Midnightsailor
New Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2022
- Messages
- 1
Greetings,I'm a new member and gladt to have found this group and to join it. I build and restore boats ( wood) and am in process of designing a system for my 20 ft RV trailer. I have much experience with 12 volt systems on boats ,mainly navigation electronics, radios and such. Did a small solar project on a boat many years ago before lithium batteries were a thing . Confused about the 12 vs 24 vs 48 volt options. I get why the higher voltages save money on wiring but confused when it comes to going to higher kw inverters. Seems the consensus is 12 volts is ok for inverters under about 2kw but from 3 kw and up 24 and for high output inverters say 4 or 5 kw or more 48 volts system should be the choice.
My question centers around a specific customer who has a 42 foot boat with what seems like an impressive solar system. A bank of 12 to 14 Gp31AGM batteries, two 250 panels( I believe) a top of the line TriStar MPPT controller going into a 4kw inverter charger ( Mastervolt ,I believe)
I've used his system to run everything from running lights( 12 V LED type) to his air-conditioning/ heat pump and everything in-between.. refrigerator,freezer , etc..never had any issues , batteries still in great shape after I believe it's been about 8 to 10 years,
If 12 volts are not proper for such high kw inverters,why is he not experiencd any issues? The only time bank even approaches 50% discharge is if he runs the air-conditioning for 8 hours or more( overnight)
I'm asking because I'd like to run a 3kw inverter/ charger in my setup from 2 or 3 200 amp lithiums and wonder what my issues might be if I stick to a 12 volt system because of the other ancillary items already a part of the RV.
My question centers around a specific customer who has a 42 foot boat with what seems like an impressive solar system. A bank of 12 to 14 Gp31AGM batteries, two 250 panels( I believe) a top of the line TriStar MPPT controller going into a 4kw inverter charger ( Mastervolt ,I believe)
I've used his system to run everything from running lights( 12 V LED type) to his air-conditioning/ heat pump and everything in-between.. refrigerator,freezer , etc..never had any issues , batteries still in great shape after I believe it's been about 8 to 10 years,
If 12 volts are not proper for such high kw inverters,why is he not experiencd any issues? The only time bank even approaches 50% discharge is if he runs the air-conditioning for 8 hours or more( overnight)
I'm asking because I'd like to run a 3kw inverter/ charger in my setup from 2 or 3 200 amp lithiums and wonder what my issues might be if I stick to a 12 volt system because of the other ancillary items already a part of the RV.