Mike Mas — Three-Battery RV: A Case Study in Professional Power on Wheels
Mike Mas, known as a drone videography innovator decades before most of us heard of it, has equipped his motorhome with a three-battery system that has caught the industry's attention.
He uses a state-of-the-art Canyon Star Toy Hauler for work and play, onboard which he integrated an upgraded electrical system tailored for his mostly off-grid motorhome use. One of the standout features of his setup – when you open the motorhome's compartments – is how professional and factory-like all his upgrades look. His modifications are the result of many hours of planning and foresight.
Nearly Infinite Home Energy
The RV's main battery now has a parallel storage capacity of over 30 kWh, and in his excellent explanatory video (see below), Mike tells us about the benefits of using a 48V (51V in practice) battery system. He explains that efficiency is significantly increased when inverting power from 48V DC to 230V AC, because large loads, such as air conditioners, will draw only a quarter of the amperage compared to a 12V battery system. This lower amperage significantly reduces energy losses along hot cables. The higher voltage results in lower cable losses, and the cable runs between the battery and the inverter can be longer if necessary.
Key Setup Components
- Quattro 48/5000/70-100/100 — inverter + charger (the key element of PowerAssist/PowerControl).
- Orion-Tr Smart 24/48-8.5A — isolated DC-DC charger.
- SmartSolar MPPT 150/45 — solar charge controller for connecting panels.
- Cerbo GX + GX Touch 70 — local control and monitoring with video interface.
Mike can monitor his system using Victron's free global VRM management platform, which features geofencing.
But Mike's redesign goes much further. Among other improvements, he relocated the battery bank to an enclosed compartment and installed his 5kW Quattro inverter nearby, so the batteries can benefit from the incidental heat generated by the inverter during use. As a result, the batteries stay warm, making them more efficient, and the cable runs are so short that cable losses are practically zero.
PowerAssist — Changes Everything
Mike explains that one of his favorite Quattro features is PowerAssist (a feature available on all Victron Energy inverter/chargers). You're probably familiar with the annoying problem of power tripping when your van is hooked up to a current-limited campsite supply and you turn on a device that puts too much load on the circuit? Or you have «too many» appliances turned on. Not anymore! The PowerAssist function of the inverter/charger will automatically add battery power to the incoming AC power to meet the demand. When the demand drops back below the available AC power, PowerAssist automatically switches off, and battery charging resumes using the excess AC power.
Mike explains PowerAssist here:
Second Battery — Handles Mechanical Operations
Mike installed another 12V 4kWh lithium battery system to operate all the motorhome's mechanical devices, such as hydraulic slide-outs and jacks, which use electricity during operation. He notes that because lithium batteries are not prone to the sharp voltage drop seen in lead-acid batteries when a heavy load is applied, the vehicle's mechanical devices operate at full design speed – noticeably faster than when powered by lead-acid batteries. He even uses this setup to «emergency» charge neighboring campers who have fallen behind at the site, or even to partially recharge his electric car.
This setup includes an Orion-Tr Smart 12/12-30A Non-isolated DC-DC charger, which is explained in this video:
Frost Protection
Mike also installed an automated heating system so his vehicle requires no special winterization. Owners of campers, motorhomes, and boats, especially in the northern hemisphere, are used to the autumn routine of draining water from appliance tanks and the like to protect pipes from bursting during winter freezes. Mike's low-power automated appliance heating system kicks in when the temperature drops to about 5°C and turns off again when the temperature rises to about 10°C.
Mike gives us a full explanation of why he chose Victron Energy components for his setup and how he uses them in his rig here:
Mike's full video details all the equipment in his motorhome and why he decided to install it. After a lifetime of innovation, it goes without saying that what Mike Mas tells us is worth listening to! Watch the full video here:
Can a similar RV be built in Ukraine?
Yes! We are ready to study all ideas and wishes from our clients and turn them into reality. Professional knowledge of Victron Energy products allows us to implement projects of any complexity! Leave your requests via our contacts or fill out the questionnaire to get system calculation services for your motorhome.
Advantages of implementing with us
Professional equipment selection according to your loads and budget.
Cable routing optimization to minimize losses and ensure a neat factory look.
PowerControl/PowerAssist configuration for real-world usage conditions.
Installation, commissioning, and service throughout Ukraine.
Ready for autonomy on wheels?
Contact our specialists for a custom calculation.
