Seat Base Electric + EHU + Solar Install + Charger + DC-DC -- How We Done it --

[TallPaul_S]

That would be AND.

Full leisure AND solar available

Hmm, not the best then. Yet again a separate solution with an Ablemail works better. Mine will keep my SB at 12.3v if there's no solar down to about 50% SOC on the LB, if there's is solar (which increases the LB voltage) it'll charge the SB regardless of LB SOC.

 

[TallPaul_S]

Essentially it tries not to deplete the leisure at all. Just utilising free unused solar to back charge. Which is great, but not quite as good as having an ablemail trickle charger, as presumably if you were on site for a week and using your leisure battery, preventing it from being full, your starter would still get no help from the system. You could still end up with a flat starter without additional measures.

Yep, as above.

I mean I have 230Ah of leisure battery sitting there doing nothing, I'm more than happy for it to use that to charge the SB!!

 

[Gosport_Jules]

Tomorrow when the mythical sun returns, I'll see if it diverts any to starter while bulk charging the leisure. I don't think it does, but I'll check and put the result here so the information exists for others.

 

[TallPaul_S]

That's one advantage of a big panel, it's been raining today with barely any sun and I've still had between 13 and 30w from my solar, enough to charge it up a few % and keep the SB topped up. About 8Ah worth + the constant 0.5a draw I have in the van.

 

[Gosport_Jules]

Absolutely hammering it down here right now. Normally see 30ish watts on cloudy day

 

[Velosaurus]

On the MPPT front, 75v is the crucial figure to remember. That's the max voltage all your panels can have. If you have them in series then the voltages are added together.

The 15a limit is only the limit of what the MPPT can output. You can over panel and have several hundred watts of panels connected to it. You'll only ever see 15a max from them but in anything less than ideal conditions you'll benefit from the larger array and get more solar more of the time, with the array and MPPT hitting the 15a max only on the most sunniest of summer days! That equates to about 200w.

I'm running a 305w panel on a MPPT 100/20 and will only ever see 270w or so.

I don't know if the renogy will back charge without solar attached - however you could re connect your current solar to the renogy then use your MPPT 75/15 as a second controller for your folding panel...

Victron stuff is definitely more customisable and has a lot more features than renogy kit.

Thanks for the advice. Decided to go with the Victron Orion XS 50A & SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT. Will run the Orion XS at 30A. Reason over the Renology IP67 is Victron 5 year warranty, App simplicity, operating heat reports & better mechanical connection. Will put a thread up when have done my wiring diagram as would be grateful for any feedback.

BTW have followed your build thread since you posted it on STW. Very nice and envious of your Geometron as well!

Thanks to everyone for the advice and guidance

 

[TallPaul_S]

Thanks for the advice. Decided to go with the Victron Orion XS 50A & SmartSolar 100/20 MPPT. Will run the Orion XS at 30A. Reason over the Renology IP67 is Victron 5 year warranty, App simplicity, operating heat reports & better mechanical connection. Will put a thread up when have done my wiring diagram as would be grateful for any feedback.

BTW have followed your build thread since you posted it on STW. Very nice and envious of your Geometron as well!

Thanks to everyone for the advice and guidance

Thanks! I presume you mean my van build on there, tbh the thread on here is much more detailed.

I've got the Geometron build on STW and my Nordest Pinion gearbox hardtail. I haven't been out on the bikes much over the last year or so as my van build sort of took over every available weekend!

 

[TallPaul_S]

Jesus, it's actually warm today, and I got over 100w earlier before I hit 100%... what's happening?! Is spring actually close?

 

[doncarlyon]

Amazing how much stuff people manage to fit in the seat base

 

[Hythe Auto Electrics]

One of ours we just finished building. 160 lithium with all the Victron gear

 

[doncarlyon]

Does anyone have a Renogy Lithium 100ah Mini under the seat? Curious how much space is left but not in a position to put mine there just yet

 

[Hythe Auto Electrics]

Does anyone have a Renogy Lithium 100ah Mini under the seat? Curious how much space is left but not in a position to put mine there just yet

From memory there is a bit of space left at the front for chargers but clearance of the seat might be your issue. Because the floor slopes up towards the front of the seat base and the height of the battery. Not sure if they changed the case of the battery since I fitted one.

 

[doncarlyon]

This is the version I have: DuoHeat Tech - Core Mini 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Looks to be smaller than the Roamer in your picture above, unless I've looked up the wrong Roamer specs.

 

[Hythe Auto Electrics]

This is the version I have: DuoHeat Tech - Core Mini 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Looks to be smaller than the Roamer in your picture above, unless I've looked up the wrong Roamer specs.

Ahhh you should be fine then mate. Have a feeling when I installed a Renogy last it was the older case which was pretty bulky for what it was. This looks smaller to me so you should be good to go

 

[jimc91]

Spent the day swapping out my AGM leisure battery for a eco-worthy lithium battery and installed a Renogy inverter. The Bluetooth function on the battery works well

 

[doncarlyon]

Nearly fits standing up!

Will get the other bits unboxed and see which way works best, but looks like plenty of space.

There will be a Renogy DC to DC 50a MPPT, a battery shunt, a BT-2 module and a fuse box...

For securing the battery in place, any suggestions other than strapping it to the seat base?

 

[doncarlyon]

That's how I've left it for now.

100ah battery
50a DC to DC MPPT
Bluetooth module
Battery monitor

Used a Fogstar battery tray and modified it to suit.

Not fully tested yet as ran out of time.

 

[jgm0]

View attachment 284570

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View attachment 284572

That's how I've left it for now.

100ah battery
50a DC to DC MPPT
Bluetooth module
Battery monitor

Used a Fogstar battery tray and modified it to suit.

Not fully tested yet as ran out of time.

Looks exactly like how I want to get mine set up with the same gear. Do you have an inverter? I think I'd struggle to get an inverter under there as well. I was contemplating putting it under the passenger double seat as plenty more space but looks like it wouldn't work with a swivel seat.

Can you send a link to the battery tray and instructions for modification? Cheers

 

[doncarlyon]

I've got an inverter (was in the van when I bought it) but it's only 750w so not sure it's worth bothering with. I suppose it all depends on the size of the invertor, but there is quite a bit of space under there and the battery can move over a bit.

This is the battery tray I have used - Fogstar Drift 230Ah/280Ah/300Ah Battery Bracket

I cut approx 20mm off one side to allow it to slide under the seat base, drilled 2 new holes for the mounting points. Also bent one of the tabs flat (the tabs for the battery strap) to allow the battery to lay flat.

 

[jgm0]

I've got an inverter (was in the van when I bought it) but it's only 750w so not sure it's worth bothering with. I suppose it all depends on the size of the invertor, but there is quite a bit of space under there and the battery can move over a bit.

This is the battery tray I have used - Fogstar Drift 230Ah/280Ah/300Ah Battery Bracket

I cut approx 20mm off one side to allow it to slide under the seat base, drilled 2 new holes for the mounting points. Also bent one of the tabs flat (the tabs for the battery strap) to allow the battery to lay flat.

Great thanks so much for that. I have a 1000w renogy inverter coming in the post, I'll see if I can make it all fit!

By the way, my van came with 2nd aux battery under the passenger seat for split-charge-relay, did yours? I don't know wether to utilise the wiring or strip it all out.