lithium placement with new rules

[prelude]

I recently saw a video regarding new rules in oz pertaining to solar panels and lithium batteries. It seems you now need to route every panel inside the camper and fuse them separately. Not exactly how I designed my setup and that many holes in the roof is... not what I had in mind.

Also, lithium batteries need to vent to the outside and can not be in a habitable area.

The first is almost impossible to fix at this point I think, without significant work so that is a bit of a problem but I'll look into what I can do. The lithium battery placement I can kinda easily change fortunately because I have two toolboxes on the outside that will fit the batteries. With a lead acid I would not worry too much but placing lithium's in there worries me somewhat. When the sun hits that side of car the batteries would get really hot in potential and by that same token in cold regions they would get way to cold to safely operate I should think.

I am not even sure if these rules would apply to me as tourist...

Anyone have any insights/knowledge/experience?

Thanks :)
-P

[oka374]

Well as a tourist and obviously not a new vehicle it had the solar and batteries fitted before the current rules applied.
My understanding is that even if the batteries or solar had to be replaced as long as it's like for like then the existing setup is ok too.
But if you are upgrading or adding to the existing main components then the new rules do apply, so just keep it to the same as existing, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Putting batteries outside is asking for problems long term as most owners won't keep them clean and as they must be in vented compartments they'll be subject to dust and moisture.
Even saw a new van the other day that had the batteries mounted on their sides so they didn't hang below the chassis! Most batteries aren't designed to be mounted on their sides in a mobile environment subject to vibration.

[W&KO]

The rules are only from the date they become effective going forward…..


If it’s an existing set-up than you don’t need to do anything.

[W&KO]

I was not aware of the rule for the solar panels, I pretty sure having multiple solar panels on one fused cable is fine….

[p38arover]

I saw those rules a while back. It may affect what I am doing/have done on my L322.

However, who is going to check it? Only the insurance company when the car goes up in flames?

[loanrangie]

I saw those rules a while back. It may affect what I am doing/have done on my L322.

However, who is going to check it? Only the insurance company when the car goes up in flames?

At which point there will be nothing to check.

[prelude]

Thanks for the replies :)

I won't be mounting the batteries on their sides, that is asking for trouble indeed. Keeping them clean is certainly something to keep in mind, I'm sure I would have checked but thank you for reminding me!

Well, the design is several years old :D I am certainly not still building it as we speak -wink-. The main reason I asked was that I will need to get a local insurence of course since mine, funnily enough, does not cover australia or much outside Europe at all for that matter.

-P