AMAZING RV Off-Grid POWER for Towable RVs! (Volta Power System Prototype)
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- I TRIED to OVERLOAD this Volta Power System and couldn’t!
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00:00 Intro
00:55 History and Genesis of This Project
02:18 Project Complications and Future
03:28 Volta Power System Intro
04:19 Volta Power Pack (Lithium Battery System)
08:10 Power Distribution Hub (240V Inverter / Converter / Controller)
13:03 Nitro-Connect (Truck Alternator / Generator)
16:41 Load Test! (9.4kW!!!)
19:44 Normal Load Levels
21:22 System Shortcomings and My Wishlist
21:42 Power Share / Hybrid Mode
22:53 Lack of Power Flow Details (in the UI)
24:24 Remote Access
24:55 The Price!
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With the cost of campgrounds these days in the $60-70 per night I can see this system paying for itself in under 3 years for full time RVers who boondock, and give you the freedom to stay anywhere. Very thorough test. I appreciate your level of geek. You usually answer all of my questions.
Nice idea. Might have to add this to my trailer if I can find the space.
Great overview. I agree with your recommended improvements. Hybrid mode, and detailed information on what is contributing to and drawing from the system is important. This is how RV power systems should work!
Volta also told me directly that if I wanted to upgrade from Volta3 to Volta4, it would all have to be done by Volta. As compared to Victron, who are glad to sell upgrades to owners.
I think they are definitely headed in the right direction. They are taking complex multi-component systems and creating a more streamlined system. I would definitely be interested in that system, but I would also like to see a slightly smaller system for rv's that are not as massive as yours. Perhaps if they go into production, they might offer 2 or 3 sizes to accommodate different applications.
Agreed. I actually am kind of amused at such a huge battery in such a giant fifth wheel. I love the tech but let's be honest...ain't nobody boondocking in this rig but once in a blue moon. This is an RV park monster, and any park that can accommodate it has 50 amp power which is more than enough for just about anything. Systems that fit in off-grid RVs make a bit more sense to me.
Thank you so much for this video--and we don't think you're being "geeky" with your wishlist. Anyone wanting to go to this level probably isn't looking for throw it in and forget about it, they're going to want to know how much power is going from where. We know we would; it is useful for us to know how well the solar system is working and so on. The hybrid mode makes economic sense--use what you can as efficiently as possible, and you're paying for the, say, 30 amps so why not use as far as it goes. The remote piece just fits with the times--anyone who has any kind of remote system in place currently (like your Ring and the other systems you have in place for Daisy and so on) will probably want the same thing, it only makes sense. We also agree with the Nitro connect--for us it wouldn't probably be very useful, as long as we could power our slides and jacks without it and so on. I think our biggest concerns would be well taken care of with a system like this; my husband is in the process of switching out our dealer (crap) batteries for our first BB lithium 100 amps (2) in our new fifth-wheel and we're only weekend warriors so we don't put that much demand on them, but when we're out on a long trip we do, so we use our generator. It's not that hard to bring with us, and we'll probably continue to do so. But this system looks like an amazing option for the next upgrade if they bring it to market, so we'd definitely be interested in hearing about it if they do. We love long trips with options, and this system would clearly give us that!! Thanks again for all the work you've gone to to bring this to us viewers--we watch all your videos and think a lot of you guys.
I’ve been one of those viewers that has been bothering you about this vid. Needless to say, I’ve been extremely curious to know more about this system!
First of all, I’m currently 26 years old and not able to afford a 25k power system but I can guarantee you I will be able to in the future, as these systems become more and more mainstream (maybe 5 to 7 years from now). That being said, there’s a particular reason why I’m so interested in this system: Dog Shows. We camp at the shows every other weekend and we keep the dogs inside the camper to keep them cool or warm as needed. The possibility of being able to run two or three ACs while on the road and/or limited/no-hookup showgrounds makes this system very appealing.
I agree that the alternator system might not always make sense, but for me it 100% would, as it would allows me to keep the house cooled down at all times for the pups, as we go down the road. Volta could potentially market this system to Class A, C, and Super C owners. I do think that there’s definitely a market in customers that need full-time climate control and that includes dog and horse owners.
Tell Volta to start hitting dog shows, they might find a few potential customers. While at it, let them know I’m willing to be a Guinea pig and sell the system at the shows at the same time; I do have sales experience and live in Indiana! 😂 Thank you again for the vid and I hope this feedback is useful!
Volta Power Systems are already in a lot of drivable RVs.. 👍🏼
Thanks for the Review. I have around $17,000 in my system on my Rig. 3,150 watts of solar on roof. 15 KW Ecoflow Power Kit. 48V system.
Push it to the max ... fire up the MIG welder! 😀 Thanks for the mention of watts being a more approachable number than Amp/Hr.
The Power Share / Hybrid Mode is my most wanted!!!!
I live fulltime in my Avion 34W rig. Haven't been plugged into shore power since installed my 3,150 watts of solar on roof end of July.
Holy Crap! That’s an awesome system! You could run our camper if we camped together. Thank you Chad for your service on the Veterans Day Weekend! Safe travel guys!
Hells yes!!! Been waiting for this video!! Love the details you provide!!!
Such an incredible system! I can't wait for it to become available! Thank you
My hang up with volta is they do not or haven’t made any testing public or discoverable on the website that I could find. We went with the Florida based competitor that proudly showed their UL testing and UN DOT testing certifications.
That being said, the volta power distribution hub is REALLY cool as it replaces or takes the place of all the inverters and charge controllers.
If I did buy one of these volta power systems for the next rig, I think I would just bite the bullet and expand to twice your battery storage, claims it can go all the way to 100 KwH for the 51 volt system. Talk about staying off grid for a little bit.
For us that Nitro connect would be amazing. We have been FT now for 3 years and have NEVER used our generator. 1st rig had one on board..I exercised it, but never needed it. Our SOlitude doesn't have one on board but we travel with one. We have never used it. One thing we would love is to show up with a cool RV. It seems with all that power storage you have, solar, and the nitro you probably dont need 7kw of gen power. Great video and awesome system.
power share would be a good thing and I agree the more info you have the better! I am really interested in the generator on the truck
I have been looking forward to this overview of the Volta, great video. I would 100% be interested in this when we get our rv
Great Video guy's !! incredible system, thank you for share the information
I think they're going to have trouble competing with LFP batteries at that price. You can get 3x24V 230AH packs totaling 18KWh for under $5000. That leaves you another $20,000 in victron gear and solar panels, which can sure take you a long way. $5300 for 4 Victron 24/3000/2x120 multipluses gets you similar inverter output, so you've still got like $9500 to spend on solar! There's a lot to be said for this level of integration and power but man, it's a huge cost when the rest of the market is plummeting.
Thank You for your Service, from another Navy Veteran
Awsome stuff Chad!! Keep up the good work !
I have a 48 volt dual inverter Victron setup on my current rig. I looked heavily into installing a 48 volt alternator on my tow vehicle, but the more I dug into it the more I did not like the idea. The fact that you've got to rev the engine fairly high to get decent output from it means you're adding a lot of wear and tear to your very expensive tow vehicle if you're using it as a generator while you're parked. It just seemed to me that as cool as it would be to be charging while underway, it just made more sense to buy a separate generator.
Agree completely.
That’s an amazing piece of work that you have there. This type of information is very interesting, but I can see immediately its potential for full time RVers who wants no limits on where you stay. Thank you.
We are full timers for the last 2 years and have a very similar Victron setup you previously had that I designed and installed myself. I agree with the updated GUI display to bring in solar/shore/AC&DC usage. Really like the prototype setup and love the additional flexibility it gives with the higher split phase capability. What’s the chances of an expanded Beta test 🤩 What does the overall weight come to with the PDH & 18kw battery? Weight is always a concern of course.
Thanks for the great information. I’m currently looking into options for my next rv setup. And with all the options available for the price point I believe this would work the best for me personally. Always look forward to your videos!
Very interesting and informative. I think this is brilliant
Great channel! Wife and I just moved to an RV after several years full timing on our sailboat. we gave up the Harleys though, maybe not forever. subscribed.
Great video. I've wanted to know about your system ever since you first mentioned it. I think it sounds terrific and it would be well worth the investment. I think the upgrades you mentioned are right on point, especially power-sharing and the ability to monitor the system via the Internet when you're not at the rig. Needless to say, you've made a lot of your viewers very jealous! Safe travels!
This is exciting, love the video and if it does all that you showed and how. I love the Volta system !
Looks great. We have a Volta in our Winnebago Boldt. Absolutely love it, we never run outta power, only water. ;-)
Excited to see this.
Thanks for the very indepth review of the system and I really appreciated how far you pushed the load test. It certainly seems that the system could be a boondockers dream and with what appears to be to be a much simpler installation compared to a traditional large Victron/Battleborn system it could get a lot of interest. Unfortunatley the $25k-$30k price tag may cause a lot of folks to pause (It absolutely got a Yikes out of me). It will be interesting to see if Volta addresses some of your concerns and possibly introduces a smaller system (12KW instead of the 18KW) that would be expandable for $20k. They may capture a larger audiance but that is my ignorant $0.02 worth. Looking for to next weeks Video. Thanks.
Amazing system Chad and very interesting. I figure this is were the systems will be going in the future and I believe they will be more affordable than
Chad, Excellent Video! A Few Points . 1. Hybrid. A LOT of "shore power", especially 120 volts is Low, dirty, or very old and not up to snuff. A ton of safety has to be built into any hybrid option. 2. How much does that Beast of a Battery weigh? Battery vs Generator weight? 3. The alternator. Many new alternators for production vehicles have tiny Clutches inside them for fuel economy so they Only run when needed. Yours needs x rpm to excite the field and create power output. Why not "Overdrive" that alternator? Your truck has a Ton of Torque at low rpm and really shouldn't need to Idle up past 700 once the field inside the alternator is excited and its producing power. Extra.. If you had 2 of those batteries, do you care if you take the generator on a day trip>? PLEASE do a follow up and comment on your thoughts on all the comments. Again, Great stuff !
Excited to see this
Wow, that was amazing.
This thing is a beast,
therefore it’s only gonna work for those with monster class A
or monster fifth wheel RV’s! 😮😮😮
This is one impressive system!!!! Just purchased a used 2021 grand design where the owner installed a decent solar system. Am having a ball going through it and learning how it works, so I can only imagine how much fun you had putting that Volta system in. 😁
Thanks Chad. This was a concise review of this system.
This is a system that would be very appealing to those living in or those doing extensive traveling. And as you stated, the first impulse would be a gasp at sticker shock. But also, once broken down and comparing each to the other, there won't actually be much difference . Comes down to preference then, or the ability of smooth talking sales rep.
It will be nice to see what this system does over the long haul.
By the way sir, since this is Veterans day weekend - thank you for your service. And thank you to every veteran that happens to read this.
God bless ya'll and stay safe on your travels.
Thanks for the video.
Worried about Daisy in the 5th wheel trailer when you two are gone? What if it shuts down the cooling or heating, and the generator is not there! What would you do? I am thinking Tara and you would want several backups to protect the truck, the trailer and Daisy!
Again, another awesome review with tech and real world application. We were considering a full solar power system for full time RVing and after watching your video we were able to make an better inform decision: Cool but not yet.
We came to this conclusion after weighing the cost of a propane generator versus the cost of solar system, safety of both systems, and the "alpha" nature of the solar systems as a whole. After looking at the numerous new solar tech out there and battery tech we can't wait to see what the solar RV industry will do with solid state battery and near future tech. The next 5 years will be a game changer for sure.
Thank you for the overview. I like the minimalistic footprint compared to all Victron components needed for the same. I agree that having a generator would be very beneficial. I don’t currently have solar or DC/DC charging and solely rely on my generator to charge up my lithium when needed. I completely agree with your thoughts on your wishlist. When you get to PowerShare testing, would love to see the results. Price is high, but considering it’s 15 batteries and 1 power hub for other parts, I totally get it. Thanks again for the video. I’ll keep watching for more updates.
When I bought my rig (2020) solar was really only beginning. It came with 1 190W panel and at the dealer I added a second 200w panel. It came with a 30a controller and 2 lithium 100 batteries and the 5500 generator. The only way I could have afforded this beautiful system is when I got my 43 ft er and financed it when purchased
Ohhhh I have been waiting for this
I always enjoy your videos. That is a VERY impressive system. Holy cow! At that price point it is definitely way out of reach for most RV'ers. That battery alone is incredible. But thats the kind of system you would put on a Newell coach. If they make that system in some smaller options I think it would be a lot more appealing. Even on your rig its a lot more than you really "need" when boondocking but man it sure would be sweet to have. If they built a system about half that size I think it would have a lot of interest from the more common folk.
Thank You Chad. Judy and I have been watching you guys since we bought our Open Range 5th wheel in 2019, You and Tara are our go to on how to's. I have been looking at Victron to build a off grid system for our 5th wheel, I totally agree with your wishlist of things needed, I would also be very interested to purchase the same system you have right now. the software upgrades can be done later as they update. Thank You again, I rely on your research and greatly appreciate all that you do
Nice system overall, yes to GEEK mode info :), yes to hybrid/load share with shore power mode ( even if the 30 amp only went to converter), 25K installed would be acceptable. Need it installed this coming Feb/Mar in my new Riverstone please. :)
Good information. I am not interested in for my RV, but I show cars all over the USA and have a 40' gooseneck trailer (all aluminum) and need the capability for one night without shore power. I wait for your next video on this system.
For sure a video upon your next testing of the hybride mode would definitely be very interesting. Thank you!
Great system, can't argue that fact, hands down.
Just finished the NRVTA solar course and this had my attention.
Because it's not production yet it has me in watch mode.
The market for your system, I. My option is very limited. Great but to get a company to buy into a small market may have its challenges.
No disrespect intended , but I'm still a huge fan of Victron, there meat and potatoes is residential back in the Netherlands, so they have bigger plans that rock just no real feasible for the RV world.
I guess in closings we have to puck our poison.
Best of luck with this build it looks killer...we are in design mode so we have time on our hands.
Safe travels and continued success
Cheers 🥃🥃‼️
Very cool. Takes boondocking to a whole new level. As far as a backup generator, I would think that would be for emergencies only, so a 3kw Honda generator could get you out of a sticky situation. I don't know how long it would take to charge the Volta battery with a small generator, but it is worth some investigation by someone more knowledgeable than me.
Great video Chad as i was very interested in this system when you 1st showed it. it appears to be a large system to installing this in the front bay along with a 5.5kw generator looks to a difficult challenge. Your thoughts for the additional needs are spot on as the additional information on the display would allow us to make changes based on what is going on inside the rig. Oh, the Beard says you're not giving him enough credit.
The video I’ve been w8ing 4!!!!!
All I can say is WOW!!! Your simple but comprehensive explanation of this system was spot on!!!
I am 100% sold in it. Currently have 1600 watts on the roof, 8 lithiums, 3K Victron inverter, and a 7K gas Onan, which I consider a mid-grade off grid system. The manufacturer of our rig installed it during our build process almost 2 years ago for $27K.
With you saying the Volta package you have minus the truck charging option would be around 25K, I think that is waaaaay better!!! Just the smaller footprint and the weight savings is well worth the investment!!!
Hey Volta, listen to Chad and all us folks that chimed in on this system!!! This is a gamechanger and I would remove my aforementioned system and retrofit our coach with yours in a heartbeat. The flexibility, freedom, and autonomy this will provide is unparalleled. Just as Chad mentioned, in a lot of cases, you could stay a night or 2 at a RV park and not have to worry about plugging in.
Chad as always, thanx 4 the gr8 video!!!
👍😃🍻
Great video on your solar system plus, Yes those are some impressive numbers on the power available for use. Be sure to use your fork for the ego's, not the outlets. Safe travels, missed the women in your life, hope all is well with them as well. Thanks for the invite, I always enjoy your productions.
Absolutely love it, although I only understood about half of what you were saying. I think it will be a big hit. I have a generator and no solar on a 2021 Montana and happy with that for know!! Thank you
A mobile (RV) system (that I was testing) weighed 450 pounds. Its made up of a 12 kW split-phase inverter (10 minute 18K surge limit with line balancing) and 15 kWh of battery. (Not counting the weight of solar panels or wires). The AIO Inverter also supports 18,000 watts of solar. (Good luck fitting that much solar on an RV roof).
System Cost
$6,000 for the AIO Inverter, $5,000 for batteries. Around $15,000 all in after tax, shipping and wires and 2,000 watts of solar.
Unfortunately it doesn't support power assist like some of the victron inverters. I do have a dedicated charger that accepts 120v or 240v (80-270v 45-65hz) it has adjustable output voltage/amperage. (I can dial down the max amperage to stay below the grid connection limits)
My final thoughts. The 12kW AIO Inverter is overkill. I'm going to downsize next season to a 6 kW system (3000/3000 splitphase, but it lacks the large surge ability)
Absolutely great information!! Very helpful for future reference and comparison to conventional methods such as gas or propane powered generators. I had a conversation with our dealership this past July and they told me that they had sold a unit and that person had purchased 40K in a solar powered system for their unit. My question is what do the major truck manufacturers think about adding the generator to the truck and warranty issues around the installation on the truck
I love it, it's a bit pricey but is awesome.
First let me say how much I love watching you and Tara. The heart of this system is the use of NMC battery technology vs other lithium chemistry. Volta has traded safety and cost for increased energy density, something I would not do. The complexity and cost of the system is another reason not to use it. Also who can work on this system other than Volta? Also unknown reliability. All in the quest of AC while boondocking. A very questionable pursuit at best. Cheers.
HOLY POWER!! And a 7 kw alternator! Sounds like too costly system for a typical RV. Even though it does replace the gen set. I am thinking this can eliminate propane too? I love the simplicity of two black boxes and a few light cables.
It could lead to an all electric RV, sure.. But you'd likely want higher capacity for thet.
@@ChangingLanes more capacity as in more Battery Ah?
Thanks Chad - This looks like a superior system!
It would be really nice if the internal control module was more like the Victron module. - Not just "geeky", but more intelligent.
Obviously, WiFi would be a great asset for remote control and monitoring.
I agree - I think this would be able to compete with similar capacity systems, while surpassing their capabilities.
Impressive
25k is a bit much for most of us. Your system seems like the “Mac Daddy”. I’m not saying it’s not worth it but unless you’re a full time RV’r, it’s probably out of most budgets. Great info Chad. As always I really look forward to these reviews and appreciate your insight.
Thanks for sharing. All of the items in your deficiency list are spot on especially hybrid mode. While some would pay this price I believe more would not and that they should have something in the ~$10-12k price range as well to be accessible to the masses. Even if they had such a system I prob still wouldn’t purchase unless they used or had an option to use LFP cells for safety and longevity reasons.
Chad - for the remote access for the volta, you would need to set up the initial bluetooth to either an ipad or a spare phone and sign into the volta cloud from that device. It's an option when you initially try and login to the system. Then on your own carry device, also sign into the volta cloud and it'll allow you to view these stats remotely via internet. The device that's communicating via bluetooth will upload all of the stats to the cloud via either its own cell signal or your campers wifi, whichever you choose.
The 9+kWatt draw is an impressive eyeopener. (One of the best selling points). Having non-engine driven power systems seem to be way of the future. I remember back when we had our antique, (now days), Pace-Arrow M.H., equipped the noisiest Onan 3k unit; folks near our rig cheered when we turned it off - (Ran for maybe one-hour around 10-AM). (The most obnoxious sounding generator I had ever heard). There were the folks with quarter-million dollar buses having gen-sets barely heard. (Think I had heard the bus had a diesel generator with the RPM / speed around 700). Thanks for showing the power future… Interesting to me anyway. Hope Volta sells some systems.
I like discrete components. If you have multiple batteries, solar charge controllers, maybe even two Victron Multiplus's for 240VAC, you can always rearrange the components to keep working. The single battery or inverter would be quite some down time to replace if it failed. Yes, it's fun and exciting to own a spectacular system, but as an every day driver, I'd opt for a more available system.
Thank you for sharing this system with us. Been noticing these pieces for a while now and have been very interested. Wondering if there will be a comparable 30 amp similar system for smaller RVs.
Smaller Volta for RVs has been out for years. Winnebago uses Volta. Provan put Volta in my Tiger (Class C on F350) as a prototype in 2019. The Volta alternator recharges my system at close to 1% per minute. Super expensive and I've got no buyer's remorse. Provan tested the system by running the A/C from battery when it was over 100F outside; ran for 6 hours before they shut it down.
When you’re testing Hybrid mode, I’d be interested to know what the MINIMUM input current is. On my Victron system with 2 parallel 3K Multiplus-II, it needs a minimum of 19A at 120V AC for the hybrid mode (Victron calls it “PowerAssist”) to work. Makes it difficult to use in moochdocking situations where only a 15A circuit is available.
I wish the industry would use joules. Compare fuel types in joules, efficiency in joules, etc.
Great video. It was very informative and thorough. I have considered getting a sizable system, and carry a small 2000 watt generator as a backup to charge the system on bad weather days. Don’t know if that would work.
Super interesting, thanks Chad. I really like the plug and play part of this but 25k seems expensive. Still VERY cool setup! The Volta web page is very detailed. Looks like you can get Volta batteries in 6k-ish sizes to create the system you need.
If you think of it as your home that you live in half the year, 25k is a decent investment. And there is nothing that says you can’t remove it and stick it in say, your cabin when you upgrade to another rig down the road.
This is a very good point. I guess it's like an appliance that could be moved to the next habitat when that time comes.@@HabitualButtonPusher
Great overview Chad.. awesome system y’all are using. Was curious what the actual weight was compared to your battle born system.
Great video as always. The size of the system may seem excessive to some (and may very well be for most) but I would have the overkill tomorrow. It is a piece of mind for any full time RVer. As a travel nurse my wife and I have always the fear of our camper loosing power while we are away from it and our dog is in there. Not a major concern in winter as heat from furnace will still work even with no external power. In summer it is different completely. In a place like southern states, southern part of some states or Vegas this would be worth it if power is unreliable. The hybrid mode would be a must as stated. As stated in video the Nitro system coming to market would be a huge undertaking and the added cost of that should be expected to be substantial to offset cost of R&D and additional labor associated with fitting it to the particular application. I hope this does come to mass market as I will be happy to be in line for the system and would happily pay deposit to get on list.
Thanks for the feeedback! Be sure to shoot Jon an email: changinglanesrv.com/vpsemail
Wow, that sure is a sweet high-end system, though larger than most boondockers need (and can afford.) I've replied before about the system I'm building on our motorhome that fills all our electrical needs as full-timers who boondock most of the time. We're building it for about half the cost of the Volta System. Weve completed the first phase of our system but are only about 1/2 way on our second phase now (all our solar is in, and we're in the process of installing our second phase array now). Our system is not that small either. When done it will have over 5,000 watts of solar and 22.9Kwh of LiFePo-4 batteries onboard. While we will only have 6,000 watts of inverting power, this is more than sufficient for our needs, as we will only have 2 AC units (one of which is a mini split heat pump), so it will provide us 24/7 solar powered heating and cooling along with all our other electrical needs. We are doing all the work ourselves, to save money, but our budget system components will cost us less than $14k - including 5,000 watts of solar.
The Volta Power System seems physically large for an RV, taking up a lot of precious cargo space and carrying capacity. Our components are smaller (we use batteries we assembled from prismatic cells which take up little space compared to pre-built batteries) and fit in out of the way places, so don't take up a storage bay. In a motorhome (which all have onboard generators) there's no real advantage of high wattage alternator charging like there may be in a generator less fiver. Though my system can charge one of my battery banks from the stock alternator on my motorhome with a Renogy battery-to-battery charger, I have never needed to use this this feature. If I were to build my system again, I would leave this component out, as my 5,500-watt generator can do this job much faster, if needed, and is quieter and cheaper to run than the big engine in my coach. Nevertheless, I'm sure the highly capable Volta System will appeal to many affluent FT boondockers, as it is much simpler and more turnkey than a do-it-yourself system like we chose to go with. I can see the appeal of a factory installed Volta system on a new unit, so it could be financed with the rig, making it more affordable to many.
As a purpose built system it looks like it checks most of the boxes, like you, I would also want to see more options to capture the operational data, ideally opening the data for use with MQTT and Node Red in order to create custom dashboards, etc. A couple of other thoughts. I assume the separate alternator is required because of the higher charging voltage but why one must rev the engine to get sufficient power to charge the batteries is unacceptable. You can buy off the shelf replacement alternators that will provide over 200A at idle which would have enough excess capacity to provide over a kilowatt of charging (@12v). In theory they could modify the pulley system to get the additional revs needed for the power to cut in at lower RPMs. My last thought is for less than half the price, I can put together an 18KW system in the same or smaller footprint using 3.2v/300A cells, external BMS combined with an EG4-18K split phase hybrid inverter that is rated at 12KW continuous output. Also wondering how long does it take to charge the batteries while traveling? I've been curious about this system, thanks for the video.
With 7kW from the alternator, it charges the system in a couple of hours. Obviously a lot depends on SOC and loads while traveling.
Awesome system!
Too pricey for me though…
I’m happy with my 5.5 Cummins Onan!
I would like to see a oscilloscope hooked up to this to see how well the sine wave holds up once it's being maxed out. I think the best kw for your dollar right now is the rack mounted lipo4's. Get it close to those price ranges and you will do very well.
The biggest issue and it’s huge is the fact that you are idling the diesel motor therefore filling up the DPF a lot faster.
If your running down the road and using the Nitro system I would have no problem because the motor will regen properly .
HI CHAD 👋
THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL SAVE SPACE , WEIGHT & PAY FOR IT SELF IN TIME . SOONER THAN THE OTHERS. IT'S ALSO READY FOR YOUR FUTURE IDEAS 💡 TOO ! WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES / TURNS OUT ? HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL 🙏 BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 🙏 😀
Interesting video, glad you finally explained what those wires were for! One thing I'd be curious to know is how long it'd take to re-charge the battery pack just from solar. While the Nitro system looks interesting - running the truck at high idle to recharge the battery pack doesn't seem like an ideal scenario. If you're boondocking - that leaves either solar or some sort of generator to recharge the system.
Chad, if you talk with Liberty Coaches they have been using Volta on their coaches for about 10 years or more. The new Liberty coaches have 30 KWh systems.
Thank you for bringing the system to our attention. My wife and I have the solar panels for our 40 foot fifth wheel toy hauler and expect to be full-time RVing the next few years. I was going to do a system similar to the Victron that you had but after seeing this product, I would be very interested in going down this road. The $25,000 that you quoted is in line with the advanced Victron system that you have. I will reach out to the vice president of sales and let him know that I am interested in the system and that I would help promote it to other RVrs.
Would definitely love to see the results of the hybrid mode!
Just finished my Victron install using the multiplus II. So I'm not I the market. Not sure I would want this particular chemistry in my rig, but I'll dig into this a bit. That is a huge amount of power. I am at 9.6 kwh, and I think that's plenty. At some point you need solar or a generator to recharge. I just do it more frequently but for shorter periods of time. Still pretty cool. But...doesn't look DIY friendly
Not to be a Debbie Downer but at the cost, I would think a lot of people will be out of the market (?). We boondock ~80% of the time & year round. 7 years ago I was getting "paralysis by analysis" trying to decide just how big a system to build. I jumped in small with the idea this would be a learning system & redo later. I built my solar power system for ~$1k. Turns out to have been a good choice. We are small power users & it suits us just fine. A $600 inverter generator takes care of the very few times we require 110V with more than 10 amps, or a quick charge. I burn ~1-2 gal of gas a year. Volta's system provides an incredible amount of power. I don't need a Ferrari when a compact will do. But that just me & IMHO.
This system is definitely way overkill if you're a low power user.
Great system love every min of the video. Do you have any additional information on the battery pack and the max solar input wattage ? Thanks so much for your time and great information.
Check the blog post later this week for updates.
Great video, how would this system work in a Class A? This is a great system if you boon dock a lot, I like the ease of use and the fact the solar system connects into this system.
Again Great Video, thanks for looking into this for everyone.
A little feedback from another full time RV'er. Jessica and I (Lee) think the Volta system is very awesome. Needs a few tweaks like you said Chad! Honesty, i don't like the Nitro alternator attachment, as full-timers, or just folks that want to go camping for two weeks. You want your camping experience to be stress free and fun. Nobody, wants to be constantly worrying that they need to get back to charge up there system if they don't have shore power. Additionally, my 2022 Ford 6.7 powerstroke is super loud at 2,000 RPM's, when it is doing a regen cycle, so if they Volta system needs that high of an RPM, that would be super annoying listening to that while charging. I like how we can just leave our 5500 Onan generator running and not have to worry about if we will run out of power when we are out exploring for the day. I think Volta needs to make a hybrid system with a generator and have the Nitro system as an add on, if someone wants the extra charging capability driving down the road, or do away with the Nitro system all together since its a pain to figure out how to configure that alternator to every truck make, model and trim out there. If they combined the Volta system with a generator, just for charging, that had autostart, you would never have to worry about running out of power or worry about getting home early to charge your system.
Pure geek crack. I love these videos.
Powershare is the way to go, bypass mode drives me crazy. If the incoming power just charges the battery and the inverter pulls from the batteries it would be able to charge with a low amperage line or generator.
Thanks so much for the look into this system, Chad! As a fellow geek, we share a lot of similar wants and frustrations with existing systems. I'm also extremely frustrated by the constant use of amp-hours in the industry, for example. I think this is the future of RV power systems. The higher volumetric and gravimetric density of li-ion, combined with the lower current requirements of 13S or 14S li-ion packs really pushes the envelope on what will fit into the power system bay of a toy hauler. I know some people will balk at the price tag, but the flexibility from a system like this is unparalleled. If you're looking for freedom on the road, this is where you want to be. Thanks for continuing to push the industry forward! And thank you to Volta Power Systems for putting the R&D into an industry-leading solution.
COST APPROACHES THE VALUE OF OUR RV. NUTS!
One heck of a system goes without saying. I totally agree the monitoring system needs to show solar and other peripheral sources and loads, much like Victrons Cerbo GX. I would think the Nitro system would be used only when traveling or solar’s not producing. Again with a system of that caliber A guy just needs to see what’s going on. That’s half the fun is just looking at the touchscreen every 30 minutes or so. I’m very jealous but still happy with my Victron 12v 3kw system on my Alliance 310 RL.
Great video. So to me the question is power needed versus power available. I think it should be attacked on both fronts. My biggest complaint with RV manufactures is quality of course but why haven't they gone to mini split AC systems. First off the are a FAR superior system and also power needed is less. Also instead of three AC's you might only need two mini splits. Again by reducing power needs you could get a smaller Volta system which would then cost less. Seems like a no brainer to me but maybe someone can explain to me that I am wrong and the RV manufactures are NOT suffering from rectal cranium inversion.
Off grid power is amazing. Very good information and presentation. I am not sure of the market acceptance of an additional 25k ..... however for those who can afford it and can find another way to charge the system while driving the rewards are many. I do not like the tether to the truck. That is not even an option for me......! It would have to be a generator. The other issue is if this gets off the ground every manufacture who would offer it may have a different cost and install. I really think this a start in the right direction but I would like to see the cost cut in off along with the power for those who only boondock or use a harvest host for one or two days.
I just love this stuff. With my system always thinking of ways to make it "perfect". The OCD engrained in us would add this responsibility to maintain 18kw of battery to 100% SOC in a system like this.
Truth is we don't always need to boondock all the time and when we do, require 3 air conditioners running...And when we need these loads, solar isn't helping the cause and when it isn't sunny have enough runway to keep needed. Loads going for several hours with the battery storage we have.
Long term solution is better solar, but that will take more innovations from the industry.
Great video, great experiment.
Is Grand Design offering a system? I have a friend looking at a Solitude which has no generator but this or something much smaller might be a nice alternative. He rarely boondocks, but I believe all systems need decent battery, inverter and solar.
GDRV currently offers a different system and I think they are rolling out with the specs I flashed on the screen when talking about that. Not 100% sure it's out yet though.
Just left dealer as a friend bought a GD Solitude 390RK. It came with Solar plus inverter package. Which means extra 370 watt panel and 2k watt inverter. Not much but it's a start.. Hopefully they will continue to offer more options.
That's a very nice system. A DIY alternative might be the new EG4-6000 with their PowerPro battery. That would come in around $6k + installation.
Retailers of the EG4 line say that EG4 stuff is NOT to be used in RV's or marine applications.
@@wagzuh, not sure where you got that considering Signature Solar has explicitly stated that the welding of their EG4 server rack batteries was done with RV applications in mind.
Well I got that from calling them. But hey I'm super happy to be wrong!!!@@andrewfidel2220
Andrew I see what you're saying. I didn't know about the new EG4 Pro products. Weather sealed plug and play. Exciting stuff! Thanks for setting me straight.@@andrewfidel2220
Look up Lossigy 200ah batteries 2560wh each. 8 batteries would give you 20.4 kWh They are on sale at $500 apiece. I have four in my system giving me 800 amp hours or over 10,000 W hours for going on two years and I love them.