Perfect Power Systems

We can build the perfect power system for your RV. What is the perfect system? Well that varies with what devices you want to power when you're off the grid and for how long you want to power them. Here at S3 RV Solar we start the build process by talking with you to learn what appliances and devices you want your system to power and what your expectations are for how long you can run those items. Then we design a system to meet your goals. Solar power systems are made up of many parts. These different components need to be able to work together to achieve a totally integrated and trouble free system. 

Solar panels are installed on your RV to charge the batteries. The more panels you have, the faster the battery bank can be charged. As a rule of thumb, you will want 200 watts of solar for each 100ah of battery capacity. We use top quality solar panels and install them so you get top performance from each panel. We take care to make sure the panels are mounted securely and that the roof is properly sealed to prevent water leaks. The energy from the solar panels is sent to a solar charge controller. This controller regulates the power to properly charge your batteries. We use only MPPT type charge controllers in our installations. MPPT controllers are up to 20% more efficient than the cheaper PWM type. Just one of the ways we make sure you get the best system for your money.

The batteries store energy so it can be used at a later time. Battery banks are sized by either amp-hours or watt-hours. The larger the battery bank, the longer you can operate your devices off the grid. Traditionally most RV battery banks consisted of lead type batteries. In the last several years Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have become increasingly common. LiFePO4 batteries have many advantages over Lead batteries. They are much lighter, have twice the capacity of lead, have a much longer service life, they can power large loads for long periods, and they can be charged much faster than lead. Initially LiFePO4 batteries were very expensive but the cost has been steadily declining. When you consider the extra capacity and long life, many LiFePO4 batteries are now less expensive than lead. One challenge in converting to LiFePO4 is they require charging equipment that is compatible with their charge profile. S3 RV Solar can both install new LiFePO4 batteries in your RV and either configure your existing chargers to work with them or install new chargers so your batteries are charged properly. Already have a favorite battery brand? we can install it. If not, we can explain the differences and help you pick a battery that matches your system goals and budget. 

Most RV's have a simple battery monitor built into the control panel. It's typically a series of lights that shows what the batteries state of charge is with a simple L, F, G, C, or a percentage like 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%. These types of monitors leave a lot to be desired. Another problem is when you make the switch to Lithium batteries these monitors will no longer be accurate. It will show the battery full right up until it is completely discharged. A better option is a shunt and battery monitor. This device measures all amperage going from or to the batteries. It can be configured for any battery chemistry so it is accurate regardless of what battery type you have. In addition to accuracy, these monitors provide much more information than the simple monitor your RV came with. Information such as how much power you're currently consuming, how much has been consumed today, and how long the batteries will last at the current consumption, are all at your fingertips. 

When you plug in your RV at home or at a campground with hookups, the charger (or converter) regulates the power to correctly charge the batteries. If you decide to make the change to Lithium type batteries your existing charger often will not be compatible. S3 RV Solar can install a new charger for you to work with your new Lithium batteries. 

An inverter converts the DC power from your batteries into AC power. This allows you to use your batteries to power all the appliances in your RV that would normally require you to be plugged into shore power. Many modern inverters also have a battery charger built in. This makes it easy to upgrade to lithium batteries and use the extra capacity that lithium offers to power your AC powered appliances. Whether you want just a plug or two to be powered by your batteries, or the entire RV, we can help. 

A DC-DC charger allows you to use your vehicles alternator to charge lithium batteries in the RV. LiFePO4 batteries have a very low internal resistance. Because of this they can be charged and discharged very quickly. The stock alternator charging system in your RV or tow vehicle is typically a low amperage "trickle charger", putting out barely enough amperage to be useful in charging a large capacity battery bank. In some cases there is nothing in place to regulate how much current LiFePO4 RV batteries can draw from the engine's alternator. In this situation the alternator and the wiring can be damaged. A DC-DC charger properly regulates the current from the engine's alternator to charge the RV's battery bank. DC-DC chargers are available in a variety of sizes to match any size alternator. 

It may not seem obvious, but the wiring is one of the most important parts of an off grid RV power system. Wire of the correct type and size is critical for a safe and dependable installation. Having the know-how and the correct tools to make wire connections results in trouble free installations. Undersized wires and poor wire crimps can result in damaged equipment and even fires. At S3 RV Solar we only use top quality wire and go to great lengths to ensure it is properly sized, correctly fused, and expertly installed. 

System monitoring allows you to track how much energy your solar panels are producing, how much power your RV is consuming, and estimates how long you can power the appliances and devices in the RV. Different RV owners will expect different levels of monitoring and reporting from their system. That is one of the many reasons we recommend components from Victron Energy. Each Victron component will report directly to your smart phone via a bluetooth connection. Whether you simply want to know your batteries state of charge or you would like to see your solar production over a period of time, it's all right at your fingertips. If you want even more system information we can install a Cerbo GX and a Cerbo Touch Screen. The touch screen gives you access to system information without your phone. When connected to WiFi, the Cerbo GX can be accessed remotely from a computer or your smart phone anywhere you have an internet connection.