I'm getting to a point where I can start sharing my progress on my RV. I have a 42' 5th wheel that I plan to use primarily solar power. You have to pay electric at most spots, and we are full time RVers, so I wanted a way to gouge at the high CA electric bills. Here is what I have done so far.
10 200w 24v Rich Solar mono panels mounted on galvanized strut rails. I didn't want to put the panels directly into the roof because, I have seen the damage they cause when pulled up to replace a bad panel. Now I can easily take them out as needed with just a wrench.
I ordered 16 280ah LiFePO4 cells off of Alibaba. Used a source recommended from here. Hit them right during their holiday so, took an additional 2 week. About 10 to 12 weeks to get them. They came all at 3.29v. I charged them up separately and load tested each one. They all hit 282ah so, I'm pleased with the cells I got. I took them all back to 3.65v and left them sit in parallel for 48 hours. Let them self balance out and then charged them back to 3.65v. Working on the BMS's right now. I did receive one from Overkill but, as you all probably know, poor Steve is backed up pretty bad and I may have to wait a month or two for the second BMS. I made some custom boxes out of 1/2" sanded ply. Built them to fit a regulated heating pad below each cell pack and lined them all with 1/4" insulating foam. I then used some packing foam on each end to give them a little more stable cushion for when we move the RV down the road. The ends are 1/4" higher than the sides so I could add 1/4" door seal to run the wires out of the sides of the box but, keeping the them temp in or out. BMS wires will be ran out of the top. Used a 3/4" deck wire grommet for those. Then I had to add my country and service of course. Semper Fi!
I'll add more to the build once I'm done. Thanks for the look! Comment below if you have any questions or want to yell at me!
10 200w 24v Rich Solar mono panels mounted on galvanized strut rails. I didn't want to put the panels directly into the roof because, I have seen the damage they cause when pulled up to replace a bad panel. Now I can easily take them out as needed with just a wrench.
I ordered 16 280ah LiFePO4 cells off of Alibaba. Used a source recommended from here. Hit them right during their holiday so, took an additional 2 week. About 10 to 12 weeks to get them. They came all at 3.29v. I charged them up separately and load tested each one. They all hit 282ah so, I'm pleased with the cells I got. I took them all back to 3.65v and left them sit in parallel for 48 hours. Let them self balance out and then charged them back to 3.65v. Working on the BMS's right now. I did receive one from Overkill but, as you all probably know, poor Steve is backed up pretty bad and I may have to wait a month or two for the second BMS. I made some custom boxes out of 1/2" sanded ply. Built them to fit a regulated heating pad below each cell pack and lined them all with 1/4" insulating foam. I then used some packing foam on each end to give them a little more stable cushion for when we move the RV down the road. The ends are 1/4" higher than the sides so I could add 1/4" door seal to run the wires out of the sides of the box but, keeping the them temp in or out. BMS wires will be ran out of the top. Used a 3/4" deck wire grommet for those. Then I had to add my country and service of course. Semper Fi!
I'll add more to the build once I'm done. Thanks for the look! Comment below if you have any questions or want to yell at me!
