deacon st. john
New Member
Long time reader of the message boards, first time poster.
I have a question on my RV 5th wheel solar install. Use of this system is aimed at running the 3 way refrigerator on 12V and powering all the 12v loads with bonus of some 120v convenience items while winter camping in the desert. I’ve added in a magnum 2000w 12v inverter for boondocks trips. I have added 1200w of solar and 600AH of lifepo4 batteries. Midnite charge controllers and midnite solar breakers, battery discos, fuses etc.
Question is about grounding the 12v side of everything. I have removed the 5 OEM chassis grounds traced down for the DC side that all tied back to a common OEM grounding terminal/negative bus. This is where all the OEM equipment DC negatives tie in as well.
Grounds all were on frame at various different places. Appear to have been multiple ground (from my understanding of the subject) loops from the OEM. Grounds here, there and everywhere for the DC side with no rhyme or reason. Even found 2 #8 awg ground wires that weren’t even properly connected to the frame, just a sheet metal screw with wire wrapped around it. Go figure lol. AC panel/converter box only had one single #4 awg bare to proper chassis lug so it was left alone.
I installed a new single 4/0 awg chassis ground. Sanded to bare metal, copper washers on terminal, and 3/8” bolt through frame with sealant to prevent corrosion. This 4/0 goes to the new Victron 600AMP DC negative bus bar.
For the grounding lugs on the charge controllers, dc combiner boxes, solar panels, inverter etc do these equipment grounds need to tie back to the DC negative bus bar or direct to the chassis? I’m assuming direct to the DC negative bus is the proper way? I’m planning on using #4awg for the ground connections and to tie in the OEM DC negative bus to my new bus bar with #4awg as well. Any help is greatly appreciated!
I have a question on my RV 5th wheel solar install. Use of this system is aimed at running the 3 way refrigerator on 12V and powering all the 12v loads with bonus of some 120v convenience items while winter camping in the desert. I’ve added in a magnum 2000w 12v inverter for boondocks trips. I have added 1200w of solar and 600AH of lifepo4 batteries. Midnite charge controllers and midnite solar breakers, battery discos, fuses etc.
Question is about grounding the 12v side of everything. I have removed the 5 OEM chassis grounds traced down for the DC side that all tied back to a common OEM grounding terminal/negative bus. This is where all the OEM equipment DC negatives tie in as well.
Grounds all were on frame at various different places. Appear to have been multiple ground (from my understanding of the subject) loops from the OEM. Grounds here, there and everywhere for the DC side with no rhyme or reason. Even found 2 #8 awg ground wires that weren’t even properly connected to the frame, just a sheet metal screw with wire wrapped around it. Go figure lol. AC panel/converter box only had one single #4 awg bare to proper chassis lug so it was left alone.
I installed a new single 4/0 awg chassis ground. Sanded to bare metal, copper washers on terminal, and 3/8” bolt through frame with sealant to prevent corrosion. This 4/0 goes to the new Victron 600AMP DC negative bus bar.
For the grounding lugs on the charge controllers, dc combiner boxes, solar panels, inverter etc do these equipment grounds need to tie back to the DC negative bus bar or direct to the chassis? I’m assuming direct to the DC negative bus is the proper way? I’m planning on using #4awg for the ground connections and to tie in the OEM DC negative bus to my new bus bar with #4awg as well. Any help is greatly appreciated!