Will a 250Ah Lithium Upgrade Power a 2022 Micro Minnie Off-Grid?

[Sbearister]

I just purchased a 2022 Micro Mini for several adventures. First will be 1 month trip along Route 66 - Chicago to La. Plan to stay in parks most of time but likely have several nights in various off grid locations. Just myself and Maisy the wonderdog. My need is small maybe TV at night, Coffee in morning, and microwave in morning for pastry. Due to noise decided rather than generator to upgrade battery to Lithium (Maybe approx 250AH). Two questions. First, do you think this will handle my needs and thus right plan. Second what is needed to change in existing system to make this battery upgrade. Do I need to consider a second solar panel? I could not find a post on this need. Thank you. Jeff

 

[klook]

So, I had 100 ah on my recent trip and tripled it to 300. 100 was working but we wanted more and already had 3 330w panels to use. Rule of thumb is 200 to 300 watts per 100ah. We never came close to running out of power but we ran very few things on 120v. Our fridge is 120v and the tv and starlink. Look at your solar panel wattage, pray for sunlight, and have a great trip. We are considering the same trip as well.

 

[klook]

IF it is not already you should get a convertor that charges Lithium. You can use a normal charger but it will never top them off. But it won't harm them.

 

[Sbearister]

Thank U. I have one battery now (not lithium) 100AH which I was thinking of upgrading to lithium of approx 250AH. Is this a viable plan? If so what else do I need to change out to support this change. Do I need another solar panel? On a daily basis would only watch a little TV, lighting, maybe microwave (1000watts). Fridge can run on Propane.

 

[klook]

Thank U. I have one battery now (not lithium) 100AH which I was thinking of upgrading to lithium of approx 250AH. Is this a viable plan? If so what else do I need to change out to support this change. Do I need another solar panel? On a daily basis would only watch a little TV, lighting, maybe microwave (1000watts). Fridge can run on Propane.

Yes it is. The charge profile is different but your convertor will work. I don't know how big your 1 panel is? I don't know how many volts and amps your charge controller is....tell me these things and I can answer.

 

[Sbearister]

Sorry, All items you ask about are original with the 2022 Micro Minnie

 

[klook]

I don't own one. Most factory installed "solar systems" are a joke. You need to do some research on solar setups and requirements.

 

[Wmlunt-WO]

My 24 Micro Minnie has 200w solar on the roof, and 220 ah lithium battery. When boondocking in the woods I have to run the genny about 4 hrs to make up for 12v fridge, minimal water pump and lighting, per day.
If roof panel has full sun all day I still don’t quite make up for power usage.
If traveling the jeep recharges fully when traveling times of half a day maybe.
YMMV Bill

 

[klook]

When you get larger battery banks it requires an MPPT controller not the PWM....I am not going go into the weeds as there are plenty of places to learn this online. You can't just add batteries or solar. IT must be planned. Manufacturer sites have droves of information on how to build a proper system. Failure to do this can cause severe problems. It gets into proper fuses and switches and wire sizes.
In the post above, the solar panel output is inadequate for the AH of the batteries. Even on a perfect day it will not charge up and top off the batteries.

 

[Wmlunt-WO]

Note that the first thing I did was upgrade the PWM controller to 2x Victron MPPT controllers and use the side port for another 200w portable solar panel to try to chase the sun. This gives 400 watts wired with proper gage, and properly sized breakers with disconnects for servicing.
The real issue is camping in New England where there is so much tree cover that no matter how much panel wattage, it will never fully charge enuf for my daily usage. I enjoy camping in the woods rather than field camping. The small Honda genny is quiet and still allowed at these state campgrounds and have never had noise complaints.
For best convenience I rent a fhu campsite.

 

[klook]

Yes, I experimented with shading in the desert. Just a small portion of the panel covered reduces wattage tremendously. I watched the app while putting things in the way. Will suffer that fate this summer when I cross upper NE heading to Eastern Maine where I am from originally. Going to avoid the coast and tolls and take my time.

 

[Wmlunt-WO]

Best of luck with your journey.
Some panels suffer greatly with partial shade, others not so much, depends on quality and the design of the arrays.
I find in the woods the panels are almost completely covered.

 

[Morich]

Lots of questions need to be considered before leaping into very deep water!
What is the experience level with RV? What is the driving force for the solar switch? If wanting to avoid crowds, there are lots of ways to do that with far less effort and expense.
If it is a "first trip" or a one time effort, I advise thinking very carefully before totally biting that bullet. There are lots of places to camp that are not totally off the grid and they offer lots of good things with far less expense than the off grid or commercial parks.
First experiences tend to be rough when we are not sure what we need and help is nowhere to be found.
Keep in mind that cell service can get really scarce once out of sight of metro and herds!
Something as simple as a flat tire or dead battery can get tricky when you can't call for help!

 

[creativepart]

My need is small maybe TV at night, Coffee in morning, and microwave in morning for pastry. Due to noise decided rather than generator to upgrade battery to Lithium (Maybe approx 250AH).

Not sure why it hasn't been mentioned previously... but 12vdc battery power will not power your coffee maker nor your microwave. You need an inverter for that to take 12vdc and invert it into 110vac.

Plus, not just any inverter will do this job you need one of at least 2000w. Both the coffee maker and the microwave are very high load AC appliances that need very close to 2000w to operate. And, on top of that you need to have your Micro Minnie wired so that your microwave can be run off of AC power from that inverter.

You can add 10,000 ah of Lithium batteries but you're not running your microwave, nor probably your coffee maker, unless you have a powerful enough inverter and the proper wiring in your travel trailer.

So, even if your Micro Minnie has a small inverter installed already from the factory it will not come from the factory with a 2000w inverter nor the wiring to power everything in your RV, especially the microwave.

PS. Winnebago does make a special version of the Micro Minnie that has such wiring and such an inverter but it comes standard with 320ah of Lithium batteries. It's called the FLX. Since you have one smaller non-lithium battery it's clear you do not have this FLX model.

 

[Bnystrom]

The real issue is camping in New England where there is so much tree cover that no matter how much panel wattage, it will never fully charge enuf for my daily usage. I enjoy camping in the woods rather than field camping.

I hear ya. We travel predominantly in the northeast US and Canada, and really prefer to camp in the woods, often off-grid. We also drive mostly on secondary roads, which are often tree-lined. Consequently, I decided that it made more sense to install 600Ah of LiFePO4 batteries and skip the solar, at least for now. I also upgraded our converter to 75A and installed a 60A DC-DC charger. Now, our batteries easily outlast our water supply. BTW, this is in a View, not a Mini Winnie.

 

[bcborn]

A 2022 Micro Minnie if Winnebago installed a solar panel at new, it would have been a 12volt 190 watt panel. The solar Charge Controller was likely a 30 Amp PWM.

Not sure when Winnebago upgraded the Converter Charger model to an auto switch over (lead acid to lithium). 2023 models had this model. Contact Winnebago Customer Support with your VIN and they will tell you.

They will also tell you the solar details that were factory installed.

 

[Sbearister]

Not sure why it hasn't been mentioned previously... but 12vdc battery power will not power your coffee maker nor your microwave. You need an inverter for that to take 12vdc and invert it into 110vac.

Plus, not just any inverter will do this job you need one of at least 2000w. Both the coffee maker and the microwave are very high load AC appliances that need very close to 2000w to operate. And, on top of that you need to have your Micro Minnie wired so that your microwave can be run off of AC power from that inverter.

You can add 10,000 ah of Lithium batteries but you're not running your microwave, nor probably your coffee maker, unless you have a powerful enough inverter and the proper wiring in your travel trailer.

So, even if your Micro Minnie has a small inverter installed already from the factory it will not come from the factory with a 2000w inverter nor the wiring to power everything in your RV, especially the microwave.

PS. Winnebago does make a special version of the Micro Minnie that has such wiring and such an inverter but it comes standard with 320ah of Lithium batteries. It's called the FLX. Since you have one smaller non-lithium battery it's clear you do not have this FLX model.

Thank U/. Yes, I understand I need to install new inverter / like 3000Watt. I was hoping someone has made this conversion and supply me with a lisy of what I need to purchase/. Still hoping/ Thank u

 

[Sbearister]

Thank U/. Yes, I understand I need to install new inverter / like 3000Watt. I was hoping someone has made this conversion and supply me with a lisy of what I need to purchase/. Still hoping/ Thank u

 

[dmall]

Thank U/. Yes, I understand I need to install new inverter / like 3000Watt. I was hoping someone has made this conversion and supply me with a lisy of what I need to purchase/. Still hoping/ Thank u

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[bcborn]

Going a 3000 watt inverter will be a costly adventure, not to mention the additional cost to go a size bigger in DC wire. A 2000 Watt inverter, like the Xantrex 2000 Inverter will be more than enough for a toaster and coffee maker. The DC wire size will be smaller and cost less. Depending how the Inverter is wired into the trailer will dictate which and how many AC outlets/plugs are powered by the inverter when off grid.

Going Lithium will require the OEM converter charger be Lithium Compatible or you won't get the 14.5 V required to charge the lithium fully. Again check with Winnebago, may already have that Converter/Charger as standard equipment, all new trailer do. This is only applicable when plugged in to Shore Power (AC).

Also going lithium will require a DC/DC Charger. While towing the alternator in the tow vehicle (13.5 V) will not charge a lithium battery to full capacity .

You can go a Xantrex Inverter/Charger and it will charge the Lithium to full, but this only works if plugged into Shore Power (AC).