Solar Input

[fabes]

I've been going over a few different options for a solar set up for full-timing and want to boondock as much as possible. Trailer is a 42" Eagle 5th Wheel with residential fridge. Below is what I was looking at getting. Was hoping some of you guys smarter than me can poke holes in this set up and offer suggestions for improvements or missing equipment. Thanks!

Qty 8 - 100W Mono panels
Qty 4 - 100amp Lithium Battle Born Batteries
Qty 1 - Victron BMV 712 Bluetooth Battery Monitor
Qty 1 - Victron SmartSolar 100/50 Solar Charge Controller
Qty 1 - Progressive Dynamics 60 amp Lithium Converter
Qty 1 - VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE 1500 Watt (3000W Surge)
Qty 1 - BEP battery switch

[oldmanAZ]

There is a 'Social Group' on this site called 'RVing with solar'. I'm sure that group with have lots of info for you.

[Seann45]

It might cost you less if you go with larger panels.. Say 5 - 165 watt panels

[Les7h]

Larger panels would probably save money - this sounds like a nice system but if you want to use an electric coffee maker or the microwave - you would need a larger inverter - we have a 1800 watt Xantrex on our Seneca and love it but if it ever dies we will replace it with a 3000 watt hybrid inverter/charger wired to the whole motorhome instead of just the TVs and microwave - our Bluesky 3024i with the Bluesky IPN-proRemote monitor does double duty as a battery monitor also but would require 2 charge controllers for 800 watts of solar ( 1 monitor would read both controllers ) Les

[bdreinv]

Maybe do a little research on controllers MPPT is like comparing candles to light bulbs.Might consider 40 amp controller!Seems like solar people always want to add panels! Thanks

[fabes]

Thanks for the input everyone!

[Gizmopilot]

I just got a new 2018 eagle 322rlok.

I ordered it with a residential refrigerator, that option included a xantrex 1200/2400 freedom x inverter with auto transfer. And the plug by the stove is also on the inverter.

The eagle came solar prepped with upto 30 amps on the roof.

My eagle also came with a PD4560 and it already had the lithium battery function built in it was just moving a jumper on the converter circuit board to activate it.

I purchased the victron energy 100/50.(not installed yet)
I already installed the victron energy bmv-712 (very nice)
I already installed 2 battle born 100ah batteries (amazing)
I plan on installing 3 300 watt renogy panels wired in parallel

I decided that since my primary goal was to run my refrigerator for at least 24 hours on batteries and that with 50 amps of solar (I live in the north east with at max of 4 hours of peak sunlight in the summer) it didn’t make sense to go with more than 200ah of lithium as it couldn’t be recharged in a day of nice sunlight while also using the refrigerator.

I instead invested $950 in a Westinghouse igen 4500 inverter generator with remote start/stop that fits perfectly in the bed of my truck locked under my diamond back hd tonneau cover.

I also installed a progressive industries hard wired 50 amp ems (to protect my electrical)

I also installed 2 micro-air soft starts so I can run both of my 15k btu ac’s from my generator and top off my batteries if needed such as when not enough sunlight.

That seemed the better choice than 2 more battle born batteries.

So far I have not used more than 100ah of batteries in a 12 hour window overnight running the fridge, lights (all led), even the heater we got down in the 50’s and I even ran an extension cord from my 50” tv and led fireplace (no heat), and a little water pump.

I then reconnected my shore power and my converter in lithium mode had my batteries topped off in about 2.5 hours I was getting as much as 45 amps according to my bmv712.

Hope this helps

[fabes]

Sounds like an awesome setup. Thanks for sharing. I'm picking up my trailer on the 27th so it's getting to crunch time where I need to finally pull the trigger on something

[Gizmopilot]

Is your rv new?

Did you get a built in generator?

Victron energy also makes a controller that manages the 100/50, bmv 712, and it can auto start a generator when the batteries get low.

I’ve been doing this a little at a time over the past few months as I work full time.

That is why I’m doing the solar last.

[fabes]

It's a new Eagle 355MBQS. Didn't get the generator prep package. I'm hoping that a robust solar setup can keep me powered 90% of the time. May have to add a few more batteries. I'll be full timing so I figure for the first few weeks I'll stay at a full hook up site while I work the bugs out of my rookie solar install.

[Gizmopilot]

Nice rv - I just traded in a bunk house for my current rv.

It looks like you get the same inverter and refrigerator that came with mine.

I’ve calculated that the refrigerator will consume about 150ah every 24 hours if only powered by the existing inverter.

Are you planning on upgrading your inverter to the 1500/3000 you mentioned or adding it as an extra one?

Have you calculated typical available sunlight where you plan on being?

You may need to add an additional mppt solar controller and panels to fully charge 400ah as it would take currently 8 hours if you could get a full 50 amps from your panels

[bdreinv]

FYI if you do not have Jayco's calculated loads its attached! Thanks

[Trippin]

I'd be glad to show you what I did to my 2018 SLX 7 174bh BAJA too. It turned out fantastic, and dumping the generator was the best thing I ever could have done. I carry a Sportsman 800/1000 watt (Honda knock off) just to charge my batteries if it rains.

[allen8106]

Originally Posted by fabes

I've been going over a few different options for a solar set up for full-timing and want to boondock as much as possible. Trailer is a 42" Eagle 5th Wheel with residential fridge. Below is what I was looking at getting. Was hoping some of you guys smarter than me can poke holes in this set up and offer suggestions for improvements or missing equipment. Thanks!

Qty 8 - 100W Mono panels
Qty 4 - 100amp Lithium Battle Born Batteries
Qty 1 - Victron BMV 712 Bluetooth Battery Monitor
Qty 1 - Victron SmartSolar 100/50 Solar Charge Controller
Qty 1 - Progressive Dynamics 60 amp Lithium Converter
Qty 1 - VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE 1500 Watt (3000W Surge)
Qty 1 - BEP battery switch

My recommendations:
Qty 8 - 100W Mono panels - OK
Qty 4 - 100amp Lithium Battle Born Batteries - OK
Qty 1 - Victron BMV 712 Bluetooth Battery Monitor - Bogart TM2030
Qty 1 - Victron SmartSolar 100/50 Solar Charge Controller - Morning Star TS-60
Qty 1 - Progressive Dynamics 60 amp Lithium Converter - Delete
Qty 1 - VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE 1500 Watt (3000W Surge) - Suggest Magnum Inverter/charger of your choice.
Qty 1 - BEP battery switch - OK

[bdreinv]

Curious what does a set up like that run?We had similar wants list 1 275watt industrial panel, MPPT controller. 2 6volt deep cycle batteries.We are in Arizona have lots of sun.Maybe would like 2 more additional batteries.Some one mentioned the auto defrost in the residential frig is what kills batteries.Evidently you can disable that, saves lots of power! Thanks

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by bdreinv

…..Some one mentioned the auto defrost in the residential frig is what kills batteries.Evidently you can disable that, saves lots of power! Thanks

Defrost mode is 85Amps (DC side). The defrost cycle ran about 20+ minutes, unknown how many times it was activated in a 24 hour time frame or what was used by the fridge's microcomputer to activate it.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[bdreinv]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

Defrost mode is 85Amps (DC side). The defrost cycle ran about 20+ minutes, unknown how many times it was activated in a 24 hour time frame or what was used by the fridge's microcomputer to activate it.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

Thanks we have the 1210 frig works fine with solar!We pretty much allways dry camp.Heading out to the lake today!
Thanks

[fabes]

Lot of stuff came up so I got sidetracked big time. Thanks for all the input. Here's what I ended up installing. The shorepower now runs directly to the inverter and the inverter to the breaker panel, split to power both sides. Ditched the factory inverter. It's working really well, at least for the three days it's been up.

8 x 100W flex panels ran in two series
4 x 100ah 12v batteries
1 x Victron Multiplus 3000w inverter/charger
1 x Victron Battery Monitor BMV-712
1 x Victron 150/85Tr SmartSolar Charge Controller MPPT
1 x Current Surge Limiter

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

Defrost mode is 85Amps (DC side). The defrost cycle ran about 20+ minutes, unknown how many times it was activated in a 24 hour time frame or what was used by the fridge's microcomputer to activate it.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

45amps. 🙂

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by klassic

45amps. 🙂

Thanks klassic