Lithium

Lithium battery rebulk on shore power, and

The challenges:
In order for an inverter/charger to start charging lithium batteries (initiate a bulk charge) a need for that charge has to be detected. With Magnum inverter/chargers, this happens when the battery voltage dips below a default value of 12.8V. By putting the Magnum in Silent mode, you can adjust this rebulk to voltage to 13.1V, but lithium batteries have to be deeply discharged to get down to 13.1V. This voltage can sometimes correspond to a state of charge of about 20%. Victron inverter/chargers have an automatic rebulk that happens on a timer every couple of days.

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2/10/2017 - 2016 Airstream Flying Cloud FB, 25'

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This client came to us with an existing 400W solar charging system using flexible panels (which we discourage due to reliability issues) and an additional 120W folding panel. We replaced the original roof wiring because one of the four panels had stopped functioning, added two SP100 solar panels and upgraded the charge controller. We also replaced the PWM charge controller on the folding panel and added a Victron MPPT charge controller with Bluetooth monitoring. Next, we added a 600Ah Signature lithium battery bank and a 3000W inverter, which all fit tightly under the bed. This is one of our most elaborate installs.

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2/03/2017 - 2016 Monaco Diplomat, 44'

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Four months prior these clients had us install four SF160 solar panels and a SunRunner Signature 40/2 Pro Core. On this installation they swapped out the Blue Sky components for Victron, added another 640W and got one of our 800Ah Signature lithium systems. Now they have 1280W of solar with one of the most advanced RV battery systems on the market.

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10/12/16 – 2015 Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB, 25'

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A client brought in his 2015 Airstream with the following request of AM Solar:
Design an off-the-grid power system (for dry camping and boon-docking) that “runs itself” and requires as little maintenance and oversight as possible both when the trailer is being used and when it is stored.

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11/11/16 - 2015 Winnebago Vista, 28'

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This coach came to us with a complex battery management system that had to be bypassed with a network of diodes in order for the lithium battery bank to function. It was a challenging install, but everything worked out in the end. The customer now has a 960W solar charger with a 300Ah lithium battery bank and a 3000VA inverter.

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8/11/2016 - 2016 Forest River Forester, 24’

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We have never heard a customer say “I got too much solar,” and this customer will never be able to say “I should have gotten more solar,” because the roof is completely covered. In addition to the 830W solar charging system, a 600Ah lithium battery bank and a 3000VA hybrid inverter make this a very powerful vehicle.

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7/20/2016 – 2016 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 280RKSB, 34’

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This trailer came to us with an existing solar charging system and a conventional inverter. We rewired the AC circuitry to enable load sharing with a Victron 3000VA hybrid inverter. In other words, this system can now draw from shore power and the battery bank at the same time. We also upgraded the lead-acid battery bank to a 400Ah Signature Lithium system with Color Control Monitor showing complete system status. The result is a very powerful yet compact system.

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7/16/2016 - 2008 Winnebago Vectra, 40’

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This is the most sophisticated AM Solar installation ever. The 1920W solar array was producing over 90A when the system was first activated (in overcast weather). That high current, coming from dual 70A charge controllers, was fed onto a Victron 800Ah lithium battery bank where a 3000VA hybrid inverter would power all the comforts of home to this power plant on wheels.

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7/1/2016 - 2017 Nexus Phantom 31P, 31’

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Space constraints were a major issue with this rig. We had to reinforce the bay and temporarily remove the bay door to get everything to fit. In the end we managed to install two Victron lithium 200Ah batteries in our Signature lithium system feature complete cold weather charging disconnect systems. The inverter is a Victron hybrid 3000VA and there is 1120W of solar panels on the roof.

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7/1/2016 - 2016 Itasca Navion 24G, 24'

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When air conditioning is important, you better go big with your battery capacity. This customer got an 800Ah Victron Signature lithium system will full cold weather charging disconnects. The Victron 3000VA inverter/charger can draw from shore power or a generator at the same time as it draws from the battery bank to power large loads like air conditioners.