Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Engineerlt on February 13, 2020, 07:44:21 am
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I was wondering if anyone has used or thinking about using Renogy Lithium batteries? The warranty is only 5 years but the dimensions of the 170AH battery (13.7" Long, 6,1" wide and 10.7 High) makes me believe they will fit into the battery compartment. Seeing as the lithium batteries require no maintenance like lead acid and can be mounted in any configuration, like laying them on there side and stacking them, remove the sliding tray and they will fit, insulate the battery box, add some heat mats with thermostat and your good to go.
If you can only use 50% of a lead acid battery and 80% of a lithium, plus the voltage curve of the lithium is more stable then lead acid you gain a lot of usable AH's. GC2 lead acid (2ea 6volt) has 225 AH's. x 50% = 112.5 usable AH's. The Renogy 170AH batteries x 2 = 340 AH's x 80% = 272 AH's a little better then double that of lead acid. Plus you can make them fit into the existing battery compartment.
I think I am going to do a little more research and then decide if I should take the plunge. If anyone out there has found another battery configuration that would work better and fits into the existing battery compartment please let me know, or if you have used Renogy batteries also please let me know.
Thanks
Lance
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There's other threads on using lithium batteries. I recall the issues were cost plus needing a new converter/charger system.
You might want to search the forum and/or Google for the pros and cons.
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Hi Lance,
As an alternative to Lithium technology, you might want to consider AGM technology because they work with the current PC charging system. You only need to set the system to AGM.
I went from two-12v wet lead acid batteries to two-6v AGM batteries and they made a monumental improvement in battery power reserves and also ease of maintenance with no more fluid checks or acid boil-overs.
Since my battery compartment was designed for 12v sized batteries, I had to ditch the slide-out battery tray, attach a steel plate to the battery compartment frame (doing so lowered the shelf for the taller 6v batteries) and slide the batteries in through the resulting larger opening. Given they are 100% sealed like Lithium, the only time I need to handle them is when it comes time to replace them, so sacrificing the slide-out feature was an easy decision. My two-6v AGM batteries are now 5 years old and are still performing extremely well.
I bought my batteries from Sam's Club, $180 per battery.
CLICK HERE (http://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php/topic,2092.0.html) to get to my write-up on the modification. It includes some pictures. I have since labelled + and - on the side of the batteries for a quick reference on how to hook up a charger or jumper cables.
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How do you reset the system for AGM batteries?
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How do you reset the system for AGM batteries?
Each inverter/charger has it's own method. The owner's manual walks you through it. Some require repositioning little jumpers while others have little switches that you flip into a different arrangement. They are usually accessible through a removal panel, but sometimes are in plain sight. It may sound complicated for the novice, but it really is simple to do with the manual in-hand. If you don't have the manual, you should be able to locate a soft copy on the internet. Just search for your inverter/charger brand and model number.
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Hello Ron
AGM batteries are an option but I already have GC2 6 volt batteries (flooded). The only benefit I would get from AGM is that I wouldn't have to add water, the amp hour capacity is the same 225 AH's. As for the converter/charger I was already looking at changing it, seen some possible issues with the Parallax Series 5300 55 Amp one that came with the coach. I thought I would upgrade to a Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power 4600 Series, 60 Amp. It has, Charge Wizard 4-State charging system built-in and is good for all types of batteries. The only down side to all of this in my mind is cost..... I guess I can eat ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese for awhile to offset the cost....
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Hello Ron
AGM batteries are an option but I already have GC2 6 volt batteries (flooded). The only benefit I would get from AGM is that I wouldn't have to add water, the amp hour capacity is the same 225 AH's. As for the converter/charger I was already looking at changing it, seen some possible issues with the Parallax Series 5300 55 Amp one that came with the coach. I thought I would upgrade to a Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power 4600 Series, 60 Amp. It has, Charge Wizard 4-State charging system built-in and is good for all types of batteries. The only down side to all of this in my mind is cost..... I guess I can eat ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese for awhile to offset the cost....
;)
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I haven't read this, watched the video OR explored the links but I know FitRV usually do well on research and explanations and thought people interested in lithium might want to check it out. It has to do with the Winnebago systems but a lot should carry across for any system. There are links at the end of the article.
https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/lithium-system-comparison-lithionics-and-volta-as-offered-by-winnebago/
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2 FRAZZLED
James and Stef from Fitrv just ordered one of the new WBGO EKKOS as shown in one of my previous threads.
Hutch
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Yes. I read that. They had posted asking for RV suggestions but one requirement was onboard (inside bin or house) storage of their bikes so PC wouldn't work for that. They seem to be well tied to Winnebago.
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Yes. I read that. They had posted asking for RV suggestions but one requirement was onboard (inside bin or house) storage of their bikes so PC wouldn't work for that. They seem to be well tied to Winnebago.
Don't just assume that well known internet influencers actually pay Winnebago (or anyone else) to use thier products. Last year they were cuckoo for coco puffs about the bicycle storage compartment in the new LTV Wonder RTB model . Like DonC said, EKKO = extra kool knock off.
That Renogy 12v 170 AH battery looks like an option if a pair of Battle Born 12v 100 AH batteries won't suffice. Maybe Lance could become a famous internet influencer too LOL.
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The only down side to all of this in my mind is cost.....
Um...Yeah. I looked at the Lithium batteries, looks like they might sell for $1200 or so wholesale? List was $1500 on renogy site, also at Home depot.
My cost for the AGM 12V group 31 trojan is $135. (List is $313, my retailer sells them for $270 to general public)
Trojan weighs 70#, Renogy 50#.
Both discharge to 80%, Trojan gives 500 cycles at that discharge, renogy 1500. So 3 times the 'life'.
Trojan is 100AH, Renogy 170AH. So 1.7 times the energy storage.
So.... for around 9-10 times the cost, I can get up to 3 times the 'life, 1.7 times the energy density, and save 20# per battery (in other terms, reduce battery weight by about 30%)
If I was 'competitively camping' the motorhome for prize money, SURE! But I use my recreational vehicle for recreation.. 2o2
But honestly, if I was looking for extended camping power, spending $1000 on a 46 pound 2000 watt super quiet honda generator would be a more practical solution. (Or less on a 'clone' if cash is still an issue. I LOVE Honda) Add 10 gallons of gas at 60# would have a power source that can get me 100A/12V (1200W) charging for ~50 hours of charging, with ~80 hrs runtime at lesser loads. Bumper mount weighs in at ~30#, total package weighs ~135#. (Prolly another 20# more with plastic gas tank (9#) fuel lines/wiring etc) Or the same weight as two more Trojan AGM's. (nod) ( I went through this process deciding if I wanted to upgrade to 4 AGM's, and figured for the weight the genset would be a more practical choice)
But it would not be NEAR as cool 'bench racing' with the other campers.
Spending $3K for two batteries that need special environment, different charging, and even need a special tool to reset* if they cut out due to low voltage/undercharging. and have non standard lug size*.... they better give me MUCH more 'bang for the buck' before I get them. I forgot to mention the EXTREME recycle-ability of lead-acid batteries compared to Lithium. No contest there.
But hey, if you DO get them, keep us posted! And THANK YOU for being an early adopter, and helping to finance new developments.
*https://www.renogy.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-12-volt-170ah/ read comments.
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I am strongly considering a single Battle Born 100AH Li Ion battery. The $900 price tag isn't so bad compared to a pair of Trojan AGM's, and with the increased discharge capacity, just one would double the usable capacity of the existing single 75 AH deep cycle lead acid battery, without having to modify my archaic single tray battery box.
2x100w solar panels will fully recharge it from 20% in 6-8 hrs. That'll do for 3 + nights dry camping in the national parks, running the furnace blower , Norcold controller, water pump, lights, and 12v tv (no inverter needed) from the battery, while utilizing the restricted generator hours in the evening to run the air conditioner and microwave.