I'm considering buying a Harris Energenie 12V-10.2 battery, which has 800Ah capacity and was previously used in a military grooming RV. I want to dive into off-grid camping but navigating through all the necessary equipment, like charge controllers and solar panels, is overwhelming. Can anyone guide me on selecting compatible solar panels and a charge controller for this battery? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Living off-grid with a similar setup and I can recommend going for Victron Energy charge controllers. They’re great with LiFePO4 batteries and often come pre-programmed for them. I’ve had a reliable experience with mine. It’s always good to do some research, though—Will Prowse has a lot of valuable information out there! Just remember to sift through the content as there's plenty of quality and misleading info!
Honestly, I'd prefer a 48V system for a battery this size, but since you’re set on 12V, aim for about 1500W of solar. A 100A charge controller might work, but having two could be better for efficiency. As for panels, they can often be found cheaply, especially if you look for used ones locally. Also, what's the plan for your setup? Is it going in an RV or something else?
So you've got a 12V 800Ah battery, right? That means you have around 9.6kWh of storage! The rule of thumb is to size your solar panel array to charge your battery in about 5 hours of good sunlight. So, you'll want around 2000W of solar panels. You might need two charge controllers to manage that since it’s at 12V. Also, make sure to choose your inverter based on your anticipated usage. Remember, while 12V setups can be pricier than 24 or 48V systems, the battery size you’ve got should make it worthwhile!