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sheakev · 08-26-2020, 12:40 PM

This seems to be the most relevant thread so even though it's older I could not find one more on point. BTW, is there a way to effectively search for more than one word with the forum search function? I have tried Boolean logic terms and "" marks but it seems to only work on one word.

Regardless, I am looking for some pretty basic info so as to make this change out easier. It wasn't just the display dying, I have recently installed three new solar panels (tore off the old flexible one) I have 4 batteries underneath and plan to do some boondocking camping this fall. All my electrical "stuff" is under the real jump seat, driver side. I have included a picture below. So onto the questions.

In order to get at the Atkinson controller and associated wires do I need to take off the seat and remove the screen?

I believe I will need to remove the front cover (at the hinge), then do I just gently pull (as far as the wires permit)the panel with the breakers and the cutoff switch out ?

Will that give access to the Atkinson controller?

Any tips or tricks on removing the Atkinson?

I plan on mounting the new controller on the outside rear facing side of this box just below the air vents similar to what FlyFishinRVr did. It will remove a source of heat from that compartment and allow me to see the control lights.
I will be using the Bluetooth feature and not having any monitor upfront. I will insert and inline fuse between the controller and the battery. Does anyone see any problems with that?

Any other issues I should be on the outlook for?

Thanks again for any help. I know many of you have done this upgrade and I hope to (once again) benefit from the wisdom and experience of this group.

Kevin

wachuko · 08-26-2020, 01:01 PM

Depends on how much work you want to go through... I was able to install it in there... had to move some cables out of the way... moved a fuse a little bit to the right... made a longer positive cable... and voila! Fitted in there without issues.

Oh, and yes... remove seat and seat metal structure/hinge... top cover with the screen... and the front cover as well. That will give you all the access you need...

You can see a few of my photos in this thread...

Here, let me give you a direct link... post 78

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...ml#post2065556

The rest of the photos are in my main thread... here they start when I was doing the installation of the ACR and the Solar controller...

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...ml#post2047915

Heckler56 · 08-26-2020, 02:32 PM

As Wachuko says, how much effort you want to put into it. I was going to but it was over 95 degrees in my pole barn, dark and I had a deadline to get on the road.

I have attached a photo of behind that panel where the inverter fuse and the actkinson controller are. The challenge for me was on the bottom left going towards bottom center of the photo there is a angled piece of wood used to support the panel that the actkinson and inverter fuse are mounted. Mounting the Victron above that wedge would also have been in the way of the master on/off switch, yet more stuff to move.

sheakev · 08-26-2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wachuko

... remove seat and seat metal structure/hinge... top cover with the screen... and the front cover as well. That will give you all the access you need...

You can see a few of my photos in this thread...

It is all starting to make sense. I didn't want to take apart more than I needed to. I think I will still mount it outside. This whole area is a bit of a rat's nest and I don't want to add to it.

Thanks again this is very helpful!

sheakev · 08-26-2020, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heckler56

As Wachuko says, how much effort you want to put into it. I was going to but it was over 95 degrees in my pole barn, dark and I had a deadline to get on the road.

I have attached a photo of behind that panel where the inverter fuse and the Atkinson controller are.

Well, it's only 90 here but still too warm to spend the extra time to get it to fit in there. This picture and the others are preparing me for what I will see and what I need to do. I am getting too close to our date to head out to get into something that jeopardizes that date.

I am going to get the seat off this afternoon and when I get my fuses tomorrow I should be able to go ahead and make the change over.
Thanks!

sheakev · 08-26-2020, 09:54 PM

It appears my old controller has three wires in it. One is the positive from the solar (yellow), then there is a thinner black wire which is the negative on the battery side (seems smaller the 12AWG) and a red one (battery) which goes to a bus bar.

Should it not have the negative from the solar going into the new controller? Where did folks pick that up?

As to the black wire I currently can't see where it goes but what have others done? Also it seems that it should be the same size as the red wire, i.e., 12 gauge.

Thanks

Heckler56 · 08-27-2020, 06:30 AM

The black wire will go to the common ground under the jump seat. I ran all my grounds back to this with a few exceptions. I then ran a line from that ground to my new monitor shunt and put several other grounds there out of convenience. The other side of the monitor shunt only has the battery ground.

Attached are some pictures of the common ground under the jump seat to the top left of my inverter. You can see that black wire attached.

sheakev · 08-28-2020, 07:31 PM

Just finished installing the new Victron 100/20 MPPT. It is mounted outside of the "box" on the rear facing side next to the wheel well and and the chrome grates. It really isn't in the way, it gets good ventilation and was much easier than mounting it inside. Also I have access to the fuse and can see the LED indicator lights. I can also periodically check the tightness of the lugs to ensure a low resistance contact to the stranded wire.

The old controller had a 16 AWG black wire which was connected to the common negative post. I replaced that with a 12 gauge wire that went to the negative terminal for the battery connection on the MPPT.

The red wire, which was 12 gauge, was connected to the MPPT's + battery terminal to the + copper bus in the "box".

The yellow wire from the PV array (12 gauge) was connected directly into the + side of the Solar terminal pair of the MPPT.

The green wire coming down from the PV array was connected to a white wire that went into a wire loom. I spliced into that wire so that it is connected to the white wire as well as connecting to the MPPT's - terminal for solar.

I fired up the app on my iPhone, it did a couple of firmware upgrades to Victron and then it displayed solar as well as battery voltage, etc.

I never did take off the seat, it was going to be a pain and by taking off the top screen I had access to negative common post.

Tomorrow I need to put everything back together. Then I will clean up my cables on the roof. I have cables that are a couple of feet too long. I will shorten them and then secure the cables. That will complete my upgrade of the solar system. Next step will be heading to Utah next month and enjoy some dispersed camping.

Thanks to all for the helpful information, this forum is invaluable!