Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar...
| Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369349] |
Fri, 01 April 2022 20:05  |
Mike Teets
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
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I was just reminded that it has been 11 years since I did the YouTube video series on upholstery of my Palm Beach and it has been 4 years since we used our coach much. All my batteries are toast. The Onan would need a new muffler/pipe and some maintenance. All this and my electrical systems are still circa 1977 design.
Seems like a good reason to dig into a big project. Don't try to talk me out of it!
Here's the plan:
1) Remove Onan the Giant. After combining two into one and getting it a relatively dependable unit, it just never seemed to fit the places we went. State and federal parks where the noise just ruined the vibe.
2) Remove the storage pod, and remove the roof Carrier AirV 15000 btu. This is a power hog. 1500 watts with 3000 watt startup. See Next.
3) Add a Mr. Cool 12000 btu 22 SEER mini split. The interior will go across the back, above the window, the exterior unit will go where the spare tire is currently.
4) Add 400 or 600Ah BattleBorn LiFePO4 batteries, with appropriate inverter/charger/monitor/isolator. Put this in the Onan space.
5) Add flexible solar directly attached to the roof for aesthetic purposes. Not sure yet how much.
Ok, now you can talk me out of it. Or not and wait for the videos.
Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369372 is a reply to message #369349] |
Sat, 02 April 2022 23:05  |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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I recently converted my house batteries to two Battle Born BBGC2 batteries (200 AH). They are EXPENSIVE, but hopefully worth the cost. Time will tell. I used a BIM 225 to control the charge from the alternator. It connects the house batteries to the charging system for 15 minutes, then disconnects it for 20 minutes. This might be counterproductive when I am running my 3-way fridge on 12 volts while driving, but hasn't caused any kind of problem at this point. It might have been better to have spent the extra $$$ for a battery to battery charger to regulate the charge.
One caution I hear over and over on the flexible solar panels is that they don't have a way to dissipate the heat and don't last long. I suspect some are better than others, so be aware of that. Global Solar used to have good panels, but they have apparently gone out of business, unfortunately.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369445 is a reply to message #369349] |
Sun, 10 April 2022 09:14 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Senior Member |
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I like your ideas Mike but your talking a pretty hefty investment in batteries and solar gear [4 to 6k for batteries alone]....you might be able to get away with half the batteries for the general use you need and a small portable quiet generator for the cloudy or rain days as a back up or to charge your batteries. [providing you dont plan on running AC on batteries]
I find it interesting that everyone wants to go solar/batteries [me as well] but we tend to forget that not everyday is a sunny one and must have a plan for when that happens.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369449 is a reply to message #369349] |
Mon, 11 April 2022 07:29 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2276
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Mike
I've used Samlex products for years in my business and had next to no issues with them. In my coach I use an EVO series charger/inverter/auto-transfer. They have them in 12, 24 & 48V models and 1200-4,200 watts. The inverter is synced to the 60Hz line so when the grid power is pulled, your AC equipment is transferred to in-sync phase inverter voltage. This is important for your AC compressor motors. When the Grid power comes back, the inverter re-syncs to the grid power so it can transfer back to grid in phase.
They have a programmable charging system so you can start with lead-acid and then change to LiFePO4 batteries in the future.
https://samlexamerica.com/product-category/inverter-chargers/
Rich,
Here is a source in Canada where I got my LiFePO4 batteries last year (two 100Ahr). Like everything else they have increased in price. Over the winter they kept their voltage within less than 0.1V. So far so good at less than 1/2 the Battleborn price. They generally sell out before their next shipment. Website says they expect the next shipment April 29.
They also have a heated battery for ~$100 more if you expect to charge the battery when it's below 0C
https://www.ablithium.ca/products#!/Pre-orders/c/94002008
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369457 is a reply to message #369449] |
Mon, 11 April 2022 12:37 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Let me reinforce how important getting multi power sources Commercial or stand alone inverters is. First if you drop power on one before engaging the other, EVERYTHING down stream is affected. So there is a period of time, no matter how small, that the those items are without power. To prevent this there is a period of time, no mater how small when both power sources MUST be in perfect SYNC We are talking fractions of a cycle here.
I use to work in a motor room where we generated our own 60 cycle 3 phase AC. We had two huge mechanical frequency converters. Our primary input power was 25 cycle and our output was 60 cycle. We ran on only one at a time and every week we switched over to the other. On the shut down one we climbed inside the motor about 8 or 9 foot tall and a generator of similar size to clean and check each one for the next week of run time. The two units were were connected together by a drive shaft about 14 to 15 inches thick. The units were mounted in concrete at least 12 inches thick.
One week on change over the operator instead of having the units in perfect sync, he had them some unknown amount out of sync. In the amount switched over time when both were online at the same time (seconds) he destroyed both units. He tore both out of the concrete floor and twisted the large 14" drive shafts. We stored spares in a warehouse somewhere and sent flat rail car to get them. It still took about 5 days working 24 hours per day to get everything replaced and repaired. All of this was caused by a few seconds of an out of sync condition before the primary breakers shut everything down.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| [GMCnet] Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369459 is a reply to message #369457] |
Mon, 11 April 2022 13:01 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Used to know a guy that worked for Bonneville Power on the Columbia River.
They had several turbines powered by falling water, in the powerhouse. They
all had to be synced in phase as they added or removed turbines in response
to changing demands for power. He said that when the dams were first
constructed that the phase shifting was done manually. But technology
progressed and much of those tasks are computer controlled. The Nuclear
power plants all have similar issues along with managing the reactors. They
are tricky buggers to shut down.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Mon, Apr 11, 2022, 10:37 AM Ken Burton wrote:
> Let me reinforce how important getting multi power sources Commercial or
> stand alone inverters is. First if you drop power on one before engaging the
> other, EVERYTHING down stream is affected. So there is a period of time,
> no matter how small, that the those items are without power. To prevent
> this there is a period of time, no mater how small when both power sources
> MUST be in perfect SYNC We are talking fractions of a cycle here.
>
> I use to work in a motor room where we generated our own 60 cycle 3 phase
> AC. We had two huge mechanical frequency converters. Our primary input
> power was 25 cycle and our output was 60 cycle. We ran on only one at a
> time and every week we switched over to the other. On the shut down one we
> climbed inside the motor about 8 or 9 foot tall and a generator of similar
> size to clean and check each one for the next week of run time. The two
> units were were connected together by a drive shaft about 14 to 15 inches
> thick. The units were mounted in concrete at least 12 inches thick.
>
> One week on change over the operator instead of having the units in
> perfect sync, he had them some unknown amount out of sync. In the amount
> switched
> over time when both were online at the same time (seconds) he destroyed
> both units. He tore both out of the concrete floor and twisted the large
> 14"
> drive shafts. We stored spares in a warehouse somewhere and sent flat
> rail car to get them. It still took about 5 days working 24 hours per day
> to
> get everything replaced and repaired. All of this was caused by a few
> seconds of an out of sync condition before the primary breakers shut
> everything down.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369461 is a reply to message #369449] |
Mon, 11 April 2022 15:04 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Senior Member |
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RF_Burns wrote on Mon, 11 April 2022 08:29Mike
I've used Samlex products for years in my business and had next to no issues with them. In my coach I use an EVO series charger/inverter/auto-transfer. They have them in 12, 24 & 48V models and 1200-4,200 watts. The inverter is synced to the 60Hz line so when the grid power is pulled, your AC equipment is transferred to in-sync phase inverter voltage. This is important for your AC compressor motors. When the Grid power comes back, the inverter re-syncs to the grid power so it can transfer back to grid in phase.
They have a programmable charging system so you can start with lead-acid and then change to LiFePO4 batteries in the future.
https://samlexamerica.com/product-category/inverter-chargers/
Rich,
Here is a source in Canada where I got my LiFePO4 batteries last year (two 100Ahr). Like everything else they have increased in price. Over the winter they kept their voltage within less than 0.1V. So far so good at less than 1/2 the Battleborn price. They generally sell out before their next shipment. Website says they expect the next shipment April 29.
They also have a heated battery for ~$100 more if you expect to charge the battery when it's below 0C
https://www.ablithium.ca/products#!/Pre-orders/c/94002008
Thanks Bruce...been watching their site and a few others....prices are still floating around 5$ an aH for batteries....after working with electric buses for the past 4 years i'm not sure i'm ready to drop 1200 or so on a couple batteries....i think the price will be better once the Gov forces everyone over to electric everything.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Long time no see (in a web sense) - Mini split, LiFePO4, Solar... [message #369466 is a reply to message #369349] |
Tue, 12 April 2022 09:49 |
kingd
Messages: 592
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Ken B. those were some BIG units. I guess computer control can make it some much simpler to-day.
We had a motor generator at IBM Toronto Manufacturing because we used to build stuff for WTC (World Trade Corporation.)
Toronto was noraml 120 V 60 HZ. Using different motor generators we could make "voltage" and HZ for anything
we were building, like 220 V 50 HZ etc. some stations on the assembly lines had lots of plugs for different countries.
DAVE KING
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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