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01-23-2014, 11:36 AM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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How many batteries?
As some of you who were at Q know there was some question going around the circle as to how many batteries we had installed for our solar system. While we only had six installed, somehow the rumor got around that we had more than that. When I got back to where we are working I was discussing the solar setup with our neighbor who has a bus conversion they did themselves. In the course of the discussion he mentioned his 18 batteries. I ask him if his panels would charge that many and he said yes, no problem. Of course he has 5 panels that are about as wide as mine are long and almost completely span the bus. He never changed the buses starting system so part of his setup is 24v and part is 12v. Don't ask me to explain his set up, I barely understand mine, but he did open the storage doors on the bus and I did see his battery bank. In the end, those of us who were having fun with the rumors about our rig should have shot higher when we exaggerated. We had no idea the reality of our neighbors rig was what it is.
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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01-23-2014, 03:32 PM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: on the road
Posts: 237
M.O.C. #12992
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There is probably a series-parallel switch for his starter. It makes 24 volts out of 12 for the starter only.
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01-23-2014, 04:57 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Renton
Posts: 362
M.O.C. #13959
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It will be awhile before I put solar on (not retired, work in Washington State), but I do plan on ditching the 12VDC battery and getting 2 6VDC batteries as soon as I can. Maybe I'll put a single panel on just to keep them topped off.
Question, if you do something like above, would you wire the solar panel controller to the batteries directly, or go through a battery switch to disconnect everything when stored?
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01-23-2014, 05:13 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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I believe they are connected directly, but they full time in the bus.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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01-24-2014, 04:40 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Aguanga
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #13601
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Hey Dick, did you do any reinforcing of the floor when you put the 6 batteries in? I'd like to add two more for a total of six but those buggers aren't exactly light (i guess the generator that would be in there wouldn't be much lighter).
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01-24-2014, 09:42 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by davidaf
Hey Dick, did you do any reinforcing of the floor when you put the 6 batteries in? I'd like to add two more for a total of six but those buggers aren't exactly light (i guess the generator that would be in there wouldn't be much lighter).
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We've had 6 wet cell golf cart batteries in our front compartment for a year now and no floor problems although our rig is a 2004 and I suspect the frame may have been heavier than the newer models. We know a few folks with newer rigs though that have 6 batteries up front with no problems.
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01-24-2014, 09:53 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wheatland
Posts: 675
M.O.C. #10623
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by MDL
It will be awhile before I put solar on (not retired, work in Washington State), but I do plan on ditching the 12VDC battery and getting 2 6VDC batteries as soon as I can. Maybe I'll put a single panel on just to keep them topped off.
Question, if you do something like above, would you wire the solar panel controller to the batteries directly, or go through a battery switch to disconnect everything when stored?
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IMHO, you should always be able to disconnect both the panels and the batteries from the controller. We do it with breakers.
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