Thor Sequence – 12V Lithium Battery Bank & Solar Upgrade

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Complete repair guide for the Thor Sequence – 12V Lithium Battery Bank & Solar Upgrade. Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue yourself.

Parts & Tools You’ll Need

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Step-by-Step Repair Guide

Step 1: Diagnose Existing System & Safety Prep

Begin by disconnecting your van’s negative battery terminal and visually inspecting your current 12V electrical system for corrosion, loose connections, and existing charge controller setup. Document all wire gauges, fuse ratings, and component locations, then verify that your Class B van’s chassis can safely support the additional weight of a 100Ah lithium battery (approximately 130 lbs) by checking your floor structure and weight distribution.

Step 2: Install ANL Fuse & Battery Cable

Mount the ANL fuse holder within 18 inches of your lithium battery’s positive terminal using heavy-duty brackets, then install the 200A fuse and connect 4/0 AWG welding cable from the battery positive terminal to the fuse holder. Run the cable from the fuse holder through a protective conduit along your van’s frame to your bus bar location, ensuring it never crosses sharp edges or hot components.

Step 3: Mount Lithium Battery & Bus Bar

Secure your 100Ah LiFePO4 battery in a ventilated, level location using a battery box or secure mounting brackets that prevent movement during vehicle operation. Install your bus bar/power distribution terminal block adjacent to the battery, then connect the positive cable from the ANL fuse to the bus bar’s positive terminal using appropriately sized terminals.

Step 4: Wire DC-DC Charger Connection

Route a dedicated 4/0 AWG cable from your van’s alternator/starter battery through an appropriate DC-DC charger input, maintaining proper gauge for the 40A capacity. Connect the charger output to your bus bar’s positive terminal, allowing your alternator to charge the lithium bank while driving without exposing it to dangerous voltage spikes.

Step 5: Connect Solar Panel to Controller

Mount your 200W flexible solar panel to your van’s roof using adhesive or mechanical fasteners designed for your specific panel model, ensuring proper orientation toward south-facing angles. Run the positive and negative solar leads through conduit to your Victron SmartSolar MPPT controller, connecting them to the designated PV input terminals with appropriate crimped connectors.

Step 6: Install Victron Monitor & Controller

Mount the Victron BMV-712 battery monitor in an accessible interior location and connect its shunt to the negative battery terminal using the included cables, allowing real-time monitoring of voltage, current, and state of charge. Mount your SmartSolar MPPT controller near the bus bar, connect its battery positive/negative terminals to your bus bar, and establish a CANbus connection between both Victron devices using the provided cable.

Step 7: Test System Under Full Load

Reconnect your negative battery terminal, power on all devices, and verify that your BMV-712 displays correct voltage readings (typically 13.2-13.6V) and that the SmartSolar controller shows incoming solar watts. Load test your system by running your van’s 12V appliances (lights, water pump, inverter) for 30 minutes while monitoring the battery monitor’s discharge rate, then recharge using solar and alternator to confirm proper charging operation.

Recommended Parts

PartLink
100Ah LiFePO4 drop-in lithium batteryView on Amazon
Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controllerView on Amazon
Victron BMV-712 battery monitorView on Amazon
40A DC-DC battery-to-battery chargerView on Amazon
200W flexible solar panelView on Amazon
ANL fuse holder + 200A fuseView on Amazon
4/0 AWG welding cable (battery interconnect)View on Amazon
Bus bar / power distribution terminal blockView on Amazon