Motorhome Solar Upgrade. Changing to a Victron 100/20 Controller
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- Опубликовано: 9 апр 2023
- Part 2 of my Motorhome solar upgrade. Part 1 was the installation of the solar panels (link below if you want to watch that first). I'm upgrading from 100w to 300w so need a new solar controller. Following recommendations, I've gone for the Victron Smart Solar Controller 100/20.
#motorhomeuk #vanlife #offgridpower
• Motorhome DIY Solar Up...
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/ @kissisadventures
It’s been a while since we have seen any videos from you and we hope that you are both doing ok and send our best wishes 😊
Hey m8. The 2 extra terminals can supply power to something after the battery is full. You could use this to a water heater .
liking the idea of the switch as have just ordered ecoflow and solar panel so may try that. Thanks great video
many thanks
Nice work!
I’m looking at the SmartSolar 100/30 to put in my small cabin. I’m so used to running a generator for everything that I won’t know how to act when I don’t need to run the generator around the clock.
Really interesting video.
Looking forward for more content.👍
I would love to go all solar but the storage batteries are so expensive and very bulky here in California.
Tesla full system is excellent but it’s outrageously expensive.
Great videos thanks
Thanks for watching!
Thanks mate wasn't Shaw how to find battery type on app.👍🇦🇺
Just fitted a Victron 100/20 myself, happy with it, I wired my fuse box to the load terminals on the controller, handy, lets you know instantly how much current each individual unit is using, and obviously the total amount if you have a lot of things running, have the inverter and diesel heater wired direct to the battery as the wires are a bit thick. for the fuse box terminals, I have 2x100w panels, hoping to get another 100w soon so made sure I bought a controller to suit my upgrade, Good luck with your setup, seems to be doing the job! Happy Traveling - subscribed
sorry for delay, just catching up. Hope your system has worked out ok for you
Hi I am about to fit the same system. What size fuse did you use. Many thanks Glen
@@glensanders7608 20amp, seemed to do the job. Good luck
You should wire the battery to the controller first, then the solar panels. Otherwise you have the solar panels are sending power to the controller, but the controller has nowhere to put it and it'll burn itself out.
His selector switch was on ‘0’, so there was no power going to the controller…
@@albertjanrijswijk7849 his selector switch decides if power house to his "leisure" battery or his portable power unit.
No ya don't ya wire the solar first with a piece of cardboard on the panel so the panel doesn't get any sun them connect the battery
Fantastic video can I still use my inverter connected direct to battery thank you
Hi, im no electrician but that change over switch you are using says 220 Volts (AC), solar produces DC. I have been speaking to some sparks in work as i want to do something similar to charge my Bluetti and they say you shouldn't mix electrical components between the 2. Just a heads up 👍
Hi Andy & Gill, loving the videos and adventures as we have the same Elddis 125. I see you have a Fiamma Awning fitted. Could I ask what size this is please as we want to add one to our MH but just wanted to make sure we got the right size. I cant seem to find your video from a while back when you fitted yours. Thank you
Thank you for a very helpful, informative video. I'm planning on doing a similar installation upgrade to our single 100W solar panel. We have a separate battery pack/power station and I want to have a separate cable to it using a two way switch. Do you know what model your kill switch is pleaseso I can find it on the internet. Thanks in anticipation. Keep the videos coming! Mike
Sorry for delay, bit of an issue seeing my comments. This is the switch I used. It's fine but wiring diagram is a bit complicated and limited room in the back box for all the wires, especially if you're using 6mm or above cable.
amzn.eu/d/6gzdBUQ
Hi, any chance you could show how the change over switch is wired? Thanks
How did you wire your ecoflow into the 240 volt hook up to use as a shore power connection to power your factory fitted 240volt sockets
Can the bulk charge voltage be set to a custom voltage? I like to set my LiFePO to 13.8v when I don’t need the full battery capacity.
What is the voltage output on the load?
thanks for a great video. I'd love to know how you wired the switch for going to the eco flow as I've just fitted solar and am about to get a battery power station
Same here would like to know🤔
Sorry for delay. Used this two way switch
amzn.eu/d/6gzdBUQ
@@KissisAdventures thanks so much!! now I just need to find a video that shows what wires goi to what terminals on the switch lol
I wired the solar panel to the switch. Outlet 1 then wired to PV input on controller. Outlet 2 on switch goes directly to my ecoflow. The instructions with the switch weren't easy to follow though.
Another informative video, thank you. Whilst understanding the disclaimer about not being an expert, I'd still like to ask a few questions if I may.
1. With the old system, I take it that you were trickle charging both the vehicle battery and the leisure battery from the solar control unit. How do you keep the vehicle battery topped up now?
2. Do you have any form of battery protection that will shut off all the loads if the battery voltage drops too low?
3. Did you consider running the EcoFlo from one of your existing 12v plugs rather than having to run additional wiring and fitting the change over switch?
I'm curious on the last one because we need to find a way to charge our EcoFlo that isn't prohibitively expensive and doesn't demand too much of my limited DIY skills!
1. I don't charge the vehicle battery from the solar although this is possible. The alternator whilst driving is more than adequate to charge the vehicle battery.
2. There is a 20a fuse in the pos cable that runs to the leisure battery from the solar controller.
3. The only way to charge the ecoflow from 12v is via the cigar lighter lead when the engine is running. Personally I find this very difficult to use and it takes ages to charge hence why we've increased our solar.
Hope this helps
Aha, thanks for that. The reason for the question 're the vehicle battery is that we have a power hungry alarm/tracker/gremlin that means we really need a method of trickle charging when the MoHo is left for a couple of weeks. Noted on the 12v front, being a lazy fellow I was just trying to avoid splicing, running and installing wiring! Thanks again.
Look into a battery to battery controller. That should charge the vehicle battery from solar when engine is not running
Hello and and Gill been following your vlogs for 18 months or so
Absolutely loved the European trip so
Will there be any new travel vlogs coming soon pls
Ade and Allison in Malton
many apologies for delay in replying. we were a bit off things in 2023. Back with it now and new content on site. Thanks for watching
Hi, love your videos. What make and model drone do you use. Thank you
really sorry for missing your msg. I have a DJI Mini 2. I need to use it more
Looks good Andy, nice and neat. Does the Ecoflow have it's own solar controller built in? Cheers K.
Yes it does, you can plug a solar panel directly into it with the correct lead which comes with the ecoflow
bought some panels for my delta 2 and wish for a good range voltage drop . a permenant voltage drop to series em and keep em under 60v !!! not good idea but its something
Thank you for that. I noticed you had a banner saying you didn’t need the unit Earth. Is that correct?
I think it's only US regs require the earth. However, do double check that for the UK.
And the big question is are you generating more power with the same panels or not? (At least 30% more cause pwm vs MPPT). 230W out of 300W is amazing for flat mount panels in March. Let us know about 270 out 300W
When will there be more content to watch ?
Was that you two that were parked a couple of spaces away from us at Hardwick Hall today? Was going to say hello but didn’t want to interrupt you. It’s a lovely place.
sorry for delay in replying, yes that would have been us. give us a knock next time. all the best
230w isn't to bad considering the controller is rated at 20amp, I'm presuming that's your limiting factor. with 20amp * 12 = 240w.
Hi, went off the spec of the Victron 100/20 as follows:
Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/20 20A solar charge controller for solar panels up to 290W (12V) / 580W (24V) / 1160W (48V) up to 100V (Bluetooth inbuilt).
I assumed as the panels are flat on my roof I'd be highly unlikely to get anything close to 300w.
@@KissisAdventures I've just got the same controller but only two panels currently, flat like yours so we will have to see. What panel did you go with, I went for renogy purely down to price.
@@bumble__Bee__Builds two sunstore, slimline panels. Only ones I could find that fit in the space I had. Paid a premium because of their unusual size. Good luck with your install
@@KissisAdventures do you have insta?
Hi thank you for this video, however did you connect the solar panels in serias to have a higher voltage and less amps? I have the same controller, just wondering if I can connect 3 x 170 watt panels in serias to keep the amps less than 20? what do you think
Yes you can. As long as the total voltage of the 3 panels added up does not exceed the maximum voltage rating of the controller. I deff. advise on series connection of panels as it makes a more efficient system with less current loss. However at 170 times 3 = 510 watts will give you more than 30 amps going to the batteries and this controller cannot manage more than 20 amps output to batteries so you will be limited to 20 amps max. You will have to get a larger amp rated controller to see any benefit from your 3 panels. Greetings from Jamaica.
U got a shed in the van ?
Hope you both OK not heard anything for a while - follow you as we have a 125 as well. I have a question if you are able to help. I remember seeing a video quite a while ago about a slide out unit you put in the long thin cupboard next to the fridge. Can you tell me where you got it from and the dimensions/size please - thank you
sorry for delay, I got it from Magnum motorhomes of Grimsby. It fitted perfectly in that cupboard
Great 2 videos of panels and controller installs and probably copying you're installlllation almost exactly for same reason - limited roof space. Only query I have is that you have 300w of solar and there seems to be a limit of 290w on the victron controller - small amount but is it ok? Any issues with this?
Sorry for delay. I went on the assumption that there would never be over about 260w of solar coming in due to weather, angle of sun etc
Hi, have you connected anything into the load??
No, couldn't really find a need for it