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qhumberd
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qhumberd
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Installed three 100ah Lithium batteries under bench
A very detail-oriented forum member, Bayliss, posted a great thread on their lithium battery install, including a wiring diagram, and that was of tremendous help with my project! Thanks, @Bayliss!!
I have a 2022 T@B 320S Boondock. I pulled my original lead acid battery out awhile back and replaced it with two Lion Energy 100ah batteries. This was not quite enough for my usage of the trailer on my big desert trip last year, so I decided to add a third. I also decided I wanted the batteries inside under the bench on the passenger side, where they fit quite nicely!
I installed my Victron SmartShunt 500 and my Victron SmartSolar 100/30 charge controller (for additional external panels) in the compartment with the Air8 (along with bus bars):
I used 6 AWG cable from the batteries to the bus bars and I am holding the batteries down with some 2x4s:
Using 10 AWG wire, I tied into the red power wire coming from the power center at the Wago connector (I am a new fan of these connectors!):
I removed the battery disconnect switch and other extraneous wiring from the front tub and added a new disconnect switch inside the trailer:
All in all, it was a very smooth operation. It seems to work just fine so far. The final stage will be adding a pure sine wave inverter to power a few A/C powered electronics.
I'd originally thought I would have to run heavy wire from the new battery location back up to the disconnect switch in the tub, so I am glad I found Bayliss and others talking here about how that wasn't necessary. I get a ton of value from this forum! Thank you all!
Curtis
I have a 2022 T@B 320S Boondock. I pulled my original lead acid battery out awhile back and replaced it with two Lion Energy 100ah batteries. This was not quite enough for my usage of the trailer on my big desert trip last year, so I decided to add a third. I also decided I wanted the batteries inside under the bench on the passenger side, where they fit quite nicely!
I installed my Victron SmartShunt 500 and my Victron SmartSolar 100/30 charge controller (for additional external panels) in the compartment with the Air8 (along with bus bars):
I used 6 AWG cable from the batteries to the bus bars and I am holding the batteries down with some 2x4s:
Using 10 AWG wire, I tied into the red power wire coming from the power center at the Wago connector (I am a new fan of these connectors!):
I removed the battery disconnect switch and other extraneous wiring from the front tub and added a new disconnect switch inside the trailer:
All in all, it was a very smooth operation. It seems to work just fine so far. The final stage will be adding a pure sine wave inverter to power a few A/C powered electronics.
I'd originally thought I would have to run heavy wire from the new battery location back up to the disconnect switch in the tub, so I am glad I found Bayliss and others talking here about how that wasn't necessary. I get a ton of value from this forum! Thank you all!
Curtis
Re: 12V (2-way) fridge run time on battery
Thanks to all for the great info. I determined I have two 6V AGM batteries and I've pretty much decided that they need to be replaced. In another post, I found a recommendation for the Litime 12V 230Ah that will fit in the space where the two old batteries came out (https://a.co/d/dsxIiCn). The price is also pretty good for a lithium battery.
Re: where is the battery cut off on a 2012 320
ScottG Thanks so mutch for your reply! I installed a negative switch on the battery, now she has a way to turn it off. Art
Maxxair Plus fan - installing a Fanmate rain cover is very simple
Our 2024 320s BD came with a Maxxair Plus fan. It's a good fan, but we do need to keep an eye on the weather as a windy downpour could mean water in the trailer. The Plus model has four prongs on its rooftop mounting flange. These allow quick and easy mounting of a Fanmate rain cover. The cover is held on with four pins that engage the mounting prongs.
Photo shows the two prongs on the passenger side of the fan's mounting flange.
Above shows the Fanmate cover mounted with pins to the mounting prongs. The pins are self retaining.
Another view of the mounting. Once you figure out the alignment, removing or mounting the cover is a ten minute job using a good stepladder.
Photo shows the two prongs on the passenger side of the fan's mounting flange.
Above shows the Fanmate cover mounted with pins to the mounting prongs. The pins are self retaining.
Another view of the mounting. Once you figure out the alignment, removing or mounting the cover is a ten minute job using a good stepladder.
Re: Portable Gas Grill for 2025 T@B 400
I have a Weber BabyQ at home. This is too big and heavy for light weight camping. In my opinion, the smallest grill to get the job done is the way to go. Not for size and weight, but for clean up. So I have been using a Coleman Fold-N-Go for years now. It is small and since there is less there, there is less to clean.
Re: TAB400 Bathroom door hinge source
I was able to get replacements from Build.Com. They are a heavy duty steel and work fantastic on the bathroom door and only $1.74 each. 👍 https://www.build.com/hardware-resources-22855-10/s1434918?uid=3374503#overview
Re: where is the battery cut off on a 2012 320
Battery cut-offs didn't become standard equipment until (I think) 2016 or 2017. I installed my own in my 2015. It was a common DIY mod and a hot topic of discussion on the forum when I first joined. Times have changed! :-)
Re: 320 Cassette jammed
Glad you got it! The first time I used it I found that the cover prevented the latch on the bottom of the cassette from locking into place. I removed it and have not had a problem since.
Re: 320 Cassette jammed
Thanks to @SLJ and @Mobean After verifying the rotating knob could not be straighter, and after pulling the cassette as far out as it could go, I pushed down mightily on the cassette inside and wife pulled less aggressively but hard and we got it out. No damage but will not use the lower plate anymore. Thanks everyone.
Re: Battery Not Holding Charge
Just replaced the AGMs in our 400 with LiTime lithiums (200ah). Time will tell about quality but we have way more usable power now. We’re able to easily run two refrigerators (the stock isotherm and an external 12v cooler) and keep the vent fan on all day. Solar helps but isn’t as needed now. No more power anxiety.