Plan for victron install, with a few questions (in pink).

[Deaks]

So this week I will start to install all my electrical kit in project 'Wolfgang'.
I have tested the solar panel with the Victron MPTT and it works great, giving a great output.
I have also tested the victron 30 amp mains charger, but the rest of it is still in the boxes.
I have not yet linked the batteries in parallel, but will do as soon as my battery box is finished later tonight!!

I have a few questions, one regarding the need for a physical battery isolator coming off of the battery bank, do I / should I install one?
Cost is fairly cheap for a 350 amp rated model.

The next question is regarding the invertor, which is a 2000 watt PSW model from Renogy. The chart I found for a 2000 watt invertor says to use 120mm2 cable (4/0 awg) this cable is like an elephants leg. Do I need to go this big? 240v equipment will be a microwave for occasional use and the charger for my emtb. The emtb battery charger is rated at 2 amps @ 240v.
the microwave is 700 watts but will only run for short periods. Quite possibly only used if on EHU.
So you could say that the invertor is well over spec, but I liked the auto switchover and five year warranty that comes with the Rengy unit.
Do I / should I use such massive cables?

Final question is about the feed to the main 12v load fuse box, I was thinking that 16mm2 would be more than adequate and I have some left over, so I gusess you cant be too heavy on cable (or can you?).

Please cast your eyes over the attached document and let me know if you spot anything bad / wrong / likely to make Wolfgang go up in flames!!

I need to get cracking with this as I have booked our first trip away in the van at the end of this month!!

Thanks in advance of your helpful comments

Deaks

 

[Deaky]

I don’t think 16mm cable will fit into the terminals of your solar and Dc-Dc chargers.

 

[Deaks]

I don’t think 16mm cable will fit into the terminals of your solar and Dc-Dc chargers.

Hi Deaky
It does just, but with the crimp on blade terminators they fit great. Glad I treated myself to a hydraulic crimp tool now

Deaks

 

[RayF]

In my experience and knowledge of my 12v electrical system on my narrowboat, I would always fit a 300A isolating switch just after the battery bank. If you ever want to work on the system at some point after the switch you only need to turn it off, rather than disconnect cables from the battery terminals. As for cable size, it depends on what length the cable run will be from the batteries to the charger/inverter/distribution boards. Again, in my boat I had an 8m run from the batteries to the inverter/bus bar and for that I had 2 runs each of 95mm2 cables from the negative and positive. I can’t imagine in a camper van you’d need anything like an 8m cable run?

 

[Dellmassive]

The negitive battery to BMV to Busbar also needs to be thick gauge cable......

Amps wise 1000w equals 100A draw on 12v system..... so a 2.5kw inverter will draw 250A plus...

 

[Dellmassive]

have a look here:

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Wiring-Unlimited-EN.pdf

note this. . .





.

 

[Dellmassive]

.
this cable also needs to be thick as the positive feed.

 

[Dellmassive]

yes , if you want to isolate the batterys..




but maybe do it slighlty different.

battery bank --> Mega fuse --> isolator switch --> feed out to inverter and +v fuse block

 

[Dellmassive]

2kw inverter . . . is about 200A/250A

whats the surge rating? . . . . 3kw? . . . . 300A +

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RECOMMENDED INVERTER CABLE AND BREAKER OR FUSE SIZES

RECOMMENDED INVERTER CABLE AND BREAKER OR FUSE SIZES

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[Dellmassive]

depends on your 12v loads,....

why not just take this supply from the MEGA/midi FUSE block . . . .

if the fuse is 60A . . . then look at a 16-25mm2 cable . . . (just add up all the loads together to get the max A draw)

or just down rate the fuse to a 40A

 

[Dellmassive]

fuses needed on these red battery feeds within 6inches for saftey

 

[Deaks]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice.
I’ll amend my drawings tomorrow.
So it looks like I will need to use 120mm2 cable for the + and - connections to the inverter, and also to the - bus bar
Which will be made from some 6mm x 25mm copper flat bar, so I guess that means that the cable from the chassis earth (unused tie down fixing point in front of rear wheel arch M10 bolt) will need to be as big as the - cable to the inverter?

Deaks ;-)

 

[Dellmassive]

or 2x 66mm2 and double up.

it depends on how long the run is.

and

how often you plan on running the inverter flat out.

if most of the time your running at 50% max @ 1000w then your only drawing 100A then you could get away with thinner cable.

but if the cable is a longer run . . . and you plan on using say coffee or micro and maxing out the inverter then it best to fit correct now, to stop u having to redo it later.

**

so I guess that means that the cable from the chassis earth (unused tie down fixing point in front of rear wheel arch M10 bolt) will need to be as big as the - cable to the inverter? ------ Yes. - the whole circuit will be carying 200A+ which will melt any dodgy connections or poor cables like a welder.

its BIG power your dealing with so you need to make sure ALL joins/connections/fuses/grounds are 100% good and to spec.

 

[Dellmassive]

have a quick read over this on your next break . . . . .

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Wiring-Unlimited-EN.pdf

.

and have a look at some of the victron schematics . . .

System schematics - Victron Energy

A system schematic shows schematically how Victron Energy devices are connected to each other. Find schematics for your product.

www.victronenergy.com

example:

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/VE-direct-drawing-with-Phoenix-charger-12-50-1-inverter-375W-Li-Batt-mini-BMS-MPPT-100-30-Orion-Tr-smart.pdf

.

 

[Deaks]

I’ll do that with my cuppa in the morning for sure.
The batteries, inverter and - bus bar will be as close together as possible, I’ll take some measurements tomorrow once the batteries are in place.

Thanks again

Deaks

 

[Deaks]

Ok, I have amended the drawing and cable sizes etc.
Hopefully this is pretty much it now.

I’ve worked out my 12v loads (excluding inverter) as 80 amps absolutely everything flat out. In reality I don’t expect it to get anywhere near that for any period of time. The fuse box can take 100 amps, so I’ll feed it with 25mm2 cable and put an 80 amp fuse inline.

I’ve made up the battery link cables. 120mm2 (4/0) cable is like wrestling a boa constrictor. Bloody hell its thick stuff!!
Hopefully the rest of the cable will arrive tomorrow, so I can make a start at the weekend.

My custom battery tray is now installed and bolted firmly to one of the unwin rails.

Please comment if you see anything wrong in my diagram.

TIA

Deaks

 

[Dellmassive]

Twin vallence . . . . . =)