Community Forums

Mena661 · 08-04-2012, 09:59 AM

Got a new to us rig recently (details here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f58/2009-...-a-130789.html) and will be transferring the battery bank (Woodalls Open Roads Forum: Tech Issues: Getting ready to go boondocking) from the "old" 5er to the new MH. There's a compartment just behind the passenger wheel that will fit these just right.

Want to accomplish the following:

1. Pull the OEM Iota DLS-55 converter and replace it with my standalone Paramode 55 amp. Reason is that the Paramode has temp compensation. It gets hot where I live in the summer and the float voltage of the Iota can be a bit too high.

2. The house batteries were apparently relocated to the front engine bay of the MH so I'm going to pull the converter wiring and those batts out then install a box with a couple of posts inside similar to this (Dual PowerPost Cable Connectors Blue Sea Systems). Then run some thicker wire back to the battery compartment (reusing my bus bars). I think my alternator is 130 amps (not sure on this). It looks like a 10 foot run from the front engine bay but I should know for sure this weekend (or at least have a better idea). I'm thinking 4/0 should do it but if you guys think smaller is fine, I'd rather save the money.

3. Install a slide out battery tray. I bought 4 of these (14" Knape & Vogt 8000 Undermount Pantry Slide). Hope those will do the job. I've got 4 battery straps to hold the batts also.

4. Install inverter in compartment behind the steps. Run about 10 feet of #6 to the aforementioned bus bars in the battery compartment. Also, run 10/2 Romex from the inverter to a 30 amp RV receptacle in the shore cord compartment. I'm using a 300W inverter now but plan to get a 2000W one, that's why the Romex is so big. I'll run new thicker DC wires when I get the 2000W.

Batteries in back of truck

Future battery compartment.

Inverter will go here.

Batt and inverter compartments.

Mena661 · 08-04-2012, 10:01 AM

Installed the 30 amp RV outlet in the shore cord compartment yesterday. Wired that directly to my 300W inverter using 28 feet of 10/2 romex. I have to admit, running that 10/2 was a PITA. Glad it's done. Today I start on the slide out battery tray. More to come!

30A RV receptacle

Inverter with 20 amp plug

Jim_HiTek · 08-04-2012, 11:20 AM

Cool. Keep the pics coming!

Did you add bracing or straps to that compartment to hold the extra weight of the batteries?

Mena661 · 08-04-2012, 11:25 AM

It's pretty thick and I did a test run with the batteries in there. No flexing at all but I'm adding two 3/4" plywood sheets (24" x 15") to the floor anyways.

Mena661 · 08-04-2012, 04:37 PM

Finished the battery tray! Still more left to do in that compartment though. Have to move the receptacle and the light a little farther back. Plus install some bus bars and shunt for the Victron battery monitor. Then install wires from the inverter, Paramode converter and alternator (most is being reused from my "old" 5er). Here are the pics.

Jim_HiTek · 08-04-2012, 05:27 PM

Slide out assembly looks really good. Are you going to add a metal strap to the side walls? Or a plastic strap to the table?

Mena661 · 08-04-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_HiTek

Slide out assembly looks really good. Are you going to add a metal strap to the side walls? Or a plastic strap to the table?

Thanks.

Going to drill some eye hooks in the floor and use motorcycle straps. That's what I did in my 5er. The hooks will be front and rear instead of side to side like before. Believe it or not, the batteries are so heavy they hardly move at all. Here's the old setup.

Mena661 · 08-05-2012, 02:19 PM

Figuring out how I should layout the bus bars and shunt for the battery monitor. Need to swap out the converter too. Should fit but I'll measure to make sure. Also need to drill some holes for ventilation.

djbmsu · 08-05-2012, 06:38 PM

That was the topic I was waiting to see, "ventilation" looks good so far.

Mena661 · 08-06-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djbmsu

That was the topic I was waiting to see, "ventilation" looks good so far.

I'm shooting for tomorrow to drill the holes. The grills won't be in till later this week. I'm also thinking about swapping converters then too. Probably a good time for that.

Mena661 · 08-10-2012, 09:26 PM

Pulled the OEM batteries. Giving them to a friend that needs some new one's. Installed a temporary junction box for the existing wire that was connected to the batteries until I can either get a more appropriate one or trace and rerun new wire. The new #1 will be run from that junction box back to some bus bars in the battery compartment. Tomorrow I do a number of things:

1. Drill holes for ventilation. Install grills.
2. Swap converters. Remove old converter wiring.
3. Move receptacle back a few inches. Remove light and cap wires (until I can figure out how to mount them again).
4. Install bus bars and Victron shunt.
5. Install inverter wire connectors. Run wire to bus bars.

Mena661 · 08-11-2012, 08:26 PM

Progress! This is taking longer than I expected because of the heat. Currently 111F/44C. Taking many breaks. I'll have to replace the light fixture completely as I had to destroy it to get it out. It was like someone welded the sheetmetal screws in there. I must have done a good job with the vents as I can feel air coming through them. Got the bus bars and shunt installed. Ran the wiring for the inverter, connected that to the bus bars. Connected wiring for the converter to bus bars also. Tried to relocate the existing 20 amp receptacle with no luck. I'll have to get a different outlet box and mount it directly to the wall. Tomorrow I pull the old converter wiring completely out (it's hanging under the rig) and install the eye hooks for the battery straps.