LifePO4 rack and Solar Panels

[Mac2]

I installed 2700 watts of Solar panels on my flybridge frame/roof and 1200 amps of LifePO4 batteries. I still have to complete the connections between the two. I plan on using Victron MPPT's for each set of panels for a total of four-I wanted redundancy for when the seagull drops the clam on a panel. My house bank was 2000 amps agms (8D). My 24volt house bank is isolated from the alternator. I was able to use my Xantrex 4000 charger/inverter to program the correct charging profile. I used the battery rack designed for the batteries, but had to make some modifications to fit in the steel frame of the old batteries. The rack is bolted to the existing frame and I added steel supports at the back and will add one inch starboard supports at the front (where they could contact the electrical connections). I will also add support at the top of the rack to pin it in place in case of a knock down. I will add performance info for the batteries next time I anchor out.

 

[READY]

Nice! I don't think a clam would likely shatter a panel but the redundancy might minimize some of the loss from shading.

 

[Max1]

Boy! That's a lot of juice! Nice job. Keep us posted!

 

[Max1]

Nice! I don't think a clam would likely shatter a panel but the redundancy might minimize some of the loss from shading.

It depends on the panel.
On my trailer I noticed that even the shadow of my radio antenna cast on my panel would cut the output current considerably!

 

[Greg QS]

I am working on a lithium upgrade now. My 8 8d bats are done. I like your parallel bus bars. Can you provide the source for the hardware?

 

[ofer]

beautiful setup and gorgeous vessel.

 

[mvweebles]

I am working on a lithium upgrade now. My 8 8d bats are done. I like your parallel bus bars. Can you provide the source for the hardware?

https://signaturesolar.com/pre-assembled-eg4-enclosed-battery-rack-3-slot-wheels-included/

Off-Grid applications are really churning out some cool kit for LFP/Solar. Part of the reason I think need to move past thinking of batteries in terms of FLA replacements.

Peter

 

[Greg QS]

I looked up the system. A server rack system. All steel casings. Dosent really bother me in the large boat application.
A couple questions.
Did you have to do anything unique to abide by the boating electrical codes?
I have Victron energy gear. Do the batteries communicate well with the Victron gear?
Cost on the batteries seems great. 400 ah 12v for 1500$ Victron's 330ah is 3500.

Greg
my system desighn but adding 4 Victron batteries.

 

[Simi 60]

I. I plan on using Victron MPPT's for each set of panels for a total of four-I wanted redundancy for when the seagull drops the clam on a panel.

What's not to like about big solar and LFP
(2.5kw solar and 840ah @ 24v lifepo4 for us)

As far as the bird thing goes in 6+ years full time I have never had an issue with birds and panels
Have never even needed to clean the panels

BUT
We are continually cruising and do have a cat. Not that she does anything

 

[Mac2]

I looked up the system. A server rack system. All steel casings. Dosent really bother me in the large boat application.
A couple questions.
Did you have to do anything unique to abide by the boating electrical codes?
I have Victron energy gear. Do the batteries communicate well with the Victron gear?
Cost on the batteries seems great. 400 ah 12v for 1500$ Victron's 330ah is 3500.

Greg
my system desighn but adding 4 Victron batteries.

Most of my knowledge was gained by watching the Youtube videos put out by Will Prowse. He does a great review on the rack and batteries. The signature solar rack is heavily built. I was glad my rack was not pre-built because I had to move it one side at a time through a narrow gap. I was also happy the side walls were solid instead of just a frame. I was able to drill through the sides to secure it it place.

My batteries can communicate with a laptop. I see the new batteries claim to be able to communicate with Victron. I didn't do anything unique to abide by electrical rules. Each battery has a breaker, I have a fuse for all batteries (400 amp) and a isolation switch after the fuse leading to the inverter charger. The only thing I am missing, and I'm not sure if it's required yet, is an audible alarm for a battery failure.

Signature solar will answer any additional questions you have. I was very happy with the support they gave me. My pallet of batteries arrived and a box broke open and parts were missing. They quickly shipped me the additional parts with no hassel.

 

[Iggy]

beautiful setup and gorgeous vessel.

Yes it is!

 

[Mac2]

What's not to like about big solar and LFP
(2.5kw solar and 840ah @ 24v lifepo4 for us)

As far as the bird thing goes in 6+ years full time I have never had an issue with birds and panels
Have never even needed to clean the panels

BUT
We are continually cruising and do have a cat. Not that she does anything

I was a little paranoid after one of my panels arrived absolutely shattered. It looked like safety glass-not cracked, but in a million pieces. No real signs of damage to the box either.

A big thanks to you too! I based the size of my system on yours as I want to be as self sustaining as possible when I start cruising. My next move is to swap out my hot water heater from 240 v to 120 volt.

 

[Greg QS]

fyi as to your hydronic system your installing. If you add the engine transfer plates you should be able to heat your water off the engines. Free hot water yahoo.

 

[Simi 60]

fyi as to your hydronic system your installing. If you add the engine transfer plates you should be able to heat your water off the engines. Free hot water yahoo.

Free hot water only when the engines are running
Which may not be for days or weeks at a time.

We get free hot water from the sun, but only when the sun is shining
But no sun days are rare here.
Sun converted to electricity runs our 240v Hot Water System via inverter and batts

We recently after 6 years changed the 180 litre HWS to a 25 litre one which is left on continuously to heat when it wants.
Only takes 15 minutes (vs near 2 hours for the old one) and we haven't ran out of hot water once in the past several months.

That leaves 1.45 hours of sun pushing amps into the battery vs into hot water that was never used.

 

[slowgoesit]

You'll LOVE the solar/LiFePO4 combo! Similar to what we have, 2,880 watts of solar, 1,200 ah of LiFePO4, but we used 8 individual Victron 100/30 smart solar charge controllers to minimize shading issues. Probably over kill, but whatever. Plus if one controller fails, we've only lost the input from ONE cell, rather than TWO. We went to Glacier Bay and back with 6 panels (2,160 watts) and added two more panels recently. It was a absolute game changer for anchoring out, no genny run! We're across the Sound from you, in Port Orchard.

Note: For completing the wiring, buy 10 ga photovoltaic wiring and bulk connectors with the crimping tool so you don't have any extra lengths of wire you have to find a place for with pre-manufactured length wires.

Also, the way I read it, we required fuse (circuit breaker) protection between the solar panels and the controllers, AND between the batteries and the controllers, since both the solar panels and the batteries could both be considered "power sources". Maybe not needed, but that's the way I wired them. Plus for trouble shooting, or whatever I can disconnect from either the batteries, or the panels with the touch of a switch instead of having to remove wiring.

 

[Mac2]

Free hot water only when the engines are running
Which may not be for days or weeks at a time.

We get free hot water from the sun, but only when the sun is shining
But no sun days are rare here.
Sun converted to electricity runs our 240v Hot Water System via inverter and batts

We recently after 6 years changed the 180 litre HWS to a 25 litre one which is left on continuously to heat when it wants.
Only takes 15 minutes (vs near 2 hours for the old one) and we haven't ran out of hot water once in the past several months.

That leaves 1.45 hours of sun pushing amps into the battery vs into hot water that was never used.

Is your new (25 litre) HWS still 240v? The reason I'm asking is that my 240v HWS does not work when in the inverting mode and I was thinking to switch to 120v, so my solar panels could help out.

 

[Mac2]

You'll LOVE the solar/LiFePO4 combo! Similar to what we have, 2,880 watts of solar, 1,200 ah of LiFePO4, but we used 8 individual Victron 100/30 smart solar charge controllers to minimize shading issues. Probably over kill, but whatever. Plus if one controller fails, we've only lost the input from ONE cell, rather than TWO. We went to Glacier Bay and back with 6 panels (2,160 watts) and added two more panels recently. It was a absolute game changer for anchoring out, no genny run! We're across the Sound from you, in Port Orchard.

Note: For completing the wiring, buy 10 ga photovoltaic wiring and bulk connectors with the crimping tool so you don't have any extra lengths of wire you have to find a place for with pre-manufactured length wires.

Also, the way I read it, we required fuse (circuit breaker) protection between the solar panels and the controllers, AND between the batteries and the controllers, since both the solar panels and the batteries could both be considered "power sources". Maybe not needed, but that's the way I wired them. Plus for trouble shooting, or whatever I can disconnect from either the batteries, or the panels with the touch of a switch instead of having to remove wiring.

Thanks for the tips. I have all the above ready to connect. Glad to hear your system works so good. I'm looking forward to trying everything out.

 

[RickyD]

Nice! I don't think a clam would likely shatter a panel but the redundancy might minimize some of the loss from shading.

I understand that SunPower panels have less shading problems as each panel has its own mini inverter. Just put them on my home roof yesterday

 

[Comodave]

I am working on a lithium upgrade now. My 8 8d bats are done. I like your parallel bus bars. Can you provide the source for the hardware?

I made bus bars to connect the lithium batteries in our last boat. I got some 3/8” by 1/2” copper bar stock. Took the terminals off the batteries so I could screw through the bus bar and directly into the batteries. Then covered the bus bars with heavy duty shrink tube where the bars did not touch the battery terminals. Used red shrink for the positive bar and black on the negative. It worked very well. It made all the batteries one piece so they didn’t move at all. Used a S/S ratchet strap to hold the whole bank down.

 

[Simi 60]

Is your new (25 litre) HWS still 240v? The reason I'm asking is that my 240v HWS does not work when in the inverting mode and I was thinking to switch to 120v, so my solar panels could help out.

Yep, 240v
But I am in Australia and there is no such thing as 120v here.

I don't think switching to 120v will save power
Water takes X amount of energy to boil
If ours at 240v takes 15 minutes I would think 120v will take 30 minutes
And 24v will take 150 minutes and 12v will take 300 minutes.