reckless37-WO
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2023
- Posts
- 30
I’ve been contemplating switching to lithium batteries in my RV for a while, but the hassle and potential space issues have deterred me. If it were as simple as swapping the batteries, I would have done it a long time ago. On my 2011 Via, I would also have to replace the shore charger and add a DC-DC converter between the alternator and the house batteries. Then, to make it truly useful, I'd need a 2,000-watt inverter.
I have also been thinking about trying a setup at home using two 100 Ah lithium batteries charged by solar power. Using a 2kW pure sine wave inverter, I figured I could run my washer and gas dryer, as well as charge our e-bikes. Since I have time-of-use electric pricing (which varies by more than a factor of six), this would make it much cheaper to do laundry during peak hours. Plus, in the event of a power outage, I could use the setup to keep a few essentials running, like the refrigerator.
However, on a recent camping trip, a friend of mine was using a small portable power station. In the past, I’ve been against power stations because they tend to be a bit pricey. But when I got home, I found some were on sale, and the prices on AliExpress were even better.
So, I bought an 1100Wh power station that features a built-in 1.8kW pure sine wave inverter and a 500W MPPT charge controller (the Bluetti AC180). I got it for $350 plus tax from AliExpress, and it arrived in just two days. (If I was to do it again, I might get the Elite 100 V2 as it has WIFI and is weighs 12 pounds less, but you give up 10% in capacity).
One could definitely make the case for getting a larger 2kWh setup, but those are bigger, heavier, and more expensive. While I have yet to take it on the road, I think this might be a good, easy solution for me. I can use it to get some free energy at home, it can help out during a power failure (while being much more portable than a DIY solution), and it can run the 120V components in the RV. I plan on continuing to use the AGM batteries for my 12V requirements.
I’m still undecided on exactly how I will hook it up. I’m going to try simply plugging the RV's shore power cord directly into the power station. My only worry is that if the AGM batteries are not fully charged, the RV's built-in converter will attempt to use the power station to charge them, which would drain it quickly. However, flipping its breaker off will solve that.
To manage this, I already have 200 watts of solar on the roof and can add another 100 watts from a portable panel to keep the AGM batteries topped off. For the power station itself, I plan to use two or four 130-watt flexible panels. They only weigh about five pounds each and cost around $50 apiece. Finally, just like the AGM batteries charge while driving, I can also charge the power station at a 100W rate by plugging it into the vehicle's 12V accessory outlet.
I have also been thinking about trying a setup at home using two 100 Ah lithium batteries charged by solar power. Using a 2kW pure sine wave inverter, I figured I could run my washer and gas dryer, as well as charge our e-bikes. Since I have time-of-use electric pricing (which varies by more than a factor of six), this would make it much cheaper to do laundry during peak hours. Plus, in the event of a power outage, I could use the setup to keep a few essentials running, like the refrigerator.
However, on a recent camping trip, a friend of mine was using a small portable power station. In the past, I’ve been against power stations because they tend to be a bit pricey. But when I got home, I found some were on sale, and the prices on AliExpress were even better.
So, I bought an 1100Wh power station that features a built-in 1.8kW pure sine wave inverter and a 500W MPPT charge controller (the Bluetti AC180). I got it for $350 plus tax from AliExpress, and it arrived in just two days. (If I was to do it again, I might get the Elite 100 V2 as it has WIFI and is weighs 12 pounds less, but you give up 10% in capacity).
One could definitely make the case for getting a larger 2kWh setup, but those are bigger, heavier, and more expensive. While I have yet to take it on the road, I think this might be a good, easy solution for me. I can use it to get some free energy at home, it can help out during a power failure (while being much more portable than a DIY solution), and it can run the 120V components in the RV. I plan on continuing to use the AGM batteries for my 12V requirements.
I’m still undecided on exactly how I will hook it up. I’m going to try simply plugging the RV's shore power cord directly into the power station. My only worry is that if the AGM batteries are not fully charged, the RV's built-in converter will attempt to use the power station to charge them, which would drain it quickly. However, flipping its breaker off will solve that.
To manage this, I already have 200 watts of solar on the roof and can add another 100 watts from a portable panel to keep the AGM batteries topped off. For the power station itself, I plan to use two or four 130-watt flexible panels. They only weigh about five pounds each and cost around $50 apiece. Finally, just like the AGM batteries charge while driving, I can also charge the power station at a 100W rate by plugging it into the vehicle's 12V accessory outlet.
