Do I need Lithium?

[Langtoftlad]

For the past 7 years, I've happily used my van with 2x 100ahr Banner Lead Acid batteries.
I've just have had a chat with my service chaps about lithium, they were unpersuaded that my existing charging regime would do.

Given the Banner's have provided all the 12v I've needed, he recommended replacing the current batteries with a pair of Gels.
At a quarter of the cost...

 

[Carpmart]

The answer is yes but Jims got a Fogstar offer inbound, so hold off!

 

[Langtoftlad]

Why do I need lithium - not a power user

The answer is yes but Jims got a Fogstar offer inbound, so hold off!

 

[WESTY66]

Why do I need lithium - not a power user

Doesn’t matter, you need it, everyone does

 

[bigtwin]

It’s unlikely, but if your charger has a gel setting you’ll get a useful extra capacity from a couple of gels. Sonnenschein and Exide are generally considered the best ones.

Ian

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[Langtoftlad]

I refer to this elderly post [2021]

If the depth of discharge, the rate of charge and the lightweight are important to you, then they are worth paying for. If not, a good LA or Gell will last you years at a ¼ of the price.

As a direct replacement [not an upgrade] for the original lead acid, I've obviously been comfortable with all of the above 3 factors - seems Gel at 25% of the cost is a no brainer

 

[DavidG58]

I did exactly this evaluation a couple of months ago, batteries need changing so why not go lithium

So why not’s

Cost
Benefit
Risk

As you say much more to buy, I have been fine for the last 10 years with gel, what will my alternator / charging system think of the ‘foreign body’ lithium invasion and cease to function

I bought 2 new gels and am drinking my way through the money saved

Got a long way to go

 

[Cush]

I’d go gels if your charging equipment will do, or get another couple of LAs.

 

[Tombola]

No you defo don't. But if you can get 1 x 150 ah lithium.for same.cost as 2 gels...weight and space saved and power same or increased.

 

[Barchetta47]

I did exactly this evaluation a couple of months ago, batteries need changing so why not go lithium

So why not’s

Cost
Benefit
Risk

As you say much more to buy, I have been fine for the last 10 years with gel, what will my alternator / charging system think of the ‘foreign body’ lithium invasion and cease to function

I bought 2 new gels and am drinking my way through the money saved

View attachment 896009

Got a long way to go

I’ve just done more or less the same. If it suits why change. We’ve just come back from 2 months Off-Grid with 100 solar and 2x 115ah. The previous setup lasted 10 years!!

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[Mleabon]

I did exactly this evaluation a couple of months ago, batteries need changing so why not go lithium

So why not’s

Cost
Benefit
Risk

As you say much more to buy, I have been fine for the last 10 years with gel, what will my alternator / charging system think of the ‘foreign body’ lithium invasion and cease to function

I bought 2 new gels and am drinking my way through the money saved

View attachment 896009

Got a long way to go

Likewise.

 

[Spriddler]

Why do I need lithium - not a power user

Because we find it entertaining to read all the posts from anxious upgraders asking for help to solve the subsequent leccy problems and the schadenfreude enjoyed from photos of their lethargic Apollo 13 anxiety panels.

 

[Carpmart]

Why do I need lithium - not a power user

One 100A lithium may well be less expensive than two gels, weigh less than a third of the weight of two batteries and last you indefinitely…

Why wouldn’t you?

 

[Langtoftlad]

Why wouldn’t you?

Mainly cost... as well as battery, would need to upgrade solar controller & 12v/240v charger
Don't need the extra capacity
Don't need to save weight
Don't comprehend having a battery outliving the van
If it ain't broke, don't fix it?

 

[Carpmart]

Mainly cost... as well as battery, would need to upgrade solar controller & 12v/240v charger
Don't need the extra capacity
Don't need to save weight
Don't comprehend having a battery outliving the van
If it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Why do you need to upgrade the things you are saying you need to upgrade? Answers to your points above are below.

No need to update anything in terms of chargers
I’m suggesting the same capacity with 1 off 100A lithium
Weight is what it is…
Move the battery to the next van or sell it
Fossil fuel power stations worked well, but technology changes

There is a lot of tosh on here about lithium not working with XYZ charger etc etc, well of course it will. Will it be the absolute optimal, no it won’t! Does it matter, as you say, you’re a light user. No it doesn’t.

So, less cost, significantly longer life and as a light user could get 20-30 years out of one or have residual value.

However, it seems that you have made your mind up already Sir?

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[Tombola]

Mainly cost... as well as battery, would need to upgrade solar controller & 12v/240v charger
Don't need the extra capacity
Don't need to save weight
Don't comprehend having a battery outliving the van
If it ain't broke, don't fix it?

So the questions wasn't a question then.
Understood.

 

[irnbru]

We have 2 x90 gel batteries I bought from a funster almost new 3 or 4 yrs ago, a 150 w solar panel on the roof. Use quite a bit of electricity for tv, drone, laptops , bike batteries etc but still haven’t felt the need for lithium.. ..I’m in no rush for lithium and might change 1 day when price comes down.

 

[Langtoftlad]

So the questions wasn't a question then.
Understood.

It was a question...
There might have been a significant point I might have missed.
But it seems not.
Unless you can add something

 

[Gellyneck]

If it works well just now sometimes the comfort of better the devil you know is the more appropriate solution.
Why risk a change if you don't need to?

 

[stevewagner]

In your position with your use, I would buy exactly the same. Seven years is pretty good.

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[Jez1966]

For the past 7 years, I've happily used my van with 2x 100ahr Banner Lead Acid batteries.
I've just have had a chat with my service chaps about lithium, they were unpersuaded that my existing charging regime would do.

Given the Banner's have provided all the 12v I've needed, he recommended replacing the current batteries with a pair of Gels.
At a quarter of the cost...

If it ain't broke don't "fix it" or unless your planning to to start carrying half you domestic kitchen appliances,
like some feel the need to do.
Go with most cost effective similar/updated version of what you had, no need to "upgrade".

 

[MisterB]

unless your planning to to start carrying half you domestic kitchen appliances,
like some feel the need to do.

I resemble that remark .....

and bloody good it is too! Just cooked tea on the George Foreman grill, boiled the electric kettle for a cuppa, SWMS cooked her tagliatelle in the microwave, then washed up using water heated by the battery. No gas was hurt in the making of this aforementioned tea .... and it was immensely satisfying to save 25p worth of gas to offset the £1500 (approx) to be able to achieve all that .....

 

[JJ]

I believe that for the vast majority of Funsters their motorhome is their hobby which they use and enjoy as much as they can.

Hobbyists often get deeply involved in their hobbies and love spending time (and money) on buying stuff for them.

Fair play to them. I used to LOVE going to the motorhome shows and bought this gadget or that item for my van.

Then folk meet up with other motorhomers either in the real world or in cyberspace (or both) and they tell each other about the latest "must have" items they've just got for their van.

My first van didn't even have a leisure battery!

Then stuff becomes "fashionable"! Solar panels became the latest "much have" item along with B2B chargers and now lithium batteries never mind if you only use your motorhome for short times away and most often on campsites hooked up via an EHU.

All this is great if you enjoy it all but I reckon a huge percentage of vans are packed with equipment that their owners don't really need or even use that much.

I do not have lithium batteries and I live in my van full time and have done for decades.

JJ

 

[Lenny HB]

It really comes down to your usage, and if you don't plan to change the way you use the van probably not worth the expense of going to Lithium.

We have never had a problem with our 3 x 78ah Gels but the next van we are not having an oven, as you know I like tinkering with the electrics so I'm going for a biggish Lithium set up that will cost a few grand because I can, probably not necessary but it's fun.

Tam Northernraider is a fairly low power user but he uses his van 100% off grid for most of the year so for a good compromise we fitted just a single 105 ah Lithium. The 100ah gives him the power he needs and has the advantage of being able to charge far quicker than LA using solar & a B2B. Without the fast charge capability of Lithium he would need a much bigger battery bank.

 

[Taran_Las]

Stephen, I have no intention of installing lithium in my van. The current AGM set-up (Lenny HB will be throwing a hissy fit if he reads this comment) performs the tasks I require of it, faultlessly. I plan on leaving what works for me, alone.

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[Northernraider]

It really comes down to your usage, and if you don't plan to change the way you use the van probably not worth the expense of going to Lithium.

We have never had a problem with our 3 x 78ah Gels but the next van we are not having an oven, as you know I like tinkering with the electrics so I'm going for a biggish Lithium set up that will cost a few grand because I can, probably not necessary but it's fun.

Tam Northernraider is a fairly low power user but he uses his van 100% off grid for most of the year so for a good compromise we fitted just a single 105 ah Lithium. The 100ah gives him the power he needs and has the advantage of being able to charge far quicker than LA using solar & a B2B. Without the fast charge capability of Lithium he would need a much bigger battery bank.

100% off grid 100% of the year. Not a heavy power user but lights, pump, phone/drone/tablet/hoover charging and approx 5/6 hours of TV use per day. But the size of my battery works because fridge is 3 way and heating ( gas fire ) uses no power . So even in crap weather my 400watt solar can replenish my battery use daily.

My reasoning for fitting was also because my entire electric system on this camper wasn't the best so changing chargers etc made sense.

 

[Spriddler]

Hobbyists often get deeply involved in their hobbies and love spending time (and money) on buying stuff for them.

Much the same in the yachting world: The Birmingham Navy with their gin palaces adorned with wind generator, radar, chart plotter, Satnav, MF radio, autopilot, fresh water maker, self-furling sails etc etc and only leave the marina once a month to go a few miles on a fine Sunday for a day at another nearby marina.

 

[Ray-Vic]

Not sure I understand the OP. You asked whether to change to lithium, and when anyone suggests yes, you seem to vehemently defend changing to gel. Change to gel then if you aren't comfortable with lithium for the various reasons you've noted as you've already evidently answered your own question.

I think most of us who have changed to Lithium are more than happy with the change, but if you can get by with gel then that's also fine.

 

[Just smiffy]

My two gels are 100% by mid morning and I use 1000w inverter for kettle toaster remosker charging and others…. But I do have 400w of solar and now for rainy days I have a victron Orion B2B to be sure to be sure….

 

[WESTY66]

My two gels are 100% by mid morning and I use 1000w inverter for kettle toaster remosker charging and others…. But I do have 400w of solar and now for rainy days I have a victron Orion B2B to be sure to be sure….

My two gels are 100% by mid morning too, as soon as I put my coffee machine on, they tell me to do one as for the airfryer, forget it, who would want gels when we’ve got enough stuff in kitchen to film ready steady cook

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