newmarokie
RVF Supporter
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2023
- Messages
- 158
- Location
- southern oklahoma
- RV Year
- 2019
- RV Make
- newmar
- RV Model
- Dutch Star 4018
- RV Length
- 40'
- Chassis
- Freightliner
- Engine
- 450 hp Cummins
- TOW/TOAD
- 3017 Colorado
- Fulltimer
- No
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Sorry! I am a smarty pants!OMG this is a GREAT upgrade. I never got around to my original solar plan. Life and all that. But it worked out great to wait!
I decided due to advances in the tech that I would swap things around and change over the batteries as phase 1 and add solar as phase 2.
I chose the recently released Epoch 460ah batteries. Three of these link together and fit perfectly in the stock battery tray. These things are amazing - great BMS, linkable, can connect to Victron Cerbo CAN, built in fast acting fuse. And on and on.
The best part is the change over in the battery bay was relatively easy - some additional gear, new battery cables, busses, etc. But phase 1 is done and I am loving having all this juice on hand. Literally tripled my available power storage.
Solar is next - yes, I know, before you smarty pants out there point out the MPPT can only handle 1450w - but I doubt I will be peaking out those panels very often or for very long so its just about perfect.
Here is a rough layout of my new plan - video was shot so look for it on my channel in a few weeks hopefully.
Well in this case at least, the Victron MMPT 250/100 charge controller will simply "ignore" any power over 1450W - at least according to the spec sheet and the footnote therein. So basically it will just be a loss of potential energy.Sorry! I am a smarty pants!
I never before had this happen!
Due to predictions, I moved early to my summer grounds and got caught in a snow storm!!!
That of course, is not my reason for posting on this thread. I too undersized a controller for my 1000 watt bank. Due to colder weather,my panels were producing 938watts. That Bank is 48volt with 60a controller, so no problem.
However I was mistaken about one of my controller specs on my 12v system. I cut too close to spec and lost one due to the higher output in the cold weather.
In combination with previously cloudy days, cold temps, and very bright sun! As well as no cushion on the specs, I now have a reduced capacity system. Till I get a new controller delivered!!!
Very nice! Let us know how the soft-start install and operation goes - if you do a separate thread on it, please post a link here.Finished up everything and turned my system on to test yesterday. All is well. Next week I will install two soft start units. Going to wait and see if I even need solar.
I got 1969 watts out of 1890 watts in panels in New Hampshire one sunny winter day. Initially I wanted to chalk it up to some kind of error but it was due to very cold, very sunny weather.Sorry! I am a smarty pants!
I never before had this happen!
Due to predictions, I moved early to my summer grounds and got caught in a snow storm!!!
That of course, is not my reason for posting on this thread. I too undersized a controller for my 1000 watt bank. Due to colder weather,my panels were producing 938watts. That Bank is 48volt with 60a controller, so no problem.
However I was mistaken about one of my controller specs on my 12v system. I cut too close to spec and lost one due to the higher output in the cold weather.
In combination with previously cloudy days, cold temps, and very bright sun! As well as no cushion on the specs, I now have a reduced capacity system. Till I get a new controller delivered!!!
Would you please share a picture of the panels on your roof? ThanksI got 1969 watts out of 1890 watts in panels in New Hampshire one sunny winter day. Initially I wanted to chalk it up to some kind of error but it was due to very cold, very sunny weather.View attachment 23720
I don’t have one of the six panels on that rig - it was a 31’ Four Winds class C without a lot other stuff on the roof, so plenty of room for panels. This pic is 5 panels on my 30’ Bay Star - all that would easily fit. I now have the same five panels on my 35’ Ventana. Again, all that will easily fit. Each panel is an LG 315w.Would you please share a picture of the panels on your roof? Thanks