Hopsie
Hopsie motorhome tracking
Solar & energy in Hopsie
Power supply is a central part of Hopsie's conversion. Five solar modules, a 48-volt system, and the battery storage help us stay as self-sufficient as possible away from shore power.
Five solar modules feed the Victron Multi RS Solar. It charges the Pylontech battery storage and provides power for Hopsie. The Cerbo GX MK2 connects the battery and inverter and forms the basis for monitoring.
A lot of roof for a lot of solar
The roof is deliberately used largely for solar. Apart from one roof fan, we chose not to add roof windows because autonomy matters more to us than additional openings in the roof.
Five JA Solar JAM66D42-585MB modules are installed, providing 2.925 Wp in total. They are connected in series and reach roughly 255 volts open-circuit voltage. This lets the inverter reach enough voltage to begin producing even in weaker light.
Why a 48-volt system?
Choosing 48 volts was important to us. At the same power level, currents are much lower than in a 12- or 24-volt system. That keeps cable dimensions more sensible and makes the larger system easier to keep clear and manageable.
Victron Multi RS Solar as the central unit
The central unit is a Victron Multi RS Solar 48/6000/100-450/100. It handles solar charging, inverter operation, and integration into the 48-volt system.
The Multi RS Solar is installed on the right-hand side of the accessible utility space under the bed. The battery and Cerbo GX are there as well, keeping the energy system easy to check without being visible in the living area. The distribution with protective and disconnect elements for shore power, solar, the 48-volt side, and the 230-volt line towards the sub-distribution is also accessible there.
Storage and prepared expansion
One Pylontech US5000 with 4.8 kWh is installed at present. The storage is sufficient for now, and the expansion has been deliberately prepared.
The cables are already in place and the rack is designed for three Pylontech modules. Alongside the installed US5000, two free slots remain for two further modules. This means the system can be expanded towards autumn without changing its basic structure.
Overview and monitoring
The Victron Cerbo GX MK2 is the communications hub between battery and inverter. The energy system remains easily accessible in the utility space under the bed and separate from the water equipment.
The energy data should be visible through Home Assistant on a tablet inside the motorhome, on a phone, and remotely. This should show what is coming from the roof, how full the battery is, and how much energy is currently being used.
Why this setup?
The system is planned to suit how we travel: we travel quietly, like to stay off-grid, and want to depend less on shore power.
Solar, storage, and controls should work in the background, remain easy to monitor, and support everyday life on the road.
Components
The links point to the manufacturer pages. We do not copy product images; this section is only about the installed components and matching data sources.
How it connects
Solar, water, and the wider build are closely connected. The detail pages grow with Hopsie and only become more specific once the information is reliable.