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Old 04-28-2018, 06:38 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382 View Post
I understand your point. I have never used the emergency bridge. I had two class Cs before my FR3. I bought a trickle charger to maintain the engine battery when I was plugged into shore power.

BLACK+DECKER BM3B 6V and 12V Automatic Battery Charger / Maintainer



I have six 100 watt solar panels for the roof (Renogy RNG-100D-S) and a 40 amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller (EPSOLAR TRIRON4210N). I plan to have two more 100 watt panels as a portable to point at the sun.



This is all new stuff for me. I had to learn about what was the best available on Amazon for each element of this project.



I went with Samlex EVO-2212 Pure Sine Inverter/Charger because it had a built in transfer switches for both Shore and Generator power. I can always start the generator to charge the batteries with 100 amps. It has a maximum continuous DC input current of 266A. That means I need at least three 100ah batteries.



I will do more research and order on four on Monday.


No. 266A continuous is what you can put into the inverter until you burn it out. So put on a maximum fuse of 250A. Would put on a 225A fuse if they make it in a
Class T but I think the smallest is 250A. And anything thereafter, you are looking for battery capacity.
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Old 04-28-2018, 06:39 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by TitanMike View Post
Just a personal observation but I'd never have an engine starting battery as part of a house battery bank. Learned not to with a cruiser. Both engines ended up with their own starting batteries an the house bank was totally separate.



No LiFe batteries back then but if I had them I'd have installed a separate alternator for the house bank. I believe some engines today have a mount for the second alternator.



Just my own thoughts.


That is what I was alluding to when I said don’t mix lead acid and LiFePO4 batteries. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. So yes, agreed.
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Old 04-30-2018, 10:07 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382 View Post
I understand your point. I have never used the emergency bridge. I had two class Cs before my FR3. I bought a trickle charger to maintain the engine battery when I was plugged into shore power.
BLACK+DECKER BM3B 6V and 12V Automatic Battery Charger / Maintainer

I have six 100 watt solar panels for the roof (Renogy RNG-100D-S) and a 40 amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller (EPSOLAR TRIRON4210N). I plan to have two more 100 watt panels as a portable to point at the sun.

This is all new stuff for me. I had to learn about what was the best available on Amazon for each element of this project.

I went with Samlex EVO-2212 Pure Sine Inverter/Charger because it had a built in transfer switches for both Shore and Generator power. I can always start the generator to charge the batteries with 100 amps. It has a maximum continuous DC input current of 266A. That means I need at least three 100ah batteries.

I will do more research and order on four on Monday.
I have ordered four 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 from Battle Born Batteries. They gave me a $50 off each battery for military discount. That was able to pay for air-freight to Alaska. They will need to discharge them to 30% for the plane ride.

I talked to a tech about the emergency bridge to start the engine. He did not see it as an issue as I will have four batteries. As soon as you bridge the batteries the dead battery is going to start recharging. It would be like jump starting your car.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 04-30-2018, 10:11 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by rk06382 View Post
I have ordered four 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 from Battle Born Batteries. They gave me a $50 off each battery for military discount. That was able to pay for air-freight to Alaska. They will need to discharge them to 30% for the plane ride.



I talked to a tech about the emergency bridge to start the engine. He did not see it as an issue as I will have four batteries. As soon as you bridge the batteries the dead battery is going to start recharging. It would be like jump starting your car.


Congratulations on your purchase! Keep us in the loop on the install.
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Old 05-05-2018, 12:03 AM   #25
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Update May 4, 2018

Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382 View Post
I am having Cache Camper Manufacturing, Inc. build the compartment and install the Inverter. We talked about venting heat with a small fan. I will be able the monitor the temperature with the remote panel.
Stopped by to check on the new compartment:
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This will the Cache Camper Tech working on the new box. My Fr3 should be done tomorrow.

More to come.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 05-11-2018, 12:51 PM   #26
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Should be an interesting project. I've already installed our Magnum Inverter (inverted) in the bay next to the house batteries. Was a challege lifting it into place though.

I'm going down the Lithium battery path too but typical off the shelf lithium batteries are too steep for my blood, so I'm working with 2-used CMax Energi battery pack (7.6 Kw each). I haven't gotten to do the install in the RV just yet. One issue is since these aren't LiFePO4 batteries, their nominal voltage will be a bit higher/lower for typical 12v devices.

The Cmax Energi battery pack comes in 4 module bank of 21 - 24ah 3.7v nominal cells each, wired in series. So I'll either shuffle the cells around to be a 4S or 3S. Ideally, 21 leads it nicely to 7 parallel wired in series for each module. Making each module 168 ah at 12.6 to 9v battery. Since I have the Magnum 3012 inverter, it can handle either a 3S or 4S pack (voltage range is 9vdc-17vdc).

Heres a what the Energi Modules look like if your interested. They are designed to be 2x2 package. This is them broken down to individual modules.
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Old 05-12-2018, 03:57 AM   #27
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Should be an interesting project. I've already installed our Magnum Inverter (inverted) in the bay next to the house batteries. Was a challege lifting it into place though.

I'm going down the Lithium battery path too but typical off the shelf lithium batteries are too steep for my blood, so I'm working with 2-used CMax Energi battery pack (7.6 Kw each). I haven't gotten to do the install in the RV just yet. One issue is since these aren't LiFePO4 batteries, their nominal voltage will be a bit higher/lower for typical 12v devices.

The Cmax Energi battery pack comes in 4 module bank of 21 - 24ah 3.7v nominal cells each, wired in series. So I'll either shuffle the cells around to be a 4S or 3S. Ideally, 21 leads it nicely to 7 parallel wired in series for each module. Making each module 168 ah at 12.6 to 9v battery. Since I have the Magnum 3012 inverter, it can handle either a 3S or 4S pack (voltage range is 9vdc-17vdc).

Heres a what the Energi Modules look like if your interested. They are designed to be 2x2 package. This is them broken down to individual modules.
I saw a YouTube of another RV Lithium Battery project with surplus car batteries. He has worked on it for over a year.


Good luck with your project.

I will upload new pictures of my FR3 install in my next post.
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Old 05-12-2018, 05:19 AM   #28
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This the new Inverter/Charger installed in the back of the compartment next to the battery bay.
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The wire hanging down is the temperature probe. It is not needed. The BMS on the Battle Borns takes care of the battery temperature.
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This is the Battle Borns in the Battery Bay.
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I could not have done a better job. See the diamond plate?
I had to charge the batteries when I got home as the Battle Borns were Air shipped with a 30% charge.
I called Battle Born the get the charge curve settings for their batteries. Then I had to contact Samlex to get the latest EVO firmware updated for Lithium batteries. Current version is v0.75, my EVO-2212 was on v0.65.

While I working on that the wind ripped the gas spring off the door. I had to run to RV dealer to get a new gas spring. Now I need to fix that tomorrow.

I still need to go over all the settings. Next week I need to contact Forest River about for the roof repair so, I can install solar panels.
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Old 05-28-2018, 10:56 PM   #29
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Impressive
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Old 05-29-2018, 04:27 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexchuang View Post
Impressive
I am going over the manuals because I have a Neutral to Ground Bond. I think the generator connection is the problem. There is a Neutral to Ground Bond relay for the Generator in a vehicle installation.

I am scheduled to get roof repaired on June 5th. Solar Panels installation will be after that.

System is cool. I just power-on the EVO-2212 and I have 120v AC.

I may have to install a shore power panel to power systems I don't want on inverter 120v AC.
IE: Refrigerator, Hot water heater, Converter.

More to follow as it comes together.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 05-29-2018, 09:08 AM   #31
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Originally Posted by rk06382 View Post
I am going over the manuals because I have a Neutral to Ground Bond. I think the generator connection is the problem. There is a Neutral to Ground Bond relay for the Generator in a vehicle installation.



I am scheduled to get roof repaired on June 5th. Solar Panels installation will be after that.



System is cool. I just power-on the EVO-2212 and I have 120v AC.



I may have to install a shore power panel to power systems I don't want on inverter 120v AC.

IE: Refrigerator, Hot water heater, Converter.



More to follow as it comes together.


Personally I shuffled around the breakers and replaced some breakers with HOMT breakers and cut the buss bar in the panel leaving a 3/16 gap in between the two busses. So now one leg of the 50A breaker powers one 20A A/C circuit and the other powers a 20A A/C circuit, water heater, converter, and inverter supply. The newly created ‘sub panel’ carries everything else.
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Old 06-04-2018, 10:19 PM   #32
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After talking to Samlex support engineer, I installed a 70 AMP sub-panel in the power bay with a 30 AMP circuit breaker for shore power input. I repurposed my generator plug to mount my Progressive Industries SSP-30XL Surge Protector in the power bay. I will add a strap to keep it in place while on the road.
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I removed my Hot Water cable from the main 120v AC panel. I will later install a 15 AMP circuit breaker in the sub-panel to power the Hot Water heater from shore power.
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Old 06-14-2018, 06:51 PM   #33
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600 watts of Solar Panels

I now have a complete Solar system.

1> Six 100 Watt Solar Panels.
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2> Four 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery.
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3> 2200 Watt Inverter/Charger.
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Now I have to program the EPever/EPsolar TRIRON N40 MPPT solar charge controller for LiFePO4 batteries, load up and go camping.

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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 07-18-2018, 05:27 AM   #34
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I am ordering the Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor with Built-In Bluetooth from Amazon this weekend.

I need it to gauge how much power is left in the battery bank.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 08-13-2018, 12:34 AM   #35
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I am ordering the Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor with Built-In Bluetooth from Amazon this weekend.

I need it to gauge how much power is left in the battery bank.
The Victron BMV-712 is installed on the negative side of the batteries & a battery shut off switch on the positive side.

I plan to upgrade from a 40a MPPT to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Solar Charge Controller. Both Victrons have bluetooth and can network with each other to share data. Also ordered two more 100 watt solar panels as the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 is rated for 700 watts. The theory is with fixed solar panel the sun will never be at 90 degrees.

Did a two night boondock trip a week ago. Inverter, Solar Panels & Batteries worked fine. Epever solar charge controller locked up on the first day. I had to go outside and reboot it. The 2nd day, I saw a 240 watts on the solar panels on a cloudy day. When the sun came out, it went up to 340 watts or 24 amps. The wattage dropped off by 3 pm. The batteries appeared to be fully charged.

I did not have the BMV-712 to know how many amp hours were used or when the batteries were fully charged. Now I will be able to monitor the batteries on the next trip.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 11-14-2018, 04:01 PM   #36
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The Victron BMV-712 is installed on the negative side of the batteries & a battery shut off switch on the positive side.

I plan to upgrade from a 40a MPPT to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Solar Charge Controller. Both Victrons have bluetooth and can network with each other to share data. Also ordered two more 100 watt solar panels as the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 is rated for 700 watts. The theory is with fixed solar panel the sun will never be at 90 degrees.

Did a two night boondock trip a week ago. Inverter, Solar Panels & Batteries worked fine. Epever solar charge controller locked up on the first day. I had to go outside and reboot it. The 2nd day, I saw a 240 watts on the solar panels on a cloudy day. When the sun came out, it went up to 340 watts or 24 amps. The wattage dropped off by 3 pm. The batteries appeared to be fully charged.

I did not have the BMV-712 to know how many amp hours were used or when the batteries were fully charged. Now I will be able to monitor the batteries on the next trip.
That line should have read, "Before I had a BMV-712, I did not know how many amps were used or when the batteries were fully charged."

Update:
I have the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Solar Charge Controller installed.

I also installed venting to keep the Samlex EVO-2212 and the Victron SmartSolar MPPT from overheating. I used the internal cooling fan of the EVO-2212 to vent the compartment.

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Battery Master shutoff and red positive bus bar

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The back of the custom box for the Samlex EVO-2212

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With the hole cut out, you can see the Samlex EVO-2212

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Flashing was used to create an air duct from the exhaust of the Samlex EVO-2212 to the outside vent.

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The finished outside exhaust vent. You can see the driveshaft in the bottom of the picture.

More pictures in the next post of the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Solar Charge Controller and the intake vent.
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Robert
2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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Old 03-22-2019, 11:29 PM   #37
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This is my Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 mounted in the same compartment as the Samlex EVO-2212 Inverter/Charger.
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The battery compartment is behind the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50. The air vent for the compartment is seen at the top.
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2018 FR3 28DS | Boondock 99% of the time
Samlex EVO-3012 Inverter/Charger | 600ah Battle Born LiFePO4 | Victron BMV-712 & MPPT 100/50 | 800W Renogy Solar | Fan-Tastic Fans | Blue Ox TruCenter | SnapPads | SumoSprings | Koni Shocks | RVLock
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