Solar & Battery upgrade priority (also improvements also) - advice?🙏

[Refresh]

Hi there forum,

I am looking to thoroughly upgrade exterior, and refresh the interior, of my Sprinter T1N, Class B, motorhome. Once the Corona restrictions lift we want to move on in an effectively new 'home'

WE are working on various upgrades ($$ allowing)
The most important issue is installing the most potent solar & battery system we can.

Any advice you can all offer would be EXCEEDINGLY WELCOME and appreciated:


What is the highest potential solar and battery storage (Lithium) one could fit onto a Sprinter T1N?


I wish to use Lithium batteries instead of AGM.
Unless you all advise strongly against that.

The 2 batteries can weigh a maximum 100kg in total.
They must provide a, total, capacity of 550AH minimum

I already have a solidly crafted metal battery storage box in place just behind the rear axle.
I can store two batteries of 51cm x 27cm x 22cm


Though I am also considering the use of additional foldable & flexible solar panels, I first, need to install the maximum wattage/12v Amperage on the roof.

What would be the best system anyone has experience with and can, confidently, recommend.

Is 45AH produced, in full desert blasting mid-day sun, a realistic aim?

My thanks, in advance, for any advice you all can offer me.🙏


Refresh

PS. Roof dimensions, top-down, attached

[booster]

Originally Posted by Refresh

Hi there forum,

I am looking to thoroughly upgrade exterior, and refresh the interior, of my Sprinter T1N, Class B, motorhome. Once the Corona restrictions lift we want to move on in an effectively new 'home'

WE are working on various upgrades ($$ allowing)
The most important issue is installing the most potent solar & battery system we can.

Any advice you can all offer would be EXCEEDINGLY WELCOME and appreciated:


What is the highest potential solar and battery storage (Lithium) one could fit onto a Sprinter T1N?


I wish to use Lithium batteries instead of AGM.
Unless you all advise strongly against that.

The 2 batteries can weigh a maximum 100kg in total.
They must provide a, total, capacity of 550AH minimum

I already have a solidly crafted metal battery storage box in place just behind the rear axle.
I can store two batteries of 51cm x 27cm x 22cm


Though I am also considering the use of additional foldable & flexible solar panels, I first, need to install the maximum wattage/12v Amperage on the roof.

What would be the best system anyone has experience with and can, confidently, recommend.

Is 45AH produced, in full desert blasting mid-day sun, a realistic aim?

My thanks, in advance, for any advice you all can offer me.🙏


Refresh

PS. Roof dimensions, top-down, attached

If you are talking about 45ah recovery per day, that is easy as a moderate efficiency 150 watt panel will do it.


If you are talking about 45 amps of current at 12v, that would be much more difficult and you might not get that with even with the most efficient panels.


What are you trying to be able to run?

[Refresh]

Thanks for swift reply. Appreciated

45AH at 12v @ 14:00 in blue sky desert is my dream.

Maybe with rollout panels too.
If we produce 250A recharge in a day though that’d should suffice.

Basically upgrading a 11 year old system with one shattered (but working-ish panel) & 1 good one. Our AGM died

Thought I treat us to an upgrade - it will get transfers to a uní-mog or forest cabin in a few years so can swallow the cost

Best panels?
Has output improved much for same size and cost in the last 11 years?

Lithium worth it?
I hear run WAY down without damage
Half the weight
So should be able to double my 255ah dead AGM’s capacity for same weight &’use far deeper cycle
$$$$ but sounds good

Thoughts,?

[booster]

I think you have the very common these days units conversion going on. You must be referring to 45 amps from the solar, not AH and 250AH of energy recovery per day not amps????

[Refresh]

Originally Posted by booster

I think you have the very common these days units conversion going on. You must be referring to 45 amps from the solar, not AH and 250AH of energy recovery per day not amps????

OK

We use about 20 amps each hour depending on fans, computers, Microwave etc
So in a 16 hour day we use up about 320A. When we are boondocking we can get that down to below 280 amps used a day

I plan on a having 500A or bigger Battery Bank

If we can bring in 250A of Solar charge, over a 16 hour day, then we are only losing 30 amps a day. So, we should have a good long time before we have to run engine, move on etc

My dream rig would bring in 45 amps of energy from one hour of solar charging - at peak sun conditions (mid day, blue sky desert etc)

[avanti]

Originally Posted by Refresh

My dream rig would bring in 45 amps of energy from one hour of solar charging - at peak sun conditions (mid day, blue sky desert etc)

Well, let's see...
There is about 1000 watts of energy in a square meter of bright sunlight. The theoretical efficiency of solar conversion is generally given as 33% or so (depending on assumptions). So, that gives you maybe 330 watts or 27 amps per square meter of roof space.

So, I guess your dream is within the bounds of physical possibility.

[GeorgeRa]

It seems as objectives are confusing, perhaps OP needs to reboot.

[Refresh]

Let's put it this way:

I want advice on
THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM SOLAR
I CAN FIT ON MY ROOF - DIAGRAMS ATTACHED

[Refresh]

2 batteries can weigh a maximum 100kg in total.

They must provide a, total, capacity of 550AH minimum

Can store 2 batteries of 51cm x 27cm x 22cm

Want Lithium (good idea?)

[rowiebowie]

I'm no solar expert, but what I have learned on this and other forums is most feel rigid solar panels offer a much greater lifespan than the lighter and thinner flexible panels.

Also, each solar panel maker has slightly different dimensions for similar 100W, 200W, etc panels. They usually only vary by an inch or so, but that small size difference might be enough so that one brand will fit a certain roof ares, while another brand may not. So shop several makers for the size of solar panels that will work in your roof space.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Refresh

2 batteries can weigh a maximum 100kg in total.

They must provide a, total, capacity of 550AH minimum

Can store 2 batteries of 51cm x 27cm x 22cm

Want Lithium (good idea?)

Lithium makes sense over lead-acid batteries if you can afford the high initial investment, need lightweight batteries, and total lifespan are more critical than price.

Six 100AH rated lithium batteries will weigh approximately 90kg. Leaving you within your weight maxium, but just barely. And leaves very little weight for adding cables, or perhaps adding inverters and chargers.

[Refresh]

Oh it’s ok - the 100kg is for batteries only


The cables, invertor etc are not being counted in that weight
but thanks for the reminder.

You prefer 6 x 100AH instead of 2 x 300AH etc

May I please enquirer why?

Thanks