TCgreg
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2019
- Messages
- 116
We have been truck camper owners for almost 25 years. Recently I took an interest in developing a generator free truck camper that would power all our AC circuits on our new unit. After doing a fair amount of research this is what we built a couple years ago.
This is a 2018 Host Mammoth slide in truck camper that we picked up in Oct 2017.
On the roof are (6) 180 watt mono solar panels wired in parallel.
The panels feed a Victron 150/85 solar controller mounted into the campers basement.
For a battery bank I went with (24) CALB 3.2v@100Ah cells arranged into two 300Ah banks
Rather than a top balancing BMS I opted for a bottom balance solution. I used a cell pro8 to accurately discharge the cells.
I utilized what would have been the generator compartment to house the batteries as well as the distribution busbars/circuit breakers, battery disconnect and Victron low voltage disconnect.
The batteries are connected to a Magnum 2800 watt inverter that intercepts the 30 amp feeder from the exterior power plug. This allows full function of all the AC circuits on the camper. It is mounted in what would be the campers battery compartment. Very convenient install as the AC power passes through this compartment.
There is a pass through from the roof to the basement right through the campers information center. Adding the inverter remote, battery monitor, solar panels circuit breaker and SCC remote controller were easy.
We have been very happy with our results. Within reason the camper is essentially always "plugged in" We regularly use a variety of AC appliances such as the roof air, Keurig, instant pot, a 1600 watt large electric toaster oven, the 6 gallon water heater, ice maker, electric blankets etc. I definitely do not miss having a generator. The propane gensets that these campers typically come with are noisy, smelly and hungry for gas.
Cheers!
This is a 2018 Host Mammoth slide in truck camper that we picked up in Oct 2017.
On the roof are (6) 180 watt mono solar panels wired in parallel.
The panels feed a Victron 150/85 solar controller mounted into the campers basement.
For a battery bank I went with (24) CALB 3.2v@100Ah cells arranged into two 300Ah banks
Rather than a top balancing BMS I opted for a bottom balance solution. I used a cell pro8 to accurately discharge the cells.
I utilized what would have been the generator compartment to house the batteries as well as the distribution busbars/circuit breakers, battery disconnect and Victron low voltage disconnect.
The batteries are connected to a Magnum 2800 watt inverter that intercepts the 30 amp feeder from the exterior power plug. This allows full function of all the AC circuits on the camper. It is mounted in what would be the campers battery compartment. Very convenient install as the AC power passes through this compartment.
There is a pass through from the roof to the basement right through the campers information center. Adding the inverter remote, battery monitor, solar panels circuit breaker and SCC remote controller were easy.
We have been very happy with our results. Within reason the camper is essentially always "plugged in" We regularly use a variety of AC appliances such as the roof air, Keurig, instant pot, a 1600 watt large electric toaster oven, the 6 gallon water heater, ice maker, electric blankets etc. I definitely do not miss having a generator. The propane gensets that these campers typically come with are noisy, smelly and hungry for gas.
Cheers!
