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Topic: New Lithium Batteries - What Could Go Wrong? (Read 889 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: New Lithium Batteries - What Could Go Wrong?
Reply #25 –
At the Morro Bay GTG, both Ron and Steve were testing their new lithium batteries and large inverters.

Ron's installation in a 23.5' T/K was tight, with 406-amp/hours of SOK batteries and a 1500-watt inverter that were snugly fitted in the limited space available.
It's still a work in progress, Ron has spent many hours working in tight quarters to make things fit.

Steve's 23.5' FL's two 100-ah lithium batteries and 2200-watt inverter were a less complicated installation, having more room, and seemed to be working perfectly. My wife liked the ability to use the microwave without running the generator.
Calibrating the solar controller and battery monitor has taken him a bit of time, neither were designed originally for lithium battery use.

Photos and a quick description of each rig's installation would be instructional for those of us planning on doing the same or a similar installation.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: New Lithium Batteries - What Could Go Wrong?
Reply #26 –
Will post some when installation finalized. Meantime, the 100GC2 Battleborns are a drop-in to the existing battery tray in pre-AGM LD models. Cabled in parallel, of course, battery negative to monitor shunt. Positive cables are to converter, generator starter, and under-hood. Inverter positive visible on other battery.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: New Lithium Batteries - What Could Go Wrong?
Reply #27 –
The side-mounted terminals and setback area on this BBGC2 Battle Born battery make it possible to run short jumpers straight across when connecting batteries in parallel. It's a better design than their original BB10012 100 amp-hour battery.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: New Lithium Batteries - What Could Go Wrong?
Reply #28 –

Hi Larry and Steve;  Just arrived home from the Morro Bay trip.  As far as LiF batteries go I put a digital thermometer at the battery compartment door   Amazon.com: Organizer 3pcs Black Digital LCD Thermometer Temperature Monitor...   and near the inverter and the DC-DC charger.  The batteries remained at lowest about 62 degrees even with 30-35 degrees outside at night.  There are enough holes in the battery box where the old wiring was located that the heater hose from the space heater that passes nearby (in the TK layout) sheds a bit of heat in that area pointed at the bathroom when that door is latched open.  If you aren't operating the space heater, the electric heater panel would come into play at about 40 degrees.
    My inverter is 2 KW (surge 4KW for a few milliseconds at least) true sine wave Novopal.  Amazon.com: Novopal Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 2000 Watt 12V DC to... It worked great! at running the microwave. I have my original Panasonic as it came from LD, but I suspect it is only about 700 W. delivered. I measured it at about 1106 watts input, running. Input power is about the same as my hair dryer, 1200W.  I only noticed the fans come on once when the space heater was running, and the hose was radiating enough heat into the inverter space for it to turn on it's fans, even though the inverter wasn't providing any power. (I turn off the inverter now when it isn't being used)   One feature of this inverter is that it was small enough to put through a drawer hole to get it into it's mounting place next to the wheel well next to the TK's internal storage compartment under the two middle drawers.  (pictures soon).  I will be running the microwave oven a lot more in the future. The drawback now is taking stored items in and out of the microwave often. Looking for a plastic bin to fit (and I will modify that to not rest on the glass spinner plate.)
     A higher power microwave like Steve has might have been harder to accommodate.   Steve, was that your original microwave from LD?  

     edit:   The Inverter doesn't want the neutral output connected to ground!  Hidden in the fine print in the manual.   The power distribution breaker box does, and a house does also.  I ran the microwave, and the hair dryer plug separately to the inverter directly.     RonB

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RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB