Holmes
Advanced Member
Looking at upgrading to a 100ah lithium battery. Haven't been able to find info on compatibility with the stock 4 wheel overland solar charge controller. Plug and play? Any thought or recommendations? Thanks
Nick
Nick
Holmes said:Can anyone else verify that the stock controller, (overland controller installed in the 16+ four wheel campers) can facilitate a lithium battery? Or does anyone have any experience with this? Any and all info id appreciated, Nick
Nick, yeah, Brian's a good guy, he'll set you straight.Not sure what you're referring to with an Overland 150W rigid panel. I know they make 130 and 160 w semi flexible panels, which, by the way, are excellent panels. A really efficient fridge will consume about 0.75 amps/hr on average - over 24 hours that is ~18 amp hours per day, on average. Chances are you can get away with one, 160 w Overland panel and one, 100 ah Lithium battery. One AGM isn't going to cut it, you'll need two AGMs (200 ah total) or 1 Lithium (100 ah). In summer it won't be a problem. During the winter, you'll be somewhat on the edge, especially if you are trying to run a heater that uses an electric fan, while keeping up with charging your small electronics, etc, let alone running a fridge. You might only get 1-2 days tops before recharging your battery with one AGM. You might want to consider adding a second panel of the same type and size later on if you find that one panel is insufficient for your purposes. You might be ok with sunny 3-season use. Though the Cascades will be a challenge with one panel. In that case just make sure your component parts are future proof for easy expansion later, if necessary. A Victron smart 100/30 mppt controller or possibly an Overland 100/30 should be perfect with 2 panels. A good DC to DC charger might help if your solar is limited. Remember, any charger you get should be able to handle more than the voltage rating of your solar panels (Overland panels are rated at 32.76 vdc) if you want to be able to charge with your alternator and solar panels at the same time, which is very convenient and efficient.. A Victron 30amp Dc to DC or Sterling model 1230 Dc to DC will do this with no issue. Redarc, probably not. I think they are only rated for 28-30 vdc, which might be okay with a solar panel that has a lower max voltage rating (anything under 28 vdc. Good luck with the build.Holmes said:Hey Rich, thanks alot for the information. I'm really trying to keep the overland controller for now. I'll definitely give Brian a call and see how well a Li batt will work with the controller on not. I'm aslo hoping I can just stick with one single panel on my yakima racks. I'm looking at overlands 150w rigid panel or a renogy 200W panel to pair with the lithium battery or just 1 100ah agm battery. I'm still concerned about the controller pairing with either of those panel choices as well, simply because I'm so damn confused about this stuff. Really just hoping for a plug and play panel I can get on the roof and hope I can keep the compressor fridge going. I should have supplemental charge from the alternator as well if I decide to have Mule overland install that option when I get the camper installed. I've heard mixed reviews about that as well. Nick
Thanks for including the link. The Sunpower Maxeon Gen 3 cells are very cool. Nice option, for sure, if you want a rigid panel. Although it's strange they don't advertise it on their site. It's possible that it was a product they discontinued when they went with those Sunpower Gen 3 cells in their semi-flexible panels. Anyway, combine that or the semi-flexible panel with, say, a Battle Born, heated, 100AH LiFePO4 and it's almost the plug and play you're looking for. You'll still need to use a fuse or circuit breaker, before and after your MPPT controller, but that's trivial. I'd encourage you to go Lithium if possible, it has many advantages.Holmes said:https://www.overlandsolar.com/products/100-watt-sunpower-panel-osm100
I know the link says 100W but it's a fully rigid 150W on overland's website.
I'm tracking on the power needed. Seems like a Lithium might be making more sense to me based on weight and area restrictions as well. I'm curious what Brian will say about making it work with the overland controller. Thanks once again for the insight.
Hey thanks for the input Astropuppy. I remember looking into a victory blutetooth dongle and I think I brought it up to Brian at overland solar and he thought that it wouldn't work.astropuppy said:I plugged a Victron Energy VE.Direct Smart Dongle into my Overland Solar MPPT controller w/o a hitch. It even updated the firmware on the controller. And yes it supports lithium batteries. The bluetooth app makes changing charge parameters a lot easier than using the display.
Next I'll be adding a "[font=Amazon Ember']Victron Energy Smart Battery Sense Long Range" to the mix. [/font]
I'm all about simple cost effective updates.
Yes thats the one.Holmes said:Hey thanks for the input Astropuppy. I remember looking into a victory blutetooth dongle and I think I brought it up to Brian at overland solar and he thought that it wouldn't work.
Just to confirm this is the victron dongle that your using?
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-ASS030536010-VE-Direct-Bluetooth/dp/B01CGFF8Q2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=82979830212&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv5uKBhD6ARIsAGv9a-yY4EAAtkNRUkxFCFenPqI4XH3_fahfOK6Z7cylir13IKpLrAlFNxUaAjA3EALw_wcB&hvadid=380340707688&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9033660&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15773769500844632957&hvtargid=kwd-298626948476&hydadcr=13086_9594471&keywords=victron+bluetooth+dongle&qid=1632076183&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=AERMGYAT5R869&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWVJBWTVLSjJRWjZYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDExNjUwUFowVFdPMlJZQVhIJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxOTM2MjhXTjJQTjQyV0VXQ1Ymd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Thanks for getting back to me. Just trying to save some cash by not replacing my mppt and display if I can while adding Bluetooth if possible. Whats the major benefit by adding a bvm 712? Just curious.astropuppy said:Yes thats the one.
I have now added a bvm 712 with temp sensor. Beginning to understand why so many like this victron stuff.
The 712 connects with the Dongle, giving it battery temperature. In my case with agm's, the mppt will adjust the charge profile. With lifepo4 it will know when not to charge, below freezing.Holmes said:Thanks for getting back to me. Just trying to save some cash by not replacing my mppt and display if I can while adding Bluetooth if possible. Whats the major benefit by adding a bvm 712? Just curious.
I figured that was why you switched to the 712 because you can't use both with the overland display. Thanks for the info.astropuppy said:The 712 connects with the Dongle, giving it battery temperature. In my case with agm's, the mppt will adjust the charge profile. With lifepo4 it will know when not to charge, below freezing.
Another reason was when you add the dongle you lose the connection for the meter. My 712 meter now occipys the hole the overland solar meter was in.
THANK YOU! I had wondered if the Smart Dongle would work with the Overland Solar 100/15. I had called Victron, they said...no. I saw your post and ordered one. Yup, plugged it in to the unit and certainly worked w/o a hitch too! Did both updates to the firmware and is working great on the phone to monitor it's history. Past history is easily accessible too. Thanks again for posting that it works.astropuppy said:I plugged a Victron Energy VE.Direct Smart Dongle into my Overland Solar MPPT controller w/o a hitch. It even updated the firmware on the controller. And yes it supports lithium batteries. The bluetooth app makes changing charge parameters a lot easier than using the display.
Next I'll be adding a "Victron Energy Smart Battery Sense Long Range" to the mix.
I'm all about simple cost effective updates.