Lithium Installed August 03, 2019, 07:10:46 pm This week I had 2 100 AHr Battle Born Lithium batteries installed.I expected to have them installed in the cabinet under the refrigerator because these batteries are a bit bigger than the previous batteries. The installer was able to modify the battery tray to fit both batteries. He also installed the converter in the lower fridge cabinet with room for a future larger inverter. I'm at an RV park because it's too darn hot in Corona to not have the AC on all day (my departure has been delayed by a bad rear tail light that can't be repaired until Monday). I do look forward to trying some dry camping on my way to Texas. :-) 1 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #1 – August 03, 2019, 07:22:32 pm DebI took particular notice of the horizontal bar grill you have on your rig.Question... How do you reach the outside hood release lever. I have the same type of grill.
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #2 – August 03, 2019, 09:02:05 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - August 03, 2019, 07:22:32 pmQuestion... How do you reach the outside hood release lever. I have the same type of grill. The previous owner rigged a yellow wire that sticks out through the grill. After I pop the hood from inside, I pull the yellow wire to the right and the hood releases so I open it. I took some pictures of the set-up that I hope makes it clear how the hood is rigged.
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #3 – August 03, 2019, 09:19:12 pm "The previous owner rigged a yellow wire..."Hmmm, that's one option that didn't come to my mind! How do you keep the wire from falling back behind the grill?My solution was to get an 8-10" copper pipe from the hardware store and flatten about 1/3 of one end to the point where it would pass between the grill bars but also slip over the hood lever. A shift to the right and the hood is open. I carry this impromptu 'tool' in the pocket of the driver's side door. 3 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #4 – August 03, 2019, 09:20:55 pm Deb,Just a heads up for the tail light repair. The wires for the tail light assembly are especially short attached to the assembly. It’s been recommended here that a pair of hemostats be attached to the wires to prevent the wires from falling into the great unknown inside the rear wall. I’ve not had to venture into this territory but others here, have. If a pro is doing the repair, you may want to pass this “top tip” on if the repair goes so far as the tail light removal. Kent
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #5 – August 03, 2019, 09:23:45 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - August 03, 2019, 09:19:12 pm"The previous owner rigged a yellow wire..."Hmmm, that's one option that didn't come to my mind! How do you keep the wire from falling back behind the grill?The wire is very stiff. I would have to fold it and push it back behind the grill. I just have to show people how to open it, so they aren't pulling it the wrong direction (to the left or toward their bodies). :-) 1 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #6 – August 03, 2019, 09:28:30 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - August 03, 2019, 09:20:55 pmDeb,Just a heads up for the tail light repair. The wires for the tail light assembly are especially short attached to assembly. It’s been recommended here that a pair of hemostats be attached to the wires to prevent the wires from falling into the great unknown inside the rear wall. I’ve not had to venture into this territory but others here, have. If a pro is doing the repair, you may want to pass this “top tip” on if the repair goes so far as the tail light removal. KentThanks for the heads up Kent!The folks at Discount Tire tried for 2 days to track down the issue and felt they did not have the equipment to do a more thorough wire trace. The bulbs are good and they say the ground is good but no power is getting to the lights.I'm going to a fleet truck repair shop on Monday (they were recommended to me by another shop). I will pass along your warning. :-)
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #7 – August 04, 2019, 05:31:51 pm Regarding the converter you installed under the fridge, did you mean to say inverter? I am especially wondering what converter charger you are using and where it is. Also, what mppt solar charger?
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #8 – August 04, 2019, 06:58:39 pm Quote from: Jackhiett - August 04, 2019, 05:31:51 pmRegarding the converter you installed under the fridge, did you mean to say inverter? I am especially wondering what converter charger you are using and where it is. Also, what mppt solar charger?Currently, it is just a converter charger installed under the fridge.PD9160ALV Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power RV Converter and Battery Charger - Lithium - 12V - 60 AmpsI do not have an MPPT controller at this time but will in the future.I was in contact with Battle Born a couple of months ago. I told them what I had and asked them what I needed as the bare minimum, so I could upgrade over time. On the attached image, the text in black is what I had at the time and the text in red is what Battle Born told me I could keep or needed to change (asterisks were required changes). Snippets from my email conversation with Battle Born:RE: The Heliotrope PV RV-30S Solar ControllerIt looks like you should be able to use that charge controller under the AGM setting.RE: The Parallax 7345 Converter ChargerThat Parallax unit charges at 13.6 volts and we require 14.2-14.6 volts for charging. That unit wouldn’t properly charge our batteries. Tt would never get the batteries to 100% charge. We would recommend a Progressive Dynamics 45amp battery charger the model number is PD9145LV.
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #9 – August 04, 2019, 08:13:38 pm Quote from: debinvenice - August 04, 2019, 06:58:39 pmCurrently, it is just a converter charger installed under the fridge.PD9160ALV Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power RV Converter and Battery Charger - Lithium - 12V - 60 AmpsI do not have an MPPT controller at this time but will in the future.I was in contact with Battle Born a couple of months ago. I told them what I had and asked them what I needed as the bare minimum, so I could upgrade over time. On the attached image, the text in black is what I had at the time and the text in red is what Battle Born told me I could keep or needed to change (asterisks were required changes). Snippets from my email conversation with Battle Born:RE: The Heliotrope PV RV-30S Solar ControllerIt looks like you should be able to use that charge controller under the AGM setting.RE: The Parallax 7345 Converter ChargerThat Parallax unit charges at 13.6 volts and we require 14.2-14.6 volts for charging. That unit wouldn’t properly charge our batteries. Tt would never get the batteries to 100% charge. We would recommend a Progressive Dynamics 45amp battery charger the model number is PD9145LV.Very good and thanks
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #10 – August 04, 2019, 09:11:43 pm Deb, the lithium batteries are real sensitive to heat and they will lose life years if exposed to heat. Are you going to insulate your battery bay and maybe do vents to the inside of the coach so they say the temperature of the coach? That is what I would do if I put lithium batteries in that spot.Battleborn should be able to give you more info about that, but I have read blogs from people who put in lithium before this was well known (several years ago) and paid the price for it - I think Technomadia has some posts about this.Jane
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #11 – August 05, 2019, 02:55:01 am Hi Debbie; It is unlikely that you have a wiring defect. Discount tire techs are good, but they may not be up to speed on motorhome wiring. They didn't have the equipment?! All you need is a voltmeter! With a Mid Bath, on the driver side, there is a removable panel inside the rearmost storage compartment. It just takes a few minutes to unscrew (I think) four or six screws around the edge, pull out the 'just laying there' fiberglass insulation. That gives you access to all of the wiring connectios for your rear brake/stop and running light connections, including the license plate lights, red running, side marker lights, and wires going to the trailer connection. That includes the wiring going to the passenger side rear light. For my friends 2001 MB I removed the rear inside passenger side wall and put in a removable panel there also. (so I could change to LED lighting on the passenger side) easier. I'm willing to bet that a fuse is blown somewhere. Either under the hood, or under the dash (by driver left foot). Pulling a light can out of the back wall just isn't a good idea, and the only reason to do that would be replacing the bulb/metal can to replace it with LED light assemblies. I think you would get better service at an RV repair place, rather than a truck place. Lazy Daze would be the best of course, and you aren't that far away. The TK has the same arrangement for wire access, so I included a picture of my TK with the wiring being worked on. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #12 – August 05, 2019, 03:05:22 am No chemical batteries like high temperatures, and Lithium LiFePO is no exception. Additionally they are also more tempermental to charge at near freezing temperatures, and can be ruined completely if you try to charge them too fast at low temperature. An expensive mistake there. Insulation up against the access door would help to keep them at reasonable temperatures. RonB
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #13 – August 05, 2019, 03:42:12 pm Quote from: RonB - August 05, 2019, 02:55:01 am I'm willing to bet that a fuse is blown somewhere. Either under the hood, or under the dash (by driver left foot). Ding, ding, ding, ding! Give the man a prize! That's exactly what it was (also a suspicious LED bulb that was replaced)! It took less than an hour to diagnose and repair. :-)Thanks for the diagnosis! 1 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #14 – August 05, 2019, 06:21:37 pm Jane and Ron both bring up important points. High temperatures can shorten the lifespan of LiFePO4 batteries, and trying to charge them at temperatures near freezing can kill them. Both are possibilities in that vented outside battery compartment. Now, Battleborn's internal electronics may prevent charging at low temperatures--I'd recommend checking with them--but they can't stop heat damage. I'd insulate the heck out of that compartment door if I were you... and maybe cut an opening to the inside of the rig to help even out the batteries' temperature. When I installed AGM batteries in my LD, I did both.
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #15 – August 05, 2019, 07:15:12 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - August 05, 2019, 06:21:37 pmmaybe cut an opening to the inside of the rig to help even out the batteries' temperature. When I installed AGM batteries in my LD, I did both.There actually is an opening from the battery compartment to the inside. If you look at the 2nd picture I attached (of the converter charger, you will see the back of the Battle Borns. Just on the other side of the piece of wood that keeps them from sliding around. Battle Born states that each battery's BMS will not allow charging under certain temperature conditions to protect the battery.High temperature: > 135FThe BMS will not allow a charging or discharging current.Low temperature: < 25FThe BMS will not allow a charging current.My eventual plan is to chase the weather (I'm a 72 degree kind of girl) but I take both of your points on insulating the battery compartment. I've been thinking about that as well as insulating the inside of the cabinets (I can feel the heat radiating off the walls).BTW, Andy, I am your newest stalker. I'm copying the organization tips from your previous mid-bath wherever I can! :-) 1 Likes
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #16 – August 05, 2019, 08:41:52 pm Deb - lol. Yes cabinets can get hot. And the cabinets next to your fridge will affect that fridge.Chasing cooler weather you should be fine. Until then leaving the cabinets cracked open to let the cool inside air in helps a lot. Also if you run your air conditioner fan or another fan all the time it helps circulate the air better to avoid those hot spots.JaneSent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #17 – August 05, 2019, 09:01:03 pm Quote from: Jane and Scott - August 05, 2019, 08:41:52 pmAlso if you run your air conditioner fan or another fan all the time it helps circulate the air better to avoid those hot spots.JaneSent from Yahoo Mail for iPhoneIt's about 5 million degrees here so the AC has been on 24/7 (I'm in Corona, that thing that circles the sun). I start heading east tomorrow and I'm taking I-40 so I can get up into some cooler weather. :-)
Re: Lithium Installed Reply #18 – August 06, 2019, 08:35:12 pm Chasing the weather is a good strategy, but there can always be surprises--cold snaps or heat waves--so It's good that Battle Born's built-in circuitry prevents use at excessively high and low temperatures. Sounds as if you have a good system and a good plan! 1 Likes
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