Results for "LiFePO4"

Solar Batteries Medium 4-6 hours 685 👍 0

Georgetown GT7 Lithium Battery Conversion: Complete RV Installation Guide

Turned the keys on my 2023 Georgetown GT7 and discovered the previous owner left the electrical system in complete shambles, now facing this intimidating lithium conversion nightmare. I know I need LiFePO4 batteries, but every forum post I read mentions different components and I'm getting conflicting information.

I really want to make this upgrade work - the lead acid batteries are killing me with their weight and charging limitations. What specific components do I need beyond the actual lithium batteries? I'm especially confused about whether my converter will work and if I need additional charging equipment for the alternator. Please tell me my 2023 model year gives me some advantage here! …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 408 👍 0

Protect Your RV Alternator When Charging Lithium

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 4-8 hours 281 👍 0

Lead Acid vs Lithium RV Batteries: Complete Upgrade Guide

Pulled into my favorite boondocking spot with batteries that used to last three days, but now these lead acid units are completely dead after just one night! I've been running two 12V lead acid batteries in my travel trailer and I'm SO tired of dealing with their limitations - slow charging, constant maintenance, and they seem to die at the worst possible times.

I found these Dyness 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 lithium batteries and I'm really hoping they might be the solution I've been looking for. But I'm completely lost when it comes to lithium technology. Will my current converter/charger work with lithium batteries, or am I looking at more upgrades? I keep seeing mentions of something called a BMS - what exactly does that do and why is it important?

I just want a system that actually works reliably and charges properly both when plugged into shore power and while driving. Can someone please tell me if making the switch to these Dyness LiFePO4 batteries is worth it, and what I need to know about compatibility with my existing charging system? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 267 👍 0

How to Upgrade Your RV Converter Charger for Lithium Batteries with Gentle Care

Halfway through planning our three-week cross-country trip next month, I realized my PD4560 60-amp converter/charger won't properly handle the lithium batteries I'm installing. My existing Progressive Dynamics unit obviously isn't designed for LiFePO4 batteries - I can use boost mode to charge them up, but I know that's not ideal for battery longevity.

I just purchased a 30 amp generator and I'm wondering if it will have enough capacity to handle not just my current charger, but potentially a larger lithium-compatible unit. I'm considering upgrading to a 75 or even 90 amp charger to reduce charging times, but I need to make sure my generator can handle the load. I'm trying to figure out the actual AC amp draw of these higher-capacity chargers and whether my 30 amp generator will be sufficient.

What are the best lithium-compatible converter/charger options that would work with my generator setup, and how do I properly size the charger capacity to match my lithium battery bank? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 45 minutes 254 👍 0

RV Lithium Battery Not Charging: BMS Reset Guide

According to the manual my RV lithium battery should charge normally after BMS protection kicks in, but mine's been sitting completely dead for hours. My Battle Born battery is showing 20% charge, but it's not taking any power when I plug into shore power or when my solar panels should be charging it.

I've been reading about BMS protection modes but I'm not really sure what that means or how to deal with it. Is there a way to reset the BMS system? I'm a bit out of my depth here and would really appreciate some guidance on troubleshooting this before I have to call for expensive repairs. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 243 👍 0

LiFePO4 Battery Not Charging in RV: Complete Diagnosis Guide

Planning my next boondocking trip when this faint electrical burning smell started coming from my battery compartment, and my 950W flat mounted plus 1200W ground solar setup isn't charging my LiFePO4 batteries at all. My LiFePO4 batteries used to charge up beautifully, hitting 100% by late afternoon like clockwork.

Now? Total drama queens. This morning we woke up at 18% charge, and after a full day of glorious sunshine, we're sitting pretty at a whopping 63%. With 2150W of solar, I should be swimming in electrons! But instead my batteries are acting like teenagers - moody and refusing to cooperate.

I'm starting to suspect something's gone wrong, but honestly, I have no clue how to properly check LiFePO4 batteries. Are they actually broken, or am I just doing something monumentally stupid? What voltage readings should I be looking for, and what else should I check before I start panic-buying new batteries? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 220 👍 0

DC-DC Charger for Lithium RV Battery: Protect Your Alternator

Despite everyone saying I need a DC-DC charger for my lithium RV batteries, I'm skeptical about dropping $400 — will it actually protect my alternator? Just got a shiny new 2026 F250 (after my poor F150 basically begged for mercy when I hooked up my 2600RB) and had a 230ah lithium battery installed in the trailer. Now I'm reading horror stories about truck alternators and lithium batteries having some kind of electrical death match that could fry my alternator or damage the battery.

I keep seeing mentions of DC-DC chargers but honestly have no idea if I actually need one or if this is just RV paranoia at its finest. The trailer has solar and I've only got a 12V fridge drawing power when towing, so it's not like I'm running a mobile data center back there. Can I just use my truck's existing charge line to the trailer, or am I about to become another cautionary tale about expensive electrical mistakes? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 215 👍 0

How to Convert RV from Lead Acid to Lithium Batteries - Step-by-Step Guide

Despite having perfectly fine lead acid batteries yesterday, it's 11 PM and my RV's two 6v deep cycle batteries just died completely — need to swap them for LiFePO4 lithium before we head out tomorrow morning. Since they're similarly priced, I'm looking to upgrade, but need guidance on system modifications.

Specifically need info on: converter voltage requirements, solar controller settings, inverter cutoff adjustments, and whether I need additional battery management components.

What are the key steps to convert successfully? …more

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Solar Batteries Easy 1 hour preparation 204 👍 0

How to Store LiFePO4 Batteries in Winter: RV Cold Weather Battery Guide

Somewhere along the way, the previous owner of my newly purchased RV completely abandoned proper winter storage for these LiFePO4 batteries through multiple harsh seasons. My battery documentation shows a storage temperature range of 14° to 122°, which concerns me since Spokane winter temperatures tend to drop within 10° of zero.

The batteries are currently located under the entry steps, and I'm considering three options:
1) Leave batteries in the coach and risk potential damage like case cracking
2) Install heating pads or battery blankets
3) Remove and store batteries indoors

I'm leaning towards removing the batteries indoors, but I'd appreciate input from those with experience. Can anyone talk me out of this approach or confirm it as the best strategy? …more

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Electrical Hard Professional installation 194 👍 0

48V RV Electrical Systems: Complete Guide to Modern RV Power Upgrades and Efficiency

Tried upgrading my RV's electrical system but I'm standing in the supply store staring at 12V versus 48V components with zero clue what I actually need. The Bluetti RV5 caught my eye as an all-in-one solution that might make the jump easier.

But honestly, I'm still on the fence. What are the real benefits of going 48V? Is it actually that much better than sticking with 12V lithium? And are there any gotchas I should know about, especially with solar integration and getting everything certified for RV use? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 1-2 hours 189 👍 0

How to Prevent LiFePO4 Battery Over-Discharge in RVs: Low Voltage Disconnect Guide

Planning a cross-country RV trip, but my Ecoflow Delta Pro keeps shutting down unexpectedly when running our AC, despite our 400ah LiFePO4 house batteries showing plenty of charge. Problem is the system drains our house batteries to 0% until the BMS shuts everything down.

Need a way to automatically cut power to the Ecoflow charger before the LiFePO4 batteries get too low. What's the best voltage cutoff point and what type of relay or disconnect device works for this application? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2 hours 185 👍 0

Ford E350 RV 20 Amp Charging Limit: DC-DC Charger Solution for LiFePO4

Noticed the Ford manual shows standard charging rates for my E350, but after upgrading to LiFePO4 batteries I'm only getting 20 amps max. Expected to see crazy high charging rates when I first tested it, but nope - stuck at exactly 20 amps whether I'm idling or revving to 2500 rpm.

I ended up installing a DC-DC charger anyway (heard too many horror stories about frying alternators), but I'm still curious - is there something from the factory that's limiting me to 20 amps? Like maybe Ford built in some kind of isolator or something to keep the original lead-acid batteries happy? Just seems weird that it's such a consistent number regardless of RPM. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-4 hours 182 👍 0

Complete RV Lithium Battery and Solar Setup Guide for Trolling Motors: Safe Installation Tips

Wondering if my 8-year-old lead acid trolling motor batteries that are barely holding a charge anymore are worth repairing or if I should upgrade to lithium? I need either a 24V or 36V lithium battery system, but I keep reading horror stories about people using the wrong chargers and damaging expensive lithium batteries.

I'm particularly worried about the charging setup - both for shore power charging at the marina and solar charging when I'm anchored out. I've heard you absolutely cannot use regular lead-acid chargers with lithium batteries, but I'm not sure what type of chargers I actually need. And for solar, someone mentioned something about MPPT controllers being required?

What specific type of chargers do I need for 24V and 36V lithium trolling motor batteries? I want to make sure I get the right equipment and don't fry a $1000+ battery pack. Are there particular lithium battery brands that are more reliable and safer than others? …more

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Electrical Medium 30 minutes 178 👍 0

2017 Ford E450 Alternator Output: Complete DC to DC Charger Sizing Guide for RVs

Somewhere between installing my DC to DC charger and realizing I don't know my 2017 Ford E450's alternator output, I'm wondering if this setup could be dangerous with my kids living in our RV full-time? I've been down every rabbit hole - VIN lookups, parts catalogs, service manuals - and I keep getting conflicting information or just replacement part numbers instead of actual specifications.

I'm planning to install a DC to DC charger for my LiFePO4 house batteries, but I absolutely need to know the real alternator output before I size the charger. I've seen everything from 120 amps to over 200 amps mentioned for the E450, but nothing definitive for my specific year and configuration.

Can someone please tell me what the actual alternator rating is for the 2017 E450, and more importantly, what size DC to DC charger I can safely run without overloading the alternator? I really don't want to fry anything, but I also don't want to undersize the charger if I have more capacity available than I think. …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 1 hour 174 👍 0

Victron MPPT Sawtooth Pattern: Normal Charging Behavior or Problem?

Standing here staring at my Victron 100/30 MPPT solar charge controller display, probably a dumb question, but why does this weird sawtooth pattern keep appearing on my lithium battery bank? When monitoring the system through the VictronConnect app, I'm observing distinct sawtooth patterns in both voltage and current readings on the trends page. The patterns show regular oscillations rather than steady values.

The controller appears to be in float charging mode, and the battery voltage is being maintained around the expected level. All connections have been verified and are clean. Is this sawtooth pattern in the instantaneous readings indicative of a controller malfunction, or could this be normal operational behavior during certain charging phases? …more

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