New Epoch 460ah Battery, need new converter charger

[NVBushpilot]

Hey all!

Newbie here. I've got a 2022 Reflection 311BHS. It has the 12V Fridge, furrion solar controller, 165W solar, and a NON-lithium converter/charger.

I purchased 1 Epoch 460AH battery and it kept everything going for 2 nights and 3 days out boon docking with cloud cover the whole time. When I got home and plugged the trailer into shore power it wouldn't charge the battery back up at all it seems. I have to use the charger that came with the battery. Also the furrion solar controller keeps switching back to the AGM setting. I know the solar controller won't fully charge that battery, but it doesn't seem to charge it at all, same with the converter/charger in the trailer.

Now when I get back from a trip I end up plugging in the charger that came with the battery, charging it up to 100% then shutting off the battery via the button on the battery.

1st Question: When storing the trailer between trips, which breakers/Battery switches should I leave on? (I'm assuming the main breaker and converter)

2nd Question: Any recommendations on the simplest way to change out the converter/charger and a recommended model?

Thanks All!

 

[Thorvald]

Now that you have a good battery, toss the converter/charger and move to a nice Victron Multiplus (2000 or 3000). That will give you a killer inverter/charger that can easily charge that battery properly from shore power and the Epoch can talk directly to the Victron ecosystem (need a CerboGx for that). It’s a lot to discuss here so you might want to do some surfing and video watching first.

The cost of a lithium converter upgrade could be better invested in a Victron setup. Toss that Furrion garbage and get a Victron SmartSolar of the same or larger size. Then you have access to the app on your phone to see the performance etc.

I don’t turn any breakers off when storing (except for turning off the AC units if I am not on shore power), the solar panels easily keep up with any demands of the fridges etc and my battery is similar size to yours so cloudy days are not an issue. Victron has a free web portal so you can monitor your system anywhere to make sure the battery didn’t get too low and even if it does you can set the Multiplus to turn off all AC power if the battery gets too low. The Epoch as well will shut down if it’s voltage gets too low.

Note when I say “toss” I mean you simple turn off the breaker to the WFCO charger/converter or disconnect it. The Multiplus does it all afterwards.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Well, if you are like me Victron stuff is too pricey and...I don't need an inverter. So I would just replace your Non-lithium converter with a powermax and be done. depending on size you go with you may have to 'up' wire size.

 

[kb0zke]

One of the first things I did was toss the Furrion solar controller as it reverted to AGM every night and I had to reset it each morning. I've put in Victron stuff pretty much all the way (left the original Furrion readout for now). I replaced the original converter with a PD one capable of charging LIFePO4 batteries, then removed it when we put in the MultiPlus II. I think it is still back at The Ranch, but we won't be back there until Thanksgiving, so can't say for sure, and no way to get it to you anyway.

 

[NVBushpilot]

Now that you have a good battery, toss the converter/charger and move to a nice Victron Multiplus (2000 or 3000). That will give you a killer inverter/charger that can easily charge that battery properly from shore power and the Epoch can talk directly to the Victron ecosystem (need a CerboGx for that). It’s a lot to discuss here so you might want to do some surfing and video watching first.

The cost of a lithium converter upgrade could be better invested in a Victron setup. Toss that Furrion garbage and get a Victron SmartSolar of the same or larger size. Then you have access to the app on your phone to see the performance etc.

I don’t turn any breakers off when storing (except for turning off the AC units if I am not on shore power), the solar panels easily keep up with any demands of the fridges etc and my battery is similar size to yours so cloudy days are not an issue. Victron has a free web portal so you can monitor your system anywhere to make sure the battery didn’t get too low and even if it does you can set the Multiplus to turn off all AC power if the battery gets too low. The Epoch as well will shut down if it’s voltage gets too low.

Note when I say “toss” I mean you simple turn off the breaker to the WFCO charger/converter or disconnect it. The Multiplus does it all afterwards.

Is the Victron Multiplus complicated to install? We don't have a good RV repair shop anywhere near by so I have to do the install myself.

What would the inverter be useful for?

 

[NVBushpilot]

Well, if you are like me Victron stuff is too pricey and...I don't need an inverter. So I would just replace your Non-lithium converter with a powermax and be done. depending on size you go with you may have to 'up' wire size.

Is that powermax pretty simple to install?

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Is that powermax pretty simple to install?

Simple as any other converter. Just remove the one you have and stick the PowerMax in it's place. Same if you choose a Progressive Dynamics. I just don't think the PD is as good as the Powermax...just my opinion.

If you are going to the Victron Multiplus....it is a lot more work..but it does a lot more things. If 120vac is a 'need' for you, it is a good option. But for me it does things I just do not require.

 

[Thorvald]

Is the Victron Multiplus complicated to install? We don't have a good RV repair shop anywhere near by so I have to do the install myself.

What would the inverter be useful for?

Ah that question tells me that you should likely follow others advice and replace the converter. Solar setups are a whole rat hole that you can spend forever on (and deep wallets).

Inverter is to power the coach on AC from the battery, to do things like run the AC for a short while, etc. If you don’t need an inverter now, no need to go that crazy. It was just rare to see someone but such a large battery without possibly planning to do a full solar inverter upgrade as well.

 

[BoredWeasel]

Replace the solar charge controller with a victron.

The biggy with the multiplus inverter/charger install is the cost, the unit is roughly $1k and if you cant do it yourself expect another $500-$1k for labor.

 

[Butcher]

I swapped my stock converter to a 100A Powermax converter. Mostly because with the 600ah batteries I installed, I wanted a faster charge. I had to up the circuit breaker to 20A because the 15A would trip sometimes. I checked, the distribution panel is rated to 20A on that circuit.

The converter seemed to only be putting out 50A the last few trips out. Since this converter was only a couple years old, I elected to swap it out to something larger. I recently purchased a 125A from Recpro. With the additional 600ah [now a total of 1200ah] I figured it was justified.

I have not had time to put it in, but like others have stated, it's pretty simple. Unplug the one in your trailer, remove the power/ground cables, and swap it out. Remember, if you are getting something around 100A, the circuit breaker might need to be changed out. Check your circuit rating, just because mine was ok to 20A does not mean yours is ok.

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