Solar - Technically since I am not changing what is on the roof, I only needed to move the wires that go to the batteries since I am relocating the batteries. However, I wanted to plan for more solar in the future, so I upgraded the Solar Controller from PWM to MPPT and 30A to 50A. I also added a solar disconnect switch to comply with electrical codes and make it easier if something did need to be done with the solar.
The LTV wires coming from the roof are 10AWG. I would prefer two 300W arrays on the roof, but would have to increase the wire size from the controller to the roof. Two 300W panels in series would be OK, but I would prefer the parallel configuration in case one is shaded.
The above being the case I removed the old GoPower controller and installed a Victron 100/50 with a disconnect switch. The controller can handle 100V input with 50A output to the batteries.
I located them both in the back of the closet where the original solar controller was located, They are recessed into the wall where there is open air flow behind them.
The Victron instructions state to mount the controller on a non flammable substrate. Although I have seen many youtube videos of the controller being mounted on wood, I covered my wood surface with metallic tape.
I ran new 8AWG wire from the controller to the battery compartment. It is routed under the galley, and into the dinette seat directly over the battery compartment.
I really wanted to use the existing ground cable but it is only 10AWG. There is lots of confusion on the grounding of MPPT controllers and the Victron documentation doesn't help much. The 8AWG cable is back ordered so I did connect the 10AWG that was there for now.
Grounding - Since I was moving the batteries, I also needed to move the Chassis ground. Ideally, I would connect directly to the vehicle frame but that is not an easy thing to do since is very much buried and painted. I looked at what LTV did and they simply connected to metal storage compartments that are mounted to the frame. I did the same but also will use the 1/0 ground wire they ran to the original inverter to connect my new ground to their previous ground. This should make a solid connection to all devices that were sharing the previous ground and the new ground.
12V Power Distribution - I will also use the previous inverter 1/0 cable to connect other 12V devices in the house by connecting to the new positive bus bar (Lynx) to the original battery connection. This will pass power to the circuits that are connected to that point, such as the master disconnect switch for 12V devices in the house part of the RV.
In this picture the old battery cables are removed but the connection points will remain.
I am still waiting for the Battery disconnect switch to commit to the placement of the final components.
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