stuntmanmike
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2021
- Messages
- 13
I'm three cups of coffee in and enjoying this forum thus far. As in the title, this is my first post and I am sure that there is a thread already answering it but I have yet to find it.
I am using will's blueprint https://www.mobile-solarpower.com/simplified-400-watt-fewer-wires-and-alternator-charging.html But have a few questions that hopefully will save me some time and money.
I have a 2018 ford transit with dual starting batteries and dual alternators. The van is for long weekend surf, bike, and general getaways. With plans to longer getaways, With this in mind, I found that the Renogy DC to DC with MPPT (50amp) seemed like it would be the right fit. I run a relatively smaller load but felt that this system would allow for some growth as needed. Was going to start with 200 amps of lithium leaving room for more if needed.
Questions:
1 Roof space while traveling is limited while parked it is not. This is where I felt the DC to DC charging would make up for a smaller solar array. My question is does it make more sense to have 200 of the 400watts of solar covered while driving and run all in parallel knowing that there will be a big decrease in wattage. Or run 200 watts on the system and have a separate solar controller to manage 2 100 watt portable panels that I already have.
2 while parked and not using or for the occasions that the misses comes with (she hates boondocking, KOA all the way for her) how do you feel about this automatic transfer switch for shore power hookup its also rated for 50 amps and felt that it would match up
Wills review of it here
For anyone that made it down this far in my caffeine driven state thank you
SM Mike
I am using will's blueprint https://www.mobile-solarpower.com/simplified-400-watt-fewer-wires-and-alternator-charging.html But have a few questions that hopefully will save me some time and money.
I have a 2018 ford transit with dual starting batteries and dual alternators. The van is for long weekend surf, bike, and general getaways. With plans to longer getaways, With this in mind, I found that the Renogy DC to DC with MPPT (50amp) seemed like it would be the right fit. I run a relatively smaller load but felt that this system would allow for some growth as needed. Was going to start with 200 amps of lithium leaving room for more if needed.
Questions:
1 Roof space while traveling is limited while parked it is not. This is where I felt the DC to DC charging would make up for a smaller solar array. My question is does it make more sense to have 200 of the 400watts of solar covered while driving and run all in parallel knowing that there will be a big decrease in wattage. Or run 200 watts on the system and have a separate solar controller to manage 2 100 watt portable panels that I already have.
2 while parked and not using or for the occasions that the misses comes with (she hates boondocking, KOA all the way for her) how do you feel about this automatic transfer switch for shore power hookup its also rated for 50 amps and felt that it would match up
Wills review of it here
For anyone that made it down this far in my caffeine driven state thank you
SM Mike