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04-20-2020, 09:17 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
Crockett
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 81
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Bambi Solar Limitations
I just purchased the 2020 Bambi 22fb. I’m trying to get a better grasp on the limits of my factory solar option panel. It’s 90 watt I think? Anyway, when I check the battery level In the bathroom, is if true that I should not let the voltage get below 12.1? If it gets below 12.1 then what will happen?
The lowest Ive gotten it to is 12.5 and I shut off everything because I didn’t wanna drain my batteries. The manual mentions that there are lights that show green=fully charged and on down to yellow I believe. Where in my trailer are these color display lights?
I understand that I can’t run AC, microwave on solar. Can somebody tell me what I can run on solar and how much time I should expect to get before my batteries die?
I need layman’s terms lol. I’m so new to any of this it’s more than embarrassing! I did send my sales guy an email but he won’t get back to me until sometime tomorrow.
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04-20-2020, 09:52 PM
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#2
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Your system is very small to say the least. I’m assuming you have 2 group 24 interstate batteries. Those batteries will allow you to run your lights and not much else for long.
Without a Proper battery monitor and relying on battery voltage it becomes a little bit of a guessing game as to the condition of your batteries.
See the attached chart.
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04-20-2020, 10:02 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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in our 22FB ,we have 350w of solar
- 2x100W on the roof and a
- 150w panel on a hinge over the rear window
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04-20-2020, 10:02 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
Crockett
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL
Your system is very small to say the least. I’m assuming you have 2 group 24 interstate batteries. Those batteries will allow you to run your lights and not much else for long.
Without a Proper battery monitor and relying on battery voltage it becomes a little bit of a guessing game as to the condition of your batteries.
See the attached chart.
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Thanks for that! So if I were to get into the yellow or red is this just a matter of having to charge the batteries via solar in the sun for a couple of days?
Your right, it’s not much but a little solar is better than nothing I guess.
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04-20-2020, 10:37 PM
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#5
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane74
Thanks for that! So if I were to get into the yellow or red is this just a matter of having to charge the batteries via solar in the sun for a couple of days?
Your right, it’s not much but a little solar is better than nothing I guess.
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Yellow is less than ideal but OK
Orange ad Red zone you would cause potential damage to your batteries.
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04-25-2020, 09:14 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
2016 22' Sport
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 36
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Can you post pix of your solar setup waninae39? I've been thinking about solar and a mini-split for our 2016 22FB. For sure I'm going to move the house battery under the dinette and change them to dual/quad LiFePO4 I think.
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04-25-2020, 10:33 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2019 22' Sport
Carlsbad
, California
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 403
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mshumer995
Can you post pix of your solar setup waninae39? I've been thinking about solar and a mini-split for our 2016 22FB. For sure I'm going to move the house battery under the dinette and change them to dual/quad LiFePO4 I think.
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You can fit a Zamp 170 and 2 90 narrow panels on the 22’ Sport. I just installed the 170 this month, and have plenty of room for the other two.
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04-26-2020, 03:21 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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hi
here are my Ac and DC diagrams
Victron makes the best controllers and systems
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04-26-2020, 03:46 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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with victron , you can monitor, control and update with web and your phone
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04-26-2020, 04:30 PM
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#10
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2 Rivet Member
2016 22' Sport
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 36
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Awesome, thanks.
Can you post a pix of the 150 panel over the rear window?
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04-27-2020, 06:41 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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here are pic of the rear mounted 150W panel.
They are mounted to a SS hinge. It is riveted above the rear window. It has 3M VHB tape behind to ensure it never moves. The solar panel is mounted to the hinge with SS lock nuts. I remove this panel in winter to allow the CalMark cover to fit over the rear.
When traveling the panel swings down and i remove the two arms.
The arms fit in the bumper. The arms when used can be used to adjust the angle to the sun
The panel is just above the bike rack. the two do not interfere
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04-27-2020, 07:55 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2016 22' Sport
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 36
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Beautiful install. Thanks
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04-27-2020, 08:27 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,077
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we placed all the power system under the bed, on the road side.
this year the plans planned, maybe next years due to COVID, i plan to add 3-5 addl BB lion batteries for off grid..
they will go under the bed facing the TV. likely right across the wall facing the TV. This is to balance the load on the trailer so not all the weight is road side
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05-26-2020, 01:54 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2020 22' Bambi
Oxford
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prettygood
You can fit a Zamp 170 and 2 90 narrow panels on the 22’ Sport. I just installed the 170 this month, and have plenty of room for the other two.
Attachment 366548
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Were the two narrow 90w panels part of a factory install? I have a single 90W panel as installed at the factory and trying to determine how much more I can add. If I could add another 90w along with the 170, I think I could be in good shape.
__________________
2020 Bambi 22FB
Factory Solar, Blue Ox tow/distribution system
2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab
Wake Forest, NC
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05-26-2020, 02:13 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2019 22' Sport
Carlsbad
, California
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 403
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boldie24
Were the two narrow 90w panels part of a factory install? I have a single 90W panel as installed at the factory and trying to determine how much more I can add. If I could add another 90w along with the 170, I think I could be in good shape.
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Boldie,
My unit did not come with any factory solar, just the pre-wire. The 170 Zamp panel is installed at the front of the unit (see the picture), and I measured the width and length running along both sides of the roof and found enough room for the Zamp 90w narrow panels.
Given the new 170w on the roof and my 140w portable panel, I have plenty of solar generation for my current/planned battery bank. If I was going to install a large inverter and 400ah of lithium (thought about it long and hard), I would add the two 90w narrow panels for a total of 490w.
Hope that clears it up, fee free to reach out to me if you have any other questions. Thanks
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05-26-2020, 04:58 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2020 23' Flying Cloud
2019 22' Sport
Sebastian
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,234
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Shane,
When all else fails, read the manual!
If the Bambi is like other 2020's, the factory solar package upgrades the batteries to AGM. These are a bit more liveable (lower maintenance - no need to pop the cap and check level, more discharge cycles) but not impossible to kill. Standard wisdom is not to discharge any RV/Marine battery below 50% (refer to GMFL's nice chart in the first reply) The panel that controls the PV (photovoltaic) charge may provide useful information on battery condition beyond voltage - again, check the manual. (I've never had the joy of being solar.)
Think of your batteries as an "energy tank". A 90 W solar panel will not fill the tank very fast even, when the sun is shining brightly. You need to have a backup energy source (generator, shore power), or more panels. You will learn with experience how not to drain them too quickly.
Enjoy your new trailer!
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05-26-2020, 05:43 PM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2020 22' Bambi
Oxford
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prettygood
Boldie,
My unit did not come with any factory solar, just the pre-wire. The 170 Zamp panel is installed at the front of the unit (see the picture), and I measured the width and length running along both sides of the roof and found enough room for the Zamp 90w narrow panels.
Given the new 170w on the roof and my 140w portable panel, I have plenty of solar generation for my current/planned battery bank. If I was going to install a large inverter and 400ah of lithium (thought about it long and hard), I would add the two 90w narrow panels for a total of 490w.
Hope that clears it up, fee free to reach out to me if you have any other questions. Thanks
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I see now in the picture. I will climb up there and see if the 90W panel installed is narrow and where it is located although I assume it would not be hard to move if needed to add another 90w narrow and the 170w.
Thanks, will let everyone know what I find out.
Brad
__________________
2020 Bambi 22FB
Factory Solar, Blue Ox tow/distribution system
2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab
Wake Forest, NC
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05-27-2020, 12:16 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2016 22' Sport
WALNUT CREEK
, California
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 99
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We have a 2016 22FB with no solar prewire (at least none that I know of), and have added three Renogy 100W panels on the roof, 2 at front and one at back curbside above the entry door, plus a 100W portable folding panel with a front connection for when we are under full tree cover. Added a rooftop connection box to tie all the panels together, with new 8/2 wire to a Renogy solar controller feeding 2 Battleborn lithium batteries, + Victron controller and 200W Xantrex inverter/charger. The whole system is working like a charm, no regrets whatsoever. We can boondock till the water runs out, and are free to use the hair dryer and microwave without ever having to worry about power use.
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05-27-2020, 04:42 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2020 22' Bambi
Oxford
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmickow
We have a 2016 22FB with no solar prewire (at least none that I know of), and have added three Renogy 100W panels on the roof, 2 at front and one at back curbside above the entry door, plus a 100W portable folding panel with a front connection for when we are under full tree cover. Added a rooftop connection box to tie all the panels together, with new 8/2 wire to a Renogy solar controller feeding 2 Battleborn lithium batteries, + Victron controller and 200W Xantrex inverter/charger. The whole system is working like a charm, no regrets whatsoever. We can boondock till the water runs out, and are free to use the hair dryer and microwave without ever having to worry about power use.
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Very helpful along with the feedback from PrettyGood. Thanks to you both. I will post updates/pictures as I expand.
__________________
2020 Bambi 22FB
Factory Solar, Blue Ox tow/distribution system
2019 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab
Wake Forest, NC
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05-27-2020, 07:35 AM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
2016 22' Sport
WALNUT CREEK
, California
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 99
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Boldie24, good luck with your upgrades.
@waninae39, you're my hero when it comes to 22FB mods, but I gotta ask, why so many BB batteries?
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