Inspired by [MENTION=39281]df_2112[/MENTION] (see here), I thought I would post my progress on my build so far. First off, I'd like to thank the many folks on this forum who have inspired me (and at times slightly intimidated me) and provided me with great examples of what can be done. On my last TT, I had a fairly simple solar set up with a couple of 100-watt panels, an MPPT charge controller, and a couple of 100 Ah AGM batteries. This worked great, on most sunny days my batteries would be fully charged by 2 PM. I even had a 50-watt panel on a leash that I could move around when I was in the woods.
However, my new 260RD came with a 12-volt refrigerator and I knew I was going to need more to keep that running. Not having much real-world experience with that refrigerator, I assumed a worst-case scenario: the unit would draw 4 amps per hour continuously over the day. So with that in mind, I was looking for 96 Ah per day for the refrigerator plus another 25 Ah for other electric uses within the coach, let's call it a daily energy budget of 120 Ah. My plan called for enough battery capacity to carry us at an off-grid location for at least 5 days with no additional power from solar or generator (we will have both but I'm conservative). So I needed a minimum of 600 Ah (5 days x 120 Ah per day). Based on what I read on this forum, I decided to "go big or go home" and purchased 4 200 Ah LiFePo4 batteries for a total of 800 Ah. And since the Lossigy batteries that I purchased don't have low temp cutoff or internal heating, I knew I was going to need a suitable container where I could store the batteries with insulation and heaters.
Despite a fair amount of research, I was unable to find any boxes that would accommodate my battery bank so I knew I was going to have to build something myself. That was a bit scary since I have very limited skills in the carpentry area. I'm fine with mechanical and electrical items, but wood and I have never done well together.
Fortunately, I had some old plywood and OSB lying around so if the box turned out too ugly I wouldn't be out much. But....
The box has turned out much better than I expected, not a thing of beauty, but functional.
It even holds the batteries!
And fits in the forward compartment (once I remove the stock battery the battery bank will move over more to the driver's side).
The next step is to fit the box with the bus bars for the battery cables, wrap the batteries with insulation, and install the battery heaters.
However, my new 260RD came with a 12-volt refrigerator and I knew I was going to need more to keep that running. Not having much real-world experience with that refrigerator, I assumed a worst-case scenario: the unit would draw 4 amps per hour continuously over the day. So with that in mind, I was looking for 96 Ah per day for the refrigerator plus another 25 Ah for other electric uses within the coach, let's call it a daily energy budget of 120 Ah. My plan called for enough battery capacity to carry us at an off-grid location for at least 5 days with no additional power from solar or generator (we will have both but I'm conservative). So I needed a minimum of 600 Ah (5 days x 120 Ah per day). Based on what I read on this forum, I decided to "go big or go home" and purchased 4 200 Ah LiFePo4 batteries for a total of 800 Ah. And since the Lossigy batteries that I purchased don't have low temp cutoff or internal heating, I knew I was going to need a suitable container where I could store the batteries with insulation and heaters.
Despite a fair amount of research, I was unable to find any boxes that would accommodate my battery bank so I knew I was going to have to build something myself. That was a bit scary since I have very limited skills in the carpentry area. I'm fine with mechanical and electrical items, but wood and I have never done well together.
Fortunately, I had some old plywood and OSB lying around so if the box turned out too ugly I wouldn't be out much. But....
The box has turned out much better than I expected, not a thing of beauty, but functional.
It even holds the batteries!
And fits in the forward compartment (once I remove the stock battery the battery bank will move over more to the driver's side).
The next step is to fit the box with the bus bars for the battery cables, wrap the batteries with insulation, and install the battery heaters.
