Another Lithium Charging Question

[Johnww]

My 2019 303 RLS does not have lithium charging capability. I intend to add a LiTime 230 amp battery and I understand the stock converter can charge the lithium up to about 80% capacity. I happen to have a stand alone lithium charger and I was thinking I could connect this charger while at any campground with electric service to get a full charge.
My question to the forum is this: can I connect the lithium charger while the stock converter is connected to the battery? Will the stock converter be compatable with the lithium charger simultaneously?

 

[Toy Haulen]

Yes, I did this several times before purchasing a WFCO converter for lithium. I had stock converter for lead acid batteries, 20am lithium stand alone charger, and solar charging my 300ah lithium battery at same time.
As long as you don't exceed battery amp charging limit your fine.

 

[campfire05]

Yeah, you can totally hook up your standalone lithium charger while the stock converter is still connected to the battery. They should work fine together. The stock converter will probably just back off once it hits its max voltage (like 13.6V or so), and your lithium charger will take over to get the battery to 100% at 14.6V. Just make sure your wiring is solid, and maybe keep an eye on the battery the first time to see how it charges.

 

[coglesby]

There is a trick to leave on a trip with a full LiFePO4 battery and a non-Lithium converter/charger.

1. Make sure your battery is charged as much as possible with the non-lithium converter/charger.
2. Unplug from shore power for a minute then plug back into shore power close to but no more than 4 hours before your trip. The converter/charger will stay in the first two stages of the three stage charging profile which is 14.4V and 13.6V. It’ll charge the battery to 100% if the charger/converter can provide adequate current to charge the battery 100% within a 4 hour time frame. If not, you can unplug and repeat every 3.99 hours until the battery is fully charged.

I’ve done it and confirmed it works with a shunt battery monitor. It’s a pain in the butt, but will get you by until you can switch to a lithium compatible charger.

When you get a new converter/charger, you don’t need one with a lithium charging profile. Just get one with a constant voltage option and set to 14.4V because LiFePO4 batteries have a battery monitoring system that controls the charging.

 

[robmcqueen]

There is a trick to leave on a trip with a full LiFePO4 battery and a non-Lithium converter/charger.

1. Make sure your battery is charged as much as possible with the non-lithium converter/charger.
2. Unplug from shore power for a minute then plug back into shore power close to but no more than 4 hours before your trip. The converter/charger will stay in the first two stages of the three stage charging profile which is 14.4V and 13.6V. It’ll charge the battery to 100% if the charger/converter can provide adequate current to charge the battery 100% within a 4 hour time frame. If not, you can unplug and repeat every 3.99 hours until the battery is fully charged.

I’ve done it and confirmed it works with a shunt battery monitor. It’s a pain in the butt, but will get you by until you can switch to a lithium compatible charger.

When you get a new converter/charger, you don’t need one with a lithium charging profile. Just get one with a constant voltage option and set to 14.4V because LiFePO4 batteries have a battery monitoring system that controls the charging.

You do not have to unplug the trailer all you need to do is flip the breaker off for the converter for i minute then flip it back on.

 

[coglesby]

You do not have to unplug the trailer all you need to do is flip the breaker off for the converter for i minute then flip it back on.

Yep, but you don't even have to go inside the trailer to yank the plug. You can also turn the breaker on and off for shore power.

 

[Edward45248]

We replaced the stock converter with a lithium-aware converter when I installed a bank of LifePo4 batteries in our 2020 Momentum. It was very easy to do, and converters are not that expensive.

 

[Johnww]

Thanks to all who responded to my post. We are back from our trip and the c combination of stock converter and lithium charger worked great. Now that I have time I will look into installing a lithium compatible converter. Thanks again.