Hey everyone,
I’m excited to share my unboxing experience, bench testing metrics, and layout strategy for the new Renogy Smart System Kit (3.8kWh Go Far Solution) as an official beta tester.
Unboxing & First Impressions
Everything arrived safely in Canada (via Purolator, CanPar, and DHL) packed in heavy, form-fitting custom foam.
As a DIY 12V builder who has previously built out systems for a fiberglass trailer and a mobile computer lab van, I know how frustrating it is to calculate, source, and match individual heavy cables, fuse blocks, switches, and busbars. This kit completely solves that pain point. Having an entirely engineered, pre-sourced 25-piece accessory ecosystem saves massive layout time. Every accessory bag is cleanly labeled, and the heavy 1/0 AWG and 6 AWG cable lugs are stamped with their exact landing points (e.g., "Inverter-Busbar"), taking the guesswork out of routing.
Quick Kit Breakdown:
- Power & Storage: Core Mini Size 12V 300Ah LiFePO4 Battery & 12V 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter (with built-in UPS transfer switch).
- Generation & Charging: 195W Shadowflux Solar Panel & 12V 50A DC-DC On-Board Battery Charger with MPPT.
- Cabling & Safety Infrastructure: Pre-terminated, stamped heavy-gauge 1/0 AWG and 6 AWG copper cables, dual 300A solid copper Busbars, two heavy-duty 350A Disconnect Switches, and complete system-matched fusing (ANL blocks & inline solar fuse).
- System Monitoring: Battery Shunt 300 & BT-2 Bluetooth Module for app integration.
The Build Plan: Jeep Gladiator Cross-Bed Power Station
While engineered for a standard trailer or RV wall mount, I am rigging this ecosystem inside the DiamondBack aluminum cross-bed storage box of my 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon to act as an independent overland power station.
To handle heavy trail vibrations without drilling into the aluminum toolbox, I am mimicking the footprint on the bench using a wooden prototype, which will be substituted with a custom removable subframe sled made from 1-inch (1010) T-slot aluminum extrusions and sealed 3/8" Baltic birch panels.
Layout Strategy & Bench Setup
I’m currently mocking up the footprint on the bench to optimize cable management and bend radiuses:
- Battery: Placing the 300Ah Mini Core battery low and centered on the sled for optimal weight distribution. This is a heavy battery in a small footprint because it has a dense 300Ah capacity.
- The High-Current Run: Positioning the 2000W Inverter adjacent to the 300A busbars. Because of the stiffness of the 1/0 AWG cables, I’m planning a straight-line configuration, fabricating custom solid copper link bars to bridge the switches, ANL fuses, and busbars cleanly to shorten the runs.
- The Shunt: Mounting the Smart Shunt immediately next to the battery negative post to ensure 100% of the return current passes through it for accurate tracking.
- The Input Lines: Isolating the 50A DC-DC MPPT charger to the outer edge of the frame where the incoming 4 AWG alternator power feed (tapped into the engine bay ignition run relay via an 18 AWG sense wire) and solar inputs enter the box.
Initial Bench Testing Notes
Once unpacked, it took about 1 hour to connect, sync, and test the full system on a large table using the supplied wiring diagram.
- Battery (New Core Mini 300Ah): Excellent power density. It features low-temperature cut-off protection. It does not have native Bluetooth, as the Smart Shunt handles all monitoring metrics.
- Battery Shunt 300: Manages state of charge (SOC) tracking via built-in Bluetooth to the Renogy DC Home app. Crucial Setup Step: You must fully charge the battery with a proper lithium profile first (I used a Renogy 20A charger). Once at 100%, use the app settings to manually synchronize the shunt to 100% and specify the 300Ah capacity.
- 50A DC-DC MPPT Charger: Connects seamlessly to vehicle alternator wiring and solar inputs. If running a smart alternator, make sure to hook up the supplied red ignition sense wire. Includes a Bluetooth adapter for standalone monitoring.
- 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Heavy-duty performance. I ran high-amp shop equipment—including a shop vac, skill saw, and a heat gun—and pushed over 1,600 watts continuously without issue. Features a built-in UPS transfer switch, allowing you to hardwire an AC IN connection to handle shore power charging. Includes built-in Bluetooth.
- 195W Shadowflux Solar Panel: Exceptional performance in both full and partial sun compared to cheaper folding suitcase panels. Tracks charging volts and amps clearly through the MPPT. This will be permanently mounted on my DiamondBack cover to keep the system topped up on the trail.
The generous cable lengths included will work perfectly out of the box for standard van and RV builds. Stay tuned for updates once the aluminum subframe is locked into the Gladiator bed!
