Solar Show and Tell

[uncle_bob]

Very nice indeed !!!!

[GOUSC]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Very nice indeed !!!!

This says it all.

[chris_kelly]

Originally Posted by GOUSC

This says it all.

Totally.

What about helping the self installer?

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by chris_kelly

Totally.

What about helping the self installer?

I do my part when I can.....

[GMFL]

Build a jig and worked out the fine details to be able to make copper buss bar battery interconnects.
1/4” x 1” silver plated (not tinned) Oxygen free copper.
3/8” holes punched nut drilled for precise holes.
They are rated at 500A and can be made for 2,3,4,5,6........ battery.
Work super well for the BattleBorn GC2’s.

[rmkrum]

Nicely done. You should consider making and selling kits for this setup!

[rmkrum]

Either that, or I’m going to have to move BACK to Alabama to get some of this good stuff from you directly.

[Atomic_13]

Agreed! That is some high quality craftsmanship. Nice job, Ronnie.

[GOUSC]

This thread has been a great resource for solar installs in our Airstreams. I recently upgraded my factory solar controller to the Victron MPPT 100/30 along with a Victron Battery Sensor, Solar Cut-off switch and a 40 Amp breaker. The potential safety issue I ran into relates to the 40 Amp breaker. I purchased most of these parts from AM Solar.

I want to stress that I am by no means an electrical expert. I followed some of the pictures and narratives in this thread to determine how to connect some of the components. I also referred to the AM Solar diagram on their website since I purchased the parts from them. As noted earlier, I also referred to contacts on this forum that are knowledgeable in this area. The OP and I are in disagreement over whether this is a safety issue or not. I just wanted to post this information so that others can make their own informed decision when wiring the breaker.

The 40 Amp breaker has 2 connecting posts. The one on the left is labeled “line”. The one on the right is labeled “load”. Post #136 in this thread has a collage of 8 pictures of the OP’s equipment and connections for their 400W system. If you look at the bottom row, 3rd picture from the left I could see that the studs are labelled “line” and “load”. The top stud in the picture is labeled “load” on the black paint of the breaker. This connection goes to the MPPT. This would then have the stud labeled “line” going to the batteries. I initially wired mine up the same way as the OP.

Prior to connecting the power, I referred to the AM Solar diagram for the connections. I noticed their connections were different. They have the “line” stud connected to the MPPT and the “load” connection going to the batteries.

I reached out to AM Solar to confirm the connection in their diagram. They confirmed what their diagram displayed and believe that is the correct way to install the breaker.

I reached out to the OP, who posted the pictures to determine if he had anything to confirm his connections as I perceived this to be a safety issue. Below is his response;

“Ok I looked into this issue myself. From what I read it doesn’t make any difference. I looked at the specifications and there’s no line or load indication. Both my terminals are silver so that’s no indication. I didn’t crawl under my bed inside my storage compartment to see if my breaker is labeled line and load. I’m just going to leave mine wired the way it is, backwards from the AmSolar diagram. If there is a short or overload, I’m certain the breaker will perform its job. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.”

I had a few more private messages with the OP in an attempt to see if he could provide some additional clarification. Having received none, I wanted to provide clarification here.

I did some research regarding “line” and “load” with regard to breakers and they all stated the “line” side should be where the power is coming from and the “load” side is where the power is going to. AM Solar confirmed the same. The power is coming from the solar panels and going to the batteries. Based on that, the MPPT is the “line” side and passes this power to the “load”, the batteries.

Below is link to an article which also spells this out very well. It also notes reversing polarity would result in safety issues and irreversible damage. I wanted to make sure this information is included in this thread so anyone can make their own decisions in connecting their breaker.

https://www.quisure.com/blog/faq/com...rcuit-breakers

Item #5 in this article is the critical one to me.

5. Are DC circuit breakers directional?
Direct currents flow has one and one only ‘unidirectional’ flow of electrical charge one a constant direction, e.g. batteries or solar cells so the DC circuit breaker must respect that one direction charge. Reversing polarity would result in safety issues and irreversible damage. DC circuit breakers must be built to maintain arc voltage that will interrupt the current, at low currents. DC currents are constant currents, while AC is sinusoidal current.

The above is consistent with what AM Solar posts on their website regarding the use of this breaker.

[kb7our]

Made some additional updates to my install:

Added 3 cut off switches and relocated tongue jack (lever) breaker in the shallow cabinet under the small portion of the L lounge.

Included a pic of the factory panel cut out also located under the lounge seat which is where the 12V wiring panel was relocated. Added wiring labels.

Thanks again to the OP for the inspiration!

[GMFL]

More buss bar shenanigans. Twisting bar stock to change post orientation.
Note the opposite twist on each side (1) clockwise (1) counter clockwise to add a little Wham-Pow! to the install.

[waninae39]

I have similar red shut off switches.
3, one each fir solar panel, battery and front jack

My switches have pull out handles to allow them to be "locked in".
I mounted them on the rear of the panel, drill a hole for the key.
Now just the keys appear and hide the switches, this allow easy access in shut off the jack when we camp.
I'll try to post a photo soon as inet is limited where we are camping now

[rmkrum]

Ronnie, you are definitely a charter member of the Overkill Engineering Department! Looks super clever, and I love the symmetry that gives. [emoji1360]

I bet it took a fair amount of force to get that twist just right?

[gregwall]

Originally Posted by GMFL

More buss bar shenanigans. Twisting bar stock to change post orientation.
Note the opposite twist on each side (1) clockwise (1) counter clockwise to add a little Wham-Pow! to the install.

You are a true craftsman! Too cool!

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

I bet it took a fair amount of force to get that twist just right?

Currently I’m using a large benchTop vise with aluminum jaw covers and a huge crescent wrench.

I working on building a tool I will call “The Buss Bar Bender”. Details to follow.....

[rmkrum]

Nothing quite as handy as big tools when it comes to doing stuff like this. I’ve worked a couple projects where, if they didn’t have the right tool to break things, they had a complete machine shop and welding equipment to make an appropriate tool to break whatever they wanted.

[GMFL]

DC distribution board for our 30’ GT is complete!

[Mike46032]

Originally Posted by GMFL

DC distribution board for our 30’ GT is complete!

Any chance we can get an outline of what your doing and trying to accomplish? The workmanship looks incredible.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by Mike46032

Any chance we can get an outline of what your doing and trying to accomplish? The workmanship looks incredible.

Mike,
My project is our 2020 30’ GT. I am a solar installer that is going outside of my normal Victron systems to experiment with some new products.
The install will consist of the following
1000 watts of Zamp Obsidian prototype high voltage panels. (25 volts each) (10)100watt panels ran in 5 pairs.
MasterVolt components, including
(2) MLI Ultra 12/5500 400Ah batteries (800Ah total)
MasterVolt 5000 watt 160A inverter/charger
MasterVolt Mac plus 50A DC/DC Charger
MasterVolt MPPT 60A Charger
(2) MasterVolt Easy View 5 monitors
All BlueSea Systems fuses, switches, and other toys

So basically it’s a 800Ah battery, 5000 watt Inverter, 1Kw Solar install. Pretty big system for an Airstream.....

[wulfraat]

Curious as to why you decided to go with a mastervolt stack? Looks like good stuff btw...

500A blue sea. Smart. I melted a 300A version running the air con for long durations in my system and then had to upgrade