How do I disconnect battery bank - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Modifications and Alterations
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-27-2023, 05:31 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2023 5.0 TA
Posts: 106
How do I disconnect battery bank

I received our 5.0 about a month ago. Dual 200 watt panels, inverter, 4 lithium batteries, Victorn BM and MPPT controller, all installed by ETI. We also had the passenger side hatch installed. Well ETI installed the batteries as if we have the bench seats rather than the extended depth u-shaped dinnet so we can't make use of the hatch. So I want to move the boxes.

The two battery boxes are screwed to the floor and it would make life easier if I removed two of the batteries, one in each box, to make it easier to access the screws.

My question is, what do I need to do besides disconnecting shore power, inverter off, MPPT controller off, and the battery disconnect off before removing cables from the battery terminals?

I am going to keep the boxes for now, not changing cables, just sliding the two boxes under the back bench. I understand in the US I don't need the boxes, just one project at a time and all I'm after today is to move the boxes/batteries.

Thanks in advance.
Attached Thumbnails
PXL_20230527_162038356.jpg  
Jeremy Kessenich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 09:35 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,362
I'd either cover the solar panels or disconnect them. Most solar controllers can be damaged if here is solar input without also being connected to the batteries. While I've seen reports that the Victron controllers do not have this problem, I'd still be safe and disconnect the solar panels.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 11:25 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
.... Most solar controllers can be damaged if here is solar input without also being connected to the batteries. While I've seen reports that the Victron controllers do not have this problem, I'd still be safe and disconnect the solar panels.


No mention of consequence if ignored but FWIW Victron's MPPT controller installation manual suggests that indeed one should disconnect the PV array from the controller before disconnecting the controller from the battery (the following steps in reverse when removing the battery):

2. Safety instructions
......
Connections must always be made in the sequence described
in section 3.4.
.......

3.4 Cable connection sequence (see figure 1)
First: connect the battery.
Second: if required, connect the remote on-off and programmable relay
Third: connect the solar array (when connected with reverse polarity, the controller will heat up but will not charge the battery).
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 11:56 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2023 5.0 TA
Posts: 106
[QUOTE=Centex;446951]

No mention of consequence if ignored but FWIW Victron's MPPT controller installation manual suggests that indeed one should disconnect the PV array from the controller before disconnecting the controller from the battery (the following steps in reverse when removing the battery):


Hello Alan,

Any idea of shutting the PV off in the Victron app is sufficient or should I physically disconnect the wires from the MPPT controller?

Thanks in advance.

Jeremy
__________________
2023 5.0 TA 2022 F150 Lariat Supercrew EB 3.5 with 6.5' bed
Jeremy Kessenich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 12:26 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy Kessenich View Post
.... Any idea of shutting the PV off in the Victron app is sufficient or should I physically disconnect the wires from the MPPT controller? ....
No idea but personally, along the lines of Jon Vermilye's "I'd still be safe ...", I'd follow the letter of the installation document rather than risk controller harm.
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 12:57 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
I'd either cover the solar panels or disconnect them. Most solar controllers can be damaged if here is solar input without also being connected to the batteries. While I've seen reports that the Victron controllers do not have this problem, I'd still be safe and disconnect the solar panels.
LSS- I had to disconnect my solar panels on my van and one thing to be aware of if this involves disconnecting MC4 connectors is that you need to cover the panel(s) as arcing may happen which could damage the MC4 connector.
__________________
"We gotta get as far away as we can!"
- Russell Casse, Independence Day
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 01:06 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
I suppose there's also the 'midnight disconnect' option ....
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 02:28 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2023 5.0 TA
Posts: 106
Can you disconnect the feed at the controller rather than at the roof?
__________________
2023 5.0 TA 2022 F150 Lariat Supercrew EB 3.5 with 6.5' bed
Jeremy Kessenich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 02:47 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy Kessenich View Post
Can you disconnect the feed at the controller rather than at the roof?
Yes (what I'd likely do)
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 03:11 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Kent, Ohio
Trailer: 2017 21c Sold, 2023 Bigfoot 25RQ
Posts: 1,380
Every solar install should have a dipole dc breaker between the solar panels and the controller. Explorist Life has good recommendations in that realm. See their website or YouTube channel. I installed one in both my trailers.
oldwave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 05:20 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldwave View Post
Every solar install should have a dipole dc breaker between the solar panels and the controller.
Perhaps someday that will be the common standard in OE solar installations, but unfortunately that convenience is lacking in Jeremy's 5.0.
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2023, 09:43 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Kent, Ohio
Trailer: 2017 21c Sold, 2023 Bigfoot 25RQ
Posts: 1,380
It's about an hour job however. I covered my panels with a blanket and inserted the breaker in line.
oldwave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2023, 10:17 AM   #13
Site Team
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Trailer: 2023 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 801
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy Kessenich View Post
Can you disconnect the feed at the controller rather than at the roof?
That's what I did when I installed the additional two HubLion batteries in our 2023 5.0. I like the battery boxes as they make for a tidy installation.
SageRpod is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.