DIY lipo4 upgrade

coloradoOkie

New Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2023
Messages
3
Hello All -

I have a 2022 21BHE travel trailer. It currently has two 6V lead acid golf cart batteries located the tongue. I would like to remove those batteries and install a 280 AH lipo4 battery from litime. I would like to relocate that lipo4 battery off the tongue and inside the coach (I dry camp in the cold weather in CO often). I would like to be able to easily remove the battery so I can also use it when I car camp (in the cold) without the coach - so I don't want it to be too hard to get to. I have seen some folks relocate the batteries under the Murphy bed on this model, but that seems challenging to remove and install (if I want to pull the battery to use while car camping for a night).

I'm thinking the best spot would be under the bench seat in the dinette (empty space easy to get to).

I already have 200W of solar on the roof and a solar charge controller that is compatible with lithium.

Based on some research (on this forum!) I think the converter I have that is part of the electric panel will not work that great with the lithium - but I rarely plug into shore power, and I usually rely on the solar panels to charge the battery.

I have calculated the loads I put on the system and I am content I have the correct size battery for my use case.

A few questions for this group:

1) Can someone point me to any write up with pictures for a similar install?
2) Is under the bench a good spot, or would you recommend somewhere else?
3) What is the preferred method for securing the battery under the bench?
4) For the install - would you recommend running a wire to the junction at the front where the lead acid battery is hooked into? Or try to shorten the run and run the battery somewhere else (like to the converter)?
5) Since I have solar and don't rely on shore power converter charging much at all, I think I do not need to worry about upgrading the converter. Do you agree?
6) Anything else you would offer I didn't already ask :) ?
 
I am not familiar with your specific model RV, but a couple thoughts...

-If the battery location inside will be closer to the power center (converter), wire to that rather than to the front.
-Those front wires are a handy way to add power "posts" at the front of the camper to connect 12V devices to when you need to, such as; portable inflator, fan, water pump, etc.
-You would not need to upgrade the converter/charger if you do not want to, even if you regularly plug into shore power. You will get the battery charged to about 80% or so and then the solar can take it the rest of the way. If you ever decide you want faster charging, you can always upgrade then.
-Make sure you fuse that lithium battery, and not a bad idea to add a proper cutoff switch.

Have fun on the project!
 
Using one battery vs more is a cleaner and likely less expensive (hardware, batteries, wire, time) approach, but the battery is much heavier, at about 58 pounds. If I had to make your call on one or two batteries, it would be difficult to decide. I like to remove my batteries between trips and store them in the house to reduce high heat and very cold extended exposure, and monitor the SOC, in Front Range Colorado. I have no idea if, in the long term, it will significantly matter.

If you are considering adding heaters/insulation in a proper fashion, it can be very time consuming, and more work/mess with more than one battery. I see that LiTime's largest battery with heaters is 200Ah. I am using two 100Ah LiTime with BT, plus homemade heaters with insulation. I do recommend keeping packaging that LiTime ships batteries in to use for insulation.

Anderson connectors with wire can be purchased pre-built with various gauge wires to make connecting easier. Double check your current demand and ratings.
 
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We have a 2019 21 BHE (and love it, BTW), and our LiFePO4 battery is on the tongue. But we also have the low temperature cut-off protection, so we're OK in cold weather. If the 2022 model is like ours, I would mount the battery under the kitchen sink right next to the converter. We had to upgrade our converter to the AD (auto-detect) version to support Lithium batteries, and also had to get a jumper force it into Lithium mode, but it's all working great now. You likely already have the AD version, but you should check to make sure it auto-detects as intended.
 
If you have a Furrion MPPT Solar Controller, chances are it will not stay in Lithium mode. This is a known issue with Furrion and they will replace your Controller if you are the original owner of your RV. If not, the workaround is to manually switch the Controller into Lithium mode every morning.
 

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