Crabcakes-WO
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2024
- Posts
- 10
Hi all! Brand new here, but been a lurker for the last year. My wife and I bought a new 2023 Micro Minnie 2108FBS in December. We will be moving into it full time starting in September as my work will have me on the road constantly and we thought that sounded like “fun”
In the process of getting it ready to be home, I am working on a lithium battery conversion. We’ve worked out our power needs and we’ve settled on some components. HOWEVER, I’ve never really done an electrical project of this proportion, so I thought I would do a write-up so that:
In the process of getting it ready to be home, I am working on a lithium battery conversion. We’ve worked out our power needs and we’ve settled on some components. HOWEVER, I’ve never really done an electrical project of this proportion, so I thought I would do a write-up so that:
- I could see all the info in one place
- If I screw up royally, I have a record of what I did
- Others might be able to see the process if they’re doing this themselves and,
- (or 3a) Those who know what their doing might be able to tell me if number 2 above is occurring.
- 2x LiTime12v 230Ah Plus LFP Batteries with Low-temp protection
- 1x 400W Lightweight Portable Solar Suitcase (No charge controller)
[*Progressive Dynamics PD4655V Converter Replacement - DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC Battery Charger with MPPT
- ]Renogy ONE Core monitor[/FONT]
108FBS has 190W of solar on the roof. We are hoping that we can utilize the Go Power side port and rewire it to the new MPPT controller to give extra juice for our 460Ah battery bank. We are currently living in (and generally traveling around) Denver, so sunlight is at a surplus all year. I read that the general recommendation is to have 2-3x Watts of solar per battery Ah, but I don’t mind having to fire up our generator to top up if the solar is not quite sufficient.
Battery Install
The plan is to mount the two LFP batteries into the pass through, up against the interior wall. I plan to wall-mount the DCC50S and monitor to the wall beside them. I’ve found wiring diagrams and have had a look at the wiring, but I am not sure exactly how to physically route the wires into the pass through this quite yet, but I’m sure it’s doable.
Converter Replacement
With the PD4655V, I know a change in wire gauge is needed, I’ll be replacing the existing wires with 4AWG. I’m assuming this is just the wire running between the battery and the converter, so hopefully this is just a matter of following the wires as they traverse the underside of the TT.
Portable Solar Addition
This one I’m a bit fuzzy on TT feeds into the batteries, but looking at the forums here it sounds as though it feeds into the solar charge controller. My hope is to replace the existing solar charge controller and feed the existing roof solar AND the side portable into the new unit - making it just a plug-and-play system when we are stopped and the suitcase is deployed.
Does anyone here know how to combine those panels into the solar charger? Is this a matter of attaching both panels to the same terminals of the solar controller? I’d love to avoid a combiner box if possible. I also suspect I’ll need to upgrade the wire coming out of the side port.
Another option I would be happy with is to leave the existing solar controller in place for the roof solar and to utilize the new charge controller for the new portable solar. Is this possible? I'm not really sure how I'd marry them together to both serve the electrical needs of the TT.
DC-DC and MPPT Unit
I was excited to find this unit that can combine a few functions: solar charge controller and DC-DC charging. It came in a package with the Renogy monitor and the price was right. Less things to mount is a positive for me. I’m hoping a wiring diagram of the junction box will be a self-explanatory “connect this wire here, that wire there”, but I’m prepared for a little struggle.
Until parts arrive, that's where things stand. I'm hoping to get most of the components this week and get started. If you kind folks see things I am missing or have insights into the above, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll provide some updates as things get done.
Last edited by a moderator: