Okay riddle me this batman!

[Extreme]

So I finally got everything concerning my Lithium Battery, Inverter/Charger and Monitor for my 2021 Imagine 2500rl that I pick up from Lazydays in Tucson Arizona. Yup traveling 500 miles from LA to Tucson for a dozen reasons but mostly because the Southern California Grand Design Dealers out here are a total joke. I could write a book on how terrible they are but lets move on.....

On a more happier note I pick up our 2021 Imagine 2500rl in mid April in which the dealership (Lazydays) is installing a 32" Fireplace, 2 sets of RV Locks, a 12V 206Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, Xantrex inverter/charger controller, Xantrex Bluetooth monitor and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Just kidding about the last part. Why this equipment (you ask) its because they will only warranty the items they sell.
And to be honest with you I just want to get this all done and start camping. I will retire from the Press Enterprise Newspaper on June 4th and will turn 71 this year and I just want to live a little with my lovely wife (Honey) and our 2 Golden Retrievers.

But this would not be a posting from me if I didn't have a question (see that's what Newbies do).
So let's say I'm dry camping for a couple of days and I run my Lithium 206Ah battery down to 60% full.
If I take the rig on a 4 hour drive at 60 mph to our next camping spot how much do you think the battery would be charged up to?
Keeping in mind it started the ride at only being 60% fully charged. Any way that's the question for the day!
Thanks everyone for all the great help on the battery in the past posts.....

 

[geotex1]

Answer, in general, will be pretty little charge. Depending upon what your tow vehicle is, there are options. One is installing a second alternator and running a heavy gauge charge cable back, with appropriate connectors, to recharge. Often this is too complex a task/expensive to put together so folks opt for a generator to handle the occasional task.

 

[Dick Noble]

What amps will your alternator put out? What truck do you have? I wonder if 4 hours will be enough?

 

[Dick Noble]

Sorry, just noticed that you do have your truck listed. I would bet that this larger Dodge would have a larger alternator, that might do the trick. You will have to drive it and then check your batteries.

 

[Extreme]

I am driving a 2021 F150 Crew Cab with a 3.5L V6 Ecoboost.
Not really too concerned about fully charging the battery while driving.
I do have a Champion 2500 Inverter Generator to handle a full recharge but I was just wondering.
I saw on the Channel "Long Long Honeymoon" that they had installed a special Alternator to do just that.
No thanks I'll stick with my Champion.............

 

[geotex1]

I am driving a 2021 F150 Crew Cab with a 3.5L V6 Ecoboost.
Not really too concerned about fully charging the battery while driving.
I do have a Champion 2500 Inverter Generator to handle a full recharge but I was just wondering.
I saw on the Channel "Long Long Honeymoon" that they had installed a special Alternator to do just that.
No thanks I'll stick with my Champion.............

Lol! Yeah, I've had all the crazy setups through the years with my hobbies. Lots of folks I know ordered their tow vehicle with the double alternator option to over-the-road charge. Sounds like you're set regardless.

 

[Scousers]

Good luck with the Tucson LD service department...I know!!!

 

[Heavysledz]

Your truck charging is limited due to the wire gauge and amp rating of the 7-pin pigtail. If you slap on some solar, that will also augment the charging while enroute and let you take advantage of all of that free Arizona sunshine.

 

[powerscol]

So I finally got everything concerning my Lithium Battery, Inverter/Charger and Monitor for my 2021 Imagine 2500rl that I pick up from Lazydays in Tucson Arizona. Yup traveling 500 miles from LA to Tucson for a dozen reasons but mostly because the Southern California Grand Design Dealers out here are a total joke. I could write a book on how terrible they are but lets move on.....

On a more happier note I pick up our 2021 Imagine 2500rl in mid April in which the dealership (Lazydays) is installing a 32" Fireplace, 2 sets of RV Locks, a 12V 206Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, Xantrex inverter/charger controller, Xantrex Bluetooth monitor and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Just kidding about the last part. Why this equipment (you ask) its because they will only warranty the items they sell.
And to be honest with you I just want to get this all done and start camping. I will retire from the Press Enterprise Newspaper on June 4th and will turn 71 this year and I just want to live a little with my lovely wife (Honey) and our 2 Golden Retrievers.

But this would not be a posting from me if I didn't have a question (see that's what Newbies do).
So let's say I'm dry camping for a couple of days and I run my Lithium 206Ah battery down to 60% full.
If I take the rig on a 4 hour drive at 60 mph to our next camping spot how much do you think the battery would be charged up to?
Keeping in mind it started the ride at only being 60% fully charged. Any way that's the question for the day!
Thanks everyone for all the great help on the battery in the past posts.....

Seriously consider getting a good bank of about 600W of solar with a MPPT controller and you wont need to worry about the driving time.

 

[CaptPicardo]

Welcome Extreme!

We were just over at LD Tucson 12/15-1/9/21. Great park overall and I've posted reviews. Very convenient. I agree with prior posters on your charge level, but then again, won't you just plugin when you get there and get'er all charged up? We're running parallel AGMs and never had an issue. We don't boondock enough to justify LioN/Solar (wife says I'm over budget already . I'm sure it will all work out and good to hear you are on the road!

Best,
Jeff

 

[Cahriad]

Your truck charging is limited due to the wire gauge and amp rating of the 7-pin pigtail. If you slap on some solar, that will also augment the charging while enroute and let you take advantage of all of that free Arizona sunshine.

There is also the option of bypassing the 7 pin circuit by adding a DC to DC charging circuit from his alternator. There are several vendors that make the dc to dc charger.

 

[Heavysledz]

There is also the option of bypassing the 7 pin circuit by adding a DC to DC charging circuit from his alternator. There are several vendors that make the dc to dc charger.

Agreed....I have a full compliment of Renogy solar equipment in my slide-in camper and am planning on adding their DC-DC charger to augment my charging options since I use this setup primarily for boondocking when not "glamping" in the GD.

 

[RV Sailor]

Congrats on getting unchained

Using the 7 pin will only not make much addition in 4 hours
Add solar or dc to dc charger.

 

[el Rojo]

Add solar, especially if your camping in the western states.

 

[Extreme]

Where can I find your review of the park?

Thanks.

 

[el Rojo]

Where can I find your review of the park?

Thanks.

Not sure who this question is for?

 

[Extreme]

Sorry that was my mistake...My Bad.

 

[deeuubee]

With the small wires and voltage drop from front of your truck to the RV battery, your lucky if it will get 8 amps of charge.

Figuring 4 hours driving, so 32Ah or 15% added back in to 155Ah out of 206Ah.

Just a rough guess mind you.

 

[Heavysledz]

With the small wires and voltage drop from front of your truck to the RV battery, your lucky if it will get 8 amps of charge.

Figuring 4 hours driving, so 32Ah or 15% added back in to 155Ah out of 206Ah.

Just a rough guess mind you.

Keep in mind the actual voltage....you need to exceed the battery voltage when charging in order get it to charge....if your voltage drop is significant enough, you may not see any charge from the TV.

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

With the small wires and voltage drop from front of your truck to the RV battery, your lucky if it will get 8 amps of charge.

Figuring 4 hours driving, so 32Ah or 15% added back in to 155Ah out of 206Ah.

Just a rough guess mind you.

Yes to the above, however, the LiFeP04 battery operates differently from a Lead Acid battery. Basically, the LiFePo4 battery operates at a higher voltage than the Lead Acid batteries and the LiFePo4 batteries do not experience the voltage drop that Lead Acid batteries do as they discharge. The voltage drop is what triggers the alternator to start charging the LA battery, with very little voltage drop, the alternator may not sense that your LiFePo4 battery needs to be charged and will not add any charge to the battery as you drive.

The best solution to charge your LiFePo4 battery while driving is to install a DC to DC converter that can up the voltage coming out of your truck to the 14.4v to 14.8v that your LiFePo4 battery needs for charging. Installing a DC to DC converter has the added advantage of protecting your truck's alternator from being over used (by the LiFePo4 battery) and burning out.