Moderator Note: Updated the thread's title and added the Reference Library tag to this thread so (hopefully) others can find the information contained in this thread (which is excellent IMHO). -Howard
Greetings all,
I just finished battery upgrade and inverter install in my 2024 Transcend 260 RB, with Litime 230 AH lifepo4 battery and Litime 3000w inverter. I moved the battery to inside the passthrough and mounted the inverter in the same location. I used 2/0 cable from battery to busbars (less than 12" in length) and Litime supplied cables from busbar to inverter. I ran 10-gauge cable from the inverter high energy output to a 30-amp plug installed inside the passthrough. I also extended the original battery cables on the tongue, into the passthrough and connected them to the busbars. And I installed a Renogy 500-amp battery monitor. Tested all points and consistently getting 13.2-13.3 volts. (Yes, I know this is low for lifepo4, but we are not done playing the WFCO auto detect BS game yet). And from my previous post about the solar controller bluetooth not working, I cannot change the solar to a lifepo4 profile until I can get the solar controller replaced.
This set up permits me to plug the shoreline into the inverter to power the entire trailer from battery. Everything powered up as it should have when I tested the install. I am aware that with this solution, I need to shut off the converter/charger. This is where the problem arises. When I turn off the converter breaker, I lose all of my GFCI outlets, including TV, antenna, and recliners. If I turn the breaker back on, the GFCI outlets become live, so I know the GFCI is not tripping. I purposedly tripped the GFCI to verify that the TV, antenna, and recliner were on that circuit. They are. All outlets in the trailer, with the exception of two in the bedroom, are on the GFCI circuit. There is a breaker in the panel labeled "General" which I assumed would be the all the outlets, but after testing, I discovered that breaker runs ONLY the two non-GFCI bedroom outlets. Does anyone know if Grand Design purposely wires the GFCI circuit with the Converter circuit. I haven't yet taken apart the distribution panel, but I'm thinking that is my next step.
As a precautionary check, I also tested the system on generator. The same thing happens without the inverter running, so again, I know it is not something I did.
P.S. The trailer is new six weeks ago. Yes, I know that I should have the dealership look at this. And I will be reaching out to them, as well as Grand Design on Monday. I am just frustrated this has to be complicated. The dealership provided me with a 50 AH lead acid battery. I asked them about upgrading to lithium through them when I bought it, and they quoted over $1200 for a single 100 AH lifepo4 battery, without inverter. Yeah, that wasn't happening.
Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.
Ron
Greetings all,
I just finished battery upgrade and inverter install in my 2024 Transcend 260 RB, with Litime 230 AH lifepo4 battery and Litime 3000w inverter. I moved the battery to inside the passthrough and mounted the inverter in the same location. I used 2/0 cable from battery to busbars (less than 12" in length) and Litime supplied cables from busbar to inverter. I ran 10-gauge cable from the inverter high energy output to a 30-amp plug installed inside the passthrough. I also extended the original battery cables on the tongue, into the passthrough and connected them to the busbars. And I installed a Renogy 500-amp battery monitor. Tested all points and consistently getting 13.2-13.3 volts. (Yes, I know this is low for lifepo4, but we are not done playing the WFCO auto detect BS game yet). And from my previous post about the solar controller bluetooth not working, I cannot change the solar to a lifepo4 profile until I can get the solar controller replaced.
This set up permits me to plug the shoreline into the inverter to power the entire trailer from battery. Everything powered up as it should have when I tested the install. I am aware that with this solution, I need to shut off the converter/charger. This is where the problem arises. When I turn off the converter breaker, I lose all of my GFCI outlets, including TV, antenna, and recliners. If I turn the breaker back on, the GFCI outlets become live, so I know the GFCI is not tripping. I purposedly tripped the GFCI to verify that the TV, antenna, and recliner were on that circuit. They are. All outlets in the trailer, with the exception of two in the bedroom, are on the GFCI circuit. There is a breaker in the panel labeled "General" which I assumed would be the all the outlets, but after testing, I discovered that breaker runs ONLY the two non-GFCI bedroom outlets. Does anyone know if Grand Design purposely wires the GFCI circuit with the Converter circuit. I haven't yet taken apart the distribution panel, but I'm thinking that is my next step.
As a precautionary check, I also tested the system on generator. The same thing happens without the inverter running, so again, I know it is not something I did.
P.S. The trailer is new six weeks ago. Yes, I know that I should have the dealership look at this. And I will be reaching out to them, as well as Grand Design on Monday. I am just frustrated this has to be complicated. The dealership provided me with a 50 AH lead acid battery. I asked them about upgrading to lithium through them when I bought it, and they quoted over $1200 for a single 100 AH lifepo4 battery, without inverter. Yeah, that wasn't happening.
Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.
Ron
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