Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

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Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

March 03, 2025, 01:00:29 pm

We're planning on heading out to Q next week to have Discount Solar install a system for us on our "new-to-us" 2013 27'RK. We're having them install 4-200 watt panels on the roof (will remove the antennae & satellite dish), 2-200 Ah lithiums and a 2K Xantrex inverter. They did a great job on our 24'TK 5 years ago.

My question to y'all is, where to locate the batteries, controller and inverter?

We will eliminate the AGM's in the battery compartment that unfortunately, is not big enough for the Lithium batts... "new"storage box, eh?

On the drivers side, forward, there is a vertical compartment that could most likely house the batts, controller & inverter. In the kitchen, one of the bench seat cushions can be removed opening up that space. Passenger side has two forward compartments that could be used but, seems a bit more difficult to access.

Seems to me the best location would be the vertical compartment, behind the drivers seat or in the kitchen. My question has to do with weight that would be added drivers side next to the fresh water tank or on the rear of the coach across from the water heater...

Has anyone with the RK layout installed a solar system such as this? Any insights or recommendations?
TIA!
Bill

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #1 – March 03, 2025, 03:07:48 pm

If I remember correctly, the battery box is located under the kitchen sink, and there is storage under one of the dinette seats. There are no large exterior compartments nearby. The entire battery bank must be kept together to keep the battery cables approximately the same length.
The rear dinette is too far away from the Factory battery box for proper installation and there is no direct passage to run the cables under the floor.
Is there storage under one of the front seats?

Larry

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #2 – March 03, 2025, 03:31:08 pm

Quote from: Larry W - March 03, 2025, 03:07:48 pm

Is there storage under one of the front seats?
Larry

.
Yes, outside forward compartment, drivers side (under the sofa next to the water tank). That compartment appears large enough to accommodate batteries & inverter. Outside access only. The compartment where the batteries are now isn’t large enough for the lithium batteries. My only concern at this point is adding the weight of the lithium’s, charge controller and inverter close to the water tank…
.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #3 – March 03, 2025, 04:24:50 pm

Disclaimer: I know nothing of your model or layout, so the following might be nonsense in your case.

However, having just removed the battery box from my midbath - I can advise on two things I discovered. Whether they apply to other models/battery boxes like yours, I don't know.

First up - simply removing the sliding battery tray opens the box up by a surprising amount in all dimensions. You might find a pair of 200AH that fit in there with it removed. You can get creative with dimensions, as most lithiums can be mounted in any orientation. You should be able to measure the potential space savings pretty easily.

Second, if removing the battery box entirely is an option, and the area surrounding it is anything like the midbath - that frees up a ton of space. I could have fit 2 x 300AH in the battery box location in the midbath once it was removed, as there was 4-8" of unusable space around the battery box edges and the cavity is was installed in. Note on this - removing the battery box is not for the faint of heart on the midbath. It's not difficult, but very time consuming and laborious.

And of course, both of the above potential solutions don't address where to put all the other components - just battery replacement.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #4 – March 03, 2025, 04:56:26 pm

Thanks, Will and Larry. I'm hoping that if nothing else, clearing out the "old" battery box will open up for some of the "lost" storage used for the new assembly... If I could get the lithiums in there and if the charge controller & inverter don't necessarily have to be in close proximity to the batteries, then that may indeed be an option.

I'm sure the folks at Discount Solar know their stuff in this regard, I'm just trying to be of some help to them in getting this done. With my 24', it was relatively easy and straight forward. This layout doesn't seem as simple. Tho' I could be making things more difficult that they need to be...

Wouldn't be the first time... 🙄

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #5 – March 03, 2025, 05:23:03 pm

Quote

If I could get the lithiums in there and if the charge controller & inverter don't necessarily have to be in close proximity to the batteries

The inverter should be located as close to the battery bank as possible.
jor

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #6 – March 03, 2025, 05:23:03 pm

Bill, have fun at Q and be sure to follow up with how your install goes!

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #7 – April 11, 2025, 02:23:00 pm

An update (thanks for the reminder, Greg).

Got back from Q a couple + weeks ago after having Discount Solar install solar on our "new" LD. Installed were 4-200 watt panels on the roof (go power) and 2- 200Ah lithium batts (life blue with heaters). Added a 2K Xantrex inverter with remote and a Victron smart solar 100/50 controller.

Placement and location of everything was very easy - better than with our 24’. And as with our previous install on the 24', this install was flawless. Everything working as it should.

Some photos - (the water coming out from under the coach is draining the fresh water tank - getting ready for winterizing)….

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #8 – April 11, 2025, 02:58:22 pm

Looks great, Bill, thanks for the update! That’s quite a bit of solar and battery capacity so you should be good to go, I would think. Looks like you got the same inverter/remote switch set up that I have. It was expensive, but I really like it!

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #9 – April 11, 2025, 05:27:45 pm

I really don't like the way they used a positive battery terminal as a power post. Stacking up cables on a battery post is quick and easy for the installer, but not good for the customer. I would have run a single cable from the battery to a heavy-duty Blue Sea master switch, from there to a Class T fuse, and thence to a bus bar where my various loads could connect.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #10 – April 11, 2025, 10:26:02 pm

Quote from: Andy Baird - April 11, 2025, 05:27:45 pm

I really don't like the way they used a positive battery terminal as a power post. Stacking up cables on a battery post is quick and easy for the installer, but not good for the customer. I would have run a single cable from the battery to a heavy-duty Blue Sea master switch, from there to a Class T fuse, and thence to a bus bar where my various loads could connect.

Totally agree, Andy - except I prefer to put the Class T first, main disconnect right after.

In addition to the apparent lack of a Class T, it's very difficult to properly fuse the large cables coming off that positive post. Perhaps they are fused somewhere, but there's nothing visible in that pic I can see - and ideally they should be fused as close as possible to the 12V source. That's a piece of cake when using a bus bar or Lynx distributor.

I hesitate to condemn an installer who's had several decent reviews on this site, but no professional installer I've dealt with - or even a knowledgeable DIY'er - would find that acceptable. I can't help but question everything else they do if that's the norm for them.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #11 – April 12, 2025, 12:31:41 am

"I prefer to put the Class T first, main disconnect right after."

Hmmm, that may be a better way to go.

"I can't help but question everything else they do"

I tend to agree.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #12 – April 12, 2025, 01:55:56 pm

Sorry for not including more of the photos - my aim initially was to show how and where the equipment was mounted (my initial question on this post). They did a good job.

The owner is an electrical engineer who has done good work for us and others we know - indeed, the last install they did for us 5 years ago, was flawless, never a problem with the install or system.

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #13 – April 12, 2025, 04:13:30 pm

Quote from: Jaxon - April 12, 2025, 01:55:56 pm

Sorry for not including more of the photos - my aim initially was to show how and where the equipment was mounted (my initial question on this post). They did a good job.

The owner is an electrical engineer who has done good work for us and others we know - indeed, the last install they did for us 5 years ago, was flawless, never a problem with the install or system.

Are the photos you just published from your new or old installation?

When anyone posts about their new projects, expect constructive comments. Even 'experts" projects can have issues, we are here to learn and teach.

The battery switch and the two large fuses in the new photos do not look like they are from the new installation. The original photos do not show any battery fusing, which would be a poor design if not included.
Are we mixing up project photos? It's a bit confusing.

Larry

Re: Solar install - batteries & inverter placement

Reply #14 – April 12, 2025, 09:24:31 pm

No, that is from the current install, Larry. I had been standing up taking the first set of photos (originals), the second set, I had to kneel to get a clear shot under the shelf of the fuses. My knee’s aren’t what they used to be…

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