Help with inverter Xantrex Inverter

[Kevin D Pem]

Thanks, That the problem, we use exactly the same thing we did with our last rv. the last one never had any problem Worked very well.

Sorry newbie here what is 500 watts Of solar? How can I find out how mine has. Should I change my inverter? thank you for your help

About the technology:
Lithium batteries use a built-in device called a battery management system (BMS). This bms works only to protect the battery. You may not have noticed because it is built-in to the battery. When the charge reaches a low voltage set point (not adjustable), the battery is disconnected so it can no longer discharge! This is why everything quits at some point! And you get a warning you have a bad connection.

Solar panels have labels that give there vital information! However, if mounted with no data sheet, one has to guess their size. For this discussion we assume 20% efficiency. The sun is said to grace the surface of the earth with 1000 watts of light energy per square meter! Guessing or measuring the panel size times the efficiency number gives watts thus the panel/s rating.

Solar Controllers come in two technologies! PWM and MPPT. The MPPT controller is the only controller worth its weight! And must be sized for panel specs and battery type.
Additional information!!!
From disconnected BMS state, it requires hours to fully charge a lithium battery with solar. The grid will get the batteries up to full power, overnight, and slow charging will make any battery last longer.
The larger the bank the more chance you can make it through the night! This requires you to calculate load vs. Battery capacity. Ultimately however, if you don't have the charging capacity, your batteries will not get charged. Therefore the load will be calculated and the charging system must meet the load, and charging (to replenish the power used during the night previous), or your batteries will constantly lose power.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[AbdRahim]

What model is the Xantrex? And as stated, if you want to run stuff oaway from shore power you need more umph!

 

[ADR1RU]

@OldSkool Could you expand a bit on your comment about the (vehicle) alternator? This is the 2nd time I’ve heard someone mention it, when they swap over to Lithium batteries.

 

[TheLooks]

I saw that also. The alternator in a motorized camper will charge the house batteries but is isolated by a diode, or one way circuit. I am not sure what is being replaced other then a better diode?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

@ADR1RU I am wondering what you were thinking when you read about the automobile alternator?

 

[ADR1RU]

@ADR1RU I am wondering what you were thinking when you read about the automobile alternator?

From what little I can discern, one could burn their vehicle alternator up by switching over to Lithium batteries on their travel trailer. Another post (on a Facebook RV Group) mentioned something about it, but no details.

So I guess I’m wondering if you need a DC-DC Battery Charger if you convert over to Lithium in your TT, to keep from damaging your vehicle’s alternator?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

IMO and from personal experience, automotive alternators won't hold up to a constant high amp charging. Deep cycle charging of any chemistry can make an unmodified alternators coils turn blue as the coils fry. The regulator and diodes will soon show signs of failure.

They were designed to bring a starting battery back up to full charge. They lack enough iron and copper to serve as Deep cycle charging generators.

My poor boy generators, use special electronic field controller to keep the generator within designed limits, even when used to charge my 24v system. The system RPM is set via the built-in governor on the engine. I have been using my current model for about 5 years, and very happy with it. Remember I run solar so don't use it unless weather requires it. That of course is when the largest load is applied.

It may be fine if you got a three stage regulator like that used in the marine market.

 

[ADR1RU]

IMO and from personal experience, automotive alternators won't hold up to a constant high amp charging. Deep cycle charging of any chemistry can make an unmodified alternators coils turn blue as the coils fry. The regulator and diodes will soon show signs of failure.

They were designed to bring a starting battery back up to full charge. They lack enough iron and copper to serve as Deep cycle charging generators.

So whenever someone converts over to Lithium in a TT, what do most folks do to protect their vehicle’s alternator during transit?

 

[Wemustrv]

We have a new Jayco 2023 Alante. We had problem from day one with our batteries and inverter. We changed batteries from normal to lithium. Hoping we would be able to have more power. We use exactly the same equipement cpap and Ipad that we did in our last RV. We never had any problems with it.
Now every night we get an alert and my husband cpap stops. The retailer tells us its because of what we use. Help don’t know what to do.
We have solar panels Go power of 200 and 1000 inverter. We are from Quebec, Candiac near Montreal. Thank you for your help.

Did you reconfigure the charging system not inverter to match the Lithium charge requirements? I made this mistake once when going from we cell to AGM cost me 4 brand ne batteries. I do not have have Lithium however I can run 14 hours on our coach batteries powering to resi fridges one 23.5 cubic foot and one 1.7 cubic foot, lights, tv and my CPAP.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

So whenever someone converts over to Lithium in a TT, what do most folks do to protect their vehicle’s alternator during transit?

I personally would use a current limiting circuit. How fast the battery charges means little if it kills the alternator.

You can use a pwm circuit for that.

 

[TheLooks]

Careful - Alternator Charging Lithium - Victron Energy

Charging lithium batteries from an alternator, be that in a boat or vehicle, presents some challenges when compared to the straightforward nature of charging lead based batteries. The video in this blog highlights these lithium challenges and shows you what can happen when things go wrong –...

www.victronenergy.com