Battery Dilemma

[Lizbiebrowne]

My leisure lead acid AGM battery has failed and I’m off to Spain and Portugal for a 6 week trip at the end of the month. I’d planned to install a lithium battery system over the winter but I haven’t enough time to do that now before I go.

What should I do? My thoughts are I can either:

• replace my 160 Ah AGM battery with a lower capacity cheaper version to get me through my trip, or
• buy a lithium battery now, drop it into my existing system as a direct replacement and change the rest of the system when I return.

My existing setup is as installed by the convertor. It’s a 2018 Fiat Ducato 130 bhp 6.4 m PVC, a CBE516 battery charger and a 100 W solar panel controlled by a brandless Chinese controller. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Lenny HB]

I would fit the lithium, with the CBE unit on the Gel setting it won't over charge the lithium. If the solar controller doesn't have a gel setting it's only a quick job to swap it for a decent controller.
My only concern is if you don't have a B2B, if your van is German with decent size cables it is possible to damage the alternator with the high current lithium can charge at. If Brit built no worries the wiring will be so undersized won't be able to supply the current.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Thanks Lenny HB, that's good advice. The van is British built and the cable at the leisure battery's positive post is 3 mm2 - is that small enough? As you recommend, I will replace the solar controller, probably with a Photonic MPPT model as I can't find a Victron equivalent that charges both the leisure and starter batteries. Cheers, David

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny HB, that's good advice. The van is British built and the cable at the leisure battery's positive post is 3 mm2 - is that small enough? As you recommend, I will replace the solar controller, probably with a Photonic MPPT model as I can't find a Victron equivalent that charges both the leisure and starter batteries. Cheers, David

3mm sq, you won't get much of a charge via that. German vans use 16mm sq.

Have a look at the Votroinc solar controller as good as Victron .

As you are fitting Lithium you will want to fir more solar so worth fitting a larger sor controller for future expansion, say a 350 or 430 watt one.


Amazon product ASIN B01AI34S6U

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Yes, extra solar panels, or replacing my existing one with a higher capacity one, was on my winter wish list. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the Votronic range. I’ve identified a lithium battery and will hopefully order it today together with the regulator. For once, I’ll be grateful for my undersized wiring!

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