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Looking for battery controls

Jframpey
Explorer
Explorer
I’m about to take the plunge into solar, lithium batteries and residential fridges... I’m giving up on my dometic N811 fridge, it cools too slow - it keeps shutting down on propane - I’m paranoid about leveling... etc. I have a rear kitchen - fridge is on the back wall - I can’t keep it running on propane while traveling - I think the wind buffeting and suction at the rear of the trailer won’t allow the burner to maintain a useful flame...

So, on to a residential fridge. I do a fair amount of boon-docking therefore I will need big time solar and batteries. I was doubting the feasibility until I saw this website MortonsOnTheMove now I want it.

I’ve located a Tesla battery, the inverter, converter, and I have a source for solar panels - on to the controlling electronics. I’ll need a relay to disconnect the battery for low voltage, high voltage high temp, and low temp. I’ll need fuses or breakers and monitoring electronics... who here wants to help me build this thing?
8 REPLIES 8

noteven
Explorer III
Explorer III
lithium should lend itself well to rv engine and small generator charging due to the battery’s fast charge rate. As a backup. So the food doesn’t spoil during 10 cloudy days in the forest...

Almot
Explorer III
Explorer III
800W solar should be able to handle 10-11 cf residential fridge. A while ago inverter fridges looked appealing to me in solar setup - from a distance. Lower startup current etc etc. Then I saw, or, rather, "heard" LG inverter in one company office, it was almost as loud as my 20 year old home fridge. If you can fix the wind issues with your propane unit - do it.

Buying Li battery from a wrecked car = asking for trouble. You could lose more than just the battery cost.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
I think Dometic makes a panel to reduce wind buffeting.
Others have added some furnace filter material to reduce the wind effect.

Best of luck on the lithium and solar project. It's a bit over my head.

Itinerant1
Explorer
Explorer
Why don't you try to get in touch with him and see what he's using for management system. Didn't he do you tube videos on the system?
12v 500ah, 20 cells_ 4s5p (GBS LFMP battery system). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts)2s4p,Panels mounted flat. Magnum PT100 SCC, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter, ME-ARC 50. Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,500+ partial cycles.

Jframpey
Explorer
Explorer
The battery I’m entertaining is a used Tesla model S pack... 1 of 8 or so used in the car. They come from wrecked low mileage cars 24v, > 5Kwh. I’ll start with 1 and may add another in parallel later. I’m shooting for 800-1000 watts of solar. The link I mentioned above uses a heating blanket if needed to warm the battery from solar if needed. I know I’ll need battery management - there are aftermarket bms’s for these packs.

Weight is a concern - this pack weighs 55 lbs, vs 6 gc’s weighing 450lbs? And 300ah? @ 12v (50%) (3600wh) vs 4000wh (80%)

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
Are not there forums specializing in Tesla batteries for off-grid living? I've encountered a few that seem to promote PSW inverter only accessories meaning an RV would need an AC power supply.

Just for my edification (ignorance) how many cells are in your battery and what is the operating voltage and USABLE ampere hours specs?

What is the EER rating of your proposed refrigerator? It seems my 24 CF Viking refrigerator space is 20% occupied but the freezer is jam packed along with 2 other giant non-RV chest freezers. I have a busy vacuum sealer machine. But this is at an umbilical house. The upright freezer in the rig (24 volt) is in stasis for now. The Viking if I remember correctly has a 10.9 EER

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
If going LI you must not camp in the cold.

Here is a website that may help you with solar:

https://freecampsites.net/adding-solar/

Are you configuring for a 48 volt battery bank?
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

azrving
Explorer
Explorer
Can't help you with lithium and I just stick with lead acid so far. If weight is a big issue lith is probably the way to go. Running a resi is no big deal.

I'm interested and following along so post pics or whatever you can.

Like I said the residential is not a big deal here's what I'm running.
Six GC 2, 2000 watt xantrex prowatt, 1000 watts of panels, whirlpool 10.7 resi, satellite, 40 inch LED, 19 inch LED, LED bulbs and the rest of the normal RV stuff. I don't invert to the microwave but do for the toaster at times and a hairdryer.