Solar Show and Tell

[TouringDan]

Nice setup a a Vantair. What kind of solar panel is that?

Dan

[Vantair]

Hi Dan,

It’s an AIMS
model PV120CASE
$225.00 Amazon.
5yr warranty
10 yr 80% output warranty

Just needed to add a MPPT controller in our case. Victron BlueSolar 75/15 MPPT Charge Controller - 15 Amps / 75 Volts
$88.00

For just over $300.00 Unbelievably light, thin compact. Pics don’t do it justice. All components with 35ft 12GA Ext wire nearly roll up together in It’s built in side pouch.

[GMFL]

Here’s a few pics of the MultiPlus installation before o cover it up.

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

Thanks for your comment. I will contact Victron to ask them about the effects of supplying more power than the controller can handle.

I really think that the 100/50 controller will work fine. Sometimes the only way to find out though is to try it.

Dan

If I remember correctly "over paneling" is not a issue but "over volting" is.

So having a high enough voltage threshold for cold winter production is the key.
The controller will limit output current to limit input current.

I think too after having a system and using it, you really aren't designing for sunny summer day, that's easy its the cloudy rain days under canopy that are problematic.

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Here’s a few pics of the MultiPlus installation before o cover it up.

Great job on the install. Super jealous of the GX panel.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Here’s a few pics of the MultiPlus installation before o cover it up.

Nice installation!

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

At a minimum I’d confer with victron about the effects of offering more power into the mppt controller than it can supply on the demand side.

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I talked to Victron. They said there is no problem in over paneling. If the panels are putting out more than the rated capacity of the controller the controller will limit the output. This will not damage the controller.

Dan

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Here’s a few pics of the MultiPlus installation before o cover it up.

All covered up now.

[skitger]

Ronnie, Nice work! You can't see all your hard work "under the hood", can't wait to see it in action, all you need now is a sunny day! I am down on the Gulf coast now, a little foggy, but beat rain and snow!

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by TouringDan;

I talked to Victron. They said there is no problem in over paneling. If the panels are putting out more than the rated capacity of the controller the controller will limit the output. This will not damage the controller.

Dan

Great to know! Thanks for sharing!

[KiwiNZ]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Here’s a few pics of the MultiPlus installation before o cover it up.

I hope I can can make half as nice a job when I work on mine in 6 weeks.
Nearly got all the things needed to start

[Fair_Enough]

Very nice install Ronnie.
WW

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by skitger

Ronnie, Nice work! You can't see all your hard work "under the hood", can't wait to see it in action, all you need now is a sunny day! I am down on the Gulf coast now, a little foggy, but beat rain and snow!

Rick,
That’s great. If you happen to come up our way stop by.

P.S. I’m about to start a project that will be right up your alley.
600Ah of BattleBorn Lithium and a 300o watt MultiPlus in a 2019 Basecamp. Lotta power in a small space.

[CarterKraft]

How much solar can you get on a BaseCamp? That one will be interesting.
They should be able to power a small mini split pretty easily with that much battery.

Build thread?

[Rocinante]

Build thread, build thread! Interested to see how you get that much into, on top of, and around a Basecamp, and how you'll use it.

[daleyocum]

Interesting technical conversation with the CEO of Battleborn Batteries. At 9:06 he give advice of making your batteries last as long as possible. One interesting note, charge them to 100%. Some people derate their battery pack to say ,90%, and at least with Battleborn that isn’t optimal. https://youtu.be/ywn-vBjKblI

Also an interesting factory tour of Battleborn. https://youtu.be/hOvcgxiSs_Q

[GMFL]

I’ll start one as soon as we start the project.
Build will only have 200 watts of rooftop solar. Customer wants to be able to run the AC at night along with a few other items. Primary means of recharge will be a Honda eU2200 feeding the Victron MultiPlus’s 120 amp charging capabilities.
Base amps AC only draws between 800-900 watts so he can run wants needed at night and reset everything the next day. Total battery bank will be 7800Wh
Anyway should be a fun and interesting build.
Also looking at the option of boosting the TV’s alternator and using a Buck Booster system to charge the batteries better directly from the TV.
I hope it works out and I get to do it....

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by daleyocum

Interesting technical conversation with the CEO of Battleborn Batteries. At 9:06 he give advice of making your batteries last as long as possible. One interesting note, charge them to 100%. Some people derate their battery pack to say ,90%, and at least with Battleborn that isn’t optimal. https://youtu.be/ywn-vBjKblI

Also an interesting factory tour of Battleborn. https://youtu.be/hOvcgxiSs_Q

You need to charge to 100% because battleborn (like victron and most if not all other lithium’s in this class of 12/24v batteries) rely on a simplistic / rudimentary passive cell balancing approach which only happens when you reach 100% of target voltage per cell. (Current is bled off one cell in series in favor of another with lower voltage that needs to “catch up” due to variances in the individual cells).

If you perform many cycles without hitting and floating at 100% for the appropriate amount of time your cells will individually move away from each other in individual voltages. Ultimately that would shorten battery lifespan and overall energy storage ability by working some cells harder than others and eventually you would not be able to recover the full performance of the battery pack housed in a given battery enclosure.

He gives that advice not because of the benefits of 100% charge to maintain chemistry lifespan like a lead acid, but because of the effects of many cycles without balancing. The latter can and likely will have more rapid degradation effects on the pack in a given battery enclosure by reducing overall energy storage capacity.

Ultimately, for the savvy owner who demands absolutely maximum lifespan, it’s more advantageous (in theory) to (amongst other things) cycle to 80-90% but equalize at 100% only as/when needed based on reading individual cell voltages and making that determination based on the individual cell voltage data. This approach is only practical with a BMS and monitoring capability that allows you to observe individual cell voltages across your bank. Lithium cells still don’t like to be stored or floated at 100% for extended periods of time as it can and will have an accelerated degradation effect of the cathode in this battery class causing it to have a lower lithium concentration as compared to a new cell, and hence lower cell performance in terms of its absolute ability to store the same amount of energy as when it was originally manufactured.

In theory... in practice it probably doesn’t matter and with an RV you won’t see any issues with 100% charge cycles for a many years and many many many cycles. Hence the recommendation to cycle to 100% [emoji4] Victron will tell you (and has told me) the same thing.

... in case you were wondering why he made that comment

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I’ll start one as soon as we start the project.
Build will only have 200 watts of rooftop solar. Customer wants to be able to run the AC at night along with a few other items. Primary means of recharge will be a Honda eU2200 feeding the Victron MultiPlus’s 120 amp charging capabilities.
Base amps AC only draws between 800-900 watts so he can run wants needed at night and reset everything the next day. Total battery bank will be 7800Wh
Anyway should be a fun and interesting build.
Also looking at the option of boosting the TV’s alternator and using a Buck Booster system to charge the batteries better directly from the TV.
I hope it works out and I get to do it....

I am looking at using the new Victron Orion 12/12-30 DC-DC charger on a friends SOB 5er. I like the networking of components and the ability to supervise it all from one app.

[GMFL]

Victron definitely has the networking of their components down pat. The Victron Connect app is a great tool.