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  1. R

    12v LiFePO4 battery recs? Renogy?

    I highly recommend Victron for everything except batteries. But especially for the Multiplus 12/3000. That is an awesome unit. I have been using it since 2018 - full-time 24/7 for 3 years. It’s not just the customer service from Renogy, they buy other companies stuff and put their label on it...
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    Help me configure my panel arrays please

    Remember you need to get the six panels for string1 and six panels for string2. If you decide to get more Sun Gold panels and put the Renogy panels onto their own Mppt SCC - go 2s2p and use a Victron 150/35 - they are like $184.
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    Help me configure my panel arrays please

    you have 12 panels… If you connect two strings 6s2p with those panels - what happens: String1 6s - (4 Renogy & 2 sun gold) Voc - 8x 41.25= 330v - you have plenty of room before 450v Volts - add the volts in series. 33*4 + 34.67*2 =201.34v Amps use lowest - 9.7a This string gives...
  4. R

    Victron 450/100

    Try just plugging in array 2 by itself- does it run correctly? Verify you haven’t switched up the polarity…
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    New Multiplus 3000/12v (NOT MULTIPLUS II) GFCI Tripping when in charge mode at only 6 amps DC (90 Watts)

    Turn off all 120v breakers in your rig. (Maybe put the Multiplus in charger only mode). See if that helps… The issue is many devices may leak a couple a milivolts to ground and by themselves- no issues - so the manufacturers don’t care. But once the GFCI gets more than 5 milivolts going to...
  6. R

    Help me configure my panel arrays please

    You have the right idea - just using a wrong number. The Voc is just for figuring out the max voltage- in your case to absolutely stay below 450v. You need to apply to coldest temperature your area can have and adjust your voltage up. Note: often once you figure out what you are planning for...
  7. R

    Multiplus vs Multiplus II

    Is your 5th wheel a 50a service or a 30amp service? If it’s a 50a get the Multiplus II 12/3000 120vx2. It will automatically take care of the dual phase/single phase issue. If it’s a 30a the original Multiplus will be a great deal.
  8. R

    Question: serializing parallel panels

    Double check that your AIO can handle the amps from the array. Some AIO’s can’t handle a lot of amps (some can so check your specs).
  9. R

    Looking for the best big inverter for my van install

    AC charging is good for a backup. Wire it for 120v 15amp service and carry an extension cord. That way if you need it - you can look for a usable 120v outlet. I have been using my Multiplus for 3 years now 24/7. It’s a great inverter.
  10. R

    Running 240V water heater on 120V?

    Here is maybe a better idea: Leave your current water heater alone - that way your wife always has hot showers. Add a second water heater in front on your water heater and this one runs off the solar dump load. It will always be cold water - and will heat the water up before going into your...
  11. R

    400W 12V Solar Panel 20"X 26"

    I just wanted to share a FRAUD Solar panel my friend was looking at getting on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gA83egV That would be a nice 300w panel - if it were true. It looks good and the math is right Vmp & Imp. But what caught my eye was it was approximately the same size as my 200w panels. I...
  12. R

    N00b who knows just enough to be dangerous

    Welcome - watch out this hobby is addicting…😎
  13. R

    Designing a Solar system for mini Houseboat

    That plan looks good - hopefully the Renogy inverter/charger works well for you… I don’t know anything about that AIO Inverter. From reading on this site Renogy brand seems to be either hit or miss. Some products are great others not-so-much. On a boat I believe Triplex is recommended over...
  14. R

    MASSIVE Overpaneling -MPPT input current

    I have a 600w array on a Victron mppt 100/30, (clips above 440w), it does work in that range, but it also tends to cause some issues with driving the charging voltage a bit high when clipping a lot - which causes that mppt to hit Absorbing and float - well before the other mppt does. Because of...
  15. R

    Portable 2 Wire AutoStart Generator Options

    When I was considering starting my Onan Generator with my Victron CCGX, I discovered a module that I almost purchased (I later decided to just start the generator manually - with the switch). Atkinson electronics GSCM It was really interesting. It seems to do all the things that would be...
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    Switching between solar panel arrays

    I would get a Victron mppt 250/60 (or 250/70), and wire one of the arrays to it to just charge the batteries. That way both arrays are working at max performance. If west array 4s2p into it. If East array 3s2p. Use the array that most closely matches your 120v usage go into the inverter...
  17. R

    Switching between solar panel arrays

    Does your inverter have two separate mppt channels? Do you have a battery? - if so the easiest thing may be to put one array just charging the battery with a separate mppt solar charge controller. To figure out the penalty for combining the arrays we need to know for each array the panels: Voc...
  18. R

    RV solar panel wiring question

    You still can do a ground array - get 4 panels hook them up in series, then connect to your ground mount mppt. That’s if you decide you need more solar.
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    RV solar panel wiring question

    If you carefully select the ground mount panels so they work well with your roof mount array - yes you can. They will just be another parallel string. You will want the Vmp string voltage on the ground to be as close as possible to the Vmp string voltage of the roof array. If you end up with...
  20. R

    How Long Can Your System "Coast"?

    I think everyone has the wrong idea about winter- if you are not getting enough sun in the winter to keep the battery full - go south - that’s what those big black tires on your MotorHome are for. Winter in Arizona or Baja provides plenty of sun… Oops - I think I missed the point😎. In my...
  21. R

    Battery shutting of at 40%

    You are looking for differences - are they all around 3.000v or are the all but one at 3.125v and one is at 2.850v. Also on charging are they all close to the same 3.500v or all they all at 3.312v but one that is at 3.650v. You are looking for the high and low and where most cells are at each...
  22. R

    fifth wheel roof mounted panel, what is best brackets,

    It has Dicor on it - I think this photo was taken towards the end of the project- before that step.
  23. R

    Victron Lynx ...

    I have been helping my Brother-in-Law design his system. We went the same way using the PowerIn’s as the Main Bus Bar. Here is a photo in the middle of construction (actually at a day’s end). The PowerIn on the left will connect to his three Lithium batteries. The switch and BMV712 in...
  24. R

    Cut that high speed cable!

    I don’t worry about theft because if you steal my Starlink you can’t do anything with it - cannot be reused unless the owner transfers the rights via the app. That kills the stolen market.
  25. R

    Battery shutting of at 40%

    Some of the BMS built in counters are not known to be accurate. You may want to get a Victron Smartshunt (or Bmv712) to accurately measure the current flowing into and out of the battery- $112 Also if your cells have become unbalanced, you could be shutting down due to a low cell voltage...
  26. R

    Cut that high speed cable!

    Mine is the Gen2 so it points itself. I got a FlagPoleBuddy system and usually attach it to my ladder w/2 4’ poles (starts out at about 7’ - so it is about 15’ up there) - I have another 2 poles to get it much higher to help w/trees if needed. I have the base and have a 150’ cable- sometimes...
  27. R

    Cut that high speed cable!

    With Starlink it varies- but it is all “fast enough”. I just tested as I was writing this In Arkansas (11pm) and it was the slowest I have seen in a long time 26Mbps down and 15 up. Yesterday 10am, I got 148Mbps down and 18 up. Same spot. A few months ago we were in Baja and the speed really...
  28. R

    fifth wheel roof mounted panel, what is best brackets,

    I think you can zoom on my dad’s brackets in the photo. He cut two 3” pieces. One he bolted onto the bottom of the solar panel frame, the other was screwed into the roof. Then he bolted the two brackets together. It made a “Z” shape (except 90 degree bend instead of 45). I remember...
  29. R

    Cut that high speed cable!

    As a full-time RVer - for us Starlink has been awesome! $150/mo (roam) and I can get signal as long as I don’t have too many trees above me. We boondock a lot and often in areas that don’t have any signal.
  30. R

    fifth wheel roof mounted panel, what is best brackets,

    I used 2” “L” angle stock .125” (from On Line Metals). I made mine 6” long. I used eight prices per 200w panel - bolted four to the corners of the panel and the other four were attached to my Fiberglass roof - VHB Tape, plus a roof screw - Dicore over everything. Mine are in a “C” shape. A...
  31. R

    Mismatched Solar Panels for Van Build

    Thanks for the catch… typo between the brain and the finger…. I fixed the above statement to be correct. 😎
  32. R

    Mismatched Solar Panels for Van Build

    Ok back to interesting problems of mis-matched panels… One other idea. Add a mppt. Mppt#1 100/50: put the two100w panels in parallel- then put them in series with the 200w panel. Design so if you ground mount any they go on this array. Mppt#2 put right side 55w + 35w panels in parallel… put...
  33. R

    Is there a 3-imput Automatic Transfer Switch???

    I used a Victron Multiplus in my MotorHome - it is an inverter/charger and works VERY well. Upstream of the inverter is a transfer switch to switch between grid & generator. One very important thing to check is that the inverter is handling the N-G bonds correctly (Neutral-Ground Bonds). You...
  34. R

    Mismatched Solar Panels for Van Build

    Wow 4 different panels… with 7 panels in total… 1 200w 2 100w 2 55w 2 35w This will be a fun problem. To get started we need to know for each panel the following specs. Voc Vmp Imp And your battery voltage and type.(example - 12v LiFePo4). Also, have you already purchased any Solar Charge...
  35. R

    Automatic Transfer Switch

    One issue you need to solve is your N-G bond. (Neutral-Ground Bond). This unit doesn’t help. When on inverter your inverter needs to supply the N-G. When on generator, the generator needs to supply the N-G bond. When on Grid, the grid will supply the bond. You CANNOT have more than one N-G...
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