I have recently retired and I am in the process of converting a 2010 Ford E-250 handicap van into my vacation camper. I do not plan on living in this van but I would like to be comfortable on some extended adventures. I am in the planning stages of the solar power system need some advice from you fine folks.
I have close to 40 years of experience working with low voltage DC systems so I do not need help with the wiring, termination, things of that nature. What I need is some advice on the components and a bit of the layout. The only thing I have purchased so far is 3 Renogy 100 Watt solar panels. I needed to get the panels first as I was welding up a custom roof rack and needed to know where to add supports. Also because a buddy had bought some he didn’t end up using and sold them to me cheap.
I do not want to go overboard on this system but I want enough power that I am comfortable in my travels. I come from the old school of thought to KISS (Keep it simple stupid). I want it simple and robust (if thats even possible). My initial component list is as follows
(3) 100 Watt Solar Panels - already purchased
Victron MPPT 100/50 Solar Charger
Victron Smart Shunt with BMV-712 Smart Monitor
200 Ah (minimum) of Lithium Batteries
2000 Watt Inverter
Victron Blue Smart IP22 AC/DC Charger
Manual 120 VAC Shore Power Transfer Switch
My plan is to have the AC/DC charger on the shore power side of the transfer switch. That way I start charging the batteries as soon as I plug in the shore power and don’t have to worry about turning the transfer switch inside the van.
So the initial questions I have are:
1. Should I go with the inverter and manual transfer switch and separate charger? Or step up to an inverter/charger? My worry is the inverter/charger combo is one more thing that can go wrong. A manual transfer switch is just that, a switch. Not much to go wrong
2. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to going with one 200 Ah battery vs. two 100 Ah batteries? My only thought was that going with two batteries lets me spread out my weight distribution in the back of the van.
I have attached a simple drawing of my system. I am sure these items have been discussed many times before so I apologize if I am rehashing things.
I have close to 40 years of experience working with low voltage DC systems so I do not need help with the wiring, termination, things of that nature. What I need is some advice on the components and a bit of the layout. The only thing I have purchased so far is 3 Renogy 100 Watt solar panels. I needed to get the panels first as I was welding up a custom roof rack and needed to know where to add supports. Also because a buddy had bought some he didn’t end up using and sold them to me cheap.
I do not want to go overboard on this system but I want enough power that I am comfortable in my travels. I come from the old school of thought to KISS (Keep it simple stupid). I want it simple and robust (if thats even possible). My initial component list is as follows
(3) 100 Watt Solar Panels - already purchased
Victron MPPT 100/50 Solar Charger
Victron Smart Shunt with BMV-712 Smart Monitor
200 Ah (minimum) of Lithium Batteries
2000 Watt Inverter
Victron Blue Smart IP22 AC/DC Charger
Manual 120 VAC Shore Power Transfer Switch
My plan is to have the AC/DC charger on the shore power side of the transfer switch. That way I start charging the batteries as soon as I plug in the shore power and don’t have to worry about turning the transfer switch inside the van.
So the initial questions I have are:
1. Should I go with the inverter and manual transfer switch and separate charger? Or step up to an inverter/charger? My worry is the inverter/charger combo is one more thing that can go wrong. A manual transfer switch is just that, a switch. Not much to go wrong
2. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to going with one 200 Ah battery vs. two 100 Ah batteries? My only thought was that going with two batteries lets me spread out my weight distribution in the back of the van.
I have attached a simple drawing of my system. I am sure these items have been discussed many times before so I apologize if I am rehashing things.