LiFePO4 charging in cold weather

Just be careful, there are a lot of things on Amazon that have good ratings....but that doesn't make it 100% accurate or true. A random example of that is someone that buys a new tool of some sort. When it arrives it's all shiny and new, and was in a plastic bag. To them, it deserves a 5 star rating. Two weeks later when the tool breaks or fails to operate as it should, they return it to Amazon and either get a refund or another one sent to them........but they many times do not come back and update their previous 5 star post. I'm just sayin'
You also should be aware of the Vine program from Amazon. You choose items, they send them to you for free, with free shipping, and then you rate them. They're yours to keep, just for writing a review.
 
You also should be aware of the Vine program from Amazon. You choose items, they send them to you for free, with free shipping, and then you rate them. They're yours to keep, just for writing a review.
Is that something that you sign up for, or do they just randomly pick someone?
 
Just be careful, there are a lot of things on Amazon that have good ratings....but that doesn't make it 100% accurate or true. A random example of that is someone that buys a new tool of some sort. When it arrives it's all shiny and new, and was in a plastic bag. To them, it deserves a 5 star rating. Two weeks later when the tool breaks or fails to operate as it should, they return it to Amazon and either get a refund or another one sent to them........but they many times do not come back and update their previous 5 star post. I'm just sayin'
OK, so far so good. It was the only auto reset I could find in the amperage I needed. Probably should have just went with a manual reset.
 
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I upgraded to 75a converter so I used a 90 auto reset breaker on the output of the converter. I used the existing location for the converter so I just used the existing mount.
The wiring from your battery to the 3 wire connection and the 10' of 4 awg is not protected. A short to ground in either of those wires makes a welder with the battery as a power source. You need a fuse or breaker at the battery. In fact, you could do it all, the way you have it wired, with one fuse at the battery provided it is sized to protect the smallest wire down stream.
 
The wire from the battery to the connector is only 1’ long. It would take the same length to run it to a breaker instead. The 4 AWG has an 80 amp breaker on it. I need to add that to my picture. It’s a work in progress. I cant do it at the battery because the inverter is 75A so I need at least 90A breaker at the battery to do it that way so the converter can charge and that’s too big to protect other stuff.
 
Mine are in the generator bay. I hunt, so cold weather operation is a priority.
That compartment runs about 10 degrees warmer than outside air.
cold weather generally means a lot of generator run time which produces heat in that compartment..... And as a last resort, my batteries are heated. Have not had to use that feature yet, but it is there if needed.
 
I am doing the same. Did you put a fuse or breaker in between the converter/charger and the battery? Where/how did you mount the converter? Thanks
I put a terminal fuse on the positive battery post and the converter is mounted vertically above the batteries on the back wall so the dc connections are pointing down towards the batteries. I did not fuse the output of the converter. If a short occurs I think, but don't know, the converter will alarm/shut down/blow an output fuse. I'll have to look into that though. I just picked up a 3kw inverter so things will probably be moved around I suspect. Keeping the inverter and charger as close to the batteries as possible is important for efficiency.
 
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I put a terminal fuse on the positive battery post and the converter is mounted vertically above the batteries on the back wall so the dc connections are pointing down towards the batteries. I did not fuse the output of the converter. If a short occurs I think, but don't know, the converter will alarm/shut down/blow an output fuse. I'll have to look into that though. I just picked up a 3kw inverter so things will probably be moved around I suspect. Keeping the inverter and charger as close to the batteries as possible is important for efficiency.
Wow. Thanks for posting. I didn’t know about those. I could put three of those on my battery terminal in an Y pattern and clean up a lot of wiring.
 
Wow. Thanks for posting. I didn’t know about those. I could put three of those on my battery terminal in an Y pattern and clean up a lot of wiring.
A picture of the battery terminal type fuse (Red Cap on it) on the Pos. terminal on what was/is the Pos. lead going to my 300A total disconnect switch.
 

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Yes, those are called MRBF fuses for anyone looking. They are marine rated and I've been using them on my boats for quite a few years now. Perfect for rv's too. You can get the holder for 1 connection or 2. The Buss brand (also rebranded for Blue Sea) are the go to ones. I see there are several Chinese copies on Amazon now. Not sure of quality on those.

You can often find the fuses and and holders cheaper at a dedicated electronics distributor. I recently ordered some spares for my stuff at Del City and saved a bit of money. Only issue I had is that the 100a fuses I ordered are on a fairly long backorder that doesn't show up when you place the order, and only found out after I got the partial order. Otherwise, a good place to purchase from.
 
Is that something that you sign up for, or do they just randomly pick someone?

I think it might have some basis on how many reviews a person has made but can't say for sure. I had reviewed a couple of items close together and a very short time later received an invitation to the Vine program. I'm not surprised but the free items are considered income for tax purposes and Amazon files an annual 1099 on for the items you have received throughout the year. I'm not big on Amazon having more information about me than they already do and didn't want to have to deal with estimated taxes on top of what I already do for my taxable investments. In the end I decided it wasn't something I'd want to do so rejected the offer.
 
I think it might have some basis on how many reviews a person has made but can't say for sure. I had reviewed a couple of items close together and a very short time later received an invitation to the Vine program. I'm not surprised but the free items are considered income for tax purposes and Amazon files an annual 1099 on for the items you have received throughout the year. I'm not big on Amazon having more information about me than they already do and didn't want to have to deal with estimated taxes on top of what I already do for my taxable investments. In the end I decided it wasn't something I'd want to do so rejected the offer.
Thanks for that info....it was very helpful and informative...
 
My last post in this thread drift. :) I have been with the Vine program for almost 2 years, and it has been...interesting. There are a huge number of RV items that come up regularly: heated water hoses, regular water hoses, 50 amp and 30 amp extension cords, numerous adapters, surge protectors, circuit boards, RV covers, water heaters both tank and tankless, etc., etc. You're not supposed to give away, or sell any items you get from Vine for six months, but other than that, they are yours. Usually the number of items to choose from numbers around 100,000 or more. Prices range from a couple bucks to a thousand dollars and more. I've actually gotten quite a few somewhat frivolous things I just wouldn't have spent the money on.
 
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Mercedes used those MRBF fuses on their early ML. A seasoned Mercedes tech knew to start there when there was an electrical issue.

To be fair, the securing nut on the top were rarely tight enough to make a good contact and over time, there was such a voltage drop, problems occurred.

Probably a good design, if the connection is properly torqued.
 

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