Deep cycling AGM batteries may have been overshadowed by new tech Lithium, but there's definitely still a place for AGM systems, which are budget friendly up front and, when part of a well designed system, can keep up without using a generator.
This Windsor Genesis caravan rolled in featuring the usual appliances such as a three way fridge, basic lighting, water pump, radio and TV.
Plus the owner wanted to run a Foxtel box and a 240V Sleep Apnea machine whilst away in remote locations.
The existing battery system was in dire need of a makeover, with two different sized and different aged lead acid batteries wired incorrectly, and no solar charging capability. Both batteries were dead.
Naturally we removed the old system and set about designing a new system with some terrific modern tech, comprising of:
Two Fullriver DC120Ah AGM Batteries, known for their consistent reliability, proven time and again.
A Victron Bluetooth Blue Smart 30A IP22 240V Battery Charger
A Victron Bluetooth Smart Solar 30A MPPT Solar Controller
A Victron Bluetooth Smart Battery Sense
Two Victron Blue Solar Monocrystalline 215W (37.4 Max Power Voltage (mpv)) Solar Panels
and a Victron Phoenix 12/375VA Inverter
We installed the solar panels in series, which basically means two panels are linked together, forming one larger 430W 75V solar panel.
The benefits of this, is the solar will start charging earlier in the morning and finish later in the afternoon, and there is a lot less volt drop from the panels to the batteries.
Installing Solar Panels in series can only effectively be achieved using two identical solar panels, located close together.
We ran the panels through the Victron 30A MPPT Bluetooth Solar Controller and on testing, achieved 362W and 27.5 amps of charge into the batteries.
The Victron 375VA Phoenix Inverter was used to allow the owner to run the Sleep Apnea machine at night and, just as essentially, to run Foxtel to watch the footy!
Inverters convert 12V to 240V power.
To integrate the whole system, we installed the Victron Smart Battery Sense (VSBS), which is a Bluetooth Battery Sensor, measuring battery voltage and temperature, and which also logs the data for battery history.
Using a smart device and downloading the Victron Connect App, battery voltage and temperature can be monitored on the device.
The VSBS also wirelessly transmits accurate battery voltage and temperature to connect the 30A IP22 240V Charger and 30A Solar MPPT Controller.
This is called Synchronized Charging. By receiving accurate information about the battery, both the 240V Charger and Solar Controller can now charge the batteries optimally, by varying the Charge Program with changes in temperature.
This also takes away the problem of volt drop, which results in batteries not charging fully or receiving slowed charge.
Another benefit of Synchronised charging, is all products now know what each is doing.
For example, when on 240V for a long time and the 30A IP22 240V Charger goes into storage mode, it lowers the battery voltage and charge to extend the life of the batteries.
It also tells the 30A MPPT Solar Controller to go into storage mode, which then also holds the batteries at a lower voltage to look after them.
If 240V power is turned off, the Solar Controller will automatically switch back to normal charging, which we think this is a fantastic feature!
Victron's 30A IP22 Blue Smart Bluetooth 240V Battery Charger has the advantage of keeping the batteries topped up when in a caravan park or, in the unlikely event battery charge gets low, like in extended cloudy conditions, the generator can be used.
In storage mode the 30A IP22 240V Charger will routinely fully charge the batteries to keep them in tip top condition.
For a remote stay solution customised to suit your needs, contact us.