LiFePO4 setup

[coglesby]

Just ordered 100A recpro converter and 600AH LiFePO4 battery off Amazon. I’m going to install the converter in the front bay next to the batteries so not going through 30’ of 6AWG.

Haven’t exactly figured out how I’m getting 120VAC to the front bay yet but thinking.

For those of you that have made the conversion do you have any tips?

 

[Soundsailor]

Heavy duty three-prong extension cord?

 

[triplethreat]

Just ordered 100A recpro converter and 600AH LiFePO4 battery off Amazon. I’m going to install the converter in the front bay next to the batteries so not going through 30’ of 6AWG.

Haven’t exactly figured out how I’m getting 120VAC to the front bay yet but thinking.

For those of you that have made the conversion do you have any tips

I'd be very leery of 6ga cable for 100A, but that will depend on the insulation rating of the cable and the number of strands in it. Just to be safe, personally I'd run 4ga welding type cable.

 

[coglesby]

I'd be very leery of 6ga cable for 100A, but that will depend on the insulation rating of the cable and the number of strands in it. Just to be safe, personally I'd run 4ga welding type cable.

I was planning on 3AWG with the relocation to the front bay. Plus with the relocation to the front bay it’ll only be a couple feet of cable.

30’ of 6 AWG is how it’s currently configured.

 

[coglesby]

Heavy duty three-prong extension cord?

That’s what I was thinking but need to figure out how to route it

 

[coglesby]

Will I need a dc-dc converter to charge from my 2019 F350 and if so any recommendations?

 

[triplethreat]

I was planning on 3AWG with the relocation to the front bay. Plus with the relocation to the front bay it’ll only be a couple feet of cable.

30’ of 6 AWG is how it’s currently configured.

You might want to think about #2 or #4 gauge....#3 is not a common size and may be more difficult to find lugs/connectors for. Not saying impossible, just harder to find.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Just ordered 100A recpro converter and 600AH LiFePO4 battery off Amazon.

one battery?

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

Will I need a dc-dc converter to charge from my 2019 F350 and if so any recommendations?

I installed my Victron DC to DC Converter on the wall behind the back seat (I had to install on the Passenger side because Ford installed a Woofer on the Drivers side). I used one of the Upfitter switches to turn the Converter off or on.

I ran a positive cable from the battery back to the DC DC Converter and used the Body ground for the negative. I also ran both positive and negative output cables from the DC DC Converter into the coach.

With a 600ah battery bank, I would get a pretty high amp Converter.

 

[JPS350]

You might want to think about #2 or #4 gauge....#3 is not a common size and may be more difficult to find lugs/connectors for. Not saying impossible, just harder to find.

Go with 2 awg. Assuming you have a 10' run there and so the total distance out and back is 20'. You would use 20' for this calculator with a 3% drop. Also, don't forget the fusing. MRBF fuse holder and fuse right on the battery terminal is my go to for any battery power wires.

Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems

circuitwizard.bluesea.com

Edit: see you mentioned only a couple of feet of cable, so you can get by with 4 or maybe even 6. I was remembering 10' mentioned in your other post.

 

[triplethreat]

Go with 2 awg. Assuming you have a 10' run there and so the total distance out and back is 20'. You would use 20' for this calculator with a 3% drop. Also, don't forget the fusing. MRBF fuse holder and fuse right on the battery terminal is my go to for any battery power wires.

Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems

circuitwizard.bluesea.com

LOL....I went with 2 awg on mine setup when I moved my converter/charger closer to the battery, and my C/C is only 43.x amp output. I used #2 welding cable and there is zero voltage drop thru there, even at 43A.

 

[coglesby]

You might want to think about #2 or #4 gauge....#3 is not a common size and may be more difficult to find lugs/connectors for. Not saying impossible, just harder to find.

My local Lowe’s has #3 by the foot.

 

[huntindog]

My local Lowe’s has #3 by the foot.

That is likely for residential applications. It hhas much thicker strands and is a much stiffer cable.

You want a cable with fine strands that is very flexible for mobile applications. Welding cable is good.

 

[triplethreat]

My local Lowe’s has #3 by the foot.

What @huntindog said above....it's stiff and doesn't carry as much current as the same gauge cable of finer strands and more of them. You'll also gain flexibility with something like the welding cable. Stiff/Rigid is never a great choice in a vehicle that goes bouncing up and down the road while travelling. 2awg welding cable is shown below in my installation.

 

[coglesby]

That is likely for residential applications. It hhas much thicker strands and is a much stiffer cable.

You want a cable with fine strands that is very flexible for mobile applications. Welding cable is good.

I have some cables that I use to connect between batteries and I’m going to use those on second thought. I’ll just cut the lug off the end I want to insert in the converter. Not sure of the gauge but definitely larger than 6.

 

[coglesby]

one battery?

Yes which was probably a bad idea because I don’t have any backup if it craps out. Too late to change. I may order a 100AH to put in parallel so I have backup.