Imagine XLE 21BHE Lithium battery conversion

[SolarPoweredRV]

GD support stated “The current converter is not lithium ready so it will only charge to 80% when hooked to shore power. I believe WFCO makes a similar converter that is capable of fully charging lithium batteries.”
They can’t make suggestions on which is best. What do you guys think of Progressive Dynamics PD4135KV Inteli-Power 4100 Series Converter? Will this work? Any other recommendations as GD recommended against a 60amp one.

With two Lithium batteries (LiFePo4) I would start with a minimum 60 amp Converter, 35 amps will not charge the two batteries very fast while still providing power for the rest of the 12v circuits throughout the coach.

Having said that, if GD is recommending against a 60 amp Converter, then it is highly likely that the Power Control Center is not rated to house a 60 amp Converter and/or the wiring from the Converter is not large enough to handle 60 amp charging. Both of these situations can be easily remedied; first, you can simply purchase a self-contained Converter and secondly, you can simply upgrade the wires coming from the Converter to the batteries.

Personally, I would choose a Progressive Dynamics Converter over a WFCO Converter if I were replacing a Converter.

[TT hunting]

With two Lithium batteries (LiFePo4) I would start with a minimum 60 amp Converter, 35 amps will not charge the two batteries very fast while still providing power for the rest of the 12v circuits throughout the coach.

Having said that, if GD is recommending against a 60 amp Converter, then it is highly likely that the Power Control Center is not rated to house a 60 amp Converter and/or the wiring from the Converter is not large enough to handle 60 amp charging. Both of these situations can be easily remedied; first, you can simply purchase a self-contained Converter and secondly, you can simply upgrade the wires coming from the Converter to the batteries.

Personally, I would choose a Progressive Dynamics Converter over a WFCO Converter if I were replacing a Converter.

I thank you for your expertise and response. Once I contacted GD support and he said “I’ve honestly never heard of anyone upgrading to a 60 AMP and since this isn’t done at the factory it would have to be installed aftermarket. Most campgrounds will have 30 and 50 Amp services.”

There was some confusion there. I will look into a 60 amp converter. Anyone know of one that fits the XLS 21bhe imagine ?

[JKellerJr]

Once I contacted GD support and he said “I’ve honestly never heard of anyone upgrading to a 60 AMP and since this isn’t done at the factory it would have to be installed aftermarket. Most campgrounds will have 30 and 50 Amp services.”

Wow! You can completely disregard anything that person had to say as they have no idea what they’re talking about. 30/50 amp services are AC and the 60 amp converter is DC.

I echo everything SolarpoweredRV says. It’s spot on.

[deeuubee]

Having just converted my 25G to 540 Ah of lithium batteries, here are my observations.

I finished the install right before I left on a long trip, so I left the original 55 amp LA converter installed. I dry camped the first week drawing the batteries down to 42%.
The voltage never dropped below 13.2. When I got to the next campground, and plugged in, I never got more than 1.5 amps from the converter to charge the batteries.
I believe that this because the lead acid converter sees the 13.2 volts as a charged lead acid battery. It might charge the battery to 75% eventually, but it will take forever.

Anticipating this, I bought a Progressive Dynamics 60 amp charger that I mounted separately for the time being. I plugged it in at the campground, and it splits the 60 amps perfectly to the two batteries.

As far as choosing a lithium charger, you can't get one that is rated larger than the wiring in your RV. It still took 5 hours to charge back up.
Also remember that if you change the converter, you will not get the full 60 or whatever rated amperage. You will get in my case, 60 minus the load on the RV . Even then, it tapers down to a trickle charge as it approaches full.

[TT hunting]

Having just converted my 25G to 540 Ah of lithium batteries, here are my observations.

I finished the install right before I left on a long trip, so I left the original 55 amp LA converter installed. I dry camped the first week drawing the batteries down to 42%.
The voltage never dropped below 13.2. When I got to the next campground, and plugged in, I never got more than 1.5 amps from the converter to charge the batteries.
I believe that this because the lead acid converter sees the 13.2 volts as a charged lead acid battery. It might charge the battery to 75% eventually, but it will take forever.

Anticipating this, I bought a Progressive Dynamics 60 amp charger that I mounted separately for the time being. I plugged it in at the campground, and it splits the 60 amps perfectly to the two batteries.

As far as choosing a lithium charger, you can't get one that is rated larger than the wiring in your RV. It still took 5 hours to charge back up.
Also remember that if you change the converter, you will not get the full 60 or whatever rated amperage. You will get in my case, 60 minus the load on the RV . Even then, it tapers down to a trickle charge as it approaches full.

This is very helpful. Installer said it would take 3 months to get converter installed. No openings. Might just stick with lithium batteries only for now.

[SolarPoweredRV]

This is very helpful. Installer said it would take 3 months to get converter installed. No openings. Might just stick with lithium batteries only for now.

Replacing the Converter is a fairly simple and routine operation. Maybe you could find a Mobile RV technician that could perform the operation much sooner.

[Paul & Deb]

Replacing the Converter is a fairly simple and routine operation. Maybe you could find a Mobile RV technician that could perform the operation much sooner.

His is not quite as simple as yours would be. These smaller 30 amp trailers have the converter built into the power center so you need to replace the entire power center. Not that difficult but certainly not as easy as a stand alone converter that has 2 wires on one end and an 3 prong plug on the other.

[SolarPoweredRV]

His is not quite as simple as yours would be. These smaller 30 amp trailers have the converter built into the power center so you need to replace the entire power center. Not that difficult but certainly not as easy as a stand alone converter that has 2 wires on one end and an 3 prong plug on the other.

You do not need to replace the entire Power Center. They make replacement Converters that go right into the Power Center to replace the OEM Converter.

Here is an example:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...4560LICSV.html

In many ways replacing a Converter located inside a Power Center is easier because you have access to the Converter and you don't need to remove any access panels to find the Converter. If you are at all handy replacing the OEM Converter would take less than an hour, start to finish.

[Riverbug]

You do not need to replace the entire Power Center. They make replacement Converters that go right into the Power Center to replace the OEM Converter.

Here is an example:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...4560LICSV.html

In many ways replacing a Converter located inside a Power Center is easier because you have access to the Converter and you don't need to remove any access panels to find the Converter. If you are at all handy replacing the OEM Converter would take less than an hour, start to finish.

I still don't get it. They reference that unit as a replacement part. You would pull out the existing converter/charger, and put the new one in. But on the WFCO distribution panel, there isn't a converter/charger to pull out as it is integrated into the panel. I cannot see on mine how I could "insert" that modules wiring and disconnect the existing converter/charger. Have you actually seen that done? I've searched and cannot find anything that references that type of upgrade specific to an integrated distribution panel like the WFCO 8735P. Would really appreciate if you have info on that.

[SolarPoweredRV]

I still don't get it. They reference that unit as a replacement part. You would pull out the existing converter/charger, and put the new one in. But on the WFCO distribution panel, there isn't a converter/charger to pull out as it is integrated into the panel. I cannot see on mine how I could "insert" that modules wiring and disconnect the existing converter/charger. Have you actually seen that done? I've searched and cannot find anything that references that type of upgrade specific to an integrated distribution panel like the WFCO 8735P. Would really appreciate if you have info on that.

Apparently on that model you are correct, the whole Power Control Center needs to be replaced, I have never seen or heard of that before. Usually, the Converter is replaceable inside the Power Control Center.

Here is a response on e-Trailer that addresses your unit. By-the-way, the answer also includes the Progressive Dynamics Power Control Center with Lithium charging you will need for your unit.

Link: https://www.etrailer.com/question-433188.html