Lithium Battery Install Experience

[phalconfixer]

In preparation for next years Alaska trip I installed a 230 ah LiTime battery and waited to see what happened. As expected the Wfco converter remained in LA mode. I contacted Wfco and they replied back that the battery needs to be discharged and the solar panels disconnected. Discharging a new battery didn't sound right so I contacted LiTime. They replied back saying not to discharge the battery and the that the Wfco is a known problem. I bought a LiTime charger to get a full charge and later what do I see, the Wfco went into Lithium mode. Later the battery monitor shows 14.4 v so the battery seems to be charged. We'll see how the new battery performs as we hope to do a bit of boondocks.

Safe travels,
Jim

 

[Second Chance]

Thread moved to Electrical System and Wiring.

Rob

 

[traveldawg]

In preparation for next years Alaska trip I installed a 230 ah LiTime battery and waited to see what happened. As expected the Wfco converter remained in LA mode. I contacted Wfco and they replied back that the battery needs to be discharged and the solar panels disconnected. Discharging a new battery didn't sound right so I contacted LiTime. They replied back saying not to discharge the battery and the that the Wfco is a known problem. I bought a LiTime charger to get a full charge and later what do I see, the Wfco went into Lithium mode. Later the battery monitor shows 14.4 v so the battery seems to be charged. We'll see how the new battery performs as we hope to do a bit of boondocks.

Safe travels,
Jim

There is probably a lesson-to-be-learned here: that is to get the battery fully charged before putting it on the WFCO charger. The problem might be how to get it fully charged. I carry a low amperage (10 amp) battery charger with me for the truck batteries for just-in-case emergencies and it has a flooded, AGM and Li settings; maybe that might be a way to do it.

Probably the other lesson is not to trust what the help desk at WFCO suggests. Although it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the battery had been discharged and then recharged via the WFCO.

Another thought - was LiTime just trying to sell a charger? just sayin'.... gotta wonder....