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  1. #1
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    BattleBorn/Victron Install Phase II

    Last fall I started the process of upgrading my Soiltude 310GK to lithium and solar with an inverter. I was able to complete the first phase in that post, and this spring I was able to complete the project by installing the solar panels along with a Cerbo GX and display. I will attempt to detail some of the work here.

    I started on the roof where I ran two sets of 4AWG wires through the generously sized **Sarcasm** hole that Grand Design provided from the roof to the basement area. This was originally an aluminum plate severely Dicor'ed to the roof behind my front AC unit. After carefully peeling off this plate and enlarging the holes on both ends, I was able to mount a NEMA rated enclosure over the hole on the roof and run the wires to the basement. I chose 4AWG as a good compromise between minimizing losses in the wires and having room for expansion if I decide to add any more panels. This box serves as a weather seal as well as a junction point for the solar wiring to come together. I will show this in a bit.

    Next, it was on to mounting the panels. I chose to go the Unistrut route for a few reasons. First, in the unlikely event I have to ever replace a panel it is not glued to the roof, just four bolts. Second, if I ever trade the rig, I can take the panels with me and leave the infrastructure there for the next owner. It also made the wiring easier. I decided to paint the strut mostly for aesthetics. They also have a slot cut cross-ways every two feet for drainage. I placed a strip of good quality butyl tape along the bottom of the strut for sealing as well as to minimize the risk of a sharp edge on the strut rubbing through the rubber roof membrane. The strut was screwed to as many trusses as I could find using self-drilling 1 7/8" truss head stainless screws and 1 1/4" stainless fender washers. All screw heads were then sealed with self leveling Dicor.

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    From here, the panel installation could begin. The panels were mounted using standard Z brackets along with 1/4-20 stainless hardware and cone nuts for the strut. I went with a series-parallel combination on the panels to balance the reduction of the current to the MPPTs and allow for tolerance to shading on cloudy days. I have four sets of two panels in series. Two sets are then paralleled into one MPPT, and the other two into the other. I chose to go with two MPPTs for redundancy purposes even though one could have done the job. In case anyone is interested, I have 1600W of Rich Solar panels and two 700W MPPTs (100/50). I chose to slightly oversize the panel array partly because that is how the parts worked out, and also because it will be rare that I am getting full output from the panels. 1400W was enough to achieve my goals. All of the panel wiring runs to the NEMA junction box.

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    That is all the pictures I am allowed, to be continued....
    Brian and Lisa - Longmont, CO
    2021 Solitude 310GK
    2022 F350 Lariat DRW Powerstroke
    Firestone airbags - WirelessOne Airlift
    B&W Companion 20K
    Tireminder TPMS


  2. #2
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    Now for the basement. Most of this is the same as my post from last fall, but I am now actually using the MPPTs. I have also added a Cerbo GX to the inverter bay in the upper right above the MPPTs. I wanted to be able to aggregate all of the information from the system and display it on the GX Touch monitor I place inside of a cabinet in the coach.

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    In addition, I added a small fuse panel in the upper left of the power wall to power smaller loads such as the Cerbo and basement lights. I also had some acrylic panels lasered to cover the inverter bay as well as the switch bay so cargo isn't crashing into anything vital. Just in case I forgot which switch was which, I added engraved labels under them for identification.

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    So far everything is working great. My goal was to at least be able to run an AC unit when we stopped for lunch on the road and have most of the energy come from solar. You can see on the picture of the Cerbo display that I was close to that. Looks like we will even be able to do some short-term boondocking as well.

    Phase III will be integration of temperature controlled fans for the inverter and MPPTs as well as wireless lighting control for the basement, because, why not?

    Cheers!

    Brian
    Brian and Lisa - Longmont, CO
    2021 Solitude 310GK
    2022 F350 Lariat DRW Powerstroke
    Firestone airbags - WirelessOne Airlift
    B&W Companion 20K
    Tireminder TPMS


  3. #3
    Site Team Soundsailor's Avatar
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    Very impressive, keep the pictures coming.
    Stephen and Judy
    2022 Reflection 150 Series 260RD (Stella)
    2017 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD (Blue)
    Traded - 2018 Forest River Rockwood Minilite 2104S

  4. #4
    Site Sponsor
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    Quote Originally Posted by Soundsailor View Post
    Very impressive, keep the pictures coming.
    Thank you! I have done some tidying of the wires since these pictures were taken, I'll snap a few more and post.
    Brian and Lisa - Longmont, CO
    2021 Solitude 310GK
    2022 F350 Lariat DRW Powerstroke
    Firestone airbags - WirelessOne Airlift
    B&W Companion 20K
    Tireminder TPMS


  5. #5
    Left The Driveway
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    We just installed 6 lithium batteries with two large solar panels and could’t be happier. Have to give you props for installing yourself. It was over our heads and decided to have them installed. You will love it once your project is completed. Good luck.

  6. #6
    Site Sponsor TerryH's Avatar
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    Really nice work! Thanks for posting!
    2021 Momentum 31G
    2021 20' Haulmark Edge race trailer
    '17 Ram CCLB 3500 dually 6.7 turbo
    '96 Chevy C3500 CC dually 454
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  7. #7
    Site Team Ynot4me2's Avatar
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    Impressive work. I like the labeling.

    Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk
    Steph & Lise
    2019 F150 Lariat 2.7 EB
    2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE

  8. #8
    Site Team Redapple63's Avatar
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    Beautiful work!
    2019 GMC 3500 SRW Sierra Denali Duramax
    2020 Reflection 315RLTS

  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper
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    Very Clean! I'll supply beer and pizza and hand you tools to do ours!
    Former 2022 Solitude 310GKR w/8K axles & disc brakes, factory solar
    Formerly 2019 Reflection 230RL, 2019 Reflection 320MKS, and 2015 Outback Terrain 230TRS

  10. #10
    Seasoned Camper RoJoSo's Avatar
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    Impressive!
    2020 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS 5th Wheel
    2013 Ford F250 Super Duty, King Ranch, 6.7 Diesel, HD Tow Package
    B&W Companion Slider RVK3405
    Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System R250SDG
    Titan 50 Gallon Fuel Tank

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