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LaneW's avatar
LaneW
Explorer
Jan 18, 2023

Help with Lithium upgrade and inverter install. Lance 825

Not sure if this is the right forum, but I am looking for help from DIYer on my upgrade.

I am developing a plan to upgrade my 2022 Lance 825 with lithium battery(s), an inverter and one more solar panel. Please shoot my plan full of holes, as needed. I REALLY want to get it right.

Summary: 2022 Lance 825, one 100w solar panel, GoPower PWM solar controller. 1 group 31 lead acid battery. 8 ga wire from my 2016 F350 with camper package.
Here is what I'm thinking:

Replace LA battery with lithium - thinking two SOK 100 AH right now - comments?
Replace ACR with a DC-DC controller - 30 amp? I have an 8 AWG wire from truck to camper.

Install 2000 w inverter. I only need to run the microwave, not AC, occasional small appliance. I don’t think I need an inverter/charger since my Progressive Dynamics has a lithium setting. Is that so? I am considering the Renogy 2000 watt inverter.

I will need to install an automatic transfer switch, unless I can find an inverter with one built in. The only ones I have found with a built in switch are inverter/chargers. (I also need help figuring out how to wire the AC from shore power to inverter and back to distribution panel). Either that or I just run a stand-along ac circuit to the microwave outlet.

Maybe add one solar panel - 100 watt or a little more - looking for a no drill option.

I will install a Renogy combination MPPT/DC-DC charger and place it where Lance put the ACR, in place of the ACR. Thinking 30 amp. I have only an 8 awg wire from truck battery to camper now. I think I need to run a 4awg from my truck battery (200 amp alternator) to the go where the ACR is now in the camper and cant figure out how/where to get the wire into the camper and routed to the right place. Currently the Lance plug and cable has only an 8 awg incoming, but somewhere it changes to a 4 awg inside, because I see a 4 awg connected to the battery side of the ACR. Any help?

What am I missing? What am I doing wrong?
  • up top you talk about using a PWM solar controler and at the bottom you talk about a MPPT controler.. use a MPPT controler if you can, the only thing I would do is more solar power, by either a larger panel (24V panel) or 2 or 3 100watt panels in series, I try to get between 3 to 400 watts on a low power use aplication so my batteries recover faster if I have a few bad solar days.

    do you have the storage rail around the back of the camper. you could put brackets to that and mount the panels above the vents and such if you do.

    Steve

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