Lithium Battery Question

[geminijeff]

So...I installed a 100 Ah lithium battery in our camper in June. All seemed to work well at the time. We stored the camper for 30 days connected to shore power. However, when we returned this time the battery was completely discharged. Was hoping to get some advice on what was the cause of the discharge, instead of keeping the battery charged, and how to make sure that does not happen again.

Thanks...

 

[triplethreat]

So...I installed a 100 Ah lithium battery in our camper in June. All seemed to work well at the time. We stored the camper for 30 days connected to shore power. However, when we returned this time the battery was completely discharged. Was hoping to get some advice on what was the cause of the discharge, instead of keeping the battery charged, and how to make sure that does not happen again.

Thanks...

The most likely scenario is that you had the battery disconnect switch turned off and there was no charging going on for the battery. Even if you are plugged into shore power, which provides power to the Converter/Charger, if the battery switch was open/off, that power from the Converter/Charger cannot make it to the battery for charging. That's the very first thing I would check if I were you. Let us know what you find.

 

[geminijeff]

Thanks...that was exactly what it was...rookie mistake...

 

[triplethreat]

Thanks...that was exactly what it was...rookie mistake...

Glad to be able to help. We've all been there as a "rookie", no one starts out with years of experience.

 

[reubenray]

When I first got my Reflection I put it in storage and turned off the solar disconnect instead of the battery disconnect. A few weeks later the battery was dead. My disconnects were not labeled. We learn from our mistakes.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

Did your battery survive? Hopefully your battery has a BMS and it saved the battery from a zero volt condition.

Even when someone has years of experience it can be too easy to make a mistake with the batteries. I know from experience.

 

[reubenray]

Did your battery survive? Hopefully your battery has a BMS and it saved the battery from a zero volt condition.

Even when someone has years of experience it can be too easy to make a mistake with the batteries. I know from experience.

No, it did not. It was an AGM battery and the dealer replaced it with another AGM battery. I now have a lithium battery which I do not want to kill.

 

[geminijeff]

Hi...just checking in on this problem again...I have turned the battery disconnect switch on and it seemed to be charging, however, after day 3 it was discharged to 63%. I was able to turn the discharge switch from the app to the off position, but did not see that the battery was charging. What would be the next troubleshooting task?

 

[Riverbug]

Hi...just checking in on this problem again...I have turned the battery disconnect switch on and it seemed to be charging, however, after day 3 it was discharged to 63%. I was able to turn the discharge switch from the app to the off position, but did not see that the battery was charging. What would be the next troubleshooting task?

Do you have a battery monitor installed in the rig to see how much current if flowing? Clearly, there is something drawing power and you need to determine what it is. You may want to install a proper disconnect switch of your own on the cable that connects to the battery and before anything else in the system. That will provide full shut down of power to the entire system. Or, disconnect the negative wire.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

With battery turned on, RV plugged in, what A (current) does the battery app show? This indicates if battery is being charged or is providing power to RV. If zero amps is shown check that wires to battery are connected properly and that both RV on off switch is in correct position and if there is a shut off at the battery, that it is turned on.

 

[Jomani]

Hi...just checking in on this problem again...I have turned the battery disconnect switch on and it seemed to be charging, however, after day 3 it was discharged to 63%. I was able to turn the discharge switch from the app to the off position, but did not see that the battery was charging. What would be the next troubleshooting task?

There are a couple of possibilities. Since you have upgraded to LiFePo4, did you change the converter? Your 2022 303RLS most likely didn’t come with a lithium compatible converter (mine is a November 2021 build and it didn’t) It will still charge, but most likely will never reach 100% SOC.

If you have the 12v refrigerator (I believe they started using them mid season on the 2022 builds) you should also have solar. If you do have solar, you will need to disconnect it for this test.

To test your converter charge, disconnect the negative battery cable and give the battery about 10 minutes to rest. Check the battery voltage with a multimeter. Reconnect the battery cable and plug the rig into shore power. Check the voltage again. If your converter is working, you should see at least .5v increase in the voltage when plugged into shore power.

Again, if you have solar, you will need to disconnect the solar before doing this test. Since we have the same rig, you might want to take a look at some of the electrical videos I did - link to my channel in my signature line.

 

[Butcher]

Is there a LifePo4 battery that does not have a low/high voltage cut off? By design, it's got to have a BMS and it must have those settings. Sure, there might be junk out there that it did not work, but the main purpose of the BMS is to shut off for low/high voltage.