New 2025 Imagine Solar Equipment

[TsnTexas]

My wife and I have downsized from the Reflection Fifth Wheel to an Imagine 2500RL bumper pull. This unit comes equipped with a solar package which has a single 180 watt roof mounted rigid Furion panel. The technician that did our walk thru told me for boondocking this panel is nothing more than a trickle charger and the included battery
(sealed wet cell) will run the 12 Volt Fridge for about 4 hours only. However the information I read tells me it will actually fully charge a single 100 amp hour agm battery in four hours. (I have two Renogy 100 amp hour batteries). Was also told I can add another 180 watt panel without having to change out the solar controller. All I need is the "Y" connector. The Furion Y adapters run more than $300.00! Surely there is another option?
As we plan to do quite a bit of boondocking any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Riverbug]

Congrats on the new RV!

Sounds about right that a typical lead acid battery will run about 4 hours before depleting to about 50%, which is the most you want to drain them to avoid degradation. I know it's been said several time before on this forum; you would be better off not adding Furrion components to your system. As you noted, they are very expensive and sub par compared to what you can purchase anywhere else. Add your own panels and controller. I would just leave the existing one in place if it is working. Remove and replace later if a component dies or you just want better equipment in its place.

 

[FjClay]

I added 200ah of lithium to my 2500 RL and the 165w keeps the fridge running. Lead acid batteries, I wouldn’t be too sure.

 

[TsnTexas]

Congrats on the new RV!

Sounds about right that a typical lead acid battery will run about 4 hours before depleting to about 50%, which is the most you want to drain them to avoid degradation. I know it's been said several time before on this forum; you would be better off not adding Furrion components to your system. As you noted, they are very expensive and sub par compared to what you can purchase anywhere else. Add your own panels and controller. I would just leave the existing one in place if it is working. Remove and replace later if a component dies or you just want better equipment in its place.

Thanks, I'm in agreement with the brand, but because the one panel is in place I could live with buying a second. The real shocker was the cost of the Y spliter - over $350.0. Hoping to find one a lot more reasonable. Add all that together I could buy a really nice generator!

 

[TsnTexas]

I added 200ah of lithium to my 2500 RL and the 165w keeps the fridge running. Lead acid batteries, I wouldn’t be too sure.

Sounds like you're set, did you need to change out the solar controller for your lithium batteries?

 

[Soundsailor]

How does $8 for a splitter sound? (https://www.amazon.com/BougeRV-Connectors-Branch-Parallel-Adapter/dp/B0753X68PS) If you need a second panel, most 200-watt panels will work fine with the stock 180-watt one (you'll lose about 20 watts of the larger panel's power when using mismatched panels).

 

[Riverbug]

Thanks, I'm in agreement with the brand, but because the one panel is in place I could live with buying a second. The real shocker was the cost of the Y spliter - over $350.0. Hoping to find one a lot more reasonable. Add all that together I could buy a really nice generator!

Have you priced the panel yet? When I was considering the same for my Furrion system a 165W panel was somewhere in the area of $500. Compare that to Renogy panels and it's a no brainer, and they're not the cheapest ones available. Good luck with whatever you decide. But I promise you'll be happier getting good panels and a good controller from the get-go.

 

[FjClay]

Sounds like you're set, did you need to change out the solar controller for your lithium batteries?

No, just reset the controller to lithium

 

[TsnTexas]

Thanks folks, lots of great information and ideas here. I’ll keep you posted on progress and might have another question or two as it goes along. Am totally new to solar systems.

 

[TsnTexas]

I've decided to keep the existing solar package as it is for now due to time constraints. Instead I'm looking at upgrading the batteries to Lithium. I'm researching LiFePo4 batteries and am wondering what might be a good recommendation for the budget minded camper. Not looking for cheap, but at the same time don't want to break the wallet. I'd be looking at 200 ah. I know a lot of you have thoroughly researched this and I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks!

 

[Soundsailor]

I've decided to keep the existing solar package as it is for now due to time constraints. Instead I'm looking at upgrading the batteries to Lithium. I'm researching LiFePo4 batteries and am wondering what might be a good recommendation for the budget minded camper. Not looking for cheap, but at the same time don't want to break the wallet. I know a lot of you have thoroughly researched this and I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks!

I've been happy with the Lossigy batteries I purchased on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09RZY7SDH). Their prices have come down a lot in the two years I've had mine, you can now purchase a 300 Ah battery for less than I paid for a 200 Ah.

 

[FjClay]

I went with Btr power batteries from amazon. Under $200 for 100ah. I used those in my 22mle and now in my 2500rl.

 

[Riverbug]

I've decided to keep the existing solar package as it is for now due to time constraints. Instead I'm looking at upgrading the batteries to Lithium. I'm researching LiFePo4 batteries and am wondering what might be a good recommendation for the budget minded camper. Not looking for cheap, but at the same time don't want to break the wallet. I'd be looking at 200 ah. I know a lot of you have thoroughly researched this and I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks!

SOK are less expensive than Battleborn but similar in reliability, but definitely not the cheapest out there. Li Time have good reviews and are cheaper. Look for features like cold temp cutoff, overcurrent protection, internal heater (if needed based on your camping).

 

[TsnTexas]

Ok I’m really showing my ignorance here, but are there limits on the amount of battery ah storage that the typical controller can handle? i.e should I be concerned about my controller being able to charge 300ah or 400ah battery bank. I tried researching this, but didn’t come up with much. Thanks.

 

[Second Chance]

Thread moved to Solar Systems and Generators.

Rob

 

[Riverbug]

Ok I’m really showing my ignorance here, but are there limits on the amount of battery ah storage that the typical controller can handle? i.e should I be concerned about my controller being able to charge 300ah or 400ah battery bank. I tried researching this, but didn’t come up with much. Thanks.

No limit on the batteries other than how much they'll "refill" given the amount of solar you have. The panel(s) voltage and amperage generation is what dictates the charge controller you'll want. But the controller doesn't care what size battery bank you are trying to charge with it. Depending on the controller you get, you can tailor the charge profile to match your battery type using preset options or customized settings.

Just as an example, my battery bank is 4 - 280AH batteries. It would take a long time to fully charge that bank if depleted. In a good day I might gain 10% in the bank; meaning while using all my 12V and 120V devices during that time, solar is covering that usage in addition to replenishing about 10% in the battery bank. If I had only 1 - 280AH battery it would replenish at a much faster rate using the same solar equipment.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

Thanks folks, lots of great information and ideas here. I’ll keep you posted on progress and might have another question or two as it goes along. Am totally new to solar systems.

I've decided to keep the existing solar package as it is for now due to time constraints. Instead I'm looking at upgrading the batteries to Lithium. I'm researching LiFePo4 batteries and am wondering what might be a good recommendation for the budget minded camper. Not looking for cheap, but at the same time don't want to break the wallet. I'd be looking at 200 ah. I know a lot of you have thoroughly researched this and I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks!

When it comes to learning more about Solar for your RV, you should read the thread:

Affordable-Solar-How-To-Design-and-Install-an-Affordable-Solar-System

I would also suggest that you follow the embedded links pertaining to "Cheap Lithium Batteries" and "Cheap Lithium Batteries, Do You Have Them? Do You Like Them?"

Both links have several battery brand recommendations.

In regard to your "EXPENSIVE 'Y'" connector, you can easily cut off the Furrion Connectors and install the Standard MC4 connectors so that you can use the Standard MC4 "Y" connectors (you will need a pair, one Positive and one Negative) to add your second panel. However, I would recommend you read the "Affordable Solar..." thread first, to allow you to make a more informed decision about adding that second panel, versus, adding several panels to get the system you actually want (and/or need) to avoid wasting money on the second panel, only to eventually replace both panels with better, higher Wattage, panels.

 

[BoredWeasel]

No, just reset the controller to lithium

The controller is junk, mine would toggle back and forth from lithium to lead acid. Just replace it with victron and be done with it.

 

[TsnTexas]

The controller is junk, mine would toggle back and forth from lithium to lead acid. Just replace it with victron and be done with it.

Sounds reasonable, thanks.

 

[DarrellGKing]

I have 1500W (6 panels from Newpowa at about $230 each) and two 300Ah LiPo from Ampere Time (now Litime) for $2600 total when I bought them. We boondock frequently, obviously. Victron components. More than enough power to keep the lights (and the fridge) on.