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I’m looking at possibly getting a 48v 15kw DIY battery bank and want to know if I can start off charging it with my old Freedom 2500 charger/inverter or would I need to upgrade? I would use the 24kw genset to charge it up … I have watched a couple videos so I’m now an expert! lol
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
Posts: 113
Threads: 9
Joined: Oct 2020
I don't know your charger, but you will want to check to make sure that the battery will be able to be charged in a reasonable time otherwise your generator will have to run for many hours.
Depending on your use that may be fine.
Posts: 1,266
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Joined: Sep 2012
(09-09-2024, 08:41 AM)I have been reading through all the posts and can’t believe I have been considering this since 2018! Thanks for your posts on this stuff - very helpful! Gnawrocki1 Wrote: I don't know your charger, but you will want to check to make sure that the battery will be able to be charged in a reasonable time otherwise your generator will have to run for many hours.
Depending on your use that may be fine.
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
Posts: 5,340
Threads: 255
Joined: Jul 2012
Perhaps I misunderstand what you are asking. You cannot charge a 48V battery pack with a 12v charger.
There are MANY advantages to using a higher voltage pack. But there are also many other devices needed to make it compatible with the native 12V.
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
99 Newell, 512
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home
)
Posts: 105
Threads: 10
Joined: Sep 2024
You could try the route i went since i needed a new inverter for my coach. I went to my local solar supply store and bought one of their fancy solar inverter chargers with grid power pass through. has variable dc I/O for charging up to 48 volt and outputs of 120VAC as well as 12VDC. pretty fancy monster. I'm going to start the install this weekend.
Carl Little
1996 Coach 435 Detroit 60
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We are now looking at either an EG4 6000XP or EG4 12K - I’m checking with Signature Solar near Dallas (since I’m in TX, why not?) to see if I still need my Auto-Transfer switch - anyone with experience with either of these units directly? I’m slowly learning and not just buying stuff (like I normally do!). We are in TX and found out that the place where my coach normally parks does not have power any longer so this is bringing into sharp focus the need for big lithium batteries and maybe solar panels later… I like the Victron stuff but I would need two of their units to get to 240v and these EG4 units have 120/240 split phase built in…
Good point Richard! I definitely want to go 48-volt after doing some research. I will be planning to upgrade the Inverter/charger to something newer… looking for wiring diagrams for RVs before I start building my own…
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
(This post was last modified: 09-11-2024, 02:09 PM by
pairodice.)
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Most any of the 48v solar inverters will have lithium profiles and will charge the battery even if you don't have solar. Growatt is a good choice I have 3 of them, 2 in my house thats been online for almost 3 years and a big split phase unit in the coach. I know everyone loves victron but there is good stuff out there a lot cheaper. If you go with 48v are you going to keep your house batteries? I kept 2 8ds for house and used the remaining 4 8d batteries in series for the 48v inverter. Make sure what ever you do to isolate the 48v from the house side but they can carry a common ground.
Carl which unit and model inverter did you choose?
1999 45' #504 "Magnolia"
Gravette, Arkansas
1996 40 XL Prevost Marathon
(This post was last modified: 09-12-2024, 04:28 AM by
Jack Houpe.)
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I’m not crazy about Victrons because I would need two of the inverters to get 220v split phase. Will keep the house batteries and debating if I need an additional 12-volt inverter to supply the engine and house needs. So many decisions to make with this stuff - I’m not buying anything until I talk to all you guys at the rally!
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40
Posts: 1,221
Threads: 67
Joined: Sep 2022
We will be bringing our Prevost just completed 4000 watts of solar on the roof and the mini split conversion evidently the first one in the Prevost world. I bought victron and now wish I'd stuck with what I'm used to which was a lot less expensive and much more user friendly.
1999 45' #504 "Magnolia"
Gravette, Arkansas
1996 40 XL Prevost Marathon
Posts: 1,266
Threads: 160
Joined: Sep 2012
Awesome! You should change your profile to the Prevost and just put some tape on the front of with NEWELL written on it! Lol. Looking forward to seeing your setup. I have been back and forth with the inverters and will look at the Growatts also - have been looking at the EG4s…
Karen & Adrian Abshire
1998 2 slide 45' Newell Coach 498
Prior: 1985 Foretravel ORED 35, 1988 38' Foretravel U280, 2000 Foretravel 42' U320, 1990 Bluebird Wanderlodge WB40