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  • Help with my solar setup plan (details inside)

    Maybe someone on here can help me out with the solar setup I'm planning on creating for my camper van. I have not purchased any of this yet, I want to make sure I have this right before buying anything.

    Please let me know your thoughts on this setup everyone, regarding safety, efficiency, and just plain doing it right:

    4 x 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panels: https://www.fixturedisplays.com/inde...olar%2520panel

    I'm planning on wiring the solar panels in series, so it will be 48v going in to the charge controller.

    MPPT Charge Controller 60 amp, 48V 36V 24V 12V Auto 60A Solar Panel Charge Regulator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...FG1JAJEM&psc=1

    4 x 12V 100Ah Solar Wind AGM SLA DEEP Cycle VRLA Batteries: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...4IXVZNRN&psc=1

    I'm planning on wiring the batteries parallel, so it will be 12v, 400ah.

    Will this work with the way I'm wiring the solar? Can I have 48v solar, going into the charge controller, then to a 12v battery?

    I'll also be adding a 2000w inverter charger (so I can convert DC to AC, and also get shore power): https://www.renogy.com/renogy-2000w-...erter-charger/

    I'm also planning on using this to get charge my house battery bank with the alternator: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

    And I'm planning to also get this Victron Battery Monitor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...92LFYKXB&psc=1

    And obviously I need all the proper wires, connectors, fuses, etc. And I still need to research busbars.

    Any input on this would be helpful. If there is anything incorrect in my plan, I will need reasons because I tend not to just do what other people say unless they have knowledge to back it up that makes logical sense.

    Thanks!

  • #2
    4 AGM batteries in parallel is a BAD plan. AGM will have such low internal resistance, they won't share the load as expected, and you can "walk down" capacity in them much quicker than expected.
    My suggestion = 4 AGM 6V golf cart batteries. Wire 2 in series, then parallel the 2 banks. Same end capacity, but only 2 parallel instead of 4
    Read up on the whys of wiring parallel batteries properly. http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html


    Fuses I really like the terminal mount fuses. Solid protection with a purpose made part. Dual or singles
    https://www.bluesea.com/products/215...k_-_30_to_300A


    PV panels vs Shade. This is going too be a style call on your usage. If you like to park in the sun, then wire the panels in series and use a MPPT controller. If you park in the shade, or expect shade to move across the vehicle during the day, wire in parallel, use a combiner box and PWM controller. Why ? All panels (all real panels) have bypass diodes in them to prevent total shutdown if a leaf or twig shadows the panel. A shaded cell goes high resistance and stops the whole panel production. A bypass diode allows 1/3 of the panel to be shut down and still allow some power to flow.
    Or work out a sandwich board scheme to carry panels to a sunny area and a long cable to transmit power back. Not theft resistant. Have you considered larger Grid Tie panels, 250w may cost you the same as a 100w 12V panel. Still need the MPPT controller.





    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post

      PV panels vs Shade. This is going too be a style call on your usage. If you like to park in the sun, then wire the panels in series and use a MPPT controller. If you park in the shade, or expect shade to move across the vehicle during the day, wire in parallel, use a combiner box and PWM controller. Why ? All panels (all real panels) have bypass diodes in them to prevent total shutdown if a leaf or twig shadows the panel. A shaded cell goes high resistance and stops the whole panel production. A bypass diode allows 1/3 of the panel to be shut down and still allow some power to flow.
      Or work out a sandwich board scheme to carry panels to a sunny area and a long cable to transmit power back. Not theft resistant. Have you considered larger Grid Tie panels, 250w may cost you the same as a 100w 12V panel. Still need the MPPT controller.

      Thanks Mike.

      So if I got 4 6v 225ah batteries and wired them in series and parallel, that would be best then? Like these: https://www.amazon.com/VMAX-capacity...gateway&sr=8-5

      Thanks for the tip on fuses.

      Your last paragraph went over my head, but I will do more research to learn more about what you're saying.

      Comment


      • #4
        They make golf cart batteries in 6V 200A AGM style, that's going to be the least expensive route. Ordering from amazon is going to cost you.
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
          They make golf cart batteries in 6V 200A AGM style, that's going to be the least expensive route. Ordering from amazon is going to cost you.
          OK, I searched around, but I'm not finding batteries that are 6v ~200ah that are AGM, which are any less in price than the batteries I linked above... do you know of another brand/company/website where I could find some like that?

          Thanks!

          Comment


          • #6
            try a local golf course, their shop may order for you
            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

            Comment

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