Results for "renogy"

Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 113 👍 0

How to Upgrade Your RV Converter Charger for Lithium Batteries with Gentle Care

Halfway through planning our three-week cross-country trip next month, I realized my PD4560 60-amp converter/charger won't properly handle the lithium batteries I'm installing. My existing Progressive Dynamics unit obviously isn't designed for LiFePO4 batteries - I can use boost mode to charge them up, but I know that's not ideal for battery longevity.

I just purchased a 30 amp generator and I'm wondering if it will have enough capacity to handle not just my current charger, but potentially a larger lithium-compatible unit. I'm considering upgrading to a 75 or even 90 amp charger to reduce charging times, but I need to make sure my generator can handle the load. I'm trying to figure out the actual AC amp draw of these higher-capacity chargers and whether my 30 amp generator will be sufficient.

What are the best lithium-compatible converter/charger options that would work with my generator setup, and how do I properly size the charger capacity to match my lithium battery bank? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 109 👍 0

RV Battery Draining Overnight? Find & Fix Parasitic Drain

The day after I installed that new solar charge controller last month, my RV batteries started mysteriously draining from fully charged to completely dead overnight. I've already confirmed that all visible lights, fans, and appliances are turned off, and I've switched off the main interior power, but something is still drawing power continuously. I understand this is likely a parasitic drain where some component or circuit is staying energized when it shouldn't be, but I'm not sure how to systematically track down which specific circuit is causing the problem. I have a basic multimeter but I'm not entirely sure about the proper methodology for testing each circuit individually to isolate where exactly the power draw is coming from. What's the step-by-step process for using a multimeter to methodically work through the electrical system, starting from the main disconnect and testing individual fuses or circuits until I can pinpoint the exact source of this parasitic drain? …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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Best RV Surge Protectors

4.6 (14,200 reviews)

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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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 92 👍 0

Fix Renogy Lithium Battery Charge Percent Differences

Nobody has $200+ laying around for a service call — is there a DIY fix for Renogy lithium batteries showing wildly different charge percentages? About a year ago I installed 3 12v Renogy lithium batteries with a Renogy One Core control panel in my RV. Everything worked beautifully at first - the batteries were supposed to communicate with each other to keep all cells balanced, which is critical for lithium battery health.

Recently though, I've noticed the charge percentages are diverging by as much as 10% between batteries. Even worse, my One Core display keeps going blank and won't show charge percentages until I restart it. I've been through the manuals multiple times but can't find anything about troubleshooting charge percent differences or how to check for software updates on either the batteries or the control panel.

I know this communication/balancing issue could lead to serious problems if not addressed. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm hoping there's a solution that doesn't involve replacing everything after just one year of use. …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 Medium 4-6 hours 88 👍 0

Georgetown GT7 Lithium Battery Conversion: Complete RV Installation Guide

Turned the keys on my 2023 Georgetown GT7 and discovered the previous owner left the electrical system in complete shambles, now facing this intimidating lithium conversion nightmare. I know I need LiFePO4 batteries, but every forum post I read mentions different components and I'm getting conflicting information.

I really want to make this upgrade work - the lead acid batteries are killing me with their weight and charging limitations. What specific components do I need beyond the actual lithium batteries? I'm especially confused about whether my converter will work and if I need additional charging equipment for the alternator. Please tell me my 2023 model year gives me some advantage here! …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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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 81 👍 0

How to Use DC/DC Charger for RV Chassis Battery Winter Storage Maintenance Guide

Leaving the RV in storage for five months over winter and worried about the chassis battery dying again. Last year I came back to a completely dead battery and had to get a jump. Looking into DC/DC chargers connected to a trickle charger setup but not sure about the wiring. …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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Electrical Medium 30 minutes 76 👍 0

2017 Ford E450 Alternator Output: Complete DC to DC Charger Sizing Guide for RVs

Somewhere between installing my DC to DC charger and realizing I don't know my 2017 Ford E450's alternator output, I'm wondering if this setup could be dangerous with my kids living in our RV full-time? I've been down every rabbit hole - VIN lookups, parts catalogs, service manuals - and I keep getting conflicting information or just replacement part numbers instead of actual specifications.

I'm planning to install a DC to DC charger for my LiFePO4 house batteries, but I absolutely need to know the real alternator output before I size the charger. I've seen everything from 120 amps to over 200 amps mentioned for the E450, but nothing definitive for my specific year and configuration.

Can someone please tell me what the actual alternator rating is for the 2017 E450, and more importantly, what size DC to DC charger I can safely run without overloading the alternator? I really don't want to fry anything, but I also don't want to undersize the charger if I have more capacity available than I think. …more

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4.4 (8,100 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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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 2-3 hours 70 👍 0

AGM Battery Won't Charge After RV Power Surge: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Wondering what tools and steps I should line up for tackling my dead AGM battery this Saturday after last week's power surge hit? Last week we stayed at a campground with terrible electrical issues - the voltage was jumping all over the place throughout our stay. Ever since then, my AGM batteries refuse to charge properly. They'll only get up to about 12.2V when they should be hitting 13.6V for a full charge.

I've been troubleshooting this for days and I'm honestly not sure if the batteries are ruined or if something else got damaged during those power fluctuations. The 120V side of things seems to be working fine, but clearly something is wrong with the charging system. Could the converter or charge controller have been damaged? How do I even test for that?

I really don't want to replace these expensive AGM batteries if they're not actually the problem. Has anyone dealt with charging issues after voltage fluctuations like this? What should I be checking first? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 3-4 hours 67 👍 0

Best 2000W-2500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter for RV Solar Setup

During my third inverter failure in two years on my 2005 32' Southwind, I'm officially done with this inverter roulette game. Time for an upgrade!

I've got 400W of solar (4x100W panels) and 4 6-volt batteries powering this rolling money pit. Currently rocking a 1000W unit that keeps throwing error codes like it's having an existential crisis. I'm torn between going with a 2000W or 2500W pure sine wave inverter - brands like Aims Power and Renogy keep popping up in my research.

Will my current battery bank handle a 2500W unit, or should I stick with 2000W? I'd rather not discover the hard way that I've created an expensive paperweight. Any recommendations before I throw more money at this beautiful disaster? …more

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