Lithium Batteries, who has them?

[glenda]

We also changed over about 2 years ago
Hino 9mtr Bus-Conversion, Batteries: 200Ah x 24v LiFePO4. Solar: 260W x 24v Kyocera. Fridge: 240L x 24v Vitrifrigo. Inverter: 3000W
All going fantastic
Glenda & JP

[T1 Terry]

Ok, to start off this topic, I don't advise anyone to rush out and simply buy a lithium battery and assume it will work without any problems. They are very tough batteries and they will handle a fair bit of abuse but each bit of abuse damages them and the damage results in reduced cycle life. Converting lithium batteries is not a cheap exercise if done with a long life in mind, if you think you can do it on the cheap by just dropping a lithium battery in where the lead acid battery was, be prepared for a rather short battery life. Battery life will depend on the extent of damage and how often it is inflicted but the effects could be evident in as little as 12 mths, the cheap way out could become rather expensive.
Over the next however many days I will attempt to put some of the nonsense out there to bed. I'll do it a bit at a time cause there is a lot of nonsense to squash

T1 Terry

[jon_d]

Thanks Terry.

JD.

[SteveW]

I'm all ears - of course I look ridiculous, but I expect to learn a lot!

[Toolman]

I have just got 8 Winston 400Ah cells for my Denning conversion into a shop ( Tooltruck) with accommodation and are about to fit them
Kevin

[Dot]

I have just got 8 Winston 400Ah cells for my Denning conversion into a shop ( Tooltruck) with accommodation and are about to fit them
Kevin

Welcome Mr Toolman, how about a bit about you and your rig in the Introduce yourself Thread and of course we like to see any pics you may wish to share.

[dream4red]

Terry, it reads to me that lithium batteries are not always the answer. You have said they are expensive and difficult to fit, so what are the benefits of this risky modification then? Would they cost me as much as my Jayco is worth?

[slowhand]

I have 640ah lifepo4 on my house and in the next week or so, installing 400ah lifepo4 on the bus. The house has 2kw of solar and the bus currently 460w, about to become 910w. Got a 350w wind generator at home and 60amp dc to dc charger on the bus, so don't have any problems with power when travelling or at home. When at home, connect the bus to the house which provides oodles of power and keeps the bus system healthy.

G'day Deborah, lifepo4 is not expensive now, very easy to fit and understand once you know how they work best. Like Terry says, just dropping them in doesn't really work, but set up properly they are brilliant. In my opinion if you have a good adjustable BMS and keep your voltages conservative, they have no problems. BMS go from very simple voltage sensors/cutoffs to full cell balancing systems, just depends on what suits you. You can get an adjustable 8 cell upper and lower voltage cut off sensor with lcd display for about $30, or spend $300 on a 64 cell full balancing BMS with individual cell remotes and displays.

My kids got me into them, they import build and install them, mainly in new constructions, (builders). Couldn't believe the change when switching from 1000ah LA to 640ah lifepo4 and have spent the last few months checking out different BMS to get the best one that satisfies me. I use small cell sizes, (40-50-60ah) if a cells fails, you can renove it and still have power, just a bit less, but big cells (100ah+), means you lose your power supply if one goes down. What I like is if a cell breaks down, it can be fixed or recycled and you can get back up to %50 when recycling them, so my kids tell me.

[bob r]

I have two 200ah setup's one in a caravan runs 240v fridge coffee machine, tv lights water pump, and anything else
We need. The other in a ute runs two engel fridges one is a freezer, the caravan has 560watt of solar the ute 240 watt
Plus 280 watt of portable solar, all working verry well.
Bob

[Wilbor]

Looking forward to this one T1