Lithium battery installation

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   Hi Ben,It’s good to hear from you. We have, in fact, talked about a portable solar charger. One issue is that we camp in campgrounds that have many Douglas Fir trees (Pacific Northwest). But of course the sun does get through. So that certainly sounds like a good option to evaluate. 

Thanks so much for your input. 

Bill

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Geezerbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2022 Location: Puyallup, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Geezerbill Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Lithium battery installation Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 2:13pm
	Hi Ben, It’s good to hear from you. We have, in fact, talked about a portable solar charger. One issue is that we camp in campgrounds that have many Douglas Fir trees (Pacific Northwest). But of course the sun does get through. So that certainly sounds like a good option to evaluate. Thanks so much for your input. Bill

Geezerbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2022 Location: Puyallup, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Geezerbill Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 2:05pm
	Julie, thank you for your comments and views. I am still going to seriously consider the lithium battery installation in the early spring. I want to wait out the hip situation. My hip is fine but the fall onto the concrete patio somehow messed up my knee really bad, otherwise I would be able to dance a gig🤔. Hopefully the cost will drop a bit more also. Today I went to Costco and decided to stop by the batteries and tires. Had a talk with the sales tech and he agreed about the cost going up and quality dropping like a rock. Now the batteries are prorated from the date of purchase by the month. That’s great confidence in one’s product I guess. My wife reads a LOT and has an Apple Watch to charge every night so I constantly worry about the charge. One of my Interstate batteries is marginally ok as it has dropped voltage after arriving home two weeks ago and fully charging both batteries. So I’ll look at the lithium again in the spring. Thanks again for your input. I appreciate it. Bill

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 462	Post Options Post Reply Quote EchoGale Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:43am
	Hi geezerbill, Sorry to hear about your fall! I just switched from LA batteries to lithium and I'm thinking about your concerns over how much longer you'll be able to camp. For me, the Lithium simplified so much that I think it might let you camp longer. No watering and checking the charge level constantly since it's okay to run it all the way down. It's so light I can easily move it around by myself and since I have rooftop solar it is usually fully charged without me doing anything. I get the point about adding a generator but--to me--that's one more thing to keep up with. I learned a lot over the years with my LA battery setup, renogy suitcase solar, and multimeter but I was always getting in behind the propane tank to open the battery boxes, monitor the charge and hook up the solar panels. I know there are ways around all these little issues but the complete switch-out was a game-changer. I don't do anything now! I imagine at 80+, if I'm still lucky enough to be around and camping, I'll value the time and simplicity more than the money. :)
	Julie

Ben Herman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ben Herman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:14am
	@Geezerbill, another option for you to consider (if where you live has enough sunshine) is a suitcase solar charger. We live in Colorado and 99% of the time do not have hookups. With a solar charger, we have no problem keeping up with modest 12v usage (like you, fridge, lights, occasional furnace in the am). We recently replaced our battery with a 200 amp Gel Battery from Renogy (cost was about $200), and it has vastly extended our battery life in between solar charges. Our inverter does not support LI battery so the cost differential was too high. The solar unit is $200-300. Just another option for you to consider.

Geezerbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2022 Location: Puyallup, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Geezerbill Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:13am
	Yes, thank you.

nicklee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 Jul 2023 Location: USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote nicklee Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 4:34am
	You can buy smart battery like Renogy bluetooth smart LiFePO4 battery, It is convenient to receive energy reports.

Geezerbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2022 Location: Puyallup, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Geezerbill Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 10:22pm
	Exactly what I was thinking Stephen. Thank you. Bill

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 8:48pm
	Quick answer on the old charger is no, it wouldn't be adequate. It was made for lead-acid batteries, and most likely flooded lead-acid batteries. Unless it has settings for AGM, Gel, or other types, it is meant for flooded lead-acid and possibly sealed lead-acid batteries only. Only if it has a specific setting for LiFePO4 batteries would it be suitable. The charging profiles are too different. For example, LiFePO4 batteries do not use a float charge.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Geezerbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2022 Location: Puyallup, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Post Options Post Reply Quote Geezerbill Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 7:22pm
	Yes I believe that’s a better choice. I was also wondering Stephan, my present OLD garage charger for my present Interstate battery’s would not be adequate for the lithium battery charging would it? It’s old one I got at Sears. I doubt it would go to 14.4 V’s.

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 7:16pm
	Ouch! I hope your recovery goes well. At this stage, getting a small inverter generator to charge the batteries you have is likely a better option than trying to upgrade to an LiFePO4 battery.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS