I have built maybe a dozen solar, battery powered trailers over the past 10 years. My plan is to make this the most powerful and advanced one I have built. I started with a new to me 2010 Heartland Road Warrior. It is a 305 RW toy hauler. It has a 5500 watt Cummins Onan gas generator. I will be installing solar panels and a lithium battery salvaged from a Tesla.The battery is one module from a Tesla, which has been modified to make it 48 volts. Normally a module is 24 volts but there is a guy in Texas who has figured out how to cut the pack in half and reconfigure it to 48V.

Very interesting. Keep us updated on your progress.

Fantastic!It's interesting that Panasonic (in partnership with Tesla) builds the packs using so many tiny cells... you'd think so many points of failure would be a weakness. I guess their QC must be really high when building these packs.

Yes, keep us posted. And try not to burn your TH to the ground keeping that battery pack cool!

The inverter is a Victron Quattro 5000 watt inverter/charger. This inverter has the ability to pass through power from a generator, and produce power from the batteries at the same time. It has 2 inputs for AC power that can transfer 100 amps each, plus 36 amps from the battery, for a massive 236 amps of power! I will be putting the generator into one input, and just one leg of the 50 power cord into the other inputI am also installing a 100 amp breaker panel. I will feed the main panel in the trailer through that panel, as well as put several more 20 amp plugs throughout the trailer. The reason for this is I am in the film business and I intend to rent it as a hair and make-up trailer so I need plugs for steamers and hair dryers mounting the invertermounting the batteryI built a frame out of 3/4 plywood. I wanted to hold it firmly, but not completely enclose it so it can dissipate heat.I propped up the battery about 1/4 inch, then I took several sandwich bags and positioned them around the battery, underneath, above and front and back. I filled the bags with spray foam. The idea is that the battery will rest on the foam, which I hope will also act as a shock absorber as it bounces down the highway.This is a work in progress. This is how far I have gotten

Wow, that is the mother of all inverters!I am thrilled to hear that you got this used Tesla battery. I know there will be a lot of us here wondering: Can we get them? Does your guy sell to the public (or to your forum buddies? :B)Your battery 'pen' looks great. I do have one concern. It looks like you have screwed the crosspieces into the cut edge of the plywood. That part of plywood will not hold screws -- they will come out. With the weight of the battery and the movement of the toyhauler, they will come out SOON after you get on the road. I can help you redesign it, if you need.

My Tesla powered Toy Hauler | Good Sam Community

Rbertalotto
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Following
sch911
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Heynow999 wrote:
I have a BMS system that will stop the battery from over-charging so fire should not be a problem. I can also see on the battery pack that each cell has a tiny wire going to it from the buss bar that I believe acts as a fuse for each individual cell. To be safe, I'll put a smoke detector in the compartment. I do intend to use the RV for vacations. The risk of fire I believe is when the batteries are being charged so I will make sure they are not charging at night

You do realize that when used in a Tesla vehicle these battery systems have both active battery pack cooling and heating systems right? Please be carefull!
tempforce
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
another option if you don't have a handy tesla battery pack and a friend that can modify it.
a tesla powerwall which has a 6.4 kWh energy storage capacity.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
I have a 10.5 kWh Solar City system on my house. They tell me that I can buy the "Powerwall" this fall......

Maybe if it is small enough, it can be poertable and you can take it with you!

I still say, the best option might be a VOLT or other hybrid electric vehicle as a toad and use its battery pack when in camp. Recharging it as you drive around sight seeing.
KD4UPL
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
As far as I know the Tesla Powerwall is 400v so would also require modification. Or, you could use the Solaredge "Storedge" inverter that is designed to go with the Powerwall.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2016
Rbertalotto wrote:
I have a 10.5 kWh Solar City system on my house. They tell me that I can buy the "Powerwall" this fall......

Maybe if it is small enough, it can be poertable and you can take it with you!

I still say, the best option might be a VOLT or other hybrid electric vehicle as a toad and use its battery pack when in camp. Recharging it as you drive around sight seeing.

I've heard of people doing this with a Prius.
_40Fan
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
I'd skip the smoke alarm in the storage area and go with a fire suppression system.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 15, 2016
#40Fan wrote:
I'd skip the smoke alarm in the storage area and go with a fire suppression system.
At least interconnect with smoke alarms in each living area.
gkainz
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Had to chuckle as I read the OP "is in the film industry" and "plug in many hairdryers, curling irons..." as that kind of describes our family.

My son and son in law are in the film/tv industry, and my wife is a hairdresser, who won't camp unless she can plug in her massive industrial size hair dryer and curling irons. I did finally convince her that she can only plug in 1 piece of equipment at a time (or rather, the generator screaming an agonizing death rattle before shutting down every time the hair dryer kicked into afterburner did).

:)
John___Angela
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016
Interesting thread and I will continue to follow it. You mentioned the pack is a 17 KW. Coincidentally our battery pack in our smart car is around 18 KW. It is however liquid cooled.

Enjoy your project. I am a little jealous.

Forum Discussion

My Tesla powered Toy Hauler

About DIY Maintenance

Related Content

Evergreen Tesla

Toy Hauler Pictures

Tesla pickup ?

Why Tesla's are bad at towing!

toy hauler power winch