From fire truck to MTV

[MatthewWBailey]

Problem with series is shade, have lots of deciduous trees around here so if a single panel is shaded, it would kill half my output. (From my very limited research) I plan to look at some technical reports, forums seem to be ripe with opinions instead of facts from the RV community.

On a larger scale yes, but you're talking about the difference between 3 panels and 2 panels in a very small area. Any shade is likely to shade most of your array anyway. But, if your being tactical, you can have 3 sets of 2, each on their own MPPT so if the back of the truck catches shade at least the front is clear. Either way you're still losing some production. It'll be six/half dozen.

we plot shading on a "shading plan" which shows the arc that a tree (or object) makes over the roof array, then we move panels out of that path.

More or less Series panels doesn't really solve shading on a small array. Only getting out of the shade does that. You'll have a 'shaded' output, and a 'non-shaded' output that you'll have to manage around.

 

[aw113sgte]

Got the batteries, a bit over 15 kWh.
300lbs so was considering where to place them to keep passenger/driver level but habitat corners were within a few mm to the ground so doesn't look like it matters much.

 

[MatthewWBailey]

Got the batteries, a bit over 15 kWh.
300lbs so was considering where to place them to keep passenger/driver side but habitat corners were within a few mm to the ground so doesn't look like it matters much.

View attachment 921094

$6500 of batteries sitting there. Your truck will soon be worth 100k

 

[aw113sgte]

$6500 of batteries sitting there. Your truck will soon be worth 100k

I'm not adding up the costs as I go, that would ruin some of the fun!

 

[ckouba]

I'm not adding up the costs as I go, that would ruin some of the fun!

I see we both use the same accountant!

 

[aw113sgte]

Been working hard on the truck trying to get it done soon so we can go on adventures, haven't been taking many pictures though. Mcmaster and Amazon love me right now.

The storage boxes came in, still need to mount them. I maxed out the size so need to be careful with clearances. All 24"tall, 24" deep. 1x 36"w, 1x 48"w, 2x 56" w.

Finally cut a hole for cable passthough into the box. Core sample shows (from the bottom) 1.75" spray foam, 1.25" shipping container plywood, .5" dry core insulation, .5" particle board.

Solar is hooked up and working, still a ton of wiring to do. Hopefully tomorrow I will complete the wiring for the inverter, then I can plug it into the house power, or run the generator (and it will auto switch power between them).

 

[MatthewWBailey]

I'm not adding up the costs as I go, that would ruin some of the fun!

It's cool. You like the good stuff.

 

[aw113sgte]

Fun milestone today, charging the electric truck from the....military hybrid diesel-electric truck? Try to guess our political leanings
Lots of learning to do as there are tons of options with the Victron equipment. Generator and shore power inputs are up and running.

 

[aw113sgte]

Took the truck to a kids birthday and gave him a ride home (he loves army stuff).
Boys testing the electrical system.
Learning how Node-Red works to set discharge limits on the batteries. Using this I can interface and control everything in pretty much any way I want.
Finally got around to getting the heat pump running, have never installed AC before and it really wasn't too bad. Cutting and flaring the lines, vacuuming the system then charging with freon. The system runs super quiet, can barely tell it's on. The rubber mounting of the outer unit seems to have done the trick. The autotransformer does hum a bit so I'll see if I can quiet that down a little - it converts the 120v to 240v.
Using a DIN rail for all electrical mounting, lots of GFCI breakers. The black thing is a solid state relay - this enables me to turn off the AC+autotransformer separately with an arduino. I also have the water heater coil on one of these.

 

[Adrok]

I really like the sturdy / clean distribution center set up.
Do you get goo air flow ( cooling ) around the batteries?

Very cool set up sir.

 

[aw113sgte]

I really like the sturdy / clean distribution center set up.
Do you get goo air flow ( cooling ) around the batteries?

Very cool set up sir.

Batteries have an air gap of several inches, they all have individual temp monitors inside as well. For forced airflow, I have speed and direction control of the heater matrix so if I need to cool, I can suck cool air over them, or turn on heater and reverse air flow if heating needed.