12 volt only solar setup? |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Topic: 12 volt only solar setup? Posted: 29 Aug 2021 at 12:02pm |
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I agree. Multiple connectors become multiple failure modes, either caused by lack of human intervention corrosion, mechanical, or thermal stress.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 29 Aug 2021 at 7:37am | ||
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 29 Aug 2021 at 5:35am | ||
Agreed. There is nothing wrong with the way you did it. I was just pointing out that having a second trailer connector, which might not appeal to some, is not a requirement for others contemplating a Li conversion. As I said when I referred the OP to your Li mod write up, that was the only item I would change. Most trailer connector kits, including the popular one from etrailer, already include 30A capacity, which should be plenty for most folks. I wouldn't try to push more than that through a 7 way connector anyhow. Just get a DC DC converter that has an input current rating which doesn't exceed that. If you wanted to use a TV high capacity alternator to charge at a higher rate than that then a second high ampacity connector would be needed. That is an interesting option to consider if you wanted to eliminate carrying a generator for recharging. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 10:07pm | ||
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 8:24pm | ||
You don't need to have a second connector to do that. If you run your solenoid output to the TV +12V pin on the Bargeman it would do the same thing.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 8:03pm | ||
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 7:30pm | ||
StephenH, you could do the same thing using the +12V from the Bargeman to turn the DC DC on and off. Either way, it's a good point that anyone doing this would need to either disconnect their trailer connector as soon as they stop or run a wire from their ignition to the DC DC on/off input, otherwise they will draw down their TV battery trying to charge the trailer battery.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 7:24pm | ||
Be sure to build in proper fuse and/or circuit breaker protection. Each current producing device needs to be fused at the source to protect the wires coming from it. 10 gauge 30A, 8 gauge 40A, 6 gauge 50A. The exception is the solar circuit which needs a fuse or cb at the battery but not the solar end because solar is self limiting in current. All fuses breakers, and switches go in the pos conductors.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Mr. Scott
Groupie Joined: 08 Jun 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 46 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 4:13pm | ||
Awesome. Thank you. It will be a couple of months at least before I start buying parts, but this discussion is really going to help.
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 at 3:48pm | ||
DC to DC: You can see where I put mine in my mods listing. I placed it near the battery. The drawings on Renogy's site are more geared toward a motor home where it will be close to the engine compartment and can be connected to a circuit that is only live when the ignition is on. That triggers the charger to turn on. When power is removed, that triggers it to turn off. On my installation, since i have the separate power circuit, I just draw power from that to the switch since it is only live when the engine is running and the isolation solenoid is closed. When the engine is off, the isolation solenoid opens and the circuit has no current. Thus, the DC to DC charger shuts off. Solar: Yes, it is easy. Since you won't have the converter or the DC to DC charger trying to charge the battery, your solar panel's charge controller will handle the charging just fine. Connect it directly to the battery or run a connection to where you can use an Anderson PowerPole connector. Make sure to get the rubber waterproof boots to install as well so your connections stay dry both when connected or disconnected. These beat the solar MC4 connectors because it does not require a tool to disconnect them and they are much heavier duty so with something that will be plugged and unplugged many times, the Anderson PowerPole connectors are much better. If, like me, you mount the LiFePO4 battery and DC to DC charger inside the RPod, you will want connectors that are easy access from the outside anyway. The PowerPole connectors with the boots work well.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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