Upgrading batteries/charging in 2012 GT 378

[Thatsmrpigg]

Hi all,
My name is Steve and I am new to the Forest River forum. I am in the early stages of planning a battery/charging upgrade to our 2012 Georgetown 378. My wife and I would like to do more dry camping and I would like to swap out my converter with a GoPower 3000 inverter/charger with a 300ah lithium battery bank that would be relocated within one of our bays. However, when doing research I have not been able to find any info on installing an inverter charger in conjunction with the Battery Control Center located in the battery bay under the steps. I am confused as to where in the system line to install the inverter/charger. It seems like it is probably pretty straight forward but I am stumped. Has anyone made this (or similar) upgrade before?
Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[JLeising]

Here’s a link to my description of my lithium upgrade:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ml#post2286869

Post #171

And my inverter install:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ml#post2311038

Post # 11


Somewhat different - I went with a lithium converter and a separate inverter. Also, I went with 200 amp-hours of lithium house batteries. I disabled the BCC battery interconnect relay, so disabling alternator charging. I then added a dc-to-dc, lithium compatible charger to charge the lithium house batteries while driving. My rationale for the above is explained in the linked posts.

FYI
Jim

[Thatsmrpigg]

Thank you! I will dive into this thread. Sounds like great info.

[JLeising]

Robert (rk06382) posted a lot of information about the BCC in this thread:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...7a-194843.html

In the picture in his first post in the thread, the battery interconnect relay I disabled is the large relay to the right of the circuit board. I simply disconnected the “hot” (non-ground) wire from the relay coil (the relay coil wires are the small wires connected to the relay with nut-fastened eyelet connectors).

FYI
Jim

[Tom48]

OUR NEW TO ME, DP has the Magnum Converter/Inverter. It would take the place of the Converer/charger that is normally behind the fuse and breaker panel in most trailers. Ours runs BIG CABLES From the battery bank and in turn of course charges back through those cables when on Gen or shore power. Certain of our A/C circuits are run off of and through the A/C output of the Inverter. When ON shore power the legs of A/C that run off the inverter have an internal relay and switch back to just a pass power from the GEN or Shore power on through.

No magic just take the original Converter out of service and feed the DC bus from the Battery bank. Put the Inverter-Converter/Charger close to the battery bank cause those 02 or 04 cables are pricy. then decide if you will run the FULL inverter output back to the Main A/C breaker panel ( and take the responsibility to manage inverter power use "MANUALLY") or pass it to only the Microwave and a select GFI outlet group straight off the inverter's two beakers like ours does; or run a Sub Panel of select breakers off he Inverter/Converter-Charger, like many coaches do.

Put on your big boys pants and dive in. I am not sure I would be that ambitious but excited to hear and see how yours comes out.

Good Luck

TOM

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by Thatsmrpigg

Hi all,
My name is Steve and I am new to the Forest River forum. I am in the early stages of planning a battery/charging upgrade to our 2012 Georgetown 378. My wife and I would like to do more dry camping and I would like to swap out my converter with a GoPower 3000 inverter/charger with a 300ah lithium battery bank that would be relocated within one of our bays. However, when doing research I have not been able to find any info on installing an inverter charger in conjunction with the Battery Control Center located in the battery bay under the steps. I am confused as to where in the system line to install the inverter/charger. It seems like it is probably pretty straight forward but I am stumped. Has anyone made this (or similar) upgrade before?
Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

We have a 2013 378 and your project really depends on how long you want to dry camp and the power you need. We only need 120 volts for the fridge and 12 volts for everything else. So for us to do 3 days of dry camp 6 12 volt batteries would enough. (2 12 volt Trojan 1275 batteries are enough for 24 hours). Though this is bare bones power need.
First thing I would do is a power calculation for your length of dry camping.
Let us know and others will give you great advice.