 |
|
02-09-2020, 06:52 PM
|
#1
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Starting Inverter/Lithium Install
Tomorrow I will start a very cool project.
I will be installing a Victron 3000Watts MultiPlus, BMV 712, 100/50 SmartSolar Controller, 2 BattleBorn Lithium Batteries, and 2 MicroAir Soft starters in a 2006 30lb classic with a slide.
High points of this install is I will be working with the owner who wants to help with the install.
The trailer also has a 50A service and we will only be feeding L1 with the inverter so it will run the wall plugs, microwave, and front AC.
Rear AC , water heater and old converter circuit are on L2.
The Old Single Stage Charger will be removed and we will be using the MultiPlus to charge the batteries.
The MultiPlus will also load assist L1 when running the Trailer off a generator.
Tomorrow will be straighten out the famous Airstream RATS NEST. See photo.
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 07:32 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,579
|
this s my schematic using most of the same products you are using
|
|
|
02-09-2020, 07:45 PM
|
#3
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by waninae39
this s my schematic using most of the same products you are using
|
Yep. Almost same stuff. I’ve got a diagram.
Major deal with this system is only feeding One leg of split phase power on the 50A service.
Lots of 6-3 with ground..... 90’ to be exact.
|
|
|
02-10-2020, 06:49 PM
|
#4
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Here’s a few photos of the progress today.
Sorted out the Rats Nest. Planned out inverter and battery placement (and decided to add a third battery)
Also dropped the belly pan and prep to run the 6-3 wire tomorrow.
Rats Nest was impressive!
I have the original converter temporarily wired in that provide DC power until we hook up the new MultiPlus and Batteries. After that it will be removed.
|
|
|
02-11-2020, 08:09 PM
|
#5
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Made some more progress today. Got the 6-3 ran and BMV 712 installed in the old inverter switch location in the kitchen wall. Tomorrow we will shift gears and install the SeeLevel Tank monitor kit and 2 MicroAir SoftStarters.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 07:27 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master 

2004 28' Classic
Monument
, Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,573
|
Just curious. In your wiring diagram you ran a 30 amp breaker switch and a shutoff switch. I just used a 30 amp breaker switch to the solar panels. Is there an advantage to using both?
__________________
DaveP
2004 Airstream Classic 28 "Willard"
2023 Ram 3500 4x4
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 07:37 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master 
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
|
Thanks for sharing GMFL, I'm following along to see how to install an advanced solar configuration with the MultiPlus. It sure is a lot more work than my simple solar installation including several solar panels and a solar controller. I will admit to wiping drool off my face from looking at that MultiPlus and four Battleborn batteries.
Did the owner decide to upgrade to four batteries? I'd put four in while installing a 3000W MultiPlus to have continuous 120V power to all the outlets while boondocking. Then the A/C could probably be run occasionally for short periods. No sense in stopping half way when a couple thousand more will get you everything, says the guy with a pair of golf cart batteries in his Airstream.
Again, thanks for sharing and giving us ideas of how to spend more money!
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 07:46 AM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,579
|
i mounted the display on a small board so that i could move and and service them if needed
my victron system gives me excellent monitoring on the web, phone or inside the AS
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 08:31 AM
|
#9
|
Site Team

2017 30' International
Broomfield
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,555
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
Thanks for sharing GMFL, I'm following along to see how to install an advanced solar configuration with the MultiPlus. It sure is a lot more work than my simple solar installation including several solar panels and a solar controller.
|
It's pretty straight forward. Victron MPPT is connected from panels to batteries just like any other. Then you connect the MPPT, Multi and 712 to a CCGX or Venus device via a data cables (ve.Bus) so they are networked. From there you use the GX software interface to configure ESS / Share voltage sense so they all talk to each other nicely
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 08:28 PM
|
#10
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
More progress today, but tomorrow will be the BIG day. Everything will go live! This project has grown a bit.
Now adding 600 watts of solar panels, removing the flexible panelsand 2 new Maxim Skylights (Bronze-Clear-Clear with White Powder frame)
Guys! Southland RV in GA should be ashamed of their solar install. Wires on top of the panels? Solar wires running under the trailer zip tied to the belly pan? What a MESS!
We will be running all new 4AWG wire Down the fridge vent and inside the belly pan to get under the Slide. Cleaning up someone else’s mess is not fun. See photos of panel install below. Yuck???
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 08:32 PM
|
#11
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveP
Just curious. In your wiring diagram you ran a 30 amp breaker switch and a shutoff switch. I just used a 30 amp breaker switch to the solar panels. Is there an advantage to using both?
|
Yes, switch will disconnect the panels from the system and the breaker fuses the solar charger to the batteries. The switch is used to remove solar panel output from the system including the solar controller for service and the breaker protect the batteries from a fault in the solar controller
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 08:43 PM
|
#12
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
Did the owner decide to upgrade to four batteries? I'd put four in while installing a 3000W MultiPlus to have continuous 120V power to all the outlets while boondocking. Then the A/C could probably be run occasionally for short periods. No sense in stopping half way when a couple thousand more will get you everything, says the guy with a pair of golf cart batteries in his Airstream.
Again, thanks for sharing and giving us ideas of how to spend more money!
|
Thanks AirMiles!
Only going with 3 BattleBorns and 1 MultiPlus on a 50A service. We are feeding L1 with the Multi which will power the front AC, all the wall outlets, and the microwave.
The Rear AC, Water heater, and old converter circuit are on L2
Added 600watts of solar to the list today and 2 new Maxim Skylights.
This is one super sweet install. Tyrinius, https://www.airforums.com/forums/mem...ius-21281.html Will have something to be proud of for sure.
|
|
|
02-12-2020, 10:51 PM
|
#13
|
Site Team

2017 30' International
Broomfield
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,555
|
Starting Inverter/Lithium Install
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL
Thanks AirMiles!
Only going with 3 BattleBorns and 1 MultiPlus on a 50A service. We are feeding L1 with the Multi which will power the front AC, all the wall outlets, and the microwave.
The Rear AC, Water heater, and old converter circuit are on L2
|
This is exactly how mine is setup. Remember, 120v 50A inbound to the multi can actually return 120v 75A outbound back to the sub panel in power assist mode. Multi is fully capable of adding an additional 3000w/ 120v/25A to the inbound current..... Mind your wire guage on the return run to the sub panel.
This is in theory of course, with the appliances in the airstream you’d likely never hit 120v/75A draw on the L1 sub panel with everything turned on unless you were running the 15k btu AC, microwave, a hair dryer, a space heater, an electric kettle, an electric skillet, the TVs, and a few other odds and ends all at the same time on different circuits off the sub panel
....still if you care about code, etc... [emoji6]
|
|
|
02-13-2020, 08:19 PM
|
#14
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wulfraat
This is exactly how mine is setup. Remember, 120v 50A inbound to the multi can actually return 120v 75A outbound back to the sub panel in power assist mode. Multi is fully capable of adding an additional 3000w/ 120v/25A to the inbound current..... Mind your wire guage on the return run to the sub panel.
This is in theory of course, with the appliances in the airstream you’d likely never hit 120v/75A draw on the L1 sub panel with everything turned on unless you were running the 15k btu AC, microwave, a hair dryer, a space heater, an electric kettle, an electric skillet, the TVs, and a few other odds and ends all at the same time on different circuits off the sub panel
....still if you care about code, etc... [emoji6]
|
I’ve got it fused at 50A at the Inverter input and at the panel feed breaker. It would trip at any load over 50A. I ran 6AWG THHN 90C rated at 75amps.
6 THHN Allowable Ampacity: 55 Amps at 60ºC / 65 Amps at 75ºC / 75 Amps at 90ºC
|
|
|
02-13-2020, 08:25 PM
|
#15
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
It’s ALIVE. Got Tyrinius’s system up and running today.
|
|
|
02-14-2020, 03:11 PM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master 

2004 28' Classic
Monument
, Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,573
|
GMFL,
Another curiosity question. My skylights could use replacing. How many $s were those Maxim skylights you installed?
Thanks, Dave
__________________
DaveP
2004 Airstream Classic 28 "Willard"
2023 Ram 3500 4x4
|
|
|
02-14-2020, 07:20 PM
|
#17
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveP
GMFL,
Another curiosity question. My skylights could use replacing. How many $s were those Maxim skylights you installed?
Thanks, Dave
|
The square ones for most Airstreams are just north of $300 for the skylight. Worth every penny in my book.
|
|
|
02-14-2020, 07:40 PM
|
#18
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Here is a few photos of today’s progress. Ran new 4AWG wire to roof for solar panels (600Watts all Parallel). Buttoned up the SeeLevel tank monitor and Victron BMV 712. Installed the MultiPlus Remote and did a little training on how to use the system.
|
|
|
02-14-2020, 09:08 PM
|
#19
|
van guru
1994 28' Excella
Hood River
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 130
|
Nice install. Looks like you shortened the battery jumper cables. Was that to make clearance for the couch? Any plans to cover the terminals with insulators? Curious how you make up your cables.
All the best,
Hein
DIYvan
541 490 5098
|
|
|
02-14-2020, 09:17 PM
|
#20
|
Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hein
Nice install. Looks like you shortened the battery jumper cables. Was that to make clearance for the couch? Any plans to cover the terminals with insulators? Curious how you make up your cables.
All the best,
Hein
DIYvan
541 490 5098
|
Yes shortened them today to insure clearance for the couch. They were fine like they where but now they have about 4” of clearance. No plan for insulators. There is plenty of clearance and positive terminals air located in the back and will be under a plywood cover. If I decide it needs something I’ll cut a piece of plexiglass and cover the three batteries with that.
|
|
|
 |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|

Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|