Adding Solor to old HiLow & Wiring Upgrades

[JackandJanet]

Regarding Lithium batteries, here's what I've read:

1. They don't charge properly in freezing temperatures. There ARE "battery warmers" that use some of the stored power in the battery to keep them warm enough to be charged, but of course they deplete the battery when they are working.
2. If they are charged too rapidly, they overheat. The BMS controller with them is supposed to cut off the charging if that happens, but if a battery overheats, it suffers some damage.
3. They can develop "dendrites" in use. These are "fingers" that grow from one plate across the electrolyte to the other, and if they "touch" both sides, the battery becomes shorted, which causes it to overheat badly and can lead to a fire. (I think this is what happened with a battery in the Boeing 787 and which led to their grounding for quite a while).​

All that doom and gloom being said, I have Lithium battery operated tools, as well as Lithium batteries in my laptop and phone. I would NOT want any other kind of battery in these devices. Lithium batteries last and last, in these applications. My new Honda Hybrid also uses a Lithium battery for its high voltage storage, and it is expected to last 7-10 years. But again, these applications have high quality charge controllers installed. I just don't have the same level of confidence when they are put into a travel trailer.

- Jack

 

[tcongdon]

Thanks so much. Yes, these helped. I don't think I have room for two 12v marine batteries. I know you don't want them inside anywhere. I might have to make a box for the pump and two batteries if I do that. So you mean if I go solar I don't have to replace my converter/charger that came with the trailer? I can just add a solar unit and have it charge when not plugged into shore power. Everything is LED in my trailer except I need power for the water pump and if cold for the furnace which I hardly run as I have a Big Buddy heater and a Wave heater I can use. Also is it better to cover your panels in the winter? I don't mind leaving my battery to charge via 110v plugged into my house.

 

[JackandJanet]

Hi tcongdon - yes, if you add solar it will not require you to change your present converter. Solar will happily work along side any converter as far as I know. The solar power's charge controller output goes directly to the battery and is almost the same as attaching a standard battery charger to the battery, which can always be done with your OEM converter. And, it doesn't matter if you have the solar charging AND the converter connected to shore power and charging too. They work in parallel, and the solar controller will reduce the solar input if needed to prevent overcharging.

In your trailer, there's a small DC power input to the refrigerator even if you're running it on propane and if you operate a fan it uses DC power too.

Solar panels DO degrade over time when used, but that time is measured in years - I think some of them are guaranteed for 25 years. (I think my flexible ones are guaranteed for 10). My sunbrella trailer cover covers the solar panels and then it is stored under a metal carport I built, so the solar panels don't do anything when my trailer is in storage. I have my batteries connected to a Battery Minder charge maintainer when it is stored. I imagine, covering the panels might protect them from possible damage, so covering them can't hurt, but it's certainly not necessary.

- Jack

 

[tlnovack]

I towed my Hi-Lo to Quartzsite, AZ a couple weeks ago and had 400 watts (4 compact panels) of solar installed. I am using two LifeBlue lithium batteries. My batteries, inverter and converter are under/inside the bench next to the water heater INSIDE the Hi-Lo. The charge controller is above the bench on the wall. The wires (one small bunch) are also inside hanging down and do not interfere with the lifting. An app on my phone gives me charging data on my batteries. My solar panels are just bolted on and seem very secure. I am keeping an eye on them but they made it from Arizona to California with zero issues. Also: LifeBlue lithium batteries have integrated controls to automatically protect against overcharging, over discharging and frozen charging. LifeBlue offers the most comprehensive Bluetooth monitoring showing status, temperature, voltage, current, cycle life, battery health, faults and state of charge. One battery weighs 28 lbs.

 

[Adela]

I have a 2010 with aluminum roof. I used 3M Very High Bond tape and stuck the aluminum brackets on the roof and then bolted my 4 100Watt aluminum framed panels to them. Been over a year and a dozen trips up to grand canyon, flagstaff and back. Still solid.

What size 2010 hilo and what solar panel and generator .we have 2010 also think it's a 2310 just asking thanks