Recent content by PlanetExcellent

Our trailer came with 1 80 watt panel and a small PWM controller. I decided to leave it in place, and add 2 210 watt panels with their own controller. It works fine; you can have multiple charge controllers connected to your DC bus bar.

I think there's a misunderstanding on your/their nomenclature. "10/3" = 3 total conductors (one black/line, one white/neutral, one green/bare/ground). You make it sound like there are 3 load wires AND a ground. You just need X/3 to connect to the inverter AC input/output terminals. And I...

I have the XC 3000 Pro. Yes, it will automatically sense and charge a battery that has been discharged to the point where its Battery Management System has put it into "sleep" mode to protect it. That happened once to me, and I just plugged the shore power into a household outlet and came back...

I think that was the panel/converter I had which I removed when I installed my inverter. I don't think it's lithium compatible. I would just install a battery disconnect switch so you can isolate your batteries from both incoming charge and outgoing loads over the winter. Before you...

I had the same issue -- inverter up front, shore power coming from far side to distro panel. I used 10/3 cable, and used a 30 amp plug set to connect the shore power to the new cable leading to the inverter. Then another length of 10/3 from inverter back to distro panel. Seems to be working...

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

I just finished installing a solar/battery/inverter system in my travel trailer. Now I'm thinking about how to save money on my home electric bill. Is there a document somewhere on this forum that explains in general the different types of residential systems? Like solar + inverter but no...

Good point. For me the weight and space savings were the most important. I removed a 50 lb lead acid battery with 80 aH, and replaced it with 2 50 lb batteries with 400 aH. So I doubled the weight but got 5 times as much power.

If the bed is literally all you want to power, just look up how many amps it draws, and get a portable battery backup unit that size, like a Jackery or Bluetti or similar. Then get a folding solar panel to recharge the backup unit.

Why? After one season with lithium batteries I couldn't be happier. Smaller and lighter than lead-acid or AGM, and better performance too. I think they'll be cheaper in the long run too. What's not to like?

I agree. Your available equipment is way insufficient to do what you want to do, and your very small budget is nowhere near enough to pay for what you would need to make this work. I would bail out and find another place to live.

I also have 2 200aH lithium batteries (different brand) and I do have an inverter. I went with 4/0 cable from batteries -> Lynx bus bar -> inverter. I did the calculations for the length and the maximum current load (which I'll probably never actually draw) and I think it said 2/0 was...

We have a travel trailer with 2x 200aH LiFePo batteries. I know they're not supposed to be charged when they're below 32 degrees F. I would rather not remove them while the trailer is in outdoor storage over the winter (in Illinois). Is it sufficient to perhaps discharge them to 40-50% level...

Yes. For us, the appeal would be to get some extra charge when moving from one campground to the next. I'm hoping that 3-4 hours of alternator plus some solar while driving would avoid the need to alternate between campgrounds with electric and without.

Yes that's a good idea. There is often some sun at the end of the campsite near the road, so a panel there would help and a flexible one would be lightweight and easy to store.