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Post by steve246 on Jan 26, 2019 14:37:25 GMT -5
Have a E160RBT Travel Trailer. I want to change the lead acid provided to a Lithium Ion. I was told I needed to add a Progressive Dynamic Charger to be able
to fully charge this new battery. Where is the best spot to add this charger? Any tips or suggestions?
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Post by rasmousein on Jan 27, 2019 18:40:13 GMT -5
Best spot is as closest to battery has possible
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Post by laknox on Jan 28, 2019 10:25:19 GMT -5
Have a E160RBT Travel Trailer. I want to change the lead acid provided to a Lithium Ion. I was told I needed to add a Progressive Dynamic Charger to be able to fully charge this new battery. Where is the best spot to add this charger? Any tips or suggestions? Want to see the ultimate in coach batteries? Check out my cousin's blog at www.beginningfromthismorning.com/. They're converting a '64 GM bus into an RV (well, rebuilding a previously converted one). They decided to go almost all-electric and are using a Nissan Leaf battery to power the coach with 8 x 435w solar panels to charge it. Check out the battery and solar videos. While you may not need a full 3500 amp hours of battery storage, you =can= build a much smaller battery from several individual modules. Can't remember the specs off the top of my head, but 7 or 8 modules would give you a 48v system that you could convert to 12v easily. With so few modules, a BMS wouldn't really be needed. Best of all, you'd have 400+ amp hr in the weight of a single 6v golf cart battery! Ask Juan questions, he happy to answer. Lyle |
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Post by ronc on Apr 8, 2019 12:26:24 GMT -5
I am not a battery expert, but I have read that Lithium batteries offer more power and less weight, but they have very specific charging requirements and temperature issues. More than I cared to deal with ... not to mention the price is very high. I went with Lifeline AGM batteries. AGM batteries require ZERO maintenance, don't off gas so can be mounted anywhere in any orientation, aren't as picky about temperatures and charging, and cost less. I'd consider them to be between flooded cells and Lithium. Just depends on your needs I guess.
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Post by mdcamper on Apr 8, 2019 13:33:16 GMT -5
Lithium Phosphate are expensive but the life of them is generally 5 to 10 times that of AGM or flooded batteries. Also with a 100amp hour battery you can run it down to near 0% before a charge is required. With an AGM or flooded you will kill (forever) the battery in quick order. Also the time to recharge lithium phosphate is a fraction of the time required of AGM or flooded.
I plan to replace our 2 flooded with 1 new 100amp lithium phosphate very soon. 130lbs for 2 batteries vs. 29lbs for 1.
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Post by ronc on Apr 8, 2019 13:39:57 GMT -5
OK ... go for it. I had a friend once after his new charger, inverter, solar panels and batteries, told me it costs a lot of money to camp for free. My batteries are only used to run my residential fridge between campgrounds.
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Post by mdcamper on Apr 8, 2019 13:57:58 GMT -5
OK ... go for it. I had a friend once after his new charger, inverter, solar panels and batteries, told me it costs a lot of money to camp for free. My batteries are only used to run my residential fridge between campgrounds.
My main reason is weight to go lithium is weight. This past winter I was able to keep my flooded in the camper with no issues. The solar kept everything charged up nicely. I realize I won't be able to do that with lithium. 
It is expensive to make all of those upgrades but I think it's worth it if you like to be out of the campgrounds. I have nothing against campgrounds and plan to use them quite frequently this summer but there is nothing like being away from it all and being the only camper in an area. 
My dream setup would be to add a total of 300 to 400amp hours in batteries and enough solar to run at least one A/C off the solar. But by the time I do that I would have spent probably close to 10 grand and would have defeated the purpose of losing weight off the rig. LOL Not happening.
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Post by ronc on Apr 8, 2019 15:21:19 GMT -5
;-)
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hanr3
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 16
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Post by hanr3 on Apr 10, 2019 10:05:59 GMT -5
OK ... go for it. I had a friend once after his new charger, inverter, solar panels and batteries, told me it costs a lot of money to camp for free. My batteries are only used to run my residential fridge between campgrounds.
My main reason is weight to go lithium is weight. This past winter I was able to keep my flooded in the camper with no issues. The solar kept everything charged up nicely. I realize I won't be able to do that with lithium.
It is expensive to make all of those upgrades but I think it's worth it if you like to be out of the campgrounds. I have nothing against campgrounds and plan to use them quite frequently this summer but there is nothing like being away from it all and being the only camper in an area.
My dream setup would be to add a total of 300 to 400amp hours in batteries and enough solar to run at least one A/C off the solar. But by the time I do that I would have spent probably close to 10 grand and would have defeated the purpose of losing weight off the rig. LOL Not happening.
In this case, a generator/inverter would be more cost effective and weight reducing. |
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Post by laknox on Apr 11, 2019 10:01:27 GMT -5
OK ... go for it. I had a friend once after his new charger, inverter, solar panels and batteries, told me it costs a lot of money to camp for free. My batteries are only used to run my residential fridge between campgrounds.
My main reason is weight to go lithium is weight. This past winter I was able to keep my flooded in the camper with no issues. The solar kept everything charged up nicely. I realize I won't be able to do that with lithium.
It is expensive to make all of those upgrades but I think it's worth it if you like to be out of the campgrounds. I have nothing against campgrounds and plan to use them quite frequently this summer but there is nothing like being away from it all and being the only camper in an area.
My dream setup would be to add a total of 300 to 400amp hours in batteries and enough solar to run at least one A/C off the solar. But by the time I do that I would have spent probably close to 10 grand and would have defeated the purpose of losing weight off the rig. LOL Not happening.
Not sure where you get the idea that you can't keep Li batteries charged up with solar. Seriously, check out my cousin's page and ask Juan about it. He's =very= good about answering questions and he's done about 95% of the work himself, with wife and kids helping. He researched and engineered the entire solar/electric system and has built it all. Lyle |
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Post by mdcamper on Apr 11, 2019 20:11:02 GMT -5
My main reason is weight to go lithium is weight. This past winter I was able to keep my flooded in the camper with no issues. The solar kept everything charged up nicely. I realize I won't be able to do that with lithium.
It is expensive to make all of those upgrades but I think it's worth it if you like to be out of the campgrounds. I have nothing against campgrounds and plan to use them quite frequently this summer but there is nothing like being away from it all and being the only camper in an area.
My dream setup would be to add a total of 300 to 400amp hours in batteries and enough solar to run at least one A/C off the solar. But by the time I do that I would have spent probably close to 10 grand and would have defeated the purpose of losing weight off the rig. LOL Not happening.
Not sure where you get the idea that you can't keep Li batteries charged up with solar. Seriously, check out my cousin's page and ask Juan about it. He's =very= good about answering questions and he's done about 95% of the work himself, with wife and kids helping. He researched and engineered the entire solar/electric system and has built it all. Lyle You might have misunderstood me. I plan to charge up those batteries during boondocking etc with our solar. I am talking about keeping the batteries in the coach during the winter season. Lithium will not charge below 32f. Batteries will die a horrible and expensive death! Of course I could use some kind of heater for the batteries but the problem is the coach is currently stored in a storage lot away from power etc. So I will move the battery indoors in the winter and put a charger on it. |
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Post by laknox on Apr 12, 2019 10:14:50 GMT -5
Not sure where you get the idea that you can't keep Li batteries charged up with solar. Seriously, check out my cousin's page and ask Juan about it. He's =very= good about answering questions and he's done about 95% of the work himself, with wife and kids helping. He researched and engineered the entire solar/electric system and has built it all. Lyle You might have misunderstood me. I plan to charge up those batteries during boondocking etc with our solar. I am talking about keeping the batteries in the coach during the winter season. Lithium will not charge below 32f. Batteries will die a horrible and expensive death! Of course I could use some kind of heater for the batteries but the problem is the coach is currently stored in a storage lot away from power etc. So I will move the battery indoors in the winter and put a charger on it. Ah! Hadn't known that. Wonder how the Leaf/Tesla/Volt, etc. charge in cold weather, then? Of course, you could stick a 100w bulb in the battery compartment and run it full-time, with enough solar. Lyle |
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Post by mdcamper on Apr 12, 2019 17:01:10 GMT -5
You might have misunderstood me. I plan to charge up those batteries during boondocking etc with our solar. I am talking about keeping the batteries in the coach during the winter season. Lithium will not charge below 32f. Batteries will die a horrible and expensive death! Of course I could use some kind of heater for the batteries but the problem is the coach is currently stored in a storage lot away from power etc. So I will move the battery indoors in the winter and put a charger on it. Ah! Hadn't known that. Wonder how the Leaf/Tesla/Volt, etc. charge in cold weather, then? Of course, you could stick a 100w bulb in the battery compartment and run it full-time, with enough solar. Lyle Not sure about the electric vehicles. They may have heaters though.
Obviously these newer coach batteries are a different formula (phosphate vs. ion etc)
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Post by ronc on Apr 14, 2019 12:06:43 GMT -5
There are various kinds of "Lithium" batteries, each with different properties ... that accounts for why no Prius cars have blown up or caught fire.
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Post by laknox on Apr 15, 2019 10:20:17 GMT -5
There are various kinds of "Lithium" batteries, each with different properties ... that accounts for why no Prius cars have blown up or caught fire. Or Nissan Leaf, either. Lyle |
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Post by jlo415 on May 3, 2019 8:31:41 GMT -5
I recently upgraded the batteries in my 241RLK with two (2), 6 volt AGM GC-2 batteries connected in serial to produce the 12 volts. GC-2 are otherwise known as Golf Cart batteries. They are approximately the same size, you will need different battery boxes, and they fit in the same area on the frame of the trailer. I couldn't be happier with their performance compared to having two (2) 12 volt flooded lead acid, deep cycle batteries connected in parallel. My camper came with the 12 volt refrigerator option which has its pros and cons. The biggest con is that it draws a lot from the batteries, a LOT more than a dealer or KZ will tell you. The pro is, it is one COLD refrigerator! I have no idea what Lithium Ion batteries would cost large enough for a RV set up, but its got to me a LOT. I spent over $600 for the two AGM's I bought and thats not including the core deposit. Nice part about AGM's is that they charge conventionally. Unlike a GEL battery, step between AGM and LI, they do not need any special consideration for voltage regulation. We do a good amount of dry camping. Being a creature of comfort, I wanted to have 110volts in the camper with out the need of running a generator so I installed an inverter system to power all of the outlets in my trailer. (All with the exception of the Microwave which is on its own dedicated circuit breaker.) I am using two (2) transfer switches, each wired into one of the two, 110 volt circuit breakers in the fuse box. With the addition of the AGM batteries, It's probably the best upgrade I could have ever done.   |
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