So I'm the proud new (well 2nd hand but just acquired) 18.58.2 OB (2018) and she's awesome. Big upgrade from the '06 Freedom poptop. Just starting to take in all the toys and figure out how and what works etc.
My first priority has been 12v because of planned freecamps. So the Setec BMPro stuff is a bit new to me, and I was excited at first, until I dug a bit deeper to find it's a bit more limited than I'd have liked. I'll try to not get too geeky but I've got the J35.B which has limits on solar input, thus limits how big my batteries can be to get a solid charge from solar. The J35.B is capped at <20A and 300W of solar input, which is probably only about half of what I'd like. I believe the C and D revisions did increase, but the stuffing around chasing a 2nd hand unit and reinstalling etc is just too much hassle. (NB : I have noted people are commenting that Jayco have dropped Setec from their 2021 lineup, going to Projecta. I can start to see why)
So I plan to run 2 Waecos (CF40 and CF50) one for freezing, one for 0 degree day to day usage. Have a big 3 way Thetford fridge as well, for "food", but that's not going on the 12v that's either going to be running off the tug while driving, or gas when stationary. So a bit of napkin math (and some actual testing) I've done comes to the following conclusions ;
* Treating the CF40/50 are basically the same for power consumption under 0 and -15degree settings. Doing all the right things, pre-chilling or freezing items put in, using a few ice bricks to add better thermal mass for keeping things cold at night to reduce compressor cycles etc, not opening lid frequently, storing in cool place, in insulated bag etc. They use about 1.1Ah to chill at 0, maybe 2Ah at freeze. That's obviously important for the 18 or so hours of the day you aren't using sun to charge your batteries, or you get crap weather etc.
The factory 100Ah battery and 160W solar ain't gonna cut it. Nor is even max 300W on the BMPro J35.B if I were to just throw up another 160W panel.
I think the solution is, take solar off the BMPro, and get an MPPT charger to support about 600W of panels for 2x150Ah batteries (I'm being generous with allowing 200W of solar per 100AH of battery, I know some people would do less). That just means I can't use the BMPro's info panel for battery usage and that's no biggy. The Bluetooth info on the Victron Smart chargers are more than enough stats.
Only skimming the surface on detail, but anyone else done anything similar, or differently. Happy to hear suggestions. I'm going to the Bay Expo on the weekend to prick some brains, and the 4x4 show is in March, don't want to be shelling $$ out needlessly but not going to cut corners and feel uneasy travelling worrying about capacity and stability of my power setup.
Cheers,
My first priority has been 12v because of planned freecamps. So the Setec BMPro stuff is a bit new to me, and I was excited at first, until I dug a bit deeper to find it's a bit more limited than I'd have liked. I'll try to not get too geeky but I've got the J35.B which has limits on solar input, thus limits how big my batteries can be to get a solid charge from solar. The J35.B is capped at <20A and 300W of solar input, which is probably only about half of what I'd like. I believe the C and D revisions did increase, but the stuffing around chasing a 2nd hand unit and reinstalling etc is just too much hassle. (NB : I have noted people are commenting that Jayco have dropped Setec from their 2021 lineup, going to Projecta. I can start to see why)
So I plan to run 2 Waecos (CF40 and CF50) one for freezing, one for 0 degree day to day usage. Have a big 3 way Thetford fridge as well, for "food", but that's not going on the 12v that's either going to be running off the tug while driving, or gas when stationary. So a bit of napkin math (and some actual testing) I've done comes to the following conclusions ;
* Treating the CF40/50 are basically the same for power consumption under 0 and -15degree settings. Doing all the right things, pre-chilling or freezing items put in, using a few ice bricks to add better thermal mass for keeping things cold at night to reduce compressor cycles etc, not opening lid frequently, storing in cool place, in insulated bag etc. They use about 1.1Ah to chill at 0, maybe 2Ah at freeze. That's obviously important for the 18 or so hours of the day you aren't using sun to charge your batteries, or you get crap weather etc.
The factory 100Ah battery and 160W solar ain't gonna cut it. Nor is even max 300W on the BMPro J35.B if I were to just throw up another 160W panel.
I think the solution is, take solar off the BMPro, and get an MPPT charger to support about 600W of panels for 2x150Ah batteries (I'm being generous with allowing 200W of solar per 100AH of battery, I know some people would do less). That just means I can't use the BMPro's info panel for battery usage and that's no biggy. The Bluetooth info on the Victron Smart chargers are more than enough stats.
Only skimming the surface on detail, but anyone else done anything similar, or differently. Happy to hear suggestions. I'm going to the Bay Expo on the weekend to prick some brains, and the 4x4 show is in March, don't want to be shelling $$ out needlessly but not going to cut corners and feel uneasy travelling worrying about capacity and stability of my power setup.
Cheers,
