Solar System RV Makeover: What Stays & Goes on Our Grand Design?

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

See our Solar Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLTSSVhr0HOziXzWEIuRLR9f9cOM4YPLdI&si=CB4RB7TMwi7NMuze

[@thetravelingbrowns]

You've definitely shown the amount of work it takes to move everything from one rig to another. Hope you two are settling in good!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks. Still working on it. Crunch time. We leave in about two weeks for our summer trip 😁

[@JonnyDIY]

Great video Larry. Breaking it down in bite size bits such as you did makes it much easier to grasp and understand 👏👍

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks Jonny, I always look forward to seeing your comments, even after doing this for 4 years i struggle to relay my experience in a way that make it easy to understand and be concise, always learning, thanks again. Larry

[@Theo8863]

My eyes and ears glazed over. Information overload.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Sorry about that. This video is for those interested in a solar system. We especially want people to know that a rig with “solar prep” doesn’t mean there isn’t more expense and work needed to truly go off grid, Alice

[@1joeconn]

Hi been checking you out. I bought 2x 200aph/200apm BMS lifeo4 ,1 300amp fuse breaker , 1 500amp shut.. 3000watt 9000peak inverter with auto switch shore to bat .Now from this vid I see I made note to what else I need as far as on/off switches.& fuses I need to order this week . Solar will be after am done with this install Thank you for your tips . Its nice that you take your time in life .To show the world this .Thank you again . I finally after watch all your vids comment LOL

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks Joe, let me know if you have any questions about solar stuff, i am in the middle of mounting my panels today, two on yesterday, four more to go today. The most important fuse is the catastrophic 400 amp fuse from the positive off the battery, switches for the entire battery bank, the RV 12 volt supply, and for the solar PV feed, this time i also put a switch on the feed from the solar controller to the positive buss bar. Larry

[@rvtravel4501]

Good to see you guys again!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Glad you came by 🤗 Alice

[@melodygrandinetti5016]

Wow glad you know what you're doing Larry lol. Good job

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Melody, since he already learned everything when he first installed it on the Solitude, half was easy. But the “solar prep” and new rig required new knowledge Thanks Alice

[@rickgriffith1]

Another great video for my Larry’s Lessons playlist! And the leg bone’s 🦴 connected to the thigh bone and the thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone…🎶🎵😃👍🏼😎

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

That’s funny Rick, do they still teach teach that song to kids in school I doubt it. Larry

[@daviscrt]

Looking forward to seeing your solar video. Thanks Don

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Don, our next video will be about the inverter Alice

[@erichansen3517]

I have a similar setup, all in the front cargo area. Good walk through of your equipment 👍

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks Eric, so far much easier in the front basement, Larry

[@therealvinnyb690]

That is a great review of the solar power. Here is a pic of mine in the 303RLS. Your videos and comments helped me get mine installed. Thanks

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Yeah, I really wish KZbin allowed people to post pictures and comment threads that would be really helpful, but would love to see your picture. Send it to us either on Facebook or Instagram message. Larry

[@Markpatrickrich]

You are the man I want the same system. You have just a few batteries. I want to put it in the front basement. I hope it’s not too much weight for my jack. I have a 2020 keystone Laredo 367BH I’m a pretty good hand, but I’m nothing like you, sir. I would need help. I enjoy your channel and all your DYI projects you make it easy to understand

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks mark i really appreciate it, reach out if you have any questions, there is a lot to learn in building your own system but it pays off in the end with saving money and the knowledge you can fix it if something goes wrong. Larry

[@goldfinger180024]

Man Larry, I just connected a couple of batteries in parallel for a sump pump battery backup and thought I was doing something! I see this and figure I might have well just changed the batteries in a flashlight!! 😂😂

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Patrick, Larry does a lot of research. But he appreciates the compliment. Now to get Larry to change the batteries in our flashlights 😁 Alice

[@SmallSpaceLiving]

Great overview. I am hoping to do this setup at the house at some point. Might pull you in when I get started if you are interested. Hope y’all are enjoying the new rig. Looks like it’s coming along.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

William, you know Larry would love to help - but I’m not coming if it’s cold 😆 Alice

[@winginitwithjohn8451]

Great job Larry. I too recently finished my solar install. I need to do a video showing the entire system, but some of my install is on my channel.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

I’ll have to check it out. Larry

[@KimFieldstad]

Same system, in front compartment. Good explanation.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks, I thought about putting it in the mid basement like our solitude, but I really wanted to wait to be as forward as possible off of the axles. Larry

[@timf6916]

You go Larry. You the Man.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Please let Alice know, I can always use the points, if you know what I mean!! Lar

[@timf6916]

@@DownsizingMakesCents YES, I do

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

@@timf6916 boys will be boys 😆 Alice

[@sherriweber7105]

Great video! Can’t wait to see the video of the install. Great review on the Solar system. Nice idea to use the inverter from your other Grand Design and putting it into the new one. Hope you have a great week and stay safe. See you soon!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Sherri, next video should be installation of the inverter - we are trying to show each major piece of equipment going forward 🤗 Alice

[@sherriweber7105]

@@DownsizingMakesCents Oh ok good! It’s a lot of hard to work Larry’s doing. Can’t wait til video!

[@walterrafolski5662]

Great video, Larry I can do this after watching your video! Thanks for sharing.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Walter, thanks - exactly why Larry likes making these videos Alice

[@Itsa_Mea]

Looking forward to the install. Im toying with the idea but not sure of the route to go. Our 415G came with 330watt panel and Futurelink controller that is expandable. NO Inverter though. Im only looking to run the 30 amp line that comes with the Inverter prep. Plus we have the 6k Yamaha genny. Alot of choices out there for equipment thats for sure.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

There are tons of options, and lots of ways to dry camp, having a 6 k genny is handy when its hot and you need ac for sure, but i wish there was a reallly quiet genny out there, our is the quietest made but, stilll too loud. Adding an inverter to your system will open a lot of options to power stuff when you dont want to run the genny, that way the genny is just a battery charger, not on demand except for AC. Larry

[@brianbarbarich1401]

Thanks, Larry, for the practical electrical engineer course. It seems to me that as a RV owner you need to be an electrical, structural and mechanical engineer 😂 😂. Sorry forgot, and plumbing expert.😅 Cheers from Durban, South Africa. 🏄‍♂️🌊

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thanks Brian I always say if you’re going to own an RV you better be handy or Rich or both. I’m still coming to kite in South Africa some day. Larry

[@molynn5244]

Daaaannnng! Where did you get all of your solar knowledge? I want to put a solar system on my rig but all this seems so overwhelming lol

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

It’s really not that hard, victron is really plugnplay larry

[@Kenny9875083]

This video was helpful in as to where I need to fuse. I will be interested in when you wire your solar panels. I want to understand the difference between series and parallel. I was told to wire in series. Not sure if it’s the right way to go. I have a 2020 337 reflection.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

When you wire in series, the panels are not independent, if one has shade, it affects the power from all the other panels, for parallel are truly all independent so if one gets shade, it doesn’t affect the other panels at all. The problem with parallel is that it’s higher amps less volts which means you have to use a much fatter wire to go from the roof to the solar controller. I’m using a two gauge. Larry

[@paulcovert5781]

I'm looking to add a DC alternator charging component to my 440w solar. I need to figure a way for the alternator to supplement the solar and be a secondary source of charge. Cheers on this video!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

We thought of that using the power of the truck on travel days, but most of the time we travel on sunny days and we arrive fully charged just using the solar panels. Alternate source of power is our 2200 W generator, for rainy days. Larry

[@ralphp3057]

You did a great job explaining your solar system. Great for Boon docking etc ! Just curious? What would all those parts cost with batteries and solar panels in today’s dollars? Thanks for sharing Larry! 😁👍

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Ralph, a lot less 😁 Solar overall has become less expensive with all the competition- the lithium batteries is a perfect example. If you aren’t a DIYer, the Dry Campers are a great resource Alice

[@ralphp3057]

@@DownsizingMakesCents Thanks for the information. Being in maintenance my entire career. I am a DIY er for sure !👍 I do get a kick out of Larry’s fix it shorts ! Thanks Alice .😁👍

[@markhaney7332]

Great video - will you new AC units need the micro air easy start? I thought some of the new AC units come with some form of inrush current reduction these days … We have a very similar setup except we have the older Victron 3K inverter that only powers one leg. I have a manual switch that either passes through each leg or ignores one leg input and combines the output into both legs (similar to what AM solar used to sell except mine is manual and theirs is automatic. I also added a generator plug in my front bay so I can plug a 30 amp cord in there and use my Honda 2200 generator to supplement if needed - bypasses the surge protector. I have 1200 watts on the roof and used the 10 awg wiring from the factory (3 each in series and each bank of 3 in parallel) - runs into our 85 amp Victron charge controller. I use a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W to connect to the inverter with an MK3 to usb box, and have VE bus to USB cables all going to a 4 port hub on the RPI from the inverter, charge controller, shunt and a USB GPS device - the RPI runs VENUS OS and communicates via WiFi to our Winegard gateway - we can use our phones to monitor everything the same way your color GS works. I installed this 3.5 years ago and it has worked flawlessly. I also have Mopeka sensors that have Bluetooth connectivity that VENUS OS can see and integrate into the VICTRON web portal, so I can see propane levels and fresh tank levels.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Wow awesome system, we used to have a multiplus 1 with an automatic switch to power both legs, when the switch failed i replaced it with aMP2, much better now. I have the Ruuvi temp sensors that report to the victron system, on inside one outside. I hope you did a video on your system. Larry

[@markhaney7332]

@@DownsizingMakesCents I took lots of photos but have not done a video. I have spoken to Dry Campers (KZbin channel that does solar installs) - I won a contest of theirs a couple of years ago (won a second Micro Air Easy Start for my second AC unit ...). When I get my camper back from service (frame issue due to missing lag screws on my Solitude S2930RL) I may make a video.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

@@markhaney7332 hey mark, yeah, Mike is a good friend of ours. We’ve known him for years. He does awesome solar installs. I want to see a video about the missing bolt in the frame. Larry

[@lanedelker9161]

Larry, that's a nice setup. Is your new RV setup with a 50 amp service? Also, is there a reason you didn't run your solar panels in series? If your solar panels all had the same Voc, you could possibly have kept the existing PV wire to your MPPT controller.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

I run my solar panels in parallel because in series if one panel is blocked from sun, then the others don’t power, the solar controller. In parallel all the panels work independently so if one is blocked, no big deal the other provide power.. larry

[@robertburns5145]

I hope Grand Design doesn’t void your warranty because of your modifications.

[@042452]

Wouldn’t surprise me….GD Sucks

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

The last thing I ever wanted to do is have to rely on my grand design warranty to fix things, if they really want to I’m sure they can always find a way to get out of covering some thing. Larry

[@sigmet5713]

I may have missed it - do you turn off the breaker on the RV's electrical panel for the converter (i.e. disable it) due to the Victron inverter/charger being installed? Great video! Thanks!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Good question I will be removing the converter when I install the multi +2 inverter. It will take over all of the charging and converting.. Larry

[@JeffHull-u5m]

Hopefully youll show us the "after" when you have installed them. Nicely done Larry!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Jeff, Keep an eye out. We will have videos as we go. And thanks. Larry appreciate it, Alice

[@myakkacityriders1341]

Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla Heheheehehe

[@jeffward7502]

With all the frame flex hoopla going on, are you concerned about weight in the front compartment of the 5th wheel ?

[@raoulroberts2024]

Larry, you did it again! You made it all look and sound so much easier than it is. Thank you for the video. Good for you, recycling the entire system for use on the Reflection. Safe travels to Alice and you. 👍🏾

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Thx raoul, it’s a lot of work but it’s worth it to keep dry camping, Boondocking. Larry

[@Mark-ry4ye]

Holly cow that sounds complicated! Glad you understand how it works just a lot of stuff to remember. Just got a new rv fifth wheel thinking about installing a 24v system. Unfortunately it’s pretty intimidating fortunately there’s a lot of you tube people like you that can help👍🏻

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

The only real advantage of doing a 24 V system is that the solar controller can handle more panels, and you can use smaller wires, but you have to have a separate converter to power of the 12 V items in the RV like the jacks, lights, slides etc. Larry

[@Itsa_Mea]

From what I'm seeing if you're going to go big go for a 48v system. It allows you to use smaller gauge wire along a few other advantages.

[@EuroCar911]

Larry you didn't tell us the solar panel configuration and the max wattage/voltage/current you are expecting from your solar panels? Any reason since you have a 150/100 charge controller that you aren't configuring them for higher voltage and lower current so you don't need to use 2 awg wiring from the roof to your controller?

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Ya sorry, the video got longer than i wanted to i cut some of that out, we have 6 x 200 watt panels we are bringing over from the solitude, and the new rig came with 370 wattts, so we will have 1570 watts total and still have room for 3 more 200 watt panels if i want. My big thing is i like to have room to walk around the roof, at least 6 inches near the outer wall to put a foot to raise the panels for angle and maintenance. I dont know how people completely cover the roof in panels, how to they walk around the roof. Larry

[@philedelen7025]

We have a GD Reflection 29RS and I installed solar in it as well. (Very similar to your setup) Would love to send you a couple of pics if you can tell me how to get them to you !

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Phil, best way is send to our channel email - wish you could pop them in here. Or DM pictures on Facebook or Instagram [e-mail]

[@skiimountaineer]

Hi Larry, I have a very similar setup, I was glad to see you wire your solar panels in parallel! In shady sites you get considerably more solar production.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Exactly. Many people don’t consider that.

[@marksr8784]

Great video Larry 📹 what's your installation fee 😂

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Mark, oh, no. He barely has time to work on our rig 😁 But he appreciates the compliment, Alice

[@robertnasser9937]

I’ll tell you what you asked. 460ah battery, 790 watts solar, 3000 watt inverter, Victron monitor, shunt, 100/50 controller, Cerbo gx with screen. When the inverter goes, the Victron is the replacement however it will require a complete rewire because only L1 is powered in the 5er. Converter has been upgraded to lithium ( no charger on inverter)

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Interesting no charger in the inverter, what inverter is it, the multiplus is the bomb. Larry

[@robertnasser9937]

@@DownsizingMakesCents I was avoiding brands but you asked. My KZ 382MBQ rv came with a worthless Zantrex 1200w so for ease of install I replaced it with a X3000 watt Zantrex. The XC version has the charger. I replaced all other electronics with Victron

[@floydmcintire2235]

Good thing you know what’s going on 😂

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Well that is up for discussion, it depends how my brain is doing that day, haha. Luckily i still remember most of what i did 4 years ago, but i did go back and watch some of my install videos to freshen the memory. Larry

[@bryanspayde5681]

As forward as possible! ? I ? That extra weight on a already week frame design..

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Bryan, if you are referring to the frame failures issue, that is mainly for the bigger, heavier rigs. We addressed that in several videos before Alice

[@CharlesAnsman]

I hope he takes some trim pieces off and check to make sure all of his lag bolts are in and of proper length and size

[@Floatdude86]

Can the truck charge the Battleborn batteries ? When there is no sun when traveling ?

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

I dont have ours set up like that but we could easily, as our truck has double alternators, matched with Victron Orion dc to dc chargers would do it, but to be honest even on cloudy days our batteries never get below 50% on a very long 8 hour travel day. When we traveled we never used the propane on the fridge while moving so it was on 120v on the inverter pulling some pretty high watts so i am sure we can drive all day with the 12v fridge sipping energy compared to the 2 way norcold fridge we used to have in our solitude. Larry

[@Floatdude86]

@@DownsizingMakesCents Right now my A Class RV is a weekend warrior, and uses a generator. But in the future when the kids move out, a solar system, soft start will be installed and I want the RV's alternator to charge the batteries on no sun and raining days.

[@donitaarender7839]

This is Awesome Larry. I don't have any solar for now,but pretty sure I'd love not paying for electricity! So when I get ready I'll be sure and pick your brain for advice. I also enjoy y'all's channel. Thanks for sharing

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Donita, We have the solar more to open up camping options. We spent about 10 thou - and Larry installed it 😁 Definitely reach out if you have questions And thank you. We appreciate all the support 🤗 Alice

[@TheRoadSMITHS]

Great walk thru and great that you were able to do this by your self. That saved a ton of money.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

It saves a bunch of money doing it yourself but the most important thing is that was something goes wrong. You know how to fix it quick because you really understand how the system works building it yourself.. larry

[@SonarTravels]

Great job explaining not only what you did, but why you did it. Glad you were able to grab all of that off of your solitude to place on the reflection. I plan to do something very similar once I get my rig also a mid profile alliance this was very helpful. Thanks again.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Getting all that stuff off, the solitude was a pain, but it’s gonna save me a ton of money, putting it back on the new rig instead of having to start all over. Larry

[@kencotton4645]

I admit it got a bit long but it was interesting to see how complex the system is that powers the RV.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Sorry about that I couldn’t decide what to cut, larry

[@kencotton4645]

@@DownsizingMakesCents It wasn't too long, given the material to be covered.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

@@kencotton4645 good to know

[@mbutts4901]

Another excellent Larry video! My wife's eyes glazed over after about 48 seconds so I know it contained just the right amount of technical information. We have the only Ember RV with a factory-installed super mondo deluxe solar package due to meeting Chris Barth, COO of Ember at an RV show. 800W of solar, two Gamechanger batteries, Victron 3000 W inverter, Victron solar controller. The only thing missing in my life the Cerbo color touchscreen monitor.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Even though you don’t really need the cerbo GX because you can do most stuff in the app, I prefer a hands-on control instead of having to reach my phone every time, I spend enough time, staring at my phone, sounds like you got a great system ready for some awesome dry camping. Larry