Hello Everyone,
I have a 2000 Monaco MotorHome. Last year I installed a 800 watts Solar and put in a bunch of Victron Equipment.
The batteries needed replaced and at the time I was trying to decide between Lead-Acid, AGM, and Lithium. I really hate dealing with the acid on the batteries (and we had already spent a bunch), so I went with AGM's. We took a trip to Alaska and it worked great!
I took the rig in for the annual maintenance, and they got it done the day before Thanksgiving, I didn't want to deal with moving it that day, because it started to snow, so I asked them if I could pick it up next week. Sure. So on Tuesday I went to pick it up (waited an extra day to make sure roads were nice and clear). When I got there the house batteries were at 4.5 volts (as I remember). With the snow covering the panels, the normal parasitic draws took the batteries way down. I recharged them, and put the Motorhome to bed for the winter (they recharged ok). This spring while testing and using the batteries it became very obvious that the batteries were very damaged by the very low discharge. They still worked and we used them on the trips we did (which were not many due to Covid) but their overall capacity is a LOT lower. Lessons learned - reduce parasitic draws & need low battery cut-offs.
So now its time for new Lithium Batteries... I have ordered 8 Lishen 272Ah batteries and chosen a Batrium BMS.
The BMS will control the Contractor through the Pre-Charge relay. When cooling is needed the Fans will activate, and when heating is needed the heater which will sit under the batteries will turn on. #13 & 14 is just a switch and LED lights to add light when needed into this darker area.
List of Items to do before installing BMS.
1. Modify battery isolator to no alternator charging (later maybe add DC-DC charger if needed).
2. Remove original equipment Solar Charger & 100w panel. Replace with Victron 100/30 mppt & two 200w panels.
3. Install Victron BP-65S (Battery Protect-65 Smart) on 12v house circuits.
Other items to do to improve usability.
4. Rewire ATS (Auto Transfer Switch), so Inverter can run whole rig. (including A/C's)
5. Install SoftStarts on A/C's
If you see anything I have missed or any questions - let me know.
Rocketman
I have a 2000 Monaco MotorHome. Last year I installed a 800 watts Solar and put in a bunch of Victron Equipment.
The batteries needed replaced and at the time I was trying to decide between Lead-Acid, AGM, and Lithium. I really hate dealing with the acid on the batteries (and we had already spent a bunch), so I went with AGM's. We took a trip to Alaska and it worked great!
I took the rig in for the annual maintenance, and they got it done the day before Thanksgiving, I didn't want to deal with moving it that day, because it started to snow, so I asked them if I could pick it up next week. Sure. So on Tuesday I went to pick it up (waited an extra day to make sure roads were nice and clear). When I got there the house batteries were at 4.5 volts (as I remember). With the snow covering the panels, the normal parasitic draws took the batteries way down. I recharged them, and put the Motorhome to bed for the winter (they recharged ok). This spring while testing and using the batteries it became very obvious that the batteries were very damaged by the very low discharge. They still worked and we used them on the trips we did (which were not many due to Covid) but their overall capacity is a LOT lower. Lessons learned - reduce parasitic draws & need low battery cut-offs.
So now its time for new Lithium Batteries... I have ordered 8 Lishen 272Ah batteries and chosen a Batrium BMS.
| 1 | Batrium BMS | Batrium | Power 12v 3A Fuse on Pos & Neg - Relays 12v@5A |
| 2 | Shunt | Batrium | Power 3A Fuse Positive - Shunt wire to BMS |
| 3 | Batteries | Lishen | Eight 272Ah Cells 2P4S 544Ah @ 13v (w/4 Blockmon8's on cells) |
| 4 | Blockmon8 | Batrium | Blockmon8 Qty 4 - one on each SuperCell |
| 5 | 400A Class T Fuse | Blue Sea 5502 | Class T Fuse Holder + Fuse +(1 backup fuse) |
| 6 | Contractor 500A | Kilovac EV200AAANA | Kilovac EV200AAANA500 Amp Contractor Relay - Max Inrush 3.7A - Holding 1.7W) |
| 7 | Pre-Charge | REC-BMS | Pre Charge Controller 4A Fuse |
| 8 | Terminal Blocks w/Fuse | DinRailTerminalBlocks | 3 Fused Blocks(always on) 5 Fused (switched) + Negatives |
| 9 | 2 Relays 10A | CZH-Labs | Fuses (BMS Side) 4A each |
| 10 | Fans (2) | Amazon | Fuses 5A |
| 11 | Heating Pad 12"x 18" | Amazon-Facon CW-T12218 | 65 watts (Fuse 10A) |
| 12 | Victron CCGX | Victron CCGX | Need Can-Bus Wire ran between BMS & CCGX |
| 13 | Switch | Amazon | Fuse 8A |
| 14 | LED Lights | Amazon | 12" Lights Qty 3 or 4 |
The BMS will control the Contractor through the Pre-Charge relay. When cooling is needed the Fans will activate, and when heating is needed the heater which will sit under the batteries will turn on. #13 & 14 is just a switch and LED lights to add light when needed into this darker area.
List of Items to do before installing BMS.
1. Modify battery isolator to no alternator charging (later maybe add DC-DC charger if needed).
2. Remove original equipment Solar Charger & 100w panel. Replace with Victron 100/30 mppt & two 200w panels.
3. Install Victron BP-65S (Battery Protect-65 Smart) on 12v house circuits.
Other items to do to improve usability.
4. Rewire ATS (Auto Transfer Switch), so Inverter can run whole rig. (including A/C's)
5. Install SoftStarts on A/C's
If you see anything I have missed or any questions - let me know.
Rocketman
