Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Help finalizing an Inverter \ PV \ Lithium \ Charge Controller shopping list and stupid questions... 03 Newmar KSDP


RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 4
Date:
Help finalizing an Inverter \ PV \ Lithium \ Charge Controller shopping list and stupid questions... 03 Newmar KSDP


Hi everyone, total noob here.  I have been researching a lot and have already done some purchasing.  Need help finalizing my shopping list so I can take my stuff to an installer to get everything up and running!  Tons of stupid questions, please be gentle.  lol

Ok, I recently purchased a 2003 Newmar Kountry Star Diesel Pusher and am outfitting it for energy independence.  Honestly, I haven't done an energy audit... I have a desktop computer that runs at most 425 watts with monitor that I'll want to use for a couple hours a day, a 40' tv for several hours a night, a laptop and normal stuff like a phone that needs charging, and planned intermittent use of the microwave and my Vitamix blender.  I figure 400ah and 640w of solar should be sufficient for my needs... and I want a solar charge controller with a little room to expand a couple more panels which may be necessary.  I admit I'll probably be too lazy to tilt my panels, also don't want them easily stolen either, so if 640w of panels isn't sufficient flat mounted, I'll add a couple more panels.  No, I am not planning on using A\C on solar + battery. 


Here's what I already have:

Magnum Hybrid 3000w Inverter w/advanced control panel
4 Grape Solar 160w panels and flat mount hardware.    

I'm about to purchase a 400ah lithium bank from Elite Power.
I'm leaning towards either the 80a Outback or 100a Magnum.  Any other options I should consider?

With the Elite lithium batteries, do I need an additional Lithum charger?  I'm aware that I'll be buying the Elite lithium battery that comes with all the balancers.  Do I need their battery management setup, or will the solar charge controller be capable of doing this itself?  FWIW, I don't expect to be using the inverter charger much, if at all. 


What other components should I buy or need.  I'm expecting an installer to have any wiring and battery terminal stuff... are there any specific components I should pick out... like junction boxes, fuses, shutoffs or anything? 

Any specific installers on the west coast that I should consider or avoid? 

I'm really worried about finding a competent installer for the hybrid inverter and battery.  Is that an easy job I can trust to a local RV shop or should I be willing to travel to AM or some other well-regarded experienced solar installer?  I'm afraid I'm overthinking this a bit too much, but I have no clue and there isn't a whole lot of information actually out there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  And I apologize for my disjointed post and my ignorance, I've been researching everything for at least a month and still don't have a complete idea of what I need to get to have everything prepared for an installer.  Regards, Mike.



-- Edited by MichaelB on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 04:52:43 AM



-- Edited by MichaelB on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 07:31:50 AM

__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 160
Date:

I sent you a personal message read it Mike.

__________________

Rush and Lola Songer

2015 F-350 DRW (Alias Fat Baby)

2017 Vanleigh Vilano 325 RL  (Alias Sunshine)

Solar Equipped 

Full Timers July 2016 



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 3721
Date:

Check http://wheelingit.us/category/solar-power-2/ for an installer and lots of information.



__________________

Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 4
Date:

Thanks, I actually read that page earlier.

Any idea of what I should expect to pay to have my inverter installed?



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us