How did you address the higher charge voltage (14.4) required to bring lithium’s up to 100% charge? Or are you just directly replacing your lead acids “drop and go?”
Hey Jerry! We are installing an AIMS inverter/charger which has a Lithium specific charge cycle setting built in. Doing this will make our factory installed "converter" that currently charge's the batteries unnecessary and it will be removed completely. You're correct, most factory installed converters are for lead acid or agm batteries only. You always want to make certain that what ever charging device you will be using be it a solar charge controller, inverter/charger or converter is compatible with the lithium battery manufacturers charging specifications for the batteries you're installing. Hope this helps! - Dennis ✌️
This was very, very, very informative. I wish this video(and LiON) was available 10 years ago. I've been through so many batteries! You two work really well together. Happy to have found you on UA-cam! Thank you!
Obviously NEXGEN donated/discounted these batteries to you in exchange for doing the video. Now available for all Escapees members- special pricing on Battle Born lithium batteries! You can now purchase their 100Ah 12V deep cycle (non-GC2) batteries for an exclusive price of $874 per battery, plus a 15% discount on accessories (after purchase of battery, excludes cable and micro air soft starts). Members also have the ability to upfit their club discounted batteries free-of-charge within the first four years of their purchase with the latest upgrades at Battle Born HQ in Reno, NV.
You guys always have great information to share and do it so even newbies can understand. We've had travel trailers in the past but just bought a Class C. I'm looking forward to your next couple of videos on inverters and solar panels. The hubby is not mr. handy so it's up to me to do the research and decide what plan works for us. Big thank you for what you do! You guys are so much fun to watch.
Thank you so much for the compliments! 🤩 We will do our best to keep the videos as simple to understand as possible. Off grid setups have a lot of moving parts but once you see it done it's pretty easy to grasp. What model class c did yall buy? - Dennis ✌️
You're video was very informative. In the past I've worked in the automotive parts industry and have worked closely with Deca Battery company. In fact Ive been to their plant. I just want to say that lead acid and AGM batteries don't typically end up in land fills. Nearly 100% of the battery is recycled and is used to manufacture new batteries.
Enjoy your videos. I see you switch to lithium batteries in the sprinter did you have to change anything as far as the charger goes in the sprinter and do they charge well driving down the road
Very nice job on the batteries... Not sure if it was in some of the questions but, as with my ForestRiver Work And Play, I did call the manufacturer about adding some solar and LITHIUM batteries... The could only go so far as to say (liability) that with my unit, the PD4000 controller DOES HAVE A SWITCH specifically for moving between Wet/AGM and Lithium. That being said this could apply to others. (mini switch on the control board). Nice job!
I really want to put a full solar system on our RV. I want to install the whole thing my self. So many videos out, makes it hard to know what's right🤔 Lithium batteries are differently the way to go.👍
Yes, setting up an "off grid" system from scratch can be very overwhelming! We will be releasing more videos soon about the rest of the off grid system we are building. So please stay tuned! In the mean time our buds at @imnotlostimrving have created a very comprehensive series of videos about everything off grid that's definitely worth watching! - Dennis✌️
Excellent info! This is exactly why we went with a Lithium battery for our travel trailer. It was expensive but we have not regretted our decision. The only problem we have had is that we spent a lot of the last month in Reno, NV with temperatures often below freezing. You can't (shouldn't) charge a Lithium battery when the temp is below freezing. Fortunately, we had a FHU site so we did not have to worry about it. :)
It's actually below 4 degrees I believe. And it's rare your battery bay will get that cold. It may be that cold outside but rarely is the inside or interior of your coach that cold. Any battery doesn't charge as efficiently when it's cold. Glad you're enjoying the batteries - Liz
@@EatSeeRV, you can charge Lithium batteries with temps lower but "When it comes to recharging lithium-ion batteries, however, there's one hard and fast rule: to prevent irreversible damage to the battery, don't charge them when the temperature falls below freezing (0°C or 32°F) without reducing the charge current." I just disconnect the cable, so I didn't take a chance. One must reduce the charge current to a very small amount. On many travel trailers (like ours) the battery is located outside behind the propane tanks. It gets very cold there. We still love our Lithiums though. :)
I have 3 LiPo that I'm using. The best way to go IMOP. I have been testing them for a while. Over night we will pull them down about 35% from full charge. That's running the inverter for TV and everything else. My solar will put out 800 watts and I can fully recharge them if I chase the sun around with the 500 watt ground array. So make sure to think ahead when setting up your solar. You should also be careful because your alternator may need to be changed so you can adjust the voltage output since it also charges the LiPos while driving. Many stock alternators can over charge them because they run at 14.2 to 14.8 volts all the time. My ford will run up to 14.0 then it cuts back down to 13.2 for the float stage. So I have mine set up so I can connect or disconnect them while driving. I spent many hours finding a way to make things can back up each other. So I can charge 3 way and if my truck alternator fails I can still drive off the trailer batteries OR solar OR off the generator if needed.. I have a 3 way fail-safe.
Haha! You learn as you RV. Although putting in an easy to understand way can be a little more difficult. You should have seen our outtakes that didn't make it to the video! - Liz
I still can't justify lithiums despite all the advantages you mention. Your presumptions for costs analysis seem unrealistic. Most of us don't own our coaches long enough to have to replace AGM's as many times as you imply. Plus, you don't include the added costs associated with lithiums beyond their base. Many if not most inverter and solar chargers, esp. on older rigs, are not ideal for charging lithiums. They shouldn't be discharged or charged at very high or low ambient temperatures, and we've encountered both super-high and very low temps during our travels. Some owners have to add special heaters. Special charge monitors are commonly necessary. Quotes for converting my '06 diesel coach to 4 house lithium Battleborns, LiOns, LifeBlues, etc., range from $4000 to over $5000 for just parts, and between $7000 to as high as $9000 with professional labor. Replacing my 4 6v Interstate GC2 (U2200) wet cells would be less than $400 (from Costco). Quality US Battery (U.S. Johnson Controls) or Full River (Chinese-built) AGM's around $1100. Yes, lithiums commonly have 10 year warranties. But as I implied, we likely won't have the coach that much longer. Plus, I just got over 12 years out of my wet Interstate Workaholics. The main reason I'm changing formats (to AGM's) is the wet cell gassing that meant regular battery tray corrosion cleanups I got tired of as they aged. Power-wise they worked fine for that period.
The other benefit to Li's is they have a much faster rate of recharging. Less solar absorption, less gen time to fully charge. Battleborn now has heated battery "wraps" that I believe turn on to keep the batteries warm. I think they kick on at 40 degrees to keep the batteries above that 28 degree problem. Can't wait to see your solar upgrade. We'll possibly buy a Class C also and solar will be a definite addition.
Definitely! Our lithiums (Battle Borns) charge much faster than the lead acid batteries we had. However, Battle Born's heat wraps are grossly over priced for what they are. We'd buy them if they were like $50 each but not at $200. But some people will say, "Hurry up and take my money!" LOL
@@drinkinslim Wow, that is way over priced for what they are. Probably some other after market battery wraps somewhere. Otherwise I would be tempted to sacrifice storage space somewhere in the coach. Keep a cabinet door open to let them stay all nice and warm.
@Drinkinslim Whoa that's a lot of dough! 🤯 @Richard Koch I was seriously considering the wraps after I saw them on the KYD install. But, not for that money. Plus, our batteries will be snuggled up inside of our desk install in the living area of the coach🔥 - Dennis ✌️
I really wish you two had not done this video. Now all I can think about is what to replace my house battery with. I am blaming you, just to deflect my wife's eye rolling. LOL Seriously though, well done. Informative, but not over the top and it really helps that you have experience with a variety of batteries. Happy travels and Merry Christmas.
🤣😂😆I hope you wife doesn't hold a grudge too long! So glad you enjoyed the video & thank you so much for the compliments! Let us know what you end up installing. Happy Holidays & safe travels! - Dennis🤙
Great video! My question is, did you guys had to upgrade your cable and electrical system in order to have your lithium ion batteries compatible with your stock RV? Most RVs need upgrading when it comes to adding lithium batteries, if you guys did this what was your additional cost in order to make batteries and rig compatible? And what changes did you make? Thanks! 👋🏻
Good overview of the battery selection pros/cons. In your research did you determine the advantages of two 6-volt batteries connected in series versus two 12-volt batteries connected in parallel?
Yes, the AGM bank we installed in our fifth wheel was four 6v batteries wired in series. The advantage with 6v is usually they will have more usable amp hours per battery over 12v batteries. So, wiring two 6v batteries together in series will give you more usable amp hours over wiring two 12v batteries in parallel. But, 6v batteries are usually physically larger and heavier than 12v batteries. So, you'll have to determine if the space and weight trade off is worth it, or even possible, for the install location in your rig. The difference in wiring is only to turn the 6v batteries into 12v so that they are compatible with the 12v system installed in your RV. Hope this helps! - Dennis⚡️
I love when you guys do tech type of videos. This one was spot on and great visual comparisons of the different battery types. Lithium is awesome like you said, if you can afford it up front. When we finally get solar we will also go lithium on the battery bank. Saving is in progress :-)
Hello Dennis I wonder where did you place the lithium Batteries in the RV, Did you have to use heated blankets to keep them warm? Is there any videos you have posted regarding the install? Thanks
Hi Flomaks, yeah both our RV renovation reveal video and the "How we boondock" video show the location. They are installed underneath the pantry extension we added. No need for heat blankets since they're inside the living area! - Dennis ✌️
Honestly I have no idea about the reuse cycle of lithium. Now that you've asked I'll be doing some personal research. It definitely exists though as electric car manufacturers world-wide have battery swap programs. There are electric battery blankets you can purchase to keep your lithium batteries warm. But from our research what will harm lithium batteries in cold weather is charging. So if your RV is in storage through the frigid months and you're not charging the batteries you should be good to go with lithium. Hope this helps! - Dennis ✌️
Do you need special chargers for lithium. For example the alternator on your motorhome does it need to be changed? house battery charger? solar charger?
Yes, batteries don't like extreme cold. We didn't do the comparison here because if your going to be staying in weather far below freezing often or for longer periods of time then you should find a solution to keep your battery bank bay or battery area warm regardless of the type of battery. - Liz
@@EatSeeRV Actually it's much more than that !! Some batteries will not even take a charge approaching , or at freezing . So if you lose your heating source you are done . Some will be destroyed if frozen . My only point was / is . PEOPLE if you plan to be in weather that will be at or below ZERO , the battery type can make a BIG difference !!! Always ask about weather related issues if you plan to be out in the winter . Then there are storage considerations if you store it ( camper/Rv ) for winter . Some people up here in the north go with the flooded acid type because just like your CAR battery , it/ they CAN take the COLD weather , and YES as you pointed out there are some real negatives with them !!! Have a good one & a nice Xmas ... gubs
One downside and one thing to be careful of using Lithium (LiFePo4) batteries is that they can be destroyed if charged below freezing temperatures. Some (not all) batteries will have built in protection built into their BMS to prevent charging at those temperatures. That's something to check for.
Yes BMS are always a great addition. Most batteries don't like cold, and it has to be significantly cold. Definitely something to be aware of but I don't think it should stop you from getting LiFePo4 batteries.
Cost of lithium has come way down. An SOK 100ah battery is about $550 with a 10yr warranty. You get about 8k cycles to 80% capacity. You can get a heated version for slightly more.
You Absolutely 💯% misspoke about the AGMs going into the Landfills. Traditional and AGM Batteries are a recyclable product!! Your Lithium Batteries are not Successfully being Recycled👎 You also didn't mention the fact that you can't just hookup Lithium batteries in your Rv without the costly charging system also 😉 Plus the fact that cold weather can greatly Negatively Effect the performance of Lithium Batteries 😲🤭
IMO - Low voltage, below 48 volts, is inadequate for Mobile requirements and weight limits. ... 1200 Watt DC load / 12 volt system = 100 Amps 1200 Watt DC Load / 24 volt system = 50 Amps 1200 Watt DC load /48 volt system = 25 Amps "A wire of a given size can carry four times as much power at 48 volts" ... To draw 2000 Watt-Hours (Wh), daily, would use 42 Amps from a 48 volt Battery Bank (not factoring losses).
I have to agree that LiFePO4 is the way to go. Fantastic Video! But I also must say pending the type of camping one does the 6V Golf Cart Battery will be the way to go as well. See What Im trying to say is my wife and I can afford the Lithium-Ion Batteries but we camp 3-4 mo out of the yr.and boon dock most of it. So for us we spent $450.00 on 6 golf cart batters 3yrs ago for 300 usable amp hrs. vs 3k. We installed a 100mp 3 stage charger so when the batteries do get low 60% or 2 days we fire up that nasty fossil fuel burning generator (champion) and top them off in 4-6hrs. that works well for us. 50 charge cycles a yr or we will replace them in 8 yrs rather needed or not. Let me a sure you we abuse them TV going when we are in the Camper hair dryers running in the morning and hotdogs for lunch in the microwave lol thats to fun but so true Great Job keep It Up guys SteveOOO Happy travels and Merry Christmas We pull out of MN for FL Jan 15
Nice! Your battery bank & camping style is a great example of building an off grid setup that blends all the lines, Available space, budget, and time spent off grid! Congrats on being diligent enough to keep them above 60%! I'll admit I'm lazy when it comes to that🤦 Where in FL will you be camping? Will you be in town for the Tampa RV super show? - Dennis ✌️
@@EatSeeRV Yes sir no birds for me! We go down to the keys, but moma is telling me that we are going some were around Gainesville FL, I will loose as you no. I really dont care as long as we are above -0 and I can fish. Yes boondock it is, I only need a dump station for the black tank every 2 weeks gray water gets filtered/cleaned and dumped in the yard.
13:42 Hey. I like your info, well explained. But old batteries do not end up in the dump, they are recycled. Ex: Each car size battery can be sold for approx. 10$... So most of them are recycled. Also, if 2 lithium 12volts batteries worth approx. $2000, I'd be scared to leave my RV alone while on vacation... It's like keeping a bar of gold in your RV... :) Tks.
I don't think Many people would break into an RV for the batteries. They'd probably steal electronics or look for jewelery and such just like in a home. But if that's what's makes you feel more comfortable go for it
I heard that the LiFePO batteries won't charge when they get too cold. What temperatures cause these issues and have you had problems with lower temperature charging?
You forgot the deep cycle batteries that are between agm and lithium. Also lithium can not cope with cold environments and they stop working if the temperature drop.
No batteries like extremely cold weather, and the chances for your battery bank to get get well below freezing for a long period of time is unlikely. If it's a concern you can get heating pads, or put them inside your couch. - Liz
It depends on what you want to do with your rv. We upgraded because our lead acid didn't hold charges well after abuse from lack of knowledge on preserving battery life and not having a way to monitor use off grid. The upgrade was worth it as we boondock frequently and your batteries are the life house of boondocking. - Liz
Yes, if you switch from lead acid you will need to upgrade your charging system to be compatible with lithium. Most converter/chargers that come stock in RVs are for lead acid only. Since we did the entire system at the same time. We knew we were installing the Aims Power 2000 watt inverter/charger that has a selectable lithium charge cycle built into it, effectively deleting the stock converter/charger that came with the RV. I hope this helps! - Dennis
You should check with your RVs manufacturer about the charging specs of your converter to make sure its compatible with the charging specs on the battery you decide to install. That would be about the only thing to worry about, if all you are doing is upgrading the from lead acid to lithium. Good question! I guess we overlooked mentioning this as we will be deleting our factory converter when we install our AIMS Inverter/Charger. - Dennis ✌️
No particular reason. EVERYONE had battle born, so we wanted to expand into a different market so there was content for others who may go with an alternative brand. We also liked that this is sold in Camping Worlds, so if something ever happened we could go to the store to exchange or work with our warranty rather than have to have it shipped. - Liz
How did you address the higher charge voltage (14.4) required to bring lithium’s up to 100% charge? Or are you just directly replacing your lead acids “drop and go?”
Hey Jerry! We are installing an AIMS inverter/charger which has a Lithium specific charge cycle setting built in.
Doing this will make our factory installed "converter" that currently charge's the batteries unnecessary and it will be removed completely.
You're correct, most factory installed converters are for lead acid or agm batteries only.
You always want to make certain that what ever charging device you will be using be it a solar charge controller, inverter/charger or converter is compatible with the lithium battery manufacturers charging specifications for the batteries you're installing.
Hope this helps! - Dennis ✌️
im waiting on solid state batteries for my schoolie rv conversion
This was very, very, very informative. I wish this video(and LiON) was available 10 years ago. I've been through so many batteries! You two work really well together. Happy to have found you on UA-cam! Thank you!
Obviously NEXGEN donated/discounted these batteries to you in exchange for doing the video.
Now available for all Escapees members- special pricing on Battle Born lithium batteries! You can now purchase their 100Ah 12V deep cycle (non-GC2) batteries for an exclusive price of $874 per battery, plus a 15% discount on accessories (after purchase of battery, excludes cable and micro air soft starts). Members also have the ability to upfit their club discounted batteries free-of-charge within the first four years of their purchase with the latest upgrades at Battle Born HQ in Reno, NV.
Nice didn't know that! We're not Escapees members so I wasn't aware.
Great explaining. I know nothing about batteries. I'm new to the camping world and your explanations was very good!!
You guys always have great information to share and do it so even newbies can understand. We've had travel trailers in the past but just bought a Class C. I'm looking forward to your next couple of videos on inverters and solar panels. The hubby is not mr. handy so it's up to me to do the research and decide what plan works for us. Big thank you for what you do! You guys are so much fun to watch.
Thank you so much for the compliments! 🤩
We will do our best to keep the videos as simple to understand as possible.
Off grid setups have a lot of moving parts but once you see it done it's pretty easy to grasp.
What model class c did yall buy? - Dennis ✌️
Great beginning breakdown of batteries. Helped a great deal as we transition from off-road teardrop boondocking to RV.
Glad it helped! - Liz
Thanks for the video, easy and helpful and not overly complicated. You have a new subscriber!
Yay, glad you liked it!
Thank you for watching and subscribing! - Dennis ✌️
Right on, guys! perfectly explained for me Safe travels
Glad it helped!
You're video was very informative. In the past I've worked in the automotive parts industry and have worked closely with Deca Battery company. In fact Ive been to their plant. I just want to say that lead acid and AGM batteries don't typically end up in land fills. Nearly 100% of the battery is recycled and is used to manufacture new batteries.
Enjoy your videos. I see you switch to lithium batteries in the sprinter did you have to change anything as far as the charger goes in the sprinter and do they charge well driving down the road
Great information!! You've convinced me to choose a lithium battery.....new subscriber. Cheers from Toronto
Very nice job on the batteries... Not sure if it was in some of the questions but, as with my ForestRiver Work And Play, I did call the manufacturer about adding some solar and LITHIUM batteries... The could only go so far as to say (liability) that with my unit, the PD4000 controller DOES HAVE A SWITCH specifically for moving between Wet/AGM and Lithium. That being said this could apply to others. (mini switch on the control board). Nice job!
Forgot the lithium con of ambient temperature limits.
Yes, we've replied to other comments on that. We didn't forget, we just chose not to include it in the video.
I really want to put a full solar system on our RV. I want to install the whole thing my self. So many videos out, makes it hard to know what's right🤔
Lithium batteries are differently the way to go.👍
Yes, setting up an "off grid" system from scratch can be very overwhelming!
We will be releasing more videos soon about the rest of the off grid system we are building. So please stay tuned!
In the mean time our buds at @imnotlostimrving have created a very comprehensive series of videos about everything off grid that's definitely worth watching! - Dennis✌️
Really nicely done! Great mix of technical info with bottom line numbers we can use. Thank you!
Yay, We're glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for watching! - Dennis✌️
You didn't discuss the specialty charging system required, or the fact you can't charge them below freezing and other negative issues.
Excellent info! This is exactly why we went with a Lithium battery for our travel trailer. It was expensive but we have not regretted our decision. The only problem we have had is that we spent a lot of the last month in Reno, NV with temperatures often below freezing. You can't (shouldn't) charge a Lithium battery when the temp is below freezing. Fortunately, we had a FHU site so we did not have to worry about it. :)
It's actually below 4 degrees I believe. And it's rare your battery bay will get that cold. It may be that cold outside but rarely is the inside or interior of your coach that cold. Any battery doesn't charge as efficiently when it's cold. Glad you're enjoying the batteries - Liz
@@EatSeeRV, you can charge Lithium batteries with temps lower but "When it comes to recharging lithium-ion batteries, however, there's one hard and fast rule: to prevent irreversible damage to the battery, don't charge them when the temperature falls below freezing (0°C or 32°F) without reducing the charge current." I just disconnect the cable, so I didn't take a chance. One must reduce the charge current to a very small amount. On many travel trailers (like ours) the battery is located outside behind the propane tanks. It gets very cold there. We still love our Lithiums though. :)
I have 3 LiPo that I'm using. The best way to go IMOP. I have been testing them for a while. Over night we will pull them down about 35% from full charge. That's running the inverter for TV and everything else. My solar will put out 800 watts and I can fully recharge them if I chase the sun around with the 500 watt ground array. So make sure to think ahead when setting up your solar. You should also be careful because your alternator may need to be changed so you can adjust the voltage output since it also charges the LiPos while driving. Many stock alternators can over charge them because they run at 14.2 to 14.8 volts all the time. My ford will run up to 14.0 then it cuts back down to 13.2 for the float stage. So I have mine set up so I can connect or disconnect them while driving. I spent many hours finding a way to make things can back up each other. So I can charge 3 way and if my truck alternator fails I can still drive off the trailer batteries OR solar OR off the generator if needed.. I have a 3 way fail-safe.
Great advice thank you for sharing - you definitely have experience in this area! - Liz
Got to ask...Who created the monster? So much knowledge!!!
Thanks for sharing..
Haha! You learn as you RV. Although putting in an easy to understand way can be a little more difficult. You should have seen our outtakes that didn't make it to the video! - Liz
I still can't justify lithiums despite all the advantages you mention.
Your presumptions for costs analysis seem unrealistic. Most of us don't own our coaches long enough to have to replace AGM's as many times as you imply. Plus, you don't include the added costs associated with lithiums beyond their base. Many if not most inverter and solar chargers, esp. on older rigs, are not ideal for charging lithiums. They shouldn't be discharged or charged at very high or low ambient temperatures, and we've encountered both super-high and very low temps during our travels. Some owners have to add special heaters. Special charge monitors are commonly necessary.
Quotes for converting my '06 diesel coach to 4 house lithium Battleborns, LiOns, LifeBlues, etc., range from $4000 to over $5000 for just parts, and between $7000 to as high as $9000 with professional labor. Replacing my 4 6v Interstate GC2 (U2200) wet cells would be less than $400 (from Costco). Quality US Battery (U.S. Johnson Controls) or Full River (Chinese-built) AGM's around $1100. Yes, lithiums commonly have 10 year warranties. But as I implied, we likely won't have the coach that much longer. Plus, I just got over 12 years out of my wet Interstate Workaholics. The main reason I'm changing formats (to AGM's) is the wet cell gassing that meant regular battery tray corrosion cleanups I got tired of as they aged. Power-wise they worked fine for that period.
Thanks for keeping it simple
Glad you liked the simplicity. Solar can get intense REALLY quick, so we wanted to keep it basic. - Liz
The other benefit to Li's is they have a much faster rate of recharging. Less solar absorption, less gen time to fully charge. Battleborn now has heated battery "wraps" that I believe turn on to keep the batteries warm. I think they kick on at 40 degrees to keep the batteries above that 28 degree problem. Can't wait to see your solar upgrade. We'll possibly buy a Class C also and solar will be a definite addition.
Definitely! Our lithiums (Battle Borns) charge much faster than the lead acid batteries we had. However, Battle Born's heat wraps are grossly over priced for what they are. We'd buy them if they were like $50 each but not at $200. But some people will say, "Hurry up and take my money!" LOL
@@drinkinslim Wow, that is way over priced for what they are. Probably some other after market battery wraps somewhere. Otherwise I would be tempted to sacrifice storage space somewhere in the coach. Keep a cabinet door open to let them stay all nice and warm.
@Drinkinslim Whoa that's a lot of dough! 🤯
@Richard Koch I was seriously considering the wraps after I saw them on the KYD install. But, not for that money. Plus, our batteries will be snuggled up inside of our desk install in the living area of the coach🔥 - Dennis ✌️
@@EatSeeRV that is a great idea.........can't wait to see the finished install :)
I'd argue most new coaches these days come with AGM deep cycle batteries. Both for the coach and chassis battery.
"I'm pumping ion .... LITHIUM ion!" That was hee-larious!
Haha glad you liked it! - liz
I really wish you two had not done this video. Now all I can think about is what to replace my house battery with. I am blaming you, just to deflect my wife's eye rolling. LOL Seriously though, well done. Informative, but not over the top and it really helps that you have experience with a variety of batteries. Happy travels and Merry Christmas.
🤣😂😆I hope you wife doesn't hold a grudge too long!
So glad you enjoyed the video & thank you so much for the compliments!
Let us know what you end up installing.
Happy Holidays & safe travels! - Dennis🤙
Great video! My question is, did you guys had to upgrade your cable and electrical system in order to have your lithium ion batteries compatible with your stock RV? Most RVs need upgrading when it comes to adding lithium batteries, if you guys did this what was your additional cost in order to make batteries and rig compatible? And what changes did you make? Thanks! 👋🏻
Good overview of the battery selection pros/cons.
In your research did you determine the advantages of two 6-volt batteries connected in series versus two 12-volt batteries connected in parallel?
Yes, the AGM bank we installed in our fifth wheel was four 6v batteries wired in series.
The advantage with 6v is usually they will have more usable amp hours per battery over 12v batteries. So, wiring two 6v batteries together in series will give you more usable amp hours over wiring two 12v batteries in parallel.
But, 6v batteries are usually physically larger and heavier than 12v batteries. So, you'll have to determine if the space and weight trade off is worth it, or even possible, for the install location in your rig.
The difference in wiring is only to turn the 6v batteries into 12v so that they are compatible with the 12v system installed in your RV.
Hope this helps! - Dennis⚡️
Thanks MUCH Dennis!!
good, simple, easy to comprehend. thank you
So glad you enjoyed it Dave!
Thank you for watching! - Dennis ✌️
I love when you guys do tech type of videos. This one was spot on and great visual comparisons of the different battery types. Lithium is awesome like you said, if you can afford it up front. When we finally get solar we will also go lithium on the battery bank. Saving is in progress :-)
Good for you! Do what you can now and upgrade when you can. Glad you enjoyed the video! - Liz
BattleBorn also offer a 250 amp hour lithium battery. So buy two and you have over 500am hours 😜
🌍✌You guys are so useful .
Hello Dennis I wonder where did you place the lithium Batteries in the RV, Did you have to use heated blankets to keep them warm? Is there any videos you have posted regarding the install? Thanks
Hi Flomaks, yeah both our RV renovation reveal video and the "How we boondock" video show the location. They are installed underneath the pantry extension we added. No need for heat blankets since they're inside the living area! - Dennis ✌️
Merry Christmas. Great Vid!!! Love you guys.............safe travels!!
Thanks for watching Richard! Merry Christmas to you too! - Liz
@@EatSeeRV You guys remind me so much of my youngest son and his wife.........they're a awesome couple also. :)
Thank you. This was very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
What are the cost and ease of recycling/disposal of lithium?
Also living up here in Minnesota. It gets cold up here!
Honestly I have no idea about the reuse cycle of lithium. Now that you've asked I'll be doing some personal research. It definitely exists though as electric car manufacturers world-wide have battery swap programs.
There are electric battery blankets you can purchase to keep your lithium batteries warm. But from our research what will harm lithium batteries in cold weather is charging. So if your RV is in storage through the frigid months and you're not charging the batteries you should be good to go with lithium.
Hope this helps! - Dennis ✌️
Do you need special chargers for lithium. For example the alternator on your motorhome does it need to be changed? house battery charger?
solar charger?
You definitely want to double check all of those chargers are compatible with the charging specs on your Li batteries you plan on installing! - Dennis
Very nice explanations , except . You didn't address the weather considerations for cold weather . Have a great Christmas and be safe ... gubs
Yes, batteries don't like extreme cold. We didn't do the comparison here because if your going to be staying in weather far below freezing often or for longer periods of time then you should find a solution to keep your battery bank bay or battery area warm regardless of the type of battery. - Liz
@@EatSeeRV Actually it's much more than that !! Some batteries will not even take a charge approaching , or at freezing . So if you lose your heating source you are done . Some will be destroyed if frozen . My only point was / is . PEOPLE if you plan to be in weather that will be at or below ZERO , the battery type can make a BIG difference !!! Always ask about weather related issues if you plan to be out in the winter . Then there are storage considerations if you store it ( camper/Rv ) for winter . Some people up here in the north go with the flooded acid type because just like your CAR battery , it/ they CAN take the COLD weather , and YES as you pointed out there are some real negatives with them !!! Have a good one & a nice Xmas ... gubs
One downside and one thing to be careful of using Lithium (LiFePo4) batteries is that they can be destroyed if charged below freezing temperatures. Some (not all) batteries will have built in protection built into their BMS to prevent charging at those temperatures. That's something to check for.
Yes BMS are always a great addition. Most batteries don't like cold, and it has to be significantly cold. Definitely something to be aware of but I don't think it should stop you from getting LiFePo4 batteries.
Great job on this video! I`m ready to install Lithium Batteries on my rig. Thanks for the info.
Glad you found it helpful! They are a really nice upgrade
Cost of lithium has come way down. An SOK 100ah battery is about $550 with a 10yr warranty. You get about 8k cycles to 80% capacity. You can get a heated version for slightly more.
Yes they have which is fantastic!
You Absolutely 💯% misspoke about the AGMs going into the Landfills.
Traditional and AGM Batteries are a recyclable product!!
Your Lithium Batteries are not Successfully being Recycled👎
You also didn't mention the fact that you can't just hookup Lithium batteries in your Rv without the costly charging system also 😉
Plus the fact that cold weather can greatly Negatively Effect the performance of Lithium Batteries 😲🤭
IMO - Low voltage, below 48 volts, is inadequate for Mobile requirements and weight limits.
...
1200 Watt DC load / 12 volt system = 100 Amps
1200 Watt DC Load / 24 volt system = 50 Amps
1200 Watt DC load /48 volt system = 25 Amps
"A wire of a given size can carry four times as much power at 48 volts"
...
To draw 2000 Watt-Hours (Wh), daily, would use 42 Amps from a 48 volt Battery Bank (not factoring losses).
You have the best information ever! Thank you!
Problem is people don't change their mattress enough. We bought a new memory foam mattress about 6 years ago and I haven't slept better
So true! We LOVE our mattress.
I have to agree that LiFePO4 is the way to go. Fantastic Video! But I also must say pending the type of camping one does the 6V Golf Cart Battery will be the way to go as well. See What Im trying to say is my wife and I can afford the Lithium-Ion Batteries but we camp 3-4 mo out of the yr.and boon dock most of it. So for us we spent $450.00 on 6 golf cart batters 3yrs ago for 300 usable amp hrs. vs 3k. We installed a 100mp 3 stage charger so when the batteries do get low 60% or 2 days we fire up that nasty fossil fuel burning generator (champion) and top them off in 4-6hrs. that works well for us. 50 charge cycles a yr or we will replace them in 8 yrs rather needed or not. Let me a sure you we abuse them TV going when we are in the Camper hair dryers running in the morning and hotdogs for lunch in the microwave lol thats to fun but so true
Great Job keep It Up guys SteveOOO
Happy travels and Merry Christmas
We pull out of MN for FL Jan 15
Nice! Your battery bank & camping style is a great example of building an off grid setup that blends all the lines, Available space, budget, and time spent off grid!
Congrats on being diligent enough to keep them above 60%! I'll admit I'm lazy when it comes to that🤦
Where in FL will you be camping? Will you be in town for the Tampa RV super show? - Dennis ✌️
@@EatSeeRV Yes sir no birds for me! We go down to the keys, but moma is telling me that we are going some were around Gainesville FL, I will loose as you no. I really dont care as long as we are above -0 and I can fish. Yes boondock it is, I only need a dump station for the black tank every 2 weeks gray water gets filtered/cleaned and dumped in the yard.
Awesome video guys!!!
Thanks glad you enjoyed it 😊
13:42 Hey. I like your info, well explained. But old batteries do not end up in the dump, they are recycled. Ex: Each car size battery can be sold for approx. 10$... So most of them are recycled. Also, if 2 lithium 12volts batteries worth approx. $2000, I'd be scared to leave my RV alone while on vacation... It's like keeping a bar of gold in your RV... :) Tks.
I don't think Many people would break into an RV for the batteries. They'd probably steal electronics or look for jewelery and such just like in a home. But if that's what's makes you feel more comfortable go for it
How many AH's for the average Lithium battery?
Great job thank you for explaining
Anytime, glad you enjoyed it! - Dennis✌️
I heard that the LiFePO batteries won't charge when they get too cold. What temperatures cause these issues and have you had problems with lower temperature charging?
It has to be very cold. Many keep them indoors for that reason. There's also padded heaters you can buy to protect them on cold nights.
You forgot the deep cycle batteries that are between agm and lithium. Also lithium can not cope with cold environments and they stop working if the temperature drop.
No batteries like extremely cold weather, and the chances for your battery bank to get get well below freezing for a long period of time is unlikely. If it's a concern you can get heating pads, or put them inside your couch. - Liz
How does lithium last in cold climates winter
We don't go into really cold places in winter. But if you are in below freezing temps they recommend battery warmers.
Lithium ion...or Lithium iron phosphate?
But do I need to spend more money on up grading my charging system ? Can I use my lead acid charger?
It depends on what you want to do with your rv. We upgraded because our lead acid didn't hold charges well after abuse from lack of knowledge on preserving battery life and not having a way to monitor use off grid. The upgrade was worth it as we boondock frequently and your batteries are the life house of boondocking. - Liz
Yes, if you switch from lead acid you will need to upgrade your charging system to be compatible with lithium.
Most converter/chargers that come stock in RVs are for lead acid only.
Since we did the entire system at the same time. We knew we were installing the Aims Power 2000 watt inverter/charger that has a selectable lithium charge cycle built into it, effectively deleting the stock converter/charger that came with the RV.
I hope this helps! - Dennis
Will upgrading to lithium require any other hardware upgrades. I currently have one 12 volt lead acid battery in my coach.
You should check with your RVs manufacturer about the charging specs of your converter to make sure its compatible with the charging specs on the battery you decide to install.
That would be about the only thing to worry about, if all you are doing is upgrading the from lead acid to lithium.
Good question!
I guess we overlooked mentioning this as we will be deleting our factory converter when we install our AIMS Inverter/Charger. - Dennis ✌️
I Swear i heard Liz snort at the end of the video.....lol....
Love that snort......cute as heck ;)
Haha thanks. You caught me!
Why these batteries over others like GoPower or Battle born?
No particular reason. EVERYONE had battle born, so we wanted to expand into a different market so there was content for others who may go with an alternative brand. We also liked that this is sold in Camping Worlds, so if something ever happened we could go to the store to exchange or work with our warranty rather than have to have it shipped. - Liz
Eat See RV we purchased a go power 250ah lithium , time will tell!
Cool!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved the video !
Thanks 👍