Victron components are enabling us to easily upgrade Paul's Supreme Classic caravans' 12-volt system gradually, as part of a long-term plan.
When Paul last visited we installed a Victron Smart Phoenix 2000VA Bluetooth Inverter to make life a little easier when travelling with the family, so on this visit, the caravan arrived sporting:
Two 150A Lithium Batteries
A Redarc BMS1230S3 Manager
Two 225W Solar Panels
A three way Upright Fridge
and that Victron Smart Phoenix 2000VA Bluetooth Inverter
To keep up with power usage, Paul now required some additional solar input, so we added two 140W Victron solar panels and a 20A Victron Smart Bluetooth MPPT Solar Controller.
Whilst the Redarc Manager is a great product, it does have a limiting factor, being it only allows a maximum of 30A charge input from solar and vehicle charging combined.
By choosing to run the additional solar panels through the 20A Victron Smart Bluetooth MPPT Solar Controller, greater maximum charge input can be achieved.
Let us explain...
If we added the solar panels to run through The Manager, on a good solar day there would be more that 30A of solar coming from the roof. The Manager would safely limit the solar input to 30A without accommodating vehicle charging when driving.
Now when driving, The Manager can max-out at 30A from the existing solar panels and vehicle charging, PLUS the two 240W solar panels can add up to another 20A via the Victron 20A MPPT Solar Controller, making maximum charge input when driving a healthy 50A instead of 30A. Sweet!
With some clever wiring, the Victron 20A MPPT Solar input allows The Manager to take into account the additional solar input for it’s calculation on battery charge, permitting accurate State Of Charge (SOC) readings.
Additionally, when logged on to the Victron Connect App, Paul can not only see what the Victron Inverter is doing, but also the input from the two new solar panels.
Planned next is to add a 30A Victron MPPT Solar Controller and rewire the original solar panels to run through this.
We'll then link the two Victron Controllers for Smart Networking, which takes advantage of synchronized charging. This means that the Victron MPPT Solar Controllers combine to make a 50A solar system with both of them communicating wirelessly to charge perfectly together.
Once executed, the vehicle when driving, via The Manager, can add 30A of charge or 30A from 240V charging when parked up, plus the original and new solar panels can add up to 45A combined, via the Victron MPPT Solar Controllers.
So when in full sun and driving, or in full sun and plugged into 240V, there will be the capability to charge up to 75A per hour, a 150% increase on the original system. Great plan!
For an efficient power solution for your travels, contact us.
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