I’m making some modifications to our 2022 GD 280 RS fifth wheel and need some advice on the placement of switches, breakers, and fuses. This is my first venture into the world of low voltage systems, so please pardon my basic lack of understanding of the system. This group has been a great source of information, so I think that I have a workable plan, but need to make sure that I’ve interpreted the advice correctly.
The first change is to replace the Furrion 50A MPPT controller with a Victron SmartSolar 100/30 controller in order to provide information and monitoring of the solar charge system. Adding another panel in the future is a possibility, but we first need to conduct some trials with what we have and the Furrion controller is just a black box. I definitely see the need for a disconnect switch between the 165W solar panel and the controller, but should there also be a fuse between the panel and controller? If so, how would I determine the size?
Coming from the Victron controller and going to the OEM bus bar, I’m thinking that a 40A breaker should suffice.
I’m replacing the 12V 80AH lead-acid battery with two 12V 200AH lithium batteries and adding a battery disconnect between the batteries and the OEM bus bar. Should there also be a fuse between the battery and the system or is that the purpose of the breaker box in the galley to which the converter is connected?
As a side note, to complete the system I’m replacing the Furrion branded shunt with a Victron Smart Shunt 500A and adding Victron Smart Battery Sense units to provide battery temperature to the controller via Bluetooth and to me through the Victron app. All this gives me the ability to monitor the electrical system during the few days of boondocking we do each year.
I’ve drawn diagrams of the existing and proposed wiring and have added pictures of the controller and the current state of the bus bar.
The first change is to replace the Furrion 50A MPPT controller with a Victron SmartSolar 100/30 controller in order to provide information and monitoring of the solar charge system. Adding another panel in the future is a possibility, but we first need to conduct some trials with what we have and the Furrion controller is just a black box. I definitely see the need for a disconnect switch between the 165W solar panel and the controller, but should there also be a fuse between the panel and controller? If so, how would I determine the size?
Coming from the Victron controller and going to the OEM bus bar, I’m thinking that a 40A breaker should suffice.
I’m replacing the 12V 80AH lead-acid battery with two 12V 200AH lithium batteries and adding a battery disconnect between the batteries and the OEM bus bar. Should there also be a fuse between the battery and the system or is that the purpose of the breaker box in the galley to which the converter is connected?
As a side note, to complete the system I’m replacing the Furrion branded shunt with a Victron Smart Shunt 500A and adding Victron Smart Battery Sense units to provide battery temperature to the controller via Bluetooth and to me through the Victron app. All this gives me the ability to monitor the electrical system during the few days of boondocking we do each year.
I’ve drawn diagrams of the existing and proposed wiring and have added pictures of the controller and the current state of the bus bar.
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