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southernskies

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Jun 26, 2024
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Admittedly, I'm a complete novice when it comes to solar. Everything I've learned has been since buying my first RV a couple years ago. It came with a 200 watt solar panel, a Victron PWM 10 amp charger, and a cheap lead acid deep cycle battery. After replacing the battery once and needing to do it again, I started to look into upgrading to a MPPT charger and a LiFePo 12/100 battery. After doing a bunch of research over the last few weeks and thinking at times I knew what I needed, I'm still not certain.

My main questions are, is a Victron 30 amp charger the right size? And, will my Predator 3500 charge the battery when I'm off solar?
 
A 15 amp mppt scc would be fine for a 200 watt panel if no further expansion is planned

Depending on the inverter/charger you have already it may be able to be used on the lifpo battery if not a separate charger could be used you need to gather more information on the equipment you have already installed
 
30 amp controller is fine for a 200w panel into a 100 Ah battery.

When would you ever be off solar? Predator 3500 will run anything in the RV. Best to post the converter model to know how charging will go.

Consider a second battery for off grid use.
 
you choose the mppt controller based on the panels you are going to use (and add in some extra capacity so you can upgrade later)

the predator can charge the battery if you use a 120v -> 12v charger plugged into it. the predator cannot charge the battery through a regular stand alone mppt controller.
 
A 200 watt solar panel needs a 15 amp controller minimum, if you use a 100/30 it would allow upgrade to an additional 200 watt panel.
Although the generator has a 12v output this will not charge the battery. If, with the existing RV electrics, the generator charged the lead battery, then it may be possible to use the same setup to charge the lithium.
 
time2roll said:
30 amp controller is fine for a 200w panel into a 100 Ah battery.

When would you ever be off solar? Predator 3500 will run anything in the RV. Best to post the converter model to know how charging will go.

Consider a second battery for off grid use.
Click to expand...
Trying to make the trailer more boondock friendly. If I'm in the woods for a few days, then effectively, I'm off solar. This is where my generator question comes from. I could charge the lead acid battery on my trailer with my Predator 3500 while being off shore power, but I really want to make sure I can do the same thing with a LiFePo battery
 
southernskies said:
Trying to make the trailer more boondock friendly. If I'm in the woods for a few days, then effectively, I'm off solar. This is where my generator question comes from. I could charge the lead acid battery on my trailer with my Predator 3500 while being off shore power, but I really want to make sure I can do the same thing with a LiFePo battery
Click to expand...
Yes! 100%

Some converters are better than others. All will work with LFP.
 
OK that is a solar controller.

There is also a 'converter' that uses 120v power to charge the battery. Often these are integrated with the fuse/breaker panel. Or get the name of the panel.... Maybe WFCO, Progressive Dynamics, IOTA, Parallax, or something else.
 
If your trailer is set up for 120 volt 30 amps service then the generator you have will work fine. You will need an adapter to be able to plug your shore power cable into the 30 amp outlet on the generator. With the trailer hooked up to the generator your converter will charge your battery to around 80% with solar making up the rest. My trailer has a WFCO converter and when I installed LiFePo batteries I changed the battery charger part of the converter for one that was LiFePo compatible but I don't think it was necessary. Personally I would leave your setup as is.
 
time2roll said:
OK that is a solar controller.

There is also a 'converter' that uses 120v power to charge the battery. Often these are integrated with the fuse/breaker panel. Or get the name of the panel.... Maybe WFCO, Progressive Dynamics, IOTA, Parallax, or something else.
Click to expand...
WFCO says my stock RV converter will "recognize" lithium and automatically change to a higher voltage output to charge it, but only for 4 hours. Supposedly that's what "AD" in the model number means, Auto Detect.

I still would like advice on a new solar charger to charge the lifepo battery. I've looked at Victron 100/30 but that may be overkill. Still considering adding 100-200 amps more of solar up top.
 

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Go with the 100/30 and a second 200W panel. Not going to save much by shaving all the components to the minimum. 100/30 will be about right with 400 watts.

Next move will be a second battery.

Keep an eye on that WFCO. Charge fine at 13.6 volts but should see higher voltage in the 14.2-14.4 range to minimize charging time on generator. WFCO is notorious for not changing charge modes when expected. Often just 13.6 all day long.
 
time2roll said:
Go with the 100/30 and a second 200W panel. Not going to save much by shaving all the components to the minimum. 100/30 will be about right with 400 watts.

Next move will be a second battery.

Keep an eye on that WFCO. Charge fine at 13.6 volts but should see higher voltage in the 14.2-14.4 range to minimize charging time on generator. WFCO is notorious for not changing charge modes when expected. Often just 13.6 all day long.
Click to expand...
Thanks man, I appreciate the help. I figure the stock RV converter will have to be upgraded soon. Battery is on the way. Now to get a solar charger ordered!
 
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