LIVE Q&A on Mobile, Marine & Off-Grid Electrical Systems

Join us in our monthly live stream Q&A and get all of your mobile, marine, and off-grid electrical system questions answered by Nate & Steph. Live streaming the first Friday every month through the summer of 2024!

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful with planning and installing your DIY Camper:

FULL ELECTRICAL INSTALLS:

[anthonyrstrawbridge]

At 101:35 It is best to adhere to proven designs. I constantly have to remind meself; it usually happens when I transfer my thoughts to paper.

[EXPLORISTlife]

11:16 - I would like to install to MY Multiplus 24/3000/70 120V a 30amp 120- volt AC disconnect breaker - A MIDNITE SOLAR AC 120V BREAKER. ​​QUESTION would I wire this 30AMP BREAKER before the transfer switch or after the transfer switch which is going only to Multi-plus power in. Would I be safe at disconnect breaker box to connect 10 Gauge NEUTRAL WIRE TO NEUTRAL WIRE & THE GROUND WIRE TO THE GROUND WIRE with a heavy duty wire Connector Nut Kit, Splicing. POSITIVE CONNECTIONS ARE THRU THE 30AMP BREAKER since this is just a single 30amp breaker in a box

13:00 -Tim K - multiplus 2 12/3000, 824ah battery bank. My multiplus keeps shutting off when it reaches about 200 amp hour consumption due to "low battery".

15:30 - tyger13us running 3 panels series and 2 panels series then run both series parallel, i seen in one of the video's its a no, why not? what will happen, my limit is 500w

18:02 - Josh Costanza - ​​Any tips or recommendations for series wired batteries where mid point voltage drifts over time or when deeply discharged and significantly reduces battery capacity and charging capabilities?

19:59 - ​​Pat Weidmann - trying to decide between a system designed by you with Victron components and a 5or 10 KW EcoFlow system. Would love to hear your thoughts for my 2023 Ford Transit Trail

22:14 -Marlon - ​​morning guys, I just purchased 30a setup from your store. any suggestions tips/tricks before the installation, and on programming.

24:40 - Ken - ​​Topic - Buying used panels... I often hear this recommended, but how to tell how much life may be left on a given panel?
HighMX - ​​Thank you for what you have provided on YT! I constantly come back to your videos for my system and refer everyone to your site on our Coleman 17B page.

25:40 - Mark - Questions re connecting starter battery to Renolgy 50A DC-DC charger. Manual says 6AWG for up to 5m and 75A fuse. My run will be borderline 2.5m per cable - should I go up to 4AWG to be safe? And do the pos and neg need to be equal length, and can I connect the neg to the mount on the chassis that is behind the passenger seat, or must it go to the starter battery negative? Thanks
Mark Barretta​​ Also, I’m rating the cables between leisure battery and lynx distribution at 2 AWG, as the run is only 50cm and the max draw I’ve added up to be about 170W (for Easyplus 1600, fridge, two fans, usbs
Mark Barretta ​​Does that sound correct?

28:04 - Earl Lewis​​Is there any effective way to monitor lead acid or AGM SoC with a traditional shunt/meter?

29:16 Tim Corona​​ I'm building out a box truck and for the ground wire can I just drill through and of the metal studs already

31:00 - Investing For A Living Videos​​Hey guys.. Installing a Multiplus 3000VA/12/230 in my van (in France) with 560aH of batteries Looking for 4/0 105C welding cable over here. Do you know if H07V-K 95 or 120MM2 cable would work?

32:55 - Josh Costanza​​Do you recommend an RV surge protector from 30A shore to a multiplus? Is this already handled in any way in the multiplus with a fuse or other protection method?

34:18 - vltrmx21​​I'm interested in charging a separate 12V lithium battery that I use for a trolling motor in a boat I tow with the van. Do I need a separate DC to DC charger for this, or is there an easier way?

36:19 - Steeve Met​​Hi, question about the battery protect. With my 12V 300A battery, which battery protect is recommended and especially how to choose the right model? Can you explain the battery protect ?

38:45 - Earl Lewis​​Does a typical 7-pin connector provide any power to the trailer to charge the battery?

40:30 - Make This: Workshop​​ I am installing a battery bank in the center of my pass through. I am running the lynx distributor. After the lynx distributor I was hoping to run the disconnect on the negative cable out to the side for easy access. Issues with the negative being longer then the positive loop between the Lynx and the Victron Multiplus?

42:19 - Paul Godin​​I have 3 renogy 12V 100Ah connected together, renogy no longer make them, the have a new Bluetooth 12V 100Ah. can I connect that new version to my old ones, making 4 of them and have 400Ah total

42:57 - Vandingo​​ Have a Victron Multiplus 3000 that trips my home breaker, can’t get it started, any suggestions?

45:21 Jay Behm​​ Do you have a video installing 50amp split phase inverter system install ?
4
6:30 - sirculito​​I've 3 battleborn but Adding more it's expensive and I found a interesting chinese brand for 200$ each 100amp battery

47:37 - Josh Costanza​​Any suggestions on wiring house batteries to trickle charge the vehicle battery? I have power doors which run down the vehicle battery if camped too long. (also avoiding activating DC to DC charging)

49:30 - he Freese's​​12v Lithium battery bank - 1600w solar array, with a victron 150/100. In a perfect world 1600watts gets 111 amps which is over the charge capacity. My Victron seems to be handling the situation ok. ​​should I be worried?
5
1:25 - Boiler Up 1956​​can a Victron 3000 watt inverter be mounted sideways or is it best to just Mount upright?

52:00 Lee Hetherington​​Does the 12v Victron Multiplus II 3K x2 inverter take the place of my existing 1000W inverter that currently runs the residential refrigerator? So remove it from the battery relocation kit busbar?

55:30 - Brandon Sprinkle​​I have a 50 amp split phase shore power with a generator without a transfer box in a marine application. Can a system be designed to only use 1 victron 3K inverter?

56:37 - Brian Thibodaux​​Do you have a "cheat sheet" for the settings of a dual victron xs 50 amp dc to dc chargers installed on a mercedes benz 3500 sprinter rv.

57:17 New York New York​​Hi, I’m installing 6 battle born batteries do I need 2 victron lynx distributors or one will do? Thanks

1:01:08 - Earl Lewis​​Do you have a video on how to use a multimeter?

1:02:35 Tony​​Am I able to put an EG4 6000XP on my box truck? I am in the planning phase right now.

1:03:55 Jim Karg ​​Can you mix charging from Solar and DC-DC? You made a comment about how solar might shut down with the 7 pin?

1:04:00 - xBrennan Bear​​so, if your box truck is aluminum (which is metal right?) grounding to that is ok? instead of to the metal chassis underneath?
Alex Alonso​​knowing that a 48v electrical system is more efficient than a 12v system, Is there a difference in power consumption?

1:07:25, 1:12:36- ​​Thanks for the house amperage answer. Not connected to shore power, on 800 amp hours of lithium, the Multiplus won’t turn on from the face panel switch. Could this be an internal fuse issue? Everything else in the electrical system functioning normal DC DC, MPPT, Cerbo GX, etc. Cerbo not recognizing Multiplus is connected.Vandingo​​It’s Scott, first it tripped now won’t turn on while disconnected from shore power

1:08:00 Earl Lewis​​Have you ever done a video on "understanding your RV electrical system?" for factory installed systems?

1:09:54 Jay Behm​​Thank you for the answer, looking on your website. I only see a kit offering two 3000 W inverters at 24 V. Do you also offer kits in 5000 W inverters at 48 V.
Henry Gendron​​Is a lockout breaker like a manual transfer switch?
Jay Behm​​Thank you for the answer, looking on your website. I only see a kit offering two 3000 W inverters at 24 V. Do you also offer kits in 5000 W inverters at 48 V.

1:14:56Pat Weidmann​​I’m confused. The Ecoflow 5 or 10 kWh kits don’t seem like portable units, yet you refer to them as so. There seem like permanent power station for van. Is your response still the same?

1:15:25 - Ether34​​Using your 580 solar panel transit setup, why or why not for 12v or 24v. I plan on adding an Orion dc to dc

[gregh]

Where did you connect the DC to DC charger on your Transit?

Directly to the battery

Or

To the Ford pre-installed terminals (fused) on the left side of the driver's seat

[chrisberg]

Operating question:
Class A-Dual Victron Multi Plus-600 amp lithium-2000 watt solar.
While doing a six month summer gig in place with 50 amp shore: should I leave solar off at breakers or allow all to run & do its thing..?

[simon]

1:14 into the video, sounds to me like a short! When you’re inverter doesn’t turn on.

[vpik]

Love the channel and appreciate the broader focus to include marine! I've got a 12v/3000/120 Multiplus on a 400ah kilovault LFP system that is intermittently not recognizing the 30a shore power is reconnected upon returning to the dock. Assuming shore power is stable and those connections are good what should i look at? I've aligned my MP settings to match your recommended and the last time it happened the MP 'woke up' after cycling the inverter disconnect (blue sea 9003 normally left ON).

[maverickkiwi]

HI there. Thanks for all your videos. I was just wondering whether you preload your inverters before turning on the master battery switch? I watched your complete van electrical setup and I don't think I saw any resister style preloading of the inverter capacitors. Do you get a spark when you turn on the master switch? I am installing a 3000W 12V Phoenix inverter, and just trying to find out the best practice for the initial connection. Thanks :)

[loriproia]

I need an air conditioner for my van so if I did go the route of a battery system do you have a set up that would work with an air conditioner that I could purchase from you?

[thehobotographer]

Can i connect the BV712 to the ip65 smart shunt?

[gavinfisher]

Hopefully you can do a video on ways to add more VE direct cable options. The cerbo GX only has 3. I'm running 3 x 100/30 MPPTS, 1x Smart shunt, 1X Orion XS 50 DCDC, which all require VE direct. It's seems I need to purchase 2 x USB to VE direct from Victron, the expense keeps adding up.
More VE DIRECT ports are needed in the cerbo.
I see the octo GX may be the better option If I hadn't purchased the cerbo GX.

Quote*. The Octo GX is a member of the GX Product family. The Octo GX is the best fit for installations that have many MPPT Solar Chargers, as it has 10 VE.Direct ports.

[dwightharvey]

I have 3 litime 230 amp lithium batts, links distributor, victron xs50 dc to dc (bought from you) 680 watts solar in parallel w/victron 100/50 solar controller, gopower ic 3000 inverter/charger. I read for longevity of batts, 80% is best. I have the litime specs for voltages but how do i set the charge voltages? That is, equalization vs absorption vs float.

[anthonyrstrawbridge]

Why or when would an expert need an Analog Multimeter?

[faxmeabeer]

Rule 1: no video I can find previous covering question
Rule 2: Can't find a similar video to ask question in comments

Question 1: Can you make a video on why you are against trying to incorporate the growing, seemingly options increasing, solar generators into an off grid RV system?

Or more specifically, we used a un-integrated smaller ac180 Bluetti for simple ac loads in our old (non-solar) 21' bumper pull so that the phones and computers and tv's would never accidentally kill our protected house battery we used for the fridge and jacks, the important things were isolated from the "fun" things.

But I have convinced myself that there should be a way to "incorporate" a bigger 30a version of ac200 Bluetti into an other wise Victron solar system on our new 25' bumper pull, where it can be the inverter for the house and the house battery (400ah Ampertime came with the trailer) can be reserved for work/critical systems and be charged by solar, gas generator, and the bluetti in a pinch but could also charge the Bluetti from the batteries when plenty of solar is coming in. So the Bluetti would be inverting for the phones, computer, microwave, tv, playstations in the house without the possibility of going overboard and killing the house battery. Or, potentially running an EZ-Started A/C unit at night in a "no generator at night" dry camp ground, without sound without waking up to dead house batteries.

Also, having the ability to take out the Bluetti and throw it in a car for offsite adventures then come back and plugging it back into the RV system easily SEEMS like it would be an options multiplier if the electrical connections and components could be made to play well together? What am I missing? (Other that the RV electrical exertise.... I'm just the idea man) Thx love the videos.

[ForgeAheadwithMike]

Hi. I don't know where else to try so I'm asking here... I've purchased a few products from you guys and had questions and have already went through the proper channels to ask on your website. Twice. But it's been over a month. How can I get a few answers? Appreciate it.