Critique proposed solar battery upgrade
Currently have a Jayco hybrid (Jayfeather 26L) but moving to a Denali 5th wheel in the spring (2012 DE324LBS). Currently have 4 Trojan T125’s with 600 watts of solar, with a Kisae 2000 watt pure sine...
Forum Discussion
So while waiting for my hitch to be installed at the dealer (went with the Andersen hitch), I decided to go take a look at a few things on the trailer.
As i suspected, the converter and panel is WFCO. I will replace the separate converter/charger box (probably with the Parallax Power mentioned above, looks like a good unit), any reason to replace the panel? Only change there I want to make is to add a separate breaker to turn the charger off when using the inverter.
For placement of batteries, there is a well that can accommodate 2 GC-2 next to the passsenger landing gear, then what looks like a tool area under a hinged door. If I go with 3 or 4 of the AGMs I want (Lifeline DC-215 12v), they’re 139 lbs each. Ok to put them there or am I better to try and load further back against the rear wall of the basement? Pin weight of the 5er is 1430 dry, my truck max payload is 3000. Cargo capacity is 2500 lbs.
Looking at the wiring, the battery negative is grounded to the frame, then seems to be picked up a few inches further and routed to the panel and elsewhere. Any reason not to just put in a post and hook up all my wiring to that instead? Should I keep a negative feed from the negative post back to the frame just in case it gets picked up somewhere I can’t see?
As i suspected, the converter and panel is WFCO. I will replace the separate converter/charger box (probably with the Parallax Power mentioned above, looks like a good unit), any reason to replace the panel? Only change there I want to make is to add a separate breaker to turn the charger off when using the inverter.
For placement of batteries, there is a well that can accommodate 2 GC-2 next to the passsenger landing gear, then what looks like a tool area under a hinged door. If I go with 3 or 4 of the AGMs I want (Lifeline DC-215 12v), they’re 139 lbs each. Ok to put them there or am I better to try and load further back against the rear wall of the basement? Pin weight of the 5er is 1430 dry, my truck max payload is 3000. Cargo capacity is 2500 lbs.
Looking at the wiring, the battery negative is grounded to the frame, then seems to be picked up a few inches further and routed to the panel and elsewhere. Any reason not to just put in a post and hook up all my wiring to that instead? Should I keep a negative feed from the negative post back to the frame just in case it gets picked up somewhere I can’t see?
