Confused again (1 Viewer)

[Folkranger]

Never know whether I should keep the van with lithium battery on hook up all the time when standing over winter.

 

[seasideBill]

If you’ve got a solar panel, surely that’s enough (assuming outside)?

 

[Pausim]

Lithium has minimal self discharge and should sit happily doing nothing for months, some say leave it at80% it is better for the cells. Keeping it at 100% is probably best avoided. The engine battery is more likely to drop and need attention.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Ours just relies on solar also the engine battery we’ve had lithium over a year now.

 

[the1andonly]

Lithium has minimal self discharge and should sit happily doing nothing for months, some say leave it at80% it is better for the cells. Keeping it at 100% is probably best avoided. The engine battery is more likely to drop and need attention.

Best advice so far. Use an Isolator on battery negative.
I use a much more sophisticated control method. I have a bmv712 and use the relay to switch an ssrr (solid state relay) based on SOC. I Have 2 victron duo controllers one for a 330w panel (switches off solar to controller) the second 100w 120w has a switch to battery whilst it charges the starter battery

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[RedFrame]

A fair bit of info here.

How to store LiFePO4 batteries? - Canbat Technologies Inc. - 24/7 Support

Learn how to store LiFePO4 batteries during the off-season. Weather you're storing them for a month or even a year, here's what we recommend.

www.canbat.com

Cheers
Red

 

[Folkranger]

Thanks for the replies. The linked advice above got far too involved for what I was looking for.

I have a solar panel and a Victron system with b2b control. So far this is keeping the lithium battery at 13.7v and the starter battery is 13v. My concern is that the lithium is too high and the starter battery is a bit low.

 

[Folkranger]

My starter battery is now at 12.7v and yes, I do have a B2B built into the Victron setup.

I could leave the B2B to look after this from the Lithium battery which is over 13v and would be better left at 50%. but I'd worry whether the starter battery dropped below 12.7v

It would be great if I had remote access to the battery conditions, like I coud read them on my phone and even get warning texts.

 

[Pausim]

My starter battery is now at 12.7v and yes, I do have a B2B built into the Victron setup.

I could leave the B2B to look after this from the Lithium battery which is over 13v and would be better left at 50%. but I'd worry whether the starter battery dropped below 12.7v

It would be great if I had remote access to the battery conditions, like I coud read them on my phone and even get warning texts.

I can check my engine battery using my tracker app and get texts about my leisure battery from my Truma iNet box.

 

[JockandRita]

I could leave the B2B to look after this from the Lithium battery which is over 13v and would be better left at 50%. but I'd worry whether the starter battery dropped below 12.7v

The fitting of a Battery Manager or a Battery Master between both battery banks, would help to keep the starter battery topped up.

Either are easy to install and gives you piece of mind.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Folkranger]

The fitting of a Battery Manager or a Battery Master between both battery banks, would help to keep the starter battery topped up.

View attachment 684221

View attachment 684222

Either are easy to install and gives you piece of mind.

Cheers,

Jock.

I assume that's the job of the Victron b2b or am I missing something?

 

[Folkranger]

I can check my engine battery using my tracker app and get texts about my leisure battery from my Truma iNet box.

That's a thought. My tracker tells me if the battery is low. I'll check whether the app lets me see the battery state.

 

[Pausim]

That's a thought. My tracker tells me if the battery is low. I'll check whether the app lets me see the battery state.

On my Voda app the information is hidden on the menu under the Device heading. Took me a while before I realised I could retrieve the voltage that way. To get the latest voltage I have to first get the app to refresh the vehicle location and then refresh the device data.

 

[autorouter]

I assume that's the job of the Victron b2b or am I missing something?

A B2B, Victron or any other brand, charges the leisure battery from the starter battery/alternator when the engine is running. Typically they are 30A or more, up to 120A or even 140A.

A battery maintainer, like the BatteryMaster or similar devices, trickle-charges the starter battery from the leisure battery when the engine is stopped. Typically they are about 1A or 2A, maybe up to 4A. It stops the starter battery from gradually losing charge when the MH is parked up for days or weeks.

 

[Folkranger]

A B2B, Victron or any other brand, charges the leisure battery from the starter battery/alternator when the engine is running. Typically they are 30A or more, up to 120A or even 140A.

A battery maintainer, like the BatteryMaster or similar devices, trickle-charges the starter battery from the leisure battery when the engine is stopped. Typically they are about 1A or 2A, maybe up to 4A. It stops the starter battery from gradually losing charge when the MH is parked up for days or weeks.

You learn something every day. Looks like I need a seperate Battery maintainer.

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[the1andonly]

I Have 2 victron duo controllers one for a 330w panel (switches off solar to controller) the second 100w 120w has a switch to battery whilst it charges the starter battery

strange replying to my own post but the controllers are Votronic duos that have a second battery position that charges the starter battery obviating the need for a battery maintainer/ master.

 

[JockandRita]

You learn something every day. Looks like I need a seperate Battery maintainer.

Which was the suggestion in my post above. It's a fit and forget solution to maintaining a trickle charge to the starter battery, especially so when an alarm is fitted, causing a parasitic drain on the starter battery.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Folkranger]

Which was the suggestion in my post above. It's a fit and forget solution to maintaining a trickle charge to the starter battery, especially so when an alarm is fitted, causing a parasitic drain on the starter battery.

Cheers,

Jock.

Yes, I picked up on that. Obviously my knowledge of these system is pretty poor. Can I assume that as you say these are easy to fit that I with my limited knowledge could manage to pick this up.

 

[JockandRita]

Yes, I picked up on that. Obviously my knowledge of these system is pretty poor. Can I assume that as you say these are easy to fit that I with my limited knowledge could manage to pick this up.

I would say so, ie, 1 x wire to the Starter Batt Pos, 1 x wire to the Leisure Batt Pos, and 1 x wire to earth.
Similar connections may be closer to the distribution box, or at your B2B perhaps.
Once good connections are made, either of them sorts themselves out, with the CBE unit trickling up to 4A.

Be aware though, there is a newer version for Lithium now, which I have only recently become aware of. Hopefully autorouter, Raul, or Lenny HB can advise further.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Nanniemate]

Lost me at b2b

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[JockandRita]

Lost me at b2b

Battery to Battery charger, abbreviated to B2B.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[golly]

I have just had lithium batteries fitted by VanBitz, at the moment I dont have any solar, I have a battery master which keeps the engine battery topped up and a Victron smart shunt so I can read the battery condition on an app. If either of the batteries drops too low I will go for a drive and the B2B will sort them, or put van on hook up for a day. Still experimenting as to what I can use in the van and for how long without hook up.

 

[Raul]

Some pp, use the battery master with Lithium with no problems. Some don’t like it and use the abelmail, I think I spelt it right. Abelmail is specifically to use with Lithium leisure. I use none of them. I have a multiplus, and on pcb, there’s a spade connector for a second battery, up to 4a. I use that with great results.

 

[Folkranger]

I would say so, ie, 1 x wire to the Starter Batt Pos, 1 x wire to the Leisure Batt Pos, and 1 x wire to earth.
Similar connections may be closer to the distribution box, or at your B2B perhaps.
Once good connections are made, either of them sorts themselves out, with the CBE unit trickling up to 4A.

Be aware though, there is a newer version for Lithium now, which I have only recently become aware of. Hopefully autorouter, Raul, or Lenny HB can advise further.

Cheers,

Jock.

Thanks. will find out and order one.

 

[Folkranger]

Some pp, use the battery master with Lithium with no problems. Some don’t like it and use the abelmail, I think I spelt it right. Abelmail is specifically to use with Lithium leisure. I use none of them. I have a multiplus, and on pcb, there’s a spade connector for a second battery, up to 4a. I use that with great results.

Do you know if my Victron easyplus would work the same as your multiplus?

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[Raul]

Yes it does, a EasyPlus it’s a multiplus with AC distribution added on. If you consult the multiplus compact manual, you will be able to identify the auxiliary battery charging point on pcb.
It looks like a spade connecting point low to the left if I remember right. If you don’t find it, let me know, I wil, take the cover of mine and take a snip as it’s connected.

 

[Folkranger]

Yes it does, a EasyPlus it’s a multiplus with AC distribution added on. If you consult the multiplus compact manual, you will be able to identify the auxiliary battery charging point on pcb.
It looks like a spade connecting point low to the left if I remember right. If you don’t find it, let me know, I wil, take the cover of mine and take a snip as it’s connected.

Thanks. will take a look at manual first.

 

[Folkranger]

Had a look and yes it does:
Two outputs to charge 2 battery banks
The EasyPlus features 2 outputs, of which 1 can carry the full output current. The second output,
limited to approximately 4 A and with a slightly lower output voltage, is intended to top up a starter
battery.
I'd be surprised if this isn't already connected.

 

[Folkranger]

Raul
Had a look but can't see a wire or specifically where it connects to. See pics below..

 

[Raul]

First photo, I can see it. It’s to the right of the yellow cable and above the reds, by 1/2” either way. It’s a spade of the pcb marked charging. Take a photo of that area and see what’s the righting on pcb saying? TR charge?
To the left of the big fuse, level with the stud.