Firewall material and backing?

[Famtraveler24]

Ok. Here's another one. I'm getting ready to do a solar install in the basement and will be attaching my Victron Quattro and other Victron components to the wall (what I believe is the "firewall."

Can anyone tell me about the material on the wall and what fasteners would be good to use to secure brackets, etc. to it?

Thx!!

 

[Bill Martin]

Good morning. We have seen most that install custom solar mount the components to the carpeted wall panels in the storage bay. These walls are secured to an aluminum stud structure and I believe are 3/8” wood panels.

 

[Famtraveler24]

Bill, any insight into how people are connecting the DC loads originally connected to the lead acid battery when they are placing new batteries in the basement? I was thinking of using + and - bus bars in the front compartment and running wiring between that compartment, across the basement ceiling and then behind the basement wall, coming through that wall into my 24 to 12v DC to DC converter. Then on back to the distribution panel. Thoughts?

 

[Jim Morton]

I am working on a lithium battery / Victron multiplus install in our Delta 294RK. My plan is to feed the existing battery circuit breaker which feeds the battery disconnect switch from the new positive bus bar - the load side of the class T fuse coming from the batteries and where the cable to connect the multiplus goes. This results in no changes to the circuit breaker / wiring feeding the DC load center, slideouts, refrigerator or the brown/white wire which I have not yet identified the load for ( maybe tank heaters? ). I will change the Victron smart solar controller to feed the new positive bus bar through it's existing circuit breaker. The battery monitor shunt and master battery disconnect switch will be between the negative battery network and a new negative bus bar. The existing converter will feed the new positive bus bar through a locking battery disconnect switch which will be locked in "off" except as a backup if the Victron multiplus fails. Again, existing wiring to the converter will be used.

/Begin_Rant
I will echo the sentiments elsewhere expressed regarding a manufacturer supplied wiring diagram. There is no "magic sauce" in Alliance's design. I can think of no reasonable excuse for not providing this critical information to customers. I have a 1988 Bluebird Wanderlodge and diagrams of the load centers ( there are 4 not counting the chassis ), fresh and waste water plumbing, engine driven heater plumbing, chassis battery / starter circuit and the complete air system are provided. Again, no magic to be seen ( and protected ) - just details on they way they chose to do it. There are many ways to do this wiring etc. it really helps to know what choices were made. With the inevitable delays obtaining service at most RV dealerships not to mention possible quality issues, some of us want to avoid going to the dealership for things that can be fixed at home. Design details will help with these endeavors as well as possibly helping someone determine that they SHOULD take it to a dealer. /End_Rant

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I am working on a lithium battery / Victron multiplus install in our Delta 294RK. My plan is to feed the existing battery circuit breaker which feeds the battery disconnect switch from the new positive bus bar - the load side of the class T fuse coming from the batteries and where the cable to connect the multiplus goes. This results in no changes to the circuit breaker / wiring feeding the DC load center, slideouts, refrigerator or the brown/white wire which I have not yet identified the load for ( maybe tank heaters? ). I will change the Victron smart solar controller to feed the new positive bus bar through it's existing circuit breaker. The battery monitor shunt and master battery disconnect switch will be between the negative battery network and a new negative bus bar. The existing converter will feed the new positive bus bar through a locking battery disconnect switch which will be locked in "off" except as a backup if the Victron multiplus fails. Again, existing wiring to the converter will be used.

I would suggest you create a schematic of your planned update, as it will help you with layout and possible things you might overlook. Once you have that, post it here and we can all visually see what you're planning.

Here is the one I created in PPT for our modificaiton to our 340RL.