Fogstar drift at 50% out of the box - recommended chargers?

[PaulC70]

Hi all, so while it arrived a month ago while in Scotland (had to buy a normal new LB due to the delay) it's sat in the box until literally 5 minutes ago.

So, I've just opened it and read the instructions and downloaded the app and find this.

So it's at 50%. As im not going anywhere until next week I need to charge it but now read that you need a specific charger so looking for recommendations as the only battery charger i have is an old accumate which likely predates lithium its that old.

So anyone got any recommendations? I see that victron ones are about £100.

 

[Hoovie]

to clarify something which sounds like it came as a surprise, Lithium Batteries tend to arrive partly charged.

 

[PaulC70]

Yes, I'd seen someone in another thread state theirs was at 50% and I did ask about charging etc in that thread but it was lost and no one seemed to answer so thought i'd post here specifically. Everyone seems to rate the victron chargers and with some googling have found both of these
Amazon product ASIN B07TJXJY66 at £72 and

Amazon product ASIN B082X8LWGQ at £130

so 50 quid difference and wondering if they are both up to the task?

 

[Andy MacD]

Got mine last week, 50% charge. Actually nothing wrong with that as they are not supposed to be stored fully charged. I’d leave well alone till you install it. If you must check with the app periodically but there will be negligible drop over weeks.

 

[Guigsy]

My recently arrived FogStar 280Ah is getting a Victron IP22 with 20A. Plugged it in and it works fine... I'll fit it in a few weeks.

Yes, 20A is low. It'll take about 14 hours to charge from flat. But if I'm plugged in, it's likely that I'll be there overnight, so I don't see it as a problem. Also, if I'm plugged in, running the the engine with my 30A B2B and the solar is getting full rays, it should remain under 50 amps.

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[Geistguy]

Mine ( 300ah) was fitted 2 weeks ago to our 2019 Pilote, it was replaced with no other mods other than altering settings on the control panel to lithium, it was 50% charged on arrival. Overnight on hook up it charged to 100%, the Fogstar app makes checking very easy. The charge rate just running the engine was very good, it was a very dull day when fitted so solar wasn't effective.

My engineer advised not to spend a fortune on other chargers or upgrades until we had checked performance. Based on what I've seen so far no mods will ge needed.

Can I suggest you try whatever charger is already fitted to yours before wasting money. Best of luck.

 

[PaulC70]

Cheers all, I kept reading that it's recommended to have a charger thats 10% of the ah ie a 30ah charger but see now that thats only based on time so just means a 10ah charger will take 18 hours not 6, so not a big deal.

Geistguy I'll trial fit the battery today in the motorhome but my only charging ability currently is solar, on a dull day, I cant use the ehu as it's too far from the house on the street :-/

 

[Geistguy]

Cheers all, I kept reading that it's recommended to have a charger thats 10% of the ah ie a 30ah charger but see now that thats only based on time so just means a 10ah charger will take 18 hours not 6, so not a big deal.

Geistguy I'll trial fit the battery today in the motorhome but my only charging ability currently is solar, on a dull day, I cant use the ehu as it's too far from the house on the street :-/

I'm lucky that my van is always on hook up at home but in your circumstances you may have to fit a split charger, if that's the case there are members far more knowledgeable than me who, I am sure, will post advice.

 

[Tombola]

-17.1 degrees.
Got to be wrong surely..and if it does think it's that it probably won't take a charge unless has heaters or you heat it

Let's say that's an anommoly...your lead acid charger will charge it this one time or so no problem but remember to switch it off..take it to about 90% then in the meantime order a 3 stage like the ip22 from viction or higher if you find similar

 

[Geistguy]

-17.1 degrees.
Got to be wrong surely..and if it does think it's that it probably won't take a charge unless has heaters or you heat it

Let's say that's an anommoly...your lead acid charger will charge it this one time or so no problem but remember to switch it off..take it to about 90% then in the meantime order a 3 stage like the ip22 from viction or higher if you find similar

I think the temperature reading is "default" until it's charging.

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[Guigsy]

I think the temperature reading is "default" until it's charging.

View attachment 722588

I connected with the app while it was still in the cardboard box. The temperature reading was fine.

 

[PaulC70]

Yes I think that it will be ok, i was a bit worried about that at first.

 

[PaulC70]

However, after a test fit I have another problem. Its too tall :-(
I measured up twice and thought I may have to "trim / thin" the cover in the floor to make it fit but now it's in the compartment there's no way this will work :-(
However as you may make out by the picture below (old battery in there) the lid that forms part of the floor is in fact under another flap which forms the actual floor I walk on. ( I hope that makes sense).
So, is there any issue leaving it like in the picture?

 

[Lenny HB]

Will it fit on it's side as it doesn't matter which way you mount Lithium.
Another option if it is a plastic box that goes through the floor cut the bottonm off about ½" up from the bottom and rebuild it using GRP any some aluminium straps to reinforce it.

 

[Hoovie]

Will it fit on it's side as it doesn't matter which way you mount Lithium.
Another option if it is a plastic box that goes through the floor cut the bottonm off about ½" up from the bottom and rebuild it using GRP any some aluminium straps to reinforce it.

Looking at that photo, the battery box actually looks deeper than it is wide

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[PhilandMena]

I had an email discussion with Fogstar technical support and they said my Sargent onboard 3 stage charger was more than adequate for their Drift battery. It is designed as a drop in replacement for lead acid batteties and charges at 14.4v No need to buy a dedicated Liyhium charger Ibeleive. Thr reason it arrives at only 50% SOC is that is how they are stored. Apparently, storing a partially charged life4po battery for long periods ir recommended as no damage is caused to the cells. Which makes me wonder why it should be fully charged all the time . I must ask them how long it can be used with just a partial charge from the solar panels. I forgot to add the BMS prevents overcharging so don't quite see why a dedicated lithium charger is needed.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looking at that photo, the battery box actually looks deeper than it is wide

That's why I made the second suggestion after another look.

 

[PaulC70]

Sadly no it wont fit sidways either. I'll probably just leave it as is to be honest, be easier to make up a "proud" lid. All that goes under there is shoes anyway.

 

[Oldrat]

This would leave you with a small rsised step.

Unscrew the brown surround and put a 1/2” (or WHY) wooden baton around the opening, refit surround with longer screws.
??

 

[PaulC70]

This would leave you with a small rsised step.

Unscrew the brown surround and put a 1/2” (or WHY) wooden baton around the opening, refit surround with longer screws.
??

Here's another photo for everyone for more clarity. But as to your suggestion Oldrat it's not a surround, it's the whole case thats moulded so that wouldn't work :-(

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[Hoovie]

looks fine to me I would be inclined to run the two cables under the side supports for the strap to keep them out the way more but apart from that ...

 

[Geistguy]

Why not put some strips of wood around the edges and put in a false floor, you wouldn't lose any storage or damage the battery.

 

[autorouter]

The old battery appears to have removable plugs for topping up the battery electrolyte with water. That type of battery needs to be sealed from the habitation area because it can produce gases. That might be the reason there was a sealed lid on the box, no doubt there are vent holes in the box somewhere below.

That sealing off is not necessary with lithium batteries, they can be in the habitation area, so you can leave the lid off if you want.

 

[autorouter]

Those two battery chargers in post #3 are very good, but one is 5A and the other is 15A. The first one, 5A, is the 'IP65' splashproof type, and there are a range of outputs from 4A to 25A. I have the 15A version and find it excellent, I have a standard lead-acid battery but wanted the option to upgrade to lithium.

The second one is the 15A 'IP22' non-waterproof type, and there are 15A, 20A and 30A versions of it. Also excellent and very popular on here. Lithium batteries can charge and discharge faster than lead-acid types, so a bigger charger can be used without any problem.

Worth noting that a lithium battery doesn't need to be kept at 100% like a lead-acid-based battery. A lead-acid battery starts to deteriorate due to sulfation if left fully or partly discharged for more than a couple of weeks. A lithium battery doesn't do this, it can be left for months or even years at say 50% with no deterioration. They are usually stored and shipped at around 50% to 60%, as you found with yours.

 

[PaulC70]

Well just checked and it's added 0.5ah on solar in 24 hours

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[PhilandMena]

Well just checked and it's added 0.5ah on solar in 24 hours

Jesus! How much solar do you have and what was the weather condition for this period. TIA.

 

[PaulC70]

Cloudy and only one Truma panel which I think is 120w

 

[peterc10]

Hi all, so while it arrived a month ago while in Scotland (had to buy a normal new LB due to the delay) it's sat in the box until literally 5 minutes ago.

So, I've just opened it and read the instructions and downloaded the app and find this.
View attachment 722565

So it's at 50%. As im not going anywhere until next week I need to charge it but now read that you need a specific charger so looking for recommendations as the only battery charger i have is an old accumate which likely predates lithium its that old.

So anyone got any recommendations? I see that victron ones are about £100.

If the temperature of your battery is - 17C, as your screenshot shows, you will need to get that up above freezing. You will damage your LiFePo4 batteries if you charge them when they are below zero.

 

[Reallyretired]

Lithium batteries should not be stored for long periods fully charged. For best life discharge to around 60% if you're not going to use them for a long time.

 

[Lenny HB]

If the temperature of your battery is - 17C, as your screenshot shows, you will need to get that up above freezing. You will damage your LiFePo4 batteries if you charge them when they are below zero.

The Fogstar has built in heater pads and won't charge until up to either 4 or 5°, I think the -17 was a gremlin due to the app not being setup.

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