Hi Thinking of changing to lithium batteries . Any probs we need to beware of with using them with the EBL in Hymer on a gel setting .

[Ambilkate]

Hi , I'm Thinking of changing to lithium batteries . Any probs I need to beware of with using them with the EBL on Hymer on a gel setting .
Bill

 

[Marie-Claire]

We did the same on an adria, no issues upto press , the ne charger takes them upto 98.4%

 

[grasscutter]

No problems on our van Kath.
Just make sure Amanda wont upgrade to three iPads

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Don't know about your Hymer electrics Kate but as you know we fitted a lithium 100ah in ours and it's been ok
But as a back up and for some extra power we also retained 2 x 110ah lead batteries on thier own system that I can link to a "spare portable solar panel" that I can use as and when required. We can run the TV or other requirement though the inverter for whatever we need. And just switch between set ups to suit, Eventually we will replace the leads with lithium when the latter become cheaper .

 

[autorouter]

Hi , I'm Thinking of changing to lithium batteries . Any probs I need to beware of with using them with the EBL on Hymer on a gel setting .

What number of EBL is it? Is it one of those with the Gel/AGM switch? Or maybe it has Gel/Lead-acid, or even the choice of all three. The Gel setting is better for Lithium than the AGM setting, but the Lead-acid setting is slightly better if it's available.

Also the EBL switch only affects the mains charger, it has no effect on any solar or split charge/B2B charging.

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[Ambilkate]

Hi

What number of EBL is it? Is it one of those with the Gel/AGM switch? Or maybe it has Gel/Lead-acid, or even the choice of all three. The Gel setting is better for Lithium than the AGM setting, but the Lead-acid setting is slightly better if it's available.

Also the EBL switch only affects the mains charger, it has no effect on any solar or split charge/B2B charging.

Hi autorouter , thankyou for post

, ours is a EBL 100,
Lead acid / dry fill option

 

[Cush]

Sorry to hijack

autorouter , “The Gel setting is better for Lithium than the AGM setting, but the Lead-acid setting is slightly better if it's available.”. Is that the case with all makes of onboard chargers? Sargent? Or specific to that particular lead acid changing profile?

TIA Cush

 

[autorouter]

On the EBL charger, the voltages for the Gel and lead-acid charge profiles are exactly the same. The difference is that the Gel profile has an extended absorption phase. The lead-acid absorption phase finishes when the charge current falls to the tail current level. It then switches to the float phase. The gel profile stays at the absorption voltage for several hours after the tail current is reached, because gels need extended 'recombination' time.

Lithium batteries don't need an extended absorption phase, in fact some say it's best to avoid charging them to the full 100%. That's exactly the opposite of lead-acid batteries, which need to be charged to 100% at least every month or so to avoid sulfation deterioration. The voltages of the Gel and Lead-acid profiles are not quite high enough to charge Lithium batteries to 100%, which is a good thing. The AGM profile voltages are a bit too high.

I don't know about other charger brands, but I would guess they are similar.

 

[Ambilkate]

Just ordered 2 lifepo4 lithium fogstar drift 105Ah .
What's the best ,
a separate charger to use with these if so any recommendations or go through our EBL 100 .
Bill

 

[Lenny HB]

Just ordered 2 lifepo4 lithium fogstar drift 105Ah .
What's the best ,
a separate charger to use with these if so any recommendations or go through our EBL 100 .
Bill

As autorouter say the EBL is OK for charging them not ideal but it wo t harm them. I would only consider changing the charger if you use EHU a lot of the time.

More important is what is your solar controller and do you have a B2B fitted.

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[Ambilkate]

Thanks for your reply Lenny , Bills new to all this and just wants to get it straight in his head of what he needs .
His solar controller is SCHAUDT LR1218
He doesn't have a B2B fitted
Kate

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for your reply Lenny , Bills new to all this and just wants to get it straight in his head of what he needs .
His solar controller is SCHAUDT LR1218
He doesn't have a B2B fitted
Kate

You need to change the LR1218 as they are a single stage charger that stays a 14.2v once the battery is charged not suitable for Lithium. Victron solar controllers are best for Lithium, they are only single output so to keep the starter battery charged you would need to fit either an Ablemail Battery Maintainer or a Batterymaster.

Also you would need to fit a B2B to control the alternator charging, Hymer fit decent size cables to the split charge circuit so a possibility of overloading the alternator with the standard setup.

 

[Peregrinator]

You can use a lead acid charger on a lithium battery if you want, HOWEVER, you must NOT use a lead-acid charger if it has an automatic “equalisation mode” which cannot be permanently turned off

 

[Peregrinator]

Lithium Ion batteries are charged with an absorption voltage of 14.25 V for 12 V, The float voltage is 13.5 V for 12 V