"You're too old for Lithium",

[Pausim]

The only lead you’re gonna need is in your pencil. Get LiFePo4 with an inbuilt heater so it can charge in winter. Estimate £1,000 including a decent B2B.

I have been using LiFePO4 for 8 years and have not yet found the need for an inbuilt battery heater. Some caution is needed because some of the cheaper ones do not do the job properly. Some use internal power for heating and can use more battery power than is actually going in i.e. they flatten the battery rather than charge it. With large prismatic cells it can take a long time for the core of the cell to get warmed up and charging too soon will still cause damage.

 

[herald_400rl]

We're going lithium because our 3 way fridge is unreliable on gas and therefore need to be on hookup.
£1300 for a new fridge, or the same for a complete upgrade of electrics plus a new fridge.

 

[AshFencing]

Been off grid for a few days and realised 6 yr old battery needs replacing. Told wife we might be better getting a lithium battery as they last 10 years "But you'll be 83 then and probably dead, but if you're not you won't be motorhoming". Quick thought bubble came into my head of me as a widower touring around Europe with a gorgeous middle aged, bikini clad divorce unable to keep her hands off me and my money and my lovely lithium battery.
Seriously... Would it be worth it. Present electric unit only takes lead or gel, so some replacement units and wiring necessary. Need a very rough estimate. £1000? £1500? £2000?. Give us some idea before I start ringing around.

Go for the lithium for that added edge of allure lol

A gel setting should work with and for most lithium batteries but it’s not as efficient, but with a singular average ah battery it should cope adequately.

Good luck getting to the 83yrs btw

 

[ambo2camper]

I have been using LiFePO4 for 8 years and have not yet found the need for an inbuilt battery heater. Some caution is needed because some of the cheaper ones do not do the job properly. Some use internal power for heating and can use more battery power than is actually going in i.e. they flatten the battery rather than charge it. With large prismatic cells it can take a long time for the core of the cell to get warmed up and charging too soon will still cause damage.

I did research before i bought and got fogstar drift 2 x 280’s as we use it in winter for skiing. I have the solar and wind turbine charging them in freezing temperatures. So far they haven’t dropped down below 40% so no issue with using their own power to warm up.

 

[MichaelT]

I did research before i bought and got fogstar drift 2 x 280’s as we use it in winter for skiing.

Aren't they a bit clunky to wear on the ski lift and black runs

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[ambo2camper]

Aren't they a bit clunky to wear on the ski lift and black runs

I find them much more manoeuvrable than lead acids

 

[chris1949]

Been off grid for a few days and realised 6 yr old battery needs replacing. Told wife we might be better getting a lithium battery as they last 10 years "But you'll be 83 then and probably dead, but if you're not you won't be motorhoming". Quick thought bubble came into my head of me as a widower touring around Europe with a gorgeous middle aged, bikini clad divorce unable to keep her hands off me and my money and my lovely lithium battery.
Seriously... Would it be worth it. Present electric unit only takes lead or gel, so some replacement units and wiring necessary. Need a very rough estimate. £1000? £1500? £2000?. Give us some idea before I start ringing around.

I just bought two leisure batteries for less than £200 and if they last me 5 years I will still be quids in instead of spending the best part of £1k for lithium and updating my chargers, etc.

 

[CleverTrevorUK]

Well I've just gone down the route of changing my batteries from Lead acid to lithium - Complicated by the fact that I have a wind turbine plus solar setup! Unfortunately the Controller/charger needed to be able to handle both solar and wind! The one fitted was not designed to charge Lithium. I read that Lithium charging from alternators can be a bit problem as some vehicles need a controller that helps the alternator not destroy itself during the charging cycle!
I had 5 Lead acids 120Amp fitted within the van. These were replaced with 3 x 100amp Lithium. I decided to ensure the three charging systems were suitable to task so replaced the Mains to 12v charger, fitted a Battery to Battery Charger, and replaced the Hybrid (solar/wind) charger. All had charging profiles suitable for Lithium Batteries. All in all the cost of these items were as follows:
3 Batteries 100 amp (£209.99 each). DC to DC Charger (£118.34). Hybrid charge controller complete with dump (129.99). Mains Charger (£139.95). Total for all (1,019.25). All from good 'ole Ebay!
Thinking the life expectancy of the batteries will probably see me out (I Hope!)

 

[Sprocker]

We went Lithium in February this year, spent around £700 on a 280ah LiFePO4, and Victron IP22 charger. I fully charged the battery before installing it, since then I haven't needed to use the IP22 charger.
Existing Shaudt B2B and Truma solar charger with 100w solar panel manage to keep the battery charged.
I really believe Lithium is the way to go.

 

[barryd]

Are you sure about this bit?

Yep. I think the extra battery was about £120, Victron MPPT smart solar around £65, extra panel about £70, proper cables, connections etc, mounts and other stuff maybe another £80. Here's the thing though. My pal fitted it all with my help (help being a bit of an exaggeration really ). To be fair had it been a professional install from Off Grid or Van Bitz the labour charges would have massively increased it making Lithium more appealing I guess.

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[Landy Andy]

Yep. I think the extra battery was about £120, Victron MPPT smart solar around £65, extra panel about £70, proper cables, connections etc, mounts and other stuff maybe another £80. Here's the thing though. My pal fitted it all with my help (help being a bit of an exaggeration really ). To be fair had it been a professional install from Off Grid or Van Bitz the labour charges would have massively increased it making Lithium more appealing I guess.

Brilliant

 

[gus-lopez]

2 x Ecoworthy 195watt bifacial panels. 160€
the existing 2 x 100w would have sufficed as they had been running the compressor fridge for the last 6 months but I wanted to increase the capacity & as we have to have everything homologated here I needed them the same width, but longer, so I could change them without anyone suspecting
Ecoworthy 280Ah lifepo4 439€ but had to pay postage =another50€

100A mppt suitable for lithium in stock from the many i was using on the house
Replaced inverter with an Edecoa 1500W pure sine wave purchased for 100€, completely forgetting that I had the identical model brand new & unused in the shed
cables came from stuff I had in stock for the inverter, new cables for the panels from the roll I bought to wire the house ones, DC mcb's used as double pole interruptors on the solar cables to the mppt & also additional solar direct to charge powerbank & run/charge an ac unit were a couple left over from the house install, probably less than 100€ in all the odd bits & pieces but most of this was from the house so had already been paid for.
so around 850€

 

[bobandjanie]

gus-lopez. Richard we had 2 x 100w flexible panels homologated, next itv in two years and we have just put 2 x 150w ridged
panels on the roof not only bigger but at a different position, we will see how hard they look when the time comes. Bob.

 

[gus-lopez]

2 x Ecoworthy 195watt bifacial panels. 160€
the existing 2 x 100w would have sufficed as they had been running the compressor fridge for the last 6 months but I wanted to increase the capacity & as we have to have everything homologated here I needed them the same width, but longer, so I could change them without anyone suspecting
Ecoworthy 280Ah lifepo4 439€ but had to pay postage =another50€

100A mppt suitable for lithium in stock from the many i was using on the house
Replaced inverter with an Edecoa 1500W pure sine wave purchased for 100€, completely forgetting that I had the identical model brand new & unused in the shed
cables came from stuff I had in stock for the inverter, new cables for the panels from the roll I bought to wire the house ones, DC mcb's used as double pole interruptors on the solar cables to the mppt & also additional solar direct to charge powerbank & run/charge an ac unit were a couple left over from the house install, probably less than 100€ in all the odd bits & pieces but most of this was from the house so had already been paid for.
so around 850€

Oh I forgot the Orion.Tr Smart 12-12-30 from a funster

 

[the1andonly]

I entered the LiFePO4 solar arms race 5 years ago when my 2yr old 2 x AGM 110Ah died. I started with 120W solar (from new) and replaced PWM controller with Votronics duo MPPT then added 100W old panel I had on a trailer later replaced with a new 100W £80 and 330W £130 and another Votronics duo MPPT and Votronics B2B 30A total votronics cost £400-500 cant remember precice cost.
So 550w solar cost about £700 plus wiring. Now battery 100Ah was typicaly well over £600 but special offer £500. last year added 375VA invertor (£100). (ebike and laptop charging washing machine etc) The 100w is tiltable for winter use. (no need in summer)
100A may sound small in the arms race but does me a treat. One important thing to remember about me is I absolutely hate cooking with electric, all gas at home and in van (apart from a George and slow cooker, still use pressure cooker. (gas chip pan now replaced with ELF and Safety lectric one)
This system works for us , two example periods last year with no ehu 3weeks in summer (Pembroke so equivalent to winter in spain) and 2 weeks travelling Shropshire Worcester Cotswolds in November (equivalent to Almost winter in Britain).
PS its easy to use the BMV712 relay to control whatever you fancy. I use it to control charging based on SOC, done at a time when there was much more concern about non use levels (storage) and overcharging damage. The only time the van is on EHU is Christmas overspill fridge usage, also use the opportunity to charge the starter battery.

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[Lenny HB]

YES .... for us the ability to flick the switch on the electric kettle in the morning and jump back into bed until its done its duty, is a major plus point, all the rest are just trimmings ....

You need a smart switch on the kettle, now I'm going to have to try one.

Sorted, last night I filled the kettle, put tea bags in the mugs.

This morning turned the inverter on via my phone while in bed.
Had to get up to put water in mugs, tea brewed while I had a visit to the bathroom, now back in bed with a cupper.

 

[AdrianChen]

Sorted, last night I filled the kettle, put tea bags in the mugs.

This morning turned the inverter on via my phone while in bed.
Had to get up to put water in mugs, tea brewed while I had a visit to the bathroom, now back in bed with a cupper.

There may yet be a resurrection for the old Teasmade!

 

[MisterB]

Sorted, last night I filled the kettle, put tea bags in the mugs.

This morning turned the inverter on via my phone while in bed.
Had to get up to put water in mugs, tea brewed while I had a visit to the bathroom, now back in bed with a cupper.

Brilliant, now all we need is a way to get the drink made and to us without actually getting out of bed....

I did have personal staff undertaking the duties, but she keeps telling me it's my job !!!


Perhaps the old 'teasmaid' or two will start to appear in the classifieds ......??

 

[Lenny HB]

Fit a mains socket by the bed for the kettle.

 

[AdrianChen]

Brilliant, now all we need is a way to get the drink made and to us without actually getting out of bed....

I did have personal staff undertaking the duties, but she keeps telling me it's my job !!!


Perhaps the old 'teasmaid' or two will start to appear in the classifieds ......??

I think a robot will soon be available that will do all the tasks/maintenance/cooking etc, and with a self drive van you wont even need to leave the comfort of your own home, just send the van off!

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[chaser]

I find them much more manoeuvrable than lead acids

Like your van, is it ex ambulance? Nice to see there's another yellow one about