M116A3 Build

[rjgimp]

Nice!!!

[lfhoward]

The 120VAC system functions using either input (shore or inverter). I measured the full 120 volts at every outlet and the GFCI works properly at all of them.

The second job today was to run the rest of the 12 VDC wiring for the interior lights and fan, which now will connect to power on the other side of the trailer. I also ran three USB cables across the width of the trailer for the inverter and charger and the BMS. Each front compartment now has all the wires that go there, with labels.

The next job for tomorrow will be to install the inverter, charger, and battery, and make all the cables to connect them together and to the DC system.

[pchast]

You're quickly making good progress.

[lfhoward]

The trailer got a bath today.



I continued working on the DC system in the drivers side compartment. Finding room for everything where it can still breathe and stay cool is like a game of Tetris. The inverter (rear) and charger (foreground) blow hot air away from the LiFePO4 battery.



The charger has its own Smart Shunt so I can keep track of its contribution to the system.



The shunt for the battery monitor is mounted underneath the charger and the + and - bus bars are on the back of the charger frame facing the inverter. This keeps them safer than if they were out in the open.



Tomorrow I’ll make the cables to connect all of these components together.

[lfhoward]

Thinking about how to arrange devices on the back wall of the passengers side compartment.

[bdosborn]

In redoing the 120VAC wiring I reversed the inputs on the Automatic Transfer Switch. Since we most often boondock, I made the inverter the primary AC source. Shore power will be secondary.

I had that arrangement for shore power in the trailer and the relay lasted a year before it went bad. I think yours is seldom on shore power so it will probably last for years. Amazon has lots of PV warning stickers, all the cool kids have them.
Bruce
P.S. I'd consider putting a MRBF on your battery positive terminal to supplement the DC breaker. Fuse are much faster acting than breakers and limit the fault current more than breakers do. Breakers are also notorious for failing under high fault current conditions.

[Tom&Shelly]

Now I just need a whole bunch of Bruce’s warning & danger stickers!

Here's a good one (found on a hospital bed TV control)



I always love warnings that tell you values should be "appropriate" without telling you what that is.

Tom

[lfhoward]

P.S. I'd consider putting a MRBF on your battery positive terminal to supplement the DC breaker. Fuse are much faster acting than breakers and limit the fault current more than breakers do. Breakers are also notorious for failing under high fault current conditions.

Got it.



Today’s progress was in the passengers side compartment.



The components are arranged differently than I was envisioning in the photo I posted last night. I think this will work better for cooling as well as just being a simpler layout.

From left to right: Raspberry Pi cellular wifi hotspot, 5 volt power supply, auxiliary fuse box, 2 relays above, Raspberry Pi running Venus OS, solar power disconnect / breakers, and 2 solar charge controllers.

[bdosborn]

Looking awesome. I use the PV circuit breakers in the van a lot more often than I thought I would. It makes it super easy to tinker with things.
Bruce

[lfhoward]

Making battery cables today. I should have the system up and running by this afternoon if the rain holds off!

[featherliteCT1]

I am now picturing you painting your trailer Victron blue, wearing a Victron T shirt and a Victron hat.

[lfhoward]

I am now picturing you painting your trailer Victron blue, wearing a Victron T shirt and a Victron hat.

Finishing up the DC wiring in the drivers side compartment.


The battery is in!


I’m going to put the bus bars on it and get the BMS connected while there is still light outside.

[lfhoward]

Everything is up and running.



The inverter shows up in the upper right quadrant as expected, but the smart shunt on the shore charger does not show up on the upper left in AC input. I selected AC Charger for the shunt’s job, but this does not seem to show up anywhere on the GX/VRM except under individual devices in the menu. It does work, however, if I fudge it and make it a PV Charger. You’ll notice “Shore” is there with “Roof” and “Aux” on the lower right. This is a bug Victron needs to sort out.

I do have to wire up two Victron SolidSwitch relays (for the battery heater and ceiling fan) so I can tie them into the GuiMods relays that turn on/off based on RuuviTag temperature data. This is a job for another day, but it will be fun.

[bdosborn]

Well done!
Bruce

[bdosborn]

Something I thought you might like to know about:

The van garage got pretty hot yesterday, about 95F or so and the Bluetooth for the Cerbo shutdown. I found out about it when I got a temperature alarm and found that none of the Mopeka or Ruuvi devices were reporting. It looks like its a known thing with the Cerbo and they recommend a Bluetooth dongle if you're using Ruuvi devices. I think the Cerbo is just a repackaged Raspberry Pi so I wonder if you'll run into the same issue...
Cerbo GX Bluetooth Issue

Bruce
P.S. the Bluetooth came back on after it got cooler that night.