments I’ve made. Totally worth the effort.

[Alexstjo26]

Could you please post pics or explain where/how the dealer installed the second battery box?? I would like to do this.

Originally Posted by sheakev

Last month I had my local AS dealer install second tray and a second set of batteries. While they were the same type, the were newer. I know this wasn't ideal but I am hopeful that the four batteries will last and perform for a good period of time.
I have the one solar panel that came with my Interstate. I believe I have room for two more in the aft part of the roof. I see no reason to get rid of the existing one which leads me to the conclusion of adding two more of the same flexible panels. I would wire them in parallel. There is always going to be some shading (yes, I know that there are a few days a year for a few minutes that the sun would be perpendicular - but even then I have an antenna which does shade the existing panel unless it is in the deployed (up) position).

My calculations tell me that the existing 10 ga. wire will be fine. As to the charge controller, I do want it to fit in the "box" I do not want it outside. So I calculated that a realistic maximum current of 18 amps. So to keep the size of the controller down my plan is to use the Victron 100/20.

My primary objective is to ensure that I have enough capacity to get through a night with the refrigerator-freezer and other phantom power drains.

I have no current (pun?) plans to change the inverter or other electronics.

I would appreciate any critical comments on what I've done and propose to do.

[WillieJ]

Lew performed a solar upgrade for me this past summer, removing the 50 watt panel (stock for 2013), and adding 3 100 watt panels. The charge controller was replaced with a Victron unit, and the stock internal battery box was removed, the batteries being mounted directly to the floor at the former location of the battery box. This leaves room for larger 6v AGM batteries in series to increase the Ah capacity.

I currently have Lifeline gpl-4ct batteries for 220 Ah capacity. When I replace them, it will be with a pair of gpl-6ct batteries for 300Ah.


Before you have an AS dealer add a battery box for more batteries, see the thread “House Battery Detaches on Highway Today”. The OP for that thread is eyechip.

[Collyn]

Originally Posted by PirateChris

Hi all,

I'll appreciate your experienced thinking on this matter. I have a 2016 Interstate (OEM 100 W Solar and 2 House Batteries). I will be in Ohio in early February and am planning on an overnight stop at Airstream Jackson Center and having them upgrade my Interstate to the 2019 configuration, which is 300 W Solar and 4 house batteries.

I'm told this is an easy one-day effort. Wondering if others may have already made the this modification, and are you pleased with it? Was it worth it? Any problems/issues I should be aware of.

Many thanks to the community

PirateChris

Better by far to have 500 plus watts of solar and 2 or 3 house batteries.

Collyn Rivers

[jazzmanrandy]

Hi,

I did a recent solar install on a storage shed. I use a portable 80 watt set up on my RV.

I used this company

https://www.zampsolar.com/portable-kits

A pair of 120W panels, 2 AGM (Interstate) 210 Ah 6 volt batteries in a 12 volt configuration and a Midnight Solar controller.

I noticed that have install parts for AS.

Everything works well.

Randy

[DancingBear]

Howdy, After 13 months my original batteries on 2018 Interstate failed. Tried to switch to Lithium but that did not work ( long story ). Had the dealer install two additional trays and now have 4 fresh Optimum Brand batteries. They work great! I can now run the refrig/freezer overnight while boondocking without running the batters below 50%. I was told by dealer that the "upgrade" to 2019 battery system with Auto Start was a project I did not want to undertake. Said it would cost thousands of $$$ - so I simply added the two trays and new batteries. The three solar cells work well for me. Do wish I could swap out / acquire the new backup camera's I have seen on some 2019's. ( not sure why I see them on some '19's and not others).

[AirMiles]

Originally Posted by Camerons

Upon LEWs guidance I installed 4X 100w panels from am solar and a victron solar controller. It’s one of the best investments I’ve made. Totally worth the effort.

I completely concur with this remark! With solar, you can enjoy all your Airstream's 12V powered comforts each day and still have a fully charged battery the next day. Store your Airstream outside for months at a time and still have a fully-charged functioning battery for your next adventure. Enjoy the freedom to boondock anywhere and avoid the overcrowded sold-out-year-in-advance electric campsites.

For me, an Airstream with several hundred watts of solar panels is like having a perpetual motion machine.

[Tronadora]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

I completely concur with this remark! With solar, you can enjoy all your Airstream's 12V powered comforts each day and still have a fully charged battery the next day. Store your Airstream outside for months at a time and still have a fully-charged functioning battery for your next adventure. Enjoy the freedom to boondock anywhere and avoid the overcrowded sold-out-year-in-advance electric campsites.

For me, an Airstream with several hundred watts of solar panels is like having a perpetual motion machine.

Generally agree... but that's all fine if you have sun, or sun at a decent angle, for lots of hours, and want to sit in the sun in the first place....

I have 300W and all week we've been in full sun, at a very low angle in WA so must be plugged in all day and night. My fixed panels peak output has been 70W, average daily intake of 160Wh. In the summer I was seeing peak of 280W and average daily intake of 800Wh in the SW region. But I sought out the shade whenever I could. (sigh)

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Tronadora

Generally agree... but that's all fine if you have sun, or sun at a decent angle, for lots of hours, and want to sit in the sun in the first place....

I have 300W and all week we've been in full sun, at a very low angle in WA so must be plugged in all day and night. My fixed panels peak output has been 70W, average daily intake of 160Wh. In the summer I was seeing peak of 280W and average daily intake of 800Wh in the SW region. But I sought out the shade whenever I could. (sigh)

TRONADORA - you are so right & very spot-on with these points. For those who doubt what you said, I will have them sit under the Las Vegas or AZ or UT sun in June July August where their solar panels can harvest energy in 1 day to last them weeks. But unless their battery banks are able to run the equivalent of 1.5 a/c units (at least 20,000btu in our AI) on full blast for almost 24hrs, they will be forced to seek shade and/or electric hookups. There is just no rv solar/battery system that is capable of staying ahead of the heat in these parts of the SW. Even an AI in full hookup campgrounds are barely keeping up. The inside of my AI has seen inside temps of 120° and that is inside the garage (albeit all closed up, no a/c running, no vents running). And even running vents only means I am sucking in 110° ambient air temp to refresh the inside air. I doubt most folks can tell that 110 is better than 120. Hot is just hot & unbearable inside AI at those temps.

[CharlieOscar]

Originally Posted by Camerons

They are very helpful and reasonably priced. The installation isn’t that hard if you want to do it yourself. Or get Lew to do a professional job. We removed the airstream solar panel and solar controller then installed victron. My only regret was investing more in magnum controller and AGS rather than going all victron. Doing it again I would go victron all the way. Their app is awesome. Magnum is way behind in this respect. Batteries are easy enough to hang underneath if you stick with AGM.

Does anyone have any experience with the full Victron system?

[lewster]

Originally Posted by CharlieOscar

Does anyone have any experience with the full Victron system?

I've placed 3 FULL Victron systems into Interstates in the past year. That includes Victron lithium batteries, 400 watts of solar with Victron 100/30 controller and BMV-712 battery monitor, full Victron inverter/chargers and the V4.2 control system from AM Solar.

What would you like to know?

[knotdonne]

My new battery box is the storage well. Work done near Austin. It's vented (lower right you can see the round screen.) I got this suitcase https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Foldabl...7127434&sr=8-5

[Mcrid]

I read this thread as a starter. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ml#post1949787

[billramp]

Going to Jackson Center in April for the battery upgrade on my 2015 GT. Not doing anything with the solar power. Just looking to be able to go one night without killing the batteries. Is the upgrade working out for you

[Prettygood]

Originally Posted by billramp

Going to Jackson Center in April for the battery upgrade on my 2015 GT. Not doing anything with the solar power. Just looking to be able to go one night without killing the batteries. Is the upgrade working out for you

I’m curious why a battery upgrade requires you going to Jackson Center. What problems are you having? Are you relocating the batteries or just swapping for new ones?

[jhayesas]

Originally Posted by billramp

Going to Jackson Center in April for the battery upgrade on my 2015 GT. Not doing anything with the solar power. Just looking to be able to go one night without killing the batteries. Is the upgrade working out for you

I was just at Jackson Center OH a month or so ago and I can tell you based on my experience with the tech wasn't a positive one. He just kept telling me
"that's why they have generators installed". I spent hours there and left with the same issue, very disappointing. Any and all solutions that I came up with, because they had none other than the generator comment, which included adding two additional batteries was extremely expensive and their hourly rate is $180. My workaround would've also involved modifying the battery tray to house 6V batteries which they never done for my year, make and mode rig. The price they quoted me ridiculously in my opinion considering that at the time I paid good money for my righ, owned my rig for 1.5 months and I couldn't boondock for more than 30 minutes before the generator kicked on.

[Boxster1971]

Airstream is so behind the market. Most RVers, especially in vans want to be able to camp for a day or two without the need for shore power or a generator. I modified my Interstate by switching to four 6V batteries, a 2,000W inverter/charger and 400Ws of solar. It is a great setup that should be offered by Airstream. I seldom use the generator - only if I need A/C without available shore power.