Solar and Battery question

ricknaz

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RV LIFE Pro
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Nov 12, 2023
Messages
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Hello all
We have a 2023 Solitude 382WB, which includes the 12 volt refrigerator, 2 330W solar panels, 50 amp controller, WFCO 9855-AD Converter and 2000W inverter. My LA batteries took a dump when we had to stay in a hotel for 3 nights with no shore power to our rig.
I need to replace my batteries and was considering Lithium and I'm hoping it would be a easy swap. We don't generally boondock but there are times when we have to dry camp for a night.
Will 2 Lithium batteries allow me to boondock for 1 night with minimal power usage such as the fidge, some lights, maybe a cpap machine.
If so, would 2 100ah Lithium batteries work? Are the cheaper LiFeP04 batteries a good choice?

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
The two batteries should handle minimal lighting and the refrigerator, but RV power use varies a lot by user and location.. You will probably need to replace the wiring from battery to converter with heavier gauge and upsize the breaker. Lead acid batteries limit the current, but LiFePOs will draw closer to the full converter output.
 
The two batteries should handle minimal lighting and the refrigerator, but RV power use varies a lot by user and location.. You will probably need to replace the wiring from battery to converter with heavier gauge and upsize the breaker. Lead acid batteries limit the current, but LiFePOs will draw closer to the full converter output.

What could be done without upgrading the wire as that would be more than I could afford and want to do at this time.
 
Long as you don't put a big converter in the wires should be fine . Stock amp converter in mine no issues with wire size .
 
Hello all
We have a 2023 Solitude 382WB, which includes the 12 volt refrigerator, 2 330W solar panels, 50 amp controller, WFCO 9855-AD Converter and 2000W inverter. My LA batteries took a dump when we had to stay in a hotel for 3 nights with no shore power to our rig.
I need to replace my batteries and was considering Lithium and I'm hoping it would be a easy swap. We don't generally boondock but there are times when we have to dry camp for a night.
Will 2 Lithium batteries allow me to boondock for 1 night with minimal power usage such as the fidge, some lights, maybe a cpap machine.
If so, would 2 100ah Lithium batteries work? Are the cheaper LiFeP04 batteries a good choice?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Look at the printing on the cables running from your battery bank to your inverter. In our case the OEM set up for a 2000W inverter has 4/0 cables and will handle the draw from a 200ah battery bank (2 100ah 12v batteries in parallel), and higher.

Check out LiTimes current offering for LiFePO batteries. you can get a couple of 12v 200ah batteries for what 100ah’s cost a few years ago and double your capacity for about the same space. If you are going to put the batteries in a un heated space consider getting batteries that have either low temp cut-off or are self heating if they will be subject to below freezing temps as LiFePO batteries can be damaged if charged below 32 degrees (but not a issue to draw from).

One other consideration is to check that your WFCO converter/charger can be set to charge LiFePO batteries (if not you may need to swap out). Your MPPT should have a setting for lithium/LiFePO.

While this may seem like a lot of extra work, you will appreciate the near zero maintenance of LiFePO batteries and the fact you can use the full potential of them (vs only 50% of a lead acid battery as you have found out).
 
Hello all
We have a 2023 Solitude 382WB, which includes the 12 volt refrigerator, 2 330W solar panels, 50 amp controller, WFCO 9855-AD Converter and 2000W inverter. My LA batteries took a dump when we had to stay in a hotel for 3 nights with no shore power to our rig.
I need to replace my batteries and was considering Lithium and I'm hoping it would be a easy swap. We don't generally boondock but there are times when we have to dry camp for a night.
Will 2 Lithium batteries allow me to boondock for 1 night with minimal power usage such as the fidge, some lights, maybe a cpap machine.
If so, would 2 100ah Lithium batteries work? Are the cheaper LiFeP04 batteries a good choice?

Any advice would be appreciated.

My take is Yes, with a couple of LiFePo4 batteries you should be fine overnight. Your charger/converter is already lithium aware and you have plenty of solar potential. I'd suggest two 200 Ah batteries, that could even get you two nights.
 
What could be done without upgrading the wire as that would be more than I could afford and want to do at this time.

It’s a good possibility upgrading batteries won’t work without also upgrading the wire between the batteries and converter and upsizing the breaker. Many people find that when they upgrade to LiFePO batteries the charging current exceeds 30A and the breaker in that line trips often. Changing the wire and breaker is a fairly simple job and won’t be expensive. You’ll just have to see what is there.

The characteristics of lead-acid batteries limited the charge current even though the converter was capable of more.
 
Look at the printing on the cables running from your battery bank to your inverter. In our case the OEM set up for a 2000W inverter has 4/0 cables and will handle the draw from a 200ah battery bank (2 100ah 12v batteries in parallel), and higher.

Check out LiTimes current offering for LiFePO batteries. you can get a couple of 12v 200ah batteries for what 100ah’s cost a few years ago and double your capacity for about the same space. If you are going to put the batteries in a un heated space consider getting batteries that have either low temp cut-off or are self heating if they will be subject to below freezing temps as LiFePO batteries can be damaged if charged below 32 degrees (but not a issue to draw from).

One other consideration is to check that your WFCO converter/charger can be set to charge LiFePO batteries (if not you may need to swap out). Your MPPT should have a setting for lithium/LiFePO.

While this may seem like a lot of extra work, you will appreciate the near zero maintenance of LiFePO batteries and the fact you can use the full potential of them (vs only 50% of a lead acid battery as you have found out).

I checked the wire size as you suggested but didn't see any size marked on it. It looks to be quite heavy with the outside diameter of 3/4 inch. The converter will work with the Lithium batteries. The converter sits behind the fuse/CB panels on one side of the pass-through storage and the batteries are on the other side of the pass-through storage sitting in the front storage bay with no heat, so running new wire might be a challenge.
 
I apologize on cutting in on thread, but following as in similar upgrade (already have 280Ah LiTime and changed out inverter).

What would you suggest as a replacement for the 30A breaker on Buss Bar?

Also, any reason that due to charge rate of converter it would not be more prudent to relocate the converter to be near battery/shunt, and rewire to internal fuse panel (as is currently wired)? I am bugged by the fact that there is not a return ground from converter to battery area/shunt but rather a local ground location to chassis.

Sincerely,

David
 
It’s a good possibility upgrading batteries won’t work without also upgrading the wire between the batteries and converter and upsizing the breaker. Many people find that when they upgrade to LiFePO batteries the charging current exceeds 30A and the breaker in that line trips often. Changing the wire and breaker is a fairly simple job and won’t be expensive. You’ll just have to see what is there.

The characteristics of lead-acid batteries limited the charge current even though the converter was capable of more.

Are you saying if the wire isn't heavy enough,4/0 wire, the charging current increases using the Lithium batteries and would trip the CB? There is a 20 amp breaker installed for the converter now. Would I need to change that to a 30 amp or higher? It looks like I have the 4/0 wire as it is 3/4 inch thick wire which correlates with 4/0 wire.
 
Are you saying if the wire isn't heavy enough,4/0 wire, the charging current increases using the Lithium batteries and would trip the CB? There is a 20 amp breaker installed for the converter now. Would I need to change that to a 30 amp or higher? It looks like I have the 4/0 wire as it is 3/4 inch thick wire which correlates with 4/0 wire.

If you have 4/0 to the converter, it will be fine, but I’m betting you don’t. I’d be surprised if you have a.20A breaker on the converter feed. You’ll need to follow the wiring and verify. My 55A converter provides 36A to myLiFePO, and the original breaker was 30A.
 
If you have 4/0 to the converter, it will be fine, but I’m betting you don’t. I’d be surprised if you have a.20A breaker on the converter feed. You’ll need to follow the wiring and verify. My 55A converter provides 36A to myLiFePO, and the original breaker was 30A.

I just checked and all wiring is #6 except the Inverter wiring is 4/0. #6 wire from the batteries through 2 terminals, battery disconnect to the DC power fuse panel that runs under the pass-through storage and the Converter output to the DC fuse panel would all need to be changed to 4/0 wire? The input of the Converter is from an AC receptacle on the AC CB panel There is a 20-amp CB that is labeled Converter on the AC panel.
I will have to look at this a little deeper. It is sounding too much for me to do. I may just look for some different type of batteries to use that will work with the setup I have.
Thanks
 
What amp converter are you using. I have a 55amp output.

You list 6-gauge from your converter, which is plenty for a 55 Amp converter. And 4|0 for the inverter is fine as well. Two LiFePo4 batteries will support your stated needs. I recommend wiring them in parallel (4-gauge wire) using positive and negative bus bars. These bus bars have worked well for me, with just two batteries you could get by with Battery Junction Posts. It is probably best to use 2|0 cables from the bus bars/posts to the positive and negative connections to support the 200 Amp potential output from your batteries. See this chart for more information on cable sizing.
 
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I just checked and all wiring is #6 except the Inverter wiring is 4/0. #6 wire from the batteries through 2 terminals, battery disconnect to the DC power fuse panel that runs under the pass-through storage and the Converter output to the DC fuse panel would all need to be changed to 4/0 wire? The input of the Converter is from an AC receptacle on the AC CB panel There is a 20-amp CB that is labeled Converter on the AC panel.
I will have to look at this a little deeper. It is sounding too much for me to do. I may just look for some different type of batteries to use that will work with the setup I have.
Thanks

Wiring is probably good, but you need to look for a circuit breaker in the DC line between the battery and the converter. Probably near the battery.
 
Wiring is probably good, but you need to look for a circuit breaker in the DC line between the battery and the converter. Probably near the battery.

There isn't a CB between the battery and converter only the battery disconnect.
Should there be one?
 
I have my Lithium batteries and am now wondering if I can install them without charging them first as I don't have an external charger.
We'll be on shore power when I install them so I'm hoping the converter/charger will charge them.
Am I thinking correctly about this? Thanks
 
I have my Lithium batteries and am now wondering if I can install them without charging them first as I don't have an external charger.
We'll be on shore power when I install them so I'm hoping the converter/charger will charge them.
Am I thinking correctly about this? Thanks

Converter will charge them, but your manufacturer probably has instructions for connecting them in parallel that generally includes charging them individually first.
 

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