196 use of LiPo battery |
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brandtjm
Newbie Joined: 27 Jun 2020 Location: Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
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Topic: 196 use of LiPo battery Posted: 01 Sep 2021 at 8:22am |
I would like to switch to a LiPo battery on my 196. My current controller is a GP-PWM-30-Ul that comes with the 196. It has a setting for LiPo batteries. My question is do I need to modify anything for shorepower or when plugged into my car when traveling? Will the current setup correctly charge the LiPo under these circumstances?
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Jeff B
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TheBum
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 2021 at 12:35pm |
Do you mean LiPo or LiFePO4? They're two different chemistries. In either case, you'll need to add a charger for that chemistry to charge from the TV.
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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 2021 at 1:43pm |
Without looking up that controller and assuming it is the main controller/converter in the trailer... it sounds good. Since you say that it comes (assume from the factory) with this and has a lithium setting, it sounds good again. I would double check converter spec's for lithium and battery spec's (that you wish to buy) and ensure they match (compatible). You shouldn't have to modify anything is all else matches out. Safe travels
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2654 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 2021 at 2:09pm |
I googled that model number and came up with a Go Power 30 amp solar charge regulator. There is no mention of AC charging. I would need more information to know if that is what you're talking about.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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BlindMan
Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2021 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2021 at 10:48am |
Everything works anyway you do it. The only dif is the lipo battery requires 14.4 volts to fully charge I believe. Your normal charge convertor will charge the battery, just not to full charge, which in timew will shorten it's life. Also beware of lipo batteries in below freezing temp's you can destroy them charging.
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2022 r-pod 202
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2021 at 5:54pm |
If the current converter will support a LiFePO4 battery, you are okay with shore power. However, your tow vehicle will not adequately charge the battery. I speak from experience. If you check my mods, you will see what I did, first for a 100AH LiFePO4 battery. I recently upgraded to a 200AH LiFePO4 battery.
In short, you will need a DC to DC charger that will take the power of the vehicle and boost it to the proper voltage for charging the battery. Check out the Renogy DC to DC chargers. I also installed a dedicated circuit in my Frontier for running the DC to DC charger. It isn't strictly needed, but powering the DC to DC charger needs to be done separate from just tapping into the existing RPod 12V system. It will be a case of the battery trying to charge itself, and that just does not work.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2021 at 6:55pm |
I would not use the WFCO ac to DC converter/charger that comes with the rpod (assuming you have what I had and others have had) to charge a Li battery. My WFCO failed and overcharged my lead acid batteries to over 15.5V. No harm done on flooded golf cart batteries but Li batteries would overheat and possibly catch fire at that voltage. Get a converter intended for Li battery charging.
As for charging from the tow vehicle alternator while on the road, as others have said a DC/DC converter is needed. Check your existing chafing circuit, it's probabky protected by a 30A breaker at the tow vehicle battery and uses 10 gauge for the wire run. The 7 way connector isn't good for more than that anyway. So, don't get a DC/DC converter that exceeds that current rating. A 20A one would be a good choice. Simply cut the +12V conductor on the on the trailer side of the connector and run that using 10 gauge wire to the +12V input to the DC/DC. Then run the +12v output from the converter back to the other end of the wire you cut which will feed to the trailer 12V circuits. You won't have the issue with shorting across the DC/DC input and output that StephenH refers to. The -12V conductor can be connected in common to both the input and output of the DC/DC. That should also be 10 gauge. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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marwayne
Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1002 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2021 at 7:00pm |
My son changed to a Lithium battery, he found a guy that set it up for him. My son was also worried about the battery freezing, the guy sad not to worry, up north here in Canada we have a built in heater in those batteries
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 2021 at 7:18am |
Self-heating Li batteries do exist but it's not common. You can also make a heating system using a matt heater similar to what is used to keep tanks from freezing.
But the heating systems use electrical resistance elements, which consume energy and would be ok if you are on shore power, not so much if you are boondocking. And why invest in a li battery if youre not boondocking? Much better just to put the battery in the space you will be heating with propane anyway, costs no additional energy to do that. Li batteries don't outgas like lead acid batteries do, so no issues there. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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