Results for "MPPT controller"

Solar Batteries Medium 45 minutes 118 👍 0

RV MPPT Solar Controller E1 Error Code: Causes & Fixes

Halfway through troubleshooting my MPPT solar charge controller's E1 error — would this be covered under warranty, or am I stuck paying out-of-pocket? The controller was working fine for months, but now it's completely stopped charging my batteries and just displays this E1 fault code on the screen.

From what I've read, this could be related to battery over-voltage conditions or possibly some kind of wiring fault, but I want to make sure I understand all the potential causes before I start troubleshooting. I'm comfortable doing basic electrical work myself, but I also want to know when this might be something that requires professional attention for safety reasons.

Can someone provide a detailed breakdown of what the E1 error specifically indicates, walk me through the proper diagnostic steps to identify the root cause, and explain the repair process? I'd especially appreciate guidance on how to safely approach this troubleshooting and what warning signs would indicate I should call in an expert instead of attempting the fix myself. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 98 👍 0

Complete RV Solar System Guide 2024: Sizing, Installation & Wiring

Turned to YouTube for RV solar advice and now I'm more confused than ever - probably a dumb question, but how do I actually size this thing? Could fellow RV owners share details about their current solar setups?

Please provide insights on:
- Total system watts
- Fixed or portable panels
- Rigid or flexible panel types
- Series or parallel wiring configuration
- Total system amps
- System voltage
- Wire gauge used
- Controller type
- Personal pros and cons of your current setup
- What you might change in a future installation

These details will help establish baseline specifications for a fleet installation project. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 45 minutes 98 👍 0

RV Solar Panels Not Charging Battery: Low Amp Troubleshooting Guide

Installed 400 watts of solar panels on the roof last month but my battery monitor barely shows 2 amps coming in even at peak sun. Wiring looks solid, connections are tight, and the panels tested fine individually. Something between the panels and the battery bank is killing my charge rate. …more

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Best RV Generators

4.6 (18,900 reviews)

Solar Batteries Easy N/A - planning 93 👍 0

Winnebago Ekko Solar Battery Setup: Complete Boondocking Power Guide 2

Looked at our 2022 Winnebago Ekko's dual 320 Amp Hour Lithionics batteries and 450-watt solar setup after my wife mentioned it wasn't optimized for boondocking, and now I'm completely obsessing over our power management. Planning extended boondocking trips to music festivals and remote locations.

I'm particularly interested in understanding how feasible it is to run the roof AC while driving using solar panels and batteries, and ensuring enough power remains when I arrive at my destination. What's the best strategy for maximizing battery life and solar charging efficiency during extended off-grid stays? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 91 👍 0

Lead Acid vs Lithium RV Batteries: Complete Upgrade Guide

Pulled into my favorite boondocking spot with batteries that used to last three days, but now these lead acid units are completely dead after just one night! I've been running two 12V lead acid batteries in my travel trailer and I'm SO tired of dealing with their limitations - slow charging, constant maintenance, and they seem to die at the worst possible times.

I found these Dyness 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 lithium batteries and I'm really hoping they might be the solution I've been looking for. But I'm completely lost when it comes to lithium technology. Will my current converter/charger work with lithium batteries, or am I looking at more upgrades? I keep seeing mentions of something called a BMS - what exactly does that do and why is it important?

I just want a system that actually works reliably and charges properly both when plugged into shore power and while driving. Can someone please tell me if making the switch to these Dyness LiFePO4 batteries is worth it, and what I need to know about compatibility with my existing charging system? …more

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Solar Batteries Easy N/A - informational 84 👍 0

RV Lithium Batteries: Dual Purpose vs Deep Cycle for Coach House Banks & Performance

Despite watching countless YouTube videos on RV lithium batteries, I'm now more confused than when I started about dual purpose versus deep cycle for my motorhome's house bank. I understand that dual purpose batteries are designed to handle both starting and deep cycling applications, which sounds convenient for an RV setup. However, I'm wondering if there are performance trade-offs when using dual purpose lithium batteries specifically for coach/house battery applications where they'll primarily be doing deep cycling to power lights, water pump, refrigerator, and other 12V systems. Would I be better off with dedicated deep cycle LiFePO4 batteries for my house bank, or do dual purpose lithium batteries offer sufficient performance for typical RV boondocking and daily use? I want to make sure I'm getting the best cycle life and value for my investment in a house battery system. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes to check 80 👍 0

12V RV Refrigerator Power and Battery Charging While Towing: Complete

Woke up this morning realizing our new fifth wheel has a 12V refrigerator instead of propane, and we're picking it up next week for our big family camping trip. Over the years with my other RVs, I've always been confident that the house batteries would charge while driving since they're connected to the tow vehicle's charging system through the umbilical cord.

However, I keep reading concerning posts online about 12V refrigerators not staying cold during travel days because they supposedly drain the house batteries faster than the tow vehicle can charge them. This has me puzzled because I've never had charging issues while towing before. If the 12V fridge is running off the same house battery system that gets charged by my truck while driving, shouldn't the charging system be able to keep up with the fridge's power demands?

I'm trying to understand the actual power requirements of these 12V fridges and whether my tow vehicle's charging system through the 7-way connector will realistically be able to maintain the batteries and keep the fridge running properly during long travel days. What kind of amperage draw should I expect from a typical RV 12V refrigerator, and how can I verify that my charging system is working adequately while towing? …more

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Electrical Medium Planning exercise 78 👍 0

RV Generator Size Calculator: Solar vs Gas Generator Power Needs for Your Camper

Woke up to my Aliner classic's power system working perfectly in 60°F weather, but now that it's 85°F outside I'm drowning in solar versus gas generator confusion. Coming from a Rialta with a built-in generator where I just added some solar panels, I'm now starting from scratch with just one 88Ah lead acid battery and need to figure out the most practical setup for my boondocking needs.

My power requirements are pretty straightforward - laptop, house lights, furnace for overnight heating, and the occasional use of my 1800-watt toaster oven which is really the main power challenge. In my previous RV, I had 160Ah of lead acid batteries with a 100W solar panel that handled everything except the toaster oven, which required firing up the generator. I'm considering adding 200W of solar panels to this setup.

Here's where I'm getting confused: I've been looking at 2000-2500 watt generators with minimum 1900 running watts, but I heard you shouldn't run more than 80% of the running watts capacity, which would mean I need about 2300 running watts just to safely operate my 1800W toaster oven. Is that calculation correct? Alternatively, I'm wondering if I could skip the generator entirely and run the toaster oven off a large battery bank with a proper inverter - but I have no idea how much battery capacity that would require or if it's even practical. What's the most cost-effective approach for someone who primarily needs reliable power for essential loads but occasionally wants to use higher-wattage cooking appliances? …more

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Electrical Hard Professional installation 78 👍 0

48V RV Electrical Systems: Complete Guide to Modern RV Power Upgrades and Efficiency

Tried upgrading my RV's electrical system but I'm standing in the supply store staring at 12V versus 48V components with zero clue what I actually need. The Bluetti RV5 caught my eye as an all-in-one solution that might make the jump easier.

But honestly, I'm still on the fence. What are the real benefits of going 48V? Is it actually that much better than sticking with 12V lithium? And are there any gotchas I should know about, especially with solar integration and getting everything certified for RV use? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 77 👍 0

How to Convert RV from Lead Acid to Lithium Batteries - Step-by-Step Guide

Despite having perfectly fine lead acid batteries yesterday, it's 11 PM and my RV's two 6v deep cycle batteries just died completely — need to swap them for LiFePO4 lithium before we head out tomorrow morning. Since they're similarly priced, I'm looking to upgrade, but need guidance on system modifications.

Specifically need info on: converter voltage requirements, solar controller settings, inverter cutoff adjustments, and whether I need additional battery management components.

What are the key steps to convert successfully? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 3-4 hours 76 👍 0

Solar Controller Size for Three 400W RV Panels - Complete Guide

Between upgrading from two 400W Renogy panels to three, my RV dealership insists I need a massive 100A solar controller, but that seems like total overkill. Currently running separate controllers but need to consolidate to a single MPPT unit due to space constraints in my electrical compartment.

Need to determine the proper amperage rating for an MPPT controller to handle three 400W panels efficiently. What calculation method should I use to size this correctly, and what safety margins are recommended for solar controller sizing to ensure reliable operation? …more

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Best RV Surge Protectors

4.6 (14,200 reviews)

Solar Batteries Medium 1 hour 74 👍 0

Victron MPPT Sawtooth Pattern: Normal Charging Behavior or Problem?

Standing here staring at my Victron 100/30 MPPT solar charge controller display, probably a dumb question, but why does this weird sawtooth pattern keep appearing on my lithium battery bank? When monitoring the system through the VictronConnect app, I'm observing distinct sawtooth patterns in both voltage and current readings on the trends page. The patterns show regular oscillations rather than steady values.

The controller appears to be in float charging mode, and the battery voltage is being maintained around the expected level. All connections have been verified and are clean. Is this sawtooth pattern in the instantaneous readings indicative of a controller malfunction, or could this be normal operational behavior during certain charging phases? …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 74 👍 0

Why Your Onan Generator Only Charges Lithium Batteries at 5 Amps: Troubleshooting Guide for RV Power Systems

Pulled into my campsite last night and discovered my Onan generator is doing something bizarre — it's only pushing 5 amps to my new lithium batteries. With my 2 300 watt solar panels installed, my Onan 4k generator is only putting out 5-6 amps to charge my lithium batteries, even when they're down to 40% state of charge. This seems dangerously low compared to what I expected.

I just upgraded to a PD 9360 converter when I installed my solar system, and I'm concerned something might be configured wrong. When I plug into my portable Growatt 2200 watt power station, I get 25 amps charging, so I know the batteries can handle more current. At midday, my solar panels were only producing 170-190 watts, which also seems low. I'm scared to keep running the generator if it's not working properly - could this low charging rate harm my lithium batteries or indicate a serious problem with my electrical system?

Should I be worried about safety issues? I want to make sure I'm not making things worse by continuing to use the generator for charging. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours research and installation 73 👍 0

Lithium Battery Upgrade for 2018 Georgetown RV - Safe?

Thinking about upgrading my 2018 Georgetown from lead acid to lithium batteries but worried about compatibility with the existing converter and charging system. Don't want to spend $2,000 on batteries only to find out I need another $1,500 in electrical upgrades to make them work. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 71 👍 0

Complete RV Lithium Battery and Solar Setup Guide for Trolling Motors: Safe Installation Tips

Wondering if my 8-year-old lead acid trolling motor batteries that are barely holding a charge anymore are worth repairing or if I should upgrade to lithium? I need either a 24V or 36V lithium battery system, but I keep reading horror stories about people using the wrong chargers and damaging expensive lithium batteries.

I'm particularly worried about the charging setup - both for shore power charging at the marina and solar charging when I'm anchored out. I've heard you absolutely cannot use regular lead-acid chargers with lithium batteries, but I'm not sure what type of chargers I actually need. And for solar, someone mentioned something about MPPT controllers being required?

What specific type of chargers do I need for 24V and 36V lithium trolling motor batteries? I want to make sure I get the right equipment and don't fry a $1000+ battery pack. Are there particular lithium battery brands that are more reliable and safer than others? …more

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