Solar system and Battery Control Center (BCC)

[lhamuel]

Hello,

We have a Hurricane 2012 and in the process installing Solar system

Renogy - 4 x 100 Watts Panels
Renogy - DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC ON-BOARD BATTERY CHARGER WITH MPPT
Go Power - IC 3000 Watts Inverter/Charger
Battle Born - 2 x 12v 100 ah Batteries

I know how it works and how to wire it all
my question is to wire it with the battery control center that came with the motor home and the fact that the alternator charge the house batteries while driving?

Thanks!

[DavidEM]

I would first do some experimenting. You will need a clamp on DC ammeter.

With the Battle Born batteries installed and at about 50% charged, measure how many amps your shore powered converter charges at.

Then with the same state of charge and shore power disconnected, measure how many amps (if any) your chassis engine charges at normal highway rpms- 2-2,500 rpms.

That will answer your question about chassis charging and also tell you if the Battle Borns are drawing too much current from the alternator- probably anything more than 50A.

If the amperage is ok, then you don't need the B2B capability. Just use the Renogy as a solar controller only and wire it to the panels and the batteries but not the chassis alternator.

If the current is too much, then you somehow have to disable the chassis to coach charging relay and let the B2B do the job.

David

[RiseADreadnaught]

I am renovating a 1995 Thor Residency but removing the propane/lp/"gas" oriented capabilities.

I am having 4× 400 watt solar panels hooked up to 4× Giandel (Power Inverters 5000W/10000W 12V to 110 V-120 V 4.5M), and 12× Power-Sonic PS12550U 12V 55Ah Batteries since I want to be "off the grid" and not connected to various parks version of 50a for extended periods of time. I am new here (first hello is posted!) but is solar powering an RV ir its major systems a relatively new (last 25 to 30 years) trend?

And will I have similar issues?

[RiseADreadnaught]

Originally Posted by lhamuel

Hello,

We have a Hurricane 2012 and in the process installing Solar system

Renogy - 4 x 100 Watts Panels
Renogy - DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC ON-BOARD BATTERY CHARGER WITH MPPT
Go Power - IC 3000 Watts Inverter/Charger
Battle Born - 2 x 12v 100 ah Batteries

I know how it works and how to wire it all
my question is to wire it with the battery control center that came with the motor home and the fact that the alternator charge the house batteries while driving?

Thanks!

And are you going 4, 3, or 1 gauge for the wiring? Any wisdom from past experiences?

[lhamuel]

wire gauge are normally 10 AWG for solar panels, invertor/charger are 2/0 and the rest are 6 AWG
but the main factor is watts and distance of the equipment.

[RadioRanger]

In looking at the same issue. I have found that it is suggested to get a DC-DC Charger. AKA a Lithium Battery Isolation Manager. The lithium battery will take all the current it can and overload the alternator. So there will need to be a way to limit the amount of charge going to the battery from the alternator.

I can't claim to be an expert on this. It is something I came across that I have not seen a lot of talk about.

I think that same line from the alternator to the coach battery is used to supply the current for using the coach battery to start the engine if the bypass switch is selected (engine battery dead). I'm not sure how that current flows the other way in that case. Plus it would need to be more than what the current limit is. Hope that make sense.


John

[HarryS]

Originally Posted by RadioRanger

I think that same line from the alternator to the coach battery is used to supply the current for using the coach battery to start the engine if the bypass switch is selected (engine battery dead). I'm not sure how that current flows the other way in that case. Plus it would need to be more than what the current limit is. Hope that make sense.


John

Without knowing your coach specifically, normally, there is not a direct line from the alternator to the coach batteries. You will have a disconnect between, allowing for the alternator to charge the chassis battery first, then connect the coach and chassis batteries together to charge both at the same time. That same disconnect (solenoid on some vehicles) will connect the batteries together when pressing the aux, or emer start button, allowing power to flow between.

[RiseADreadnaught]

"Remember your training..."

Originally Posted by lhamuel

wire gauge are normally 10 AWG for solar panels, invertor/charger are 2/0 and the rest are 6 AWG
but the main factor is watts and distance of the equipment.

Thank you for the electrical engineering [lesson]. Seriously, working on a computer system is one thing. A vehicle with major electrical systems is quite another.

Much appreciated!

[wannarv]

Originally Posted by lhamuel

Hello,

We have a Hurricane 2012 and in the process installing Solar system

Renogy - 4 x 100 Watts Panels
Renogy - DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC ON-BOARD BATTERY CHARGER WITH MPPT
Go Power - IC 3000 Watts Inverter/Charger
Battle Born - 2 x 12v 100 ah Batteries

I know how it works and how to wire it all
my question is to wire it with the battery control center that came with the motor home and the fact that the alternator charge the house batteries while driving?

Thanks!

Why not pay a pro to do it. You could reduce that cost by installing the panels yourself.

[IDguy]

Originally Posted by lhamuel

Hello,

We have a Hurricane 2012 and in the process installing Solar system

Renogy - 4 x 100 Watts Panels
Renogy - DCC50S 12V 50A DC-DC ON-BOARD BATTERY CHARGER WITH MPPT
Go Power - IC 3000 Watts Inverter/Charger
Battle Born - 2 x 12v 100 ah Batteries

I know how it works and how to wire it all
my question is to wire it with the battery control center that came with the motor home and the fact that the alternator charge the house batteries while driving?

Thanks!

Just hook the controller to the batteries as described. It works fine.