Swapping to Lithium? WATCH THIS FIRST!
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- Опубликовано: 3 янв 2024
- In this video we discuss the differences between traditional Lead Acid batteries and Lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are often marketed as "drop-In" replacements in the RV world but there are some things to consider before taking the plunge! Watch the video and decide if it's right for your particular situation before you invest your money!
Need parts for your swap? Here are some links to the equipment you may need from our partners at Inverters R Us!
Victron components:
Shunts
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invertersrus.com/product/vict...
Converter
invertersrus.com/product/vict...
DC to DC chargers
invertersrus.com/product/orio...
invertersrus.com/product/orio...
SmartSolar charge controllers
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Best video I've seen so far about converting a RV, including class c's, to lithium batteries. Very comprehensive and nicely explained. Thanks.
Thank you sir!
thanks Bro very helpful
Agree. No B.S. I watched it twice and took notes the second time, then I subscribed.
Agree. Excellent video and very well explained
I went to lithium 2 years ago in my older Lance Truck Camper …
420 w of solar on the roof ..
Upgraded the converter and it’s been a fantastic setup with 200 amp hour batteries
As an RV owner using it off grid everything this man said about switching to Lithium is correct.
What a great explanation, another vote for the best beginners video on this subject!
Glad you enjoyed it! Let us know if there's anything else you'd like to see and we will make it happen!
Brilliant explanation and exactly how I replaced my lead acid for lithium using all Victron components.
Best plain language explanation I’ve ever heard. 💪👍💯
I had been told some of this by my converter company's tech department before I added another battery to my fifth wheel. Your explanation was clear, to the point and overall was explained in a way that any RV or boat owner should understand. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback! We've compiled a great deal of knowledge over the last 5 years on this adventure so we're looking to share that info and empower people to explore the world unplugged!
Great job. Love how you went thru the whole video with basically no cuts. Just a great conversation. Also, the content was fabulous. Very clear and concise, and easy to understand. So much more than just doing a drop in replacement !!
We appreciate that feedback more than you know! Glad you got some good info from it!
Great tips that I've never seen anywhere else. Thank you!!
This is the best explanation I've ever seen on the proper process to convert to lithium batteries!
Thank you.
Well done. You covered these issues perfectly. One item I would add to this conversation. I have an off grid cabin in the very cold at times north country and it runs on solar. The only reason I did not go with Lithium is because the low temperature charging limitations of a lithium battery. Below 30F they do not do well. Take care.
There are many ways to deal with charging lithium in cold temperatures... a 12 volt lap blanket being the simplest/cheapest.
Keeping the battery inside the house also solves the temperature problem.
This was far and away the best explanation of doing the conversion, as well as explanations of the capacities and state of charge differences. Thank you so much!
You're very welcome, glad you got some value from it!
Very nice! You made it very easy to understand the sub components that are key to a proper LA to LI swap out on the house batts. Good presentation, easy for the even the novice to follow along.
Thanks for the feedback! We try to keep it as simple as possible. 😃
Excellent video! Installed 600 watts of solar on my RV last year, changed my batteries from 2 lead acid to "3-100amp Diablo Lithium Batteries". I Installed all Victron Components from the Multiplus ll to the Shunt, Charge Controller, Cerbo and Touch 50 monitor and love the setup. The Diablo batteries are a game changer not only can I check the state of charge from the shunt but each battery has a bms and is bluetooth so I can check each individual battery. Justin from RV Solar Concepts was a huge help with a wealth of knowledge. If anyone is looking to install solar on their RV I highly recommend RV Solar Concepts. These guys know what they're talking about and their workmanship is 1st class.
Good to see a local customer on the our new RUclips page!! Glad to hear you are loving the system and we appreciate the kind words as well!
Victron has been the market leader in control gear for quite a while but which is the "best" _battery_ changes frequently. Anything sold as "the best" by a reputable supplier will remain good for the 10+ years lifetime of your battery but the next model won't necessarily be as good as another brand so leave that choice to your supplier on the day. Most brands supply BMS & Bluetooth nowadays.
Thanks for explaining the Lithium battery issues to be aware of. It saved me a lot of trouble.
That's what we're here for! 😀
Thanks for that, finally understand fully why a shunt is required plus the different voltages👍
Great information even for new, first time installs, picking out the correct components that will work together.
This is the first time I have seen anyone properly address the voltage differences. It also applies to the current you can safely charge with. NiCad, Lithium, Lead Acid and other batteries, all have specific charging needs.
I knew this from my Ham Radio stuff, that you couldn't just swap out different types of batteries. Radio Controllers for toys and models also are designed around specific battery types, do to significant voltage differences, and charging voltage and charging current differences.
Eric gives RV Solar Concepts a gold star for doing his research. 😆
The devil is in the details, but it sounds like you know that sir! Thanks for your input Eric!
This video is OUTSTANDING!! Thank you for making the complicated simple. You articulated all of it so well. Again, thank you.
Thanks Steve!
Thanks for this, an excellent to the point video. I’m just about to covert to Lithium and did not know about the charge voltage difference. Looks like you have saved me a ton of grief, thanks again.
Thank you so very much!! I have been researching for months on what I need to do to upgrade to lithium and will eventually get to solar. You did a perfect job here, straight to the point and not too long, and enough details so I know what to buy. This is the best video I have watched, and I greatly appreciate what you have done here.
Thank you for the feedback!
The other thing people don’t consider is where the battery is stored. LiPo and LiFePo4 are excellent batteries, but need to be kept away from extreme temperatures (hot and cold). Some have built in BMS systems with battery heaters to help in the cold, and also shutdown the battery to avoid a thermal runaway scenario, but generally an engine bay is a bad area for them.
Also, a lot of vehicles are now equipped with “smart” alternators that will easily output 14.xx volts depending on the load requirement.
A lead acid needs to charge to 14.4 + or - depending on temp. 13.7 is float. 14.4 is a perfect charge voltage for lithium as well.
Great information! You did a fantastic job with explaining the differences!
Good points and very helpful for many people out there.
Thank you for this video!!! I am putting together a system for my home and you have good, logical reasons for your recommendations thank you for putting in the time and effort to share your knowledge!
Excellent vid. Great explanation, troubleshooting and recommendations. Thanks
You're welcome! Glad it helped.
A very concise explanation - thanks!
This just answered a lot of questions. Direct and easy explanation. Thank you!
You're welcome! Thanks for the support!
Learned a ton from this video, thank you. Extremely well laid out and clear explanations.
Man this was EYE OPENING....my RV shop is really selling me on going Lithium in my class A, which I really want to do. But I am going to grill them on all this info before I do. I absolutely will put in these safe guards.....Thank you!
Yep hold them accountable! Dealers will just pop your old batteries out, put lithium in and it will perform like dog shit because they don't change the settings or the equipment to properly charge them. Then you'll be chasing non-existent problems and just assuming lithium is junk which is not the case, you're just only using half or less of your possible storage because they aren't getting fully charged.
@@rvsolarconcepts Yes sir, thanks again!
Thanks for clearing up the drop-in myth. On my RV, i contacted the converter manufacturer and to my surprise they responded with a diagram showing me where the lead acid/lithium dip switch is! A flip of the switch and I'm now putting out 14.6V! One 100 AH Lithium essentially has the capacity of two older 100 AH lead acid battery!
Nice! Glad you had a compatible model! You're off to the races now!
Thank you! This really helped me understand this process and the differences between them
You're welcome sir!
Outstanding video! I watch a lot of these type videos and this one is the best of the best I have seen. You have done Will Prowse proud with your tutorial here!
I just subbed and "rang" the bell. Looking forward to more of this content!
Thank you! We will be working hard to get new content up that hopefully helps people with their systems.
Great things in this video that I would not have known. Thanks for covering these things. New sub
Thanks for a great video and explanation!
Thanks for the support! Let us know if there's any other topics you want us to inform on!
Wow! Fantastic, and needed, information.
You did a great job explaining this. I will stick to the dual 6V battery conversion I did on my current rig. Next unit will be Li. Thanks
Well, that is great stuff that I didn't know before. I've been looking into going to lithium in my RV and have spoken to several people about it, but not one of them have told or explained to me what you just have. None have recommended fitting a shunt either.
Many thanks, you just earned yourself a new subscriber.
David in the UK.
Happy to find these guys on RUclips, We had them install a 600 watt system last year and they did outstanding work for me down here in Ajo! Great video guys!
Thank you sir! Glad you found us! Haha
Nice video. But I would like to say that my 4 six yr old Trojan 105 FLA's have been great for me & still going strong. I have 390w solar on roof & 2000w inverter w/Victron controller. If it's sunny, my setup gets us all the power we need as we camp where we have a good chance for nice sunny weather. My lithium friends run their genny's on cloudy days just like me. We don't ever need AC as we chase 60 to 80 degree's only. If we happen to be in extreme heat, then we'll get a full hookup spot in an rv park for a coupla days as we need to do this anyway from time to time to do laundry & such. Anyhow, just wanted to let folks know there's a simpler way with heckuva a lot less cost.
Excellent video! Very clear and well communicated.
Great video about replacing lead acid with Lifepo4 batteries. Excellent explanation of all aspects of the two systems. I have done this change over three years ago, replacing my very heavy AGM battery with a 24lb 100 amp hour Lifepo4 battery. I have not changed my converter however, and have had no problems with the performance of the Lifepo4 lithium battery. I do have 300 watts of solar, and a Renogy charge controller that I set up for my lithium battery's charge profile. I also have a Renogy 20amp DC to DC charger rigged into my truck, and a have a stand alone 25amp battery charger that a lithium charging profile. You don't need to keep a Lifepo4 battery fully charged at all times. I just top mine off once a month.
Your charge controller runs at 14.7 volts to top off charge on batteries?
@@hstorysalie 14.6v
RV Solar Concepts, Thank you for making and posting this video. It is very helpful.
You're welcome! Glad you got something from it!
Great video, very informative and in plain English. excellent.
Awesome video! That's a good overview of all the aspects to consider before switching to lithium batteries for my travel trailer. That's a project for advised amateurs!
Did not know about the voltage difference. Yhanks
Thanks for this clear explanation on the compatibility of existing RV systems and tow vehicle alternator charge circuits to lithium batteries. I have an older 5th wheel rv (no solar) and need to replace my worn out lead acid batteries. I was considering switching to lithium but after checking my converter, it has an output rating of only 13.6V. Thanks to your video I will stick with my same lead acid battery arrangement by using two 6V Golf Cart batteries hooked in series to make 12V. It has served me well for the past 5 years.
Glad we could clarify some things!
You know our stuff !! Very informative !
Nicely explained in simple terms. I've been wanting to convert to Lithium in my Motorhome but did not understand the DC to DC charger or the shunt. Now I umderstand. I have done all the work on my motorhome but, for some reason, these items really seemed complicated. Now, I'll have to start planning my swap and wiring diagram so I don't get lost. Thanks !
Thank you! We just published a video on the installation and programming of the victron shunt so be sure to check that out and let us know if you have any questions!
Well done and helpful video
Good video. I myself did just enough research before buying my battery. I have a Victron Smart Shunt and Controller. Been working great. Only problem I ran into was an occasional update resetting the controller to a non lithium setting.(hasn’t happened lately) I changed out my converter. Nice to go from 4-5 amps from the old converter to roughly 25-33amps charge with the new one. I ran into one guy who put a lithium in his camper, but was satisfied with it NOT being charged properly. My only (sort of) mistake; I bought mine a couple years ago, so yes a bit more expensive and had little options on batteries capable of proper charging in cold weather. Although I winter in southern New Mexico, i wanted to be prepared just in case. So bought a more expensive one capable of cold weather charging only to get curious enough to find the battery compartment never got cold enough for the BMS to kick the cell heater in. While rare, I still get into single digit temps but plenty(like 2 nights ago) temps got down to 16° and battery compartment was still above freezing.
Well that's good that you never ended up needing that feature, but it's there if you ever do!
Yeah I think most people believe of the ambient temp is below 32 degrees then the batteries won't charge. In actuality, as long as the internal temperature of the cells is still above 32 they will operate as normal. In most cases, it takes several hours at 10 degrees or below to finally reach the point of triggering the battery protection.
I just learned a lot. Thank you.
That was Friggin' awesome... very informative. I will add, one cool thing that lithuim is going to is having an onboard Bluetooth system telling you all the pertanant information eliminating the Shunt. I literally just got a new battery with this option so I have no idea the accuracy of it, bit it is extremely cool and may eliminate at least one item? Also, One thing that wasnt touched on is extreme weather, be it cold or hot. These things do have a window they must stay within or they will fail. Some manufacturers are adding shutoff options to the bms system which is highly recommended. Just thought I'd add that.... Thanks guys!
I'm glad I watched your video. I'm getting ready for a cross country trip in our RV. Both of my current lead acid batteries are junk. I was going to replace with Lithium. But after watching your video, I'll stick with the lead acid one's for now. You saved me a lot of grief. Thank you for posting your video!! You explained it very well for the average person to understand.
It definitely takes a little planning and understanding to do it correctly so I'm glad you found the info beforehand! Thank you for your feedback, safe travels!
You can swap batteries amd do the other stuff later, it won't hurt anything, im in the same situation with 4x6v batteries that need replaced, I'm dropping 2 BB direct replac batteries, I do have a 200w solar system and I'm able to switch it to li mode.. BB said it won't be an issue, amd the solar can actually bring the batteries to full capacity charge
Fantastic info, thank you.
Great video, thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Great info. Thanks!
You're welcome sir!
Excellent video sir. Keep making videos, you are a good instructor.
I appreciate that!
Great video! Thank you!
You are welcome!
Excellent Accurate info THANKS 👍👍
I replaced the converter in my holiday to the powermax 100 amp and could t be happier with it . Its adjustable volts and amps make it great for the 12 volt side for lithium and being a little higher voltage makes all my other 12 volt stuff run way better. Ive also got a fairly large 24 volt solar setup but yeah changing that converter is kinda important to say the least
Thank you for that information, much appreciated. M.
The best battery etc explanation I have ever watched , thanks for that mate must appreciated
Jon🇦🇺
Thank you!
I’ve changed to lithium but like you say I’ve also gone with all Victron equipment for my solar and mains charger as well as a battery to battery DC2DC charger. Everything is working brilliantly. I also fitted a Victron shunt so I know exactly the state of charge in the lithium battery, the old lead acid voltage meter although still in place wouldn’t give a state of charge for the lithium but still shows the condition of the starter motor battery. This guys explanation it’s really brilliant the only thing I’d add is go Victron they are the best.
This is the best video that explains all of this. I have heard to be careful of these things and this actually explains it.
Lots of good info here. Great video ❤
Thank you for the support!
This is the clearest explanation of the impact of moving from lead-acid to lithium I've ever seen. Yes, I read my Victron manuals, but still didn't understand the nuances.
Glad you got some value from it!
This was very useful. Thanks.
You're welcome sir!
Great video, I myself am 100% Victron for the Inverter/charger/transfer switch, solar chargers and the battery monitor. It is so user friendly and the best, Bluetooth app controlled.
Awesome information!!
Excellent video sir thank you.
No problem at all, glad you found it useful!
Other than your video, there is not much information (like you so clearly presented) about converting to lithium. It's time to convert my RV to lithium and now I know the converter needs to be replaced. Thanks and nice job!
Thank you sir!
Great video. You should do more, I like your presentation.
Thank you! We are working on some new content, hopefully have it up soon!
Well done.thank you
Excellent explanation
Very well said.
Really good info. And at the right time for me!
Glad you were able to get something from it!
Thank you so much for this
You're very welcome!
Thank you RVSC, I believe that I Got All the information that That was Needed @ 5:00 in this Video / & Thrice told at That !
Glad you got something from it! Thanks for your support!
Merci beaucoup! Bon explication !
Do you have any other videos where you explain how to make the connections of these devices? that would be very interesting!
I struggled for a year to do anything with lead acid.
Lithium on the other hand has been amazing!
That’s one of the best explanations that I’ve see yet. I’m want to get lithium installed in my travel trailer and no one in my area seems to be as knowledgeable as what I’ve just watched in this video. Sir please tell me what state your shop is in. If your not to far I WILL DRIVE THERE FOR SERVICE 😂!!!!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for the feedback! We are located in Arizona. If you ever make the trip, swing in and we will get you taken care of!
THANK YOU
You're welcome! Let us know if you have any other questions and we can put something together for you!
Our caravan is lithium and they are certainly not drop in. We have a matched system from Enerdrive of a 200amp lithium battery and dc-dec and ac chargers. The chargers monitor the battery and can shut it down if the voltage goes over 14 volts or below 12.5 volts. The charging system keeps the battery safe. The chargers should be left active all the time, even when the caravan is stored. Each 7 days the Enerdrive system wakes up, tests the battery, charges as necessary and then turns off, but continues to monitor the battery.
Thank you 👍👍
My Flagstaff 528MBS came with a variable charge controller. I can set the chemestry of the battery I'm charging. I've always known when I upgrade to Li I would need to change the setting to Li...but I never knew why. Thanks for explaining!
You're welcome John, thanks for the support my man!
I spoke to the manufacturer of my converter about hooking up a lithium in place of my wet battery. He said it will work but as you stated it will only charge to 13.6 max but you can use it down to 10% where as you should not discharge a wet battery past 50%. So you could get a lot more usage out of the lithium battery.
That's correct. No maintenance, 10+ year warranty in most cases, half the weight, and accurate state of charge readings are all great perks of lithium. They do come with a few drawbacks but I believe clearing those up is definitely worth the gain.
Thanks for the comment! Let us know if you need help with anything or have questions when you swap over and we can make you a video explaining everything!
I do the same, my generator charges to 13.6, I then turn off generator and let solar panels continue charging battery to full.
THANKYOU! YOU SIR.
Installing the EcoFlow Alternator charger
I didn't listen to your advice and I'm so happy. Lead acid 👍
We didn't give any advice, simply educating on what is needed for those that choose to switch. Glad you're happy with your setup, go enjoy it!! 😁
Great vid thank you
You're welcome, thanks for the support!
I witnessed an RV lithium battery fire. The fire started in the battery box. Within a minute the entire RV was engulfed in flames. By the time the fire department got there it was burned completely to the frame.
Lithium batteries are very expensive and an obvious fire hazard.
Besides that lithium batteries are extremely sensitive to temperature and CAN NOT BE RECHARGED WHEN COLD.
It's Jan 4th and the temp in Lake Havasu is 40 degrees. Too cold to charge lithium batteries.
My RV I use 4 6v deep cell golf cart batteries from interstate. 225 ah rating per pair. 165.00 each. This is basically the same price as one lithium 100ah battery.
No need to modify your RV charging circuit or deal with "battery charge controller" issues.
I've been running this system for 7 years now issues what so ever with the lead acid batteries. Hope this helps save you a bunch of cash.
I'd be curious to know what the chemistry of that "Lithium" battery was. In the early days Lithium-Ion batteries had a serious risk of failure for a multitude of reasons and are not anywhere near what they are now. In those early days of manufacturing Lithium-Ion batteries they contained an electrolyte that is very flammable and generally contained lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) or other Li-salts containing fluorine. This is not the case with new "Lithium" batteries. The new chemistry that is being widely adopted is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFeP04). This chemistry is not inherently flammable and nearly every battery on the market contains a Battery Management System known as a "BMS". This BMS carries all of the safeguards for protecting the cells inside before they are damaged for any reason including charging protection under 32 degrees.
Lithium batteries can still discharge and be used under freezing temperatures but charging them when the internal temperatures are below freezing can damage the cells. Most manufacturers have internally heated batteries available now so this is no longer an issue as well. It seems it has been a while since you looked into the possibility of lithium so you might want to take another look to see what advancements have been made in the last 5 years.
Where lithium batteries really help people are in cases where the batteries can't be stored outside of the RV. Bumper pull trailers in most cases can only hold 2 small lead acid batteries yielding them about 100 amp hours of useable storage where as a large 200AH lithium battery will fit in the same footprint, be lighter, and give them double the battery capacity they otherwise would be able to have. Lithium also requires NO maintenance whatsoever and usually last 10 or more years. Are they expensive? Yes. Will you spend the same amount of money replacing your lead acid batteries over the course of 10 years? yes. It's a buy once cry once kind of scenario but definitely not for everyone.
Thanks for your comment!
The video I've been looking for! Clear, concise, and comprehensive. I've been wanting to upgrade to lithium, especially with the prices coming down. Now I know exactly what to look for what else I might have to change. Just checked my converter, and it's g2g. Just need to check my solar controller and hopefully it's off to the races. Thanks again.
@@jlantz3691 Glad to help!!
@@rvsolarconceptsI
I have made a comment above about doing a hybrid system, but just to clarify I’ve been using 6v Trojan 105 batteries 2sets on my boat I will agree they do need maintaining and in the winter time they should be charged every day summer time I have plenty of solar so I don’t need to run the engine unless I have to move which is about every 2weeks if you treat them right they could quite easily last 10 years or more they are on their 8th year it that’s by the by I’d like to be able to use things like air fryers in the winter as well as in the summer look forward to your reply about creating a hybrid system
Modern Lithium batteries have either, or both, heaters and low temp adapters built it. Keep up...haha
Sure wish you were closer......We LOVE boondocking, and have a pretty good setup right now with lead acid batteries . We built it on a strict budget and bought items when they were on sale ( some items might not be the best quality), but it's working.. We would like to go Lithium, but the cost is kinda frightning. We have 4 - 100W solar panels that work GREAT for us. Maybe when it's time to replace the flooded batteries, we should see what the cost to switch will cost us.
THANKS for this video.
The maximum charge voltage for a lead-acid 12V battery is typically around 14.4 to 14.8 volts, depending on the specific type and manufacturer. However, it's important to consult the manufacturer's specifications or the battery's datasheet to ensure the correct charging voltage, as exceeding this voltage can damage the battery.
good one thank you
I have been camping for 20 years and never disappointed with my Interstate deep cycle battery that I replace every five to seven years. I see absolutely no reason to change what already works well for me.
Different strokes for different folks! Glad you are having success!
Ok
Far less weight for the same power or far more power for the same weight.
Do you do a lot of dry camping while using the A/C? New to RV camping.
I live in the desert and just wondering what it would take to run the A/C at night.
Thanks so much for explaining this in such a simple and clear way. Question, should there be any concern with just the general wiring in an older 2008 MH if doing a proper swap like you just laid out?
Thanks again for a great video.
Thanks for the feedback, we're glad you enjoyed it! As long as the wiring is in good shape it shouldn't cause any issues. 12vdc power on traditional batteries can float everywhere from 11 volts to 15 volts (during an equalization cycle) so running lithium between 12 and 14 is no different.
Excellent explanation, thanks. I have LA batteries now in my RV trailer. Looking at changing to lithium batteries. My converter isn’t LI compatible. I’m considering switching to a charger/inverter/transfer switch in one, Go-Power unit. Appears to be the best solution. I already have a shunt with Bluetooth, solar panel and controller with Bluetooth and LI programmable. I have the 18A dc to dc charger already. My real decision is on the best LI batteries to buy. It seems what good today has issues later. Prices keep coming down, so when to jump in ?
Well done! Best plain language explanation I’ve heard yet. And best, wee dont get words like "LI charger 12354321GI098974567-098jghtrd". Thank you.
Friend had a small fire in his house, so insurance company supplied an RV for him to stay in for a few days. He came home and the whole front of the RV was black from being burned. Investigator said it appeared the batteries exploded, and they were Lithium batteries.