DIY project, Electrical diagram, help needed!

Happy Prospector wrote:
From the looks of things, you should have your fire insurance paid before you power up.

A big mess. Evy - do what Don Piano suggested.

Pre-wire for solar, don't install solar now. Run 6ga wire if you are in doubt, otherwise run 10ga. I have 490W solar on 10ga.

Get 300-400 AH bank of AGM - good brands only, like Deka, Fullriver, Trojan. There are NO savings on buying poor quality AGM.

Install PD brand converter with associated 120 VAC input and typical trailer DC wiring from converter to DC devices (lights, fridge, CO/LP detectors, fans etc), and to battery.

Run wire to residential 120 VAC wall receptacles - not GFI except for bathroom.

Close the walls and ceiling.

From the looks of things, you should have your fire insurance paid before you power up.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

It at least does have a temperature sensor for the battery bank and apparently adjustable voltage set points.

Yes, there is a battery sensor and it "looks" like setpoints are adjustable. It also says "PWM with MPPT tracking" :)... I would be willing to give this black box a chance if it cost $18, but not for $180.

Hi Almot,

Kijiji is similar to Craig's list.

Hi evy,

Amps in series do not add so the bank would be a total of 200 amp-hours.

evy wrote:
2-6v agm 200ah (400ah total)

Hi,

It at least does have a temperature sensor for the battery bank and apparently adjustable voltage set points.

Here is your SL40 controller.

Unknown Chinese model. This US online "store" appears to be some small venture, website is on free host. Big solar stores don't carry it - in fact, there are hardly any stores that do. is Don't remember if anybody here at the forum installed it. Doesn't have voltage sensing. Don't like the look of display either.

Drew, he said he doesn't have space to mount flooded golf cart batteries, it's a camper, not a trailer.

Yes, those 2*6V AGM batteries = 200 AH 12V bank. UPG is a poor quality Chinese brand, waste of money. There are only few good AGM brands and I wouldn't consider other brands. Good AGM start from $200-230 per 100 AH @12V, I wrote this already.

$CAD 800 for 510W solar with MPPT controller would be good price if it were a good controller - and I have some doubts because they don't tell the brand. It's a bad timing now to buy online from US solar stores with $CAD, low exchange rate, but please understand - with AGM and MPPT controller you don't have much choice. These items you should buy a good quality only.

evy wrote:
Wow thanks for all the info guys, I have a lot of reading to do.

In the meanwhile, can I get your opinions on these things?

Solar power 510w

2-6v agm 200ah (400ah total)

P.s. sorry the solar power page is french, but you can make out the obvious, if ypu have any questions ask me I'll translate it.

Nothing wrong with the golf cart batteries, and often they're about the best bang for the buck for deep cycle lead-acid batteries (speaking generally). If you can make do with flooded vs. AGM batteries, which may not be practical for your situation, you could save a good chunk of change at the expense of a little more maintenance. Flooded batteries do have somewhat more stringent mounting and ventilation requirements and have a little different performance characteristics.

Be aware that when you connect two 200 Ah 6V batteries in series to get a single 12V battery, you do not get a 400 Ah 12V battery, but rather a 200 Ah 12V battery. The voltage is increased, but the charge capacity is not as the current needs to flow through both batteries. (You could also connect them in parallel to make a 400 Ah 6V setup, but that is not useful for an RV as nothing is designed for 6V work. The theoretical energy storage in either of these cases is identical at 2.4 kWh.)

Wow thanks for all the info guys, I have a lot of reading to do.

In the meanwhile, can I get your opinions on these things?

Solar power 510w

2-6v agm 200ah (400ah total)

P.s. sorry the solar power page is french, but you can make out the obvious, if ypu have any questions ask me I'll translate it.