"The Nest" and its solar setup

scrubjaysnest

Had a bit of cool weather and the 120 watt panel  works fine below 40 deg F. Turns out above that the first 18 cell, starting from the minus lead short out. The short is under the junction box so haven't figured out how to get at it. All the diodes check good.

Finally got the Big Baby Box in and wired up with the breakers. Ran 4 AWG between the CC and it's breaker. Bit of over kill but I didn't need to go out and buy wire. Moving the two 80 watt panels to the camper roof in place of the 120 watt and plans are to order a pair of 100 watt panels to use as portables.

scrubjaysnest

Went to fix the load table that didn't survive the transfer to the new forum software. Doesn't seem to be a way to edit the post.

Here's the new table.

[remove malformed link--Bill B.]

BB.

Let's see if I can get that to post correctly for Scrubjaysnest:

https://i.imgur.com/F5cazmi.jpg



-Bill

scrubjaysnest

Thanks for the fix Bill, what did I do wrong? I'll have some new photos on the solar redo to post in a few days.

BB.

I opened a new tab in the browser, opened your link. Drag the image to the forum edit window. That was it.

-Bill

scrubjaysnest

Thanks Bill
Did a quick and dirty system test yesterday after drawing the batteries down to about 70% SOC, amp draw was 11.5 for about 5 hours;
With all for panels and ambient temperature of 45 degrees was producing 22 amps or a good 10% ROC. Depending on how you figure it the panels were producing between 270 to 307 watts. The two 80 watt panels on the roof are pretty dirty.

scrubjaysnest

4 way tilt system


and the 2 100 watt portables.




Original TS-45, new Baby Box with breakers, up graded wiring, and shunt for Trimetric.
Covers are off the batteries to get a better picture. Covers have vent tubing that connects to the vent on left, white thing sticking thru wall.




These breakers protect wiring charge lines that come from the tow vehicle. A similar breaker set up is under the hood for wiring from the tow vehicle charging system back towards the camper.

scrubjaysnest

Up dated and made corrections to the load table.

scrubjaysnest

Now we get to start all over again. Traded in the old "nest" on a new 25 foot motor home.

scrubjaysnest

Checked the house batteries SG, unknown brand, and all cells are a not so good, slightly below 1.250. The 200 watts of solar I have tacked in is charging the 2 unknown 12 volt grp 27's at a little over 5 amps each and they typically reach 14.8 to 14.9 volts by 1 PM EDT.
Maybe it's just not a high enough RoC but I suspect it's the batteries them selves.
Still working out what the loads are. So far we have unplugged the bedroom radio and pull the fuse for the radio in the cab. Need that radio when moving for the cameras.

scrubjaysnest

Since we changed RV's this required a new solar system. Here is a link:http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f27/nest-its-solar-5678.html
to the new system with parts removed from the old camper.

scrubjaysnest

Just an update on how things worked over the summer. Ran everything we use from 2nd week in May until Sept 25 on solar.
Two weeks at Cataloochee CG in the Smokey mountain NP with almost no sun due to shade; had to run the jenny about an hour per day.
While the WFCO does better then any other I've seen it is still poor compared to an auto smart charger. The WFCO starts at 21 or 22 amps, batteries ~80% SOC but tapers to about  10 amps in less then 5 minutes. 10 amps is about 5% ROC for each battery. The output voltage never goes above 14.2 and after about an hour drops to 13.6 volts @ about 6 amps.
After this summer need to revisit the best way to charge when we have to run the jenny. The 4.5kw Onan is real noisy and for the two week period we used it went through about 10 gallons of fuel. Maybe I'll just carry the 1400 watt Coleman, less fuel but just as noisy.

BB.

Sounds like a great life/vacation there Scrubjay.

Have you been monitoring/checking the specific gravity of your battery bank? In general, running the genset to 80% state of charge/large drop in charging current and shutting down is not a bad thing. Good fuel efficiency, battery efficient charging, low water usage, keeps battery cool.

And, if you are cycling between 50-80%+ state of charge daily, you do not really need to go to >90% state of charge while camping--Let the solar do the finish charging/equalization when you move, or wait until you get back home and can plug into utility power.

-Bill

Estragon

For charging at much above ~80% SOC, I use a little honda eu2000i. As the current tapers, it's eco-mode eases the throttle, and it just makes a sort of purring sound.

My 4kw diesel takes ~1/2gal per hour even lightly loaded. 1/2 gal in the honda lightly loaded can go most of the day.

scrubjaysnest

The house batteries that came with the MH are real junk and any time I check the SG they show about 1.25. They are on the list to change to real deep cycle before the summer 2018 trip begins. Also looking to where a small Honda or Yamaha  can be carried.

scrubjaysnesttoo

Back as scrubjaysnesttoo. Been so long old pass word and email not any good.
MH and solar still going strong. Parked at our desert property in AZ while we're back in 
FL working on an off grid setup to haul back out there. Batteries even talk back to you
With Bluetooth.

scrubjaysnesttoo

The WFCO was replaced a year ago with a Progressive Dynamics. House batteries and cranking battery are AGM's. Got rid of the BIRD and replaced it with a manual 300 amp switch to tie house and cranking batteries when on solar.

For the desert nest the off grid setup will be 1200 watts pv, 4 12v 100Ah Aolithiun lifep04 batteries, and a simple 3 to 4000 Watt inverter.

Batteries have bluetooth and JBD BMS. Compared the BMS reporting to clamp on ammeter and Southwire DVM. My old Fluke died.

Numbers all looked good when compared. 4 Victron 100/20 mppt's and a smart shunt. can't get use to everything talks to you now.