Lithium battery installation
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15797
Printed Date: 13 May 2024 at 8:27am
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Topic: Lithium battery installation
Posted By: Geezerbill
Subject: Lithium battery installation
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2023 at 11:01pm
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After having my two Interstate batteries die after five days of boondockimg in our 192, using only water pump and frig fan, along with the wife charging watch and iPad, I am considering a 200ah lithium battery installation. I am looking at the same unit that Stephan installed in his Rpod.
I have checked on line and it appears that my original inverter/converter will accommodate the lithium battery.
My question is: how is the best way to attach the needed long negative battery cable. Should it go all the way back to the red battery/on/off knob? If so will that on/off unit accept that size cable? Or what proper method should be used?
Thanks in advance,
Bill
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 7:20am
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If you already have a battery cut-off switch, run the same connection, most likely positive, to it. The negative cable can be shorter and just go directly to the frame. If you look at your existing connections, they will be the same except you won't have a jumper between two batteries since there will only be one battery.
As for the converter, what model and is it labeled as having automatic battery detection for LiFePO4?
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 3:05pm
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Stephen, thanks so much for your response. Why in the world I didn’t think about grounding the negative to the frame is beyond me. I guess the 87 year old brain is worse than I thought.
I have printed the owners manual for my converter. It clearly talks about auto detect of the type of battery installed and the differences of the charging method. It can charge up to 14.4V DC. That’s in line with the requirements for lithium batteries. I can not fine specifics in regards to the LiFe Po4 battery.
The model of the converter is: WF-8735-AD-GE
As mentioned at age 87 there is the pressing question just how much longer can my wife and I camp. It’s like having to give up backpacking. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. Therefore I also need to consider that vs the cost to go lithium. It sure seems it would give a lot of peace of mind tho.
Thanks again to your excellent insight.
Bill
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 4:09pm
It sounds like you are all set converter wise. That makes it a lot simpler. The other consideration though is whether you want to take the trouble to install a DC to DC converter so your tow vehicle can charge the battery while you are on the road. If you are not going to be going any great distance, it might be optional. In our case, when we travel across the country, I need to be able to have the tow vehicle charge the battery.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 4:45pm
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Thank you again Stephan, I don’t think I’ll need the DC to DC charger as we don’t travel more than about 200 miles.
The biggest question is the justification at my age. Also I am recovering from a hip replacement as I fell off the ladder onto our concrete patio. Therefore, I’ll await the decision until next spring and hope the price has dropped so,e more 😃. But now at about $550 it’s much lower than the dealer wanted a year ago at $1100.
Thank you again, Bill
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Posted By: StephenH
Date 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.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 7:22pm
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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.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date 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.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2023 at 10:22pm
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Exactly what I was thinking Stephen. Thank you.
Bill
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Posted By: nicklee
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 4:34am
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You can buy smart battery like Renogy bluetooth smart LiFePO4 battery, It is convenient to receive energy reports.
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:13am
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:14am
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@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.
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Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 9:43am
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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. :)
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Julie
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 2:05pm
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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
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Posted By: Geezerbill
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2023 at 2:13pm
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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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