Question Replacing house batteries

[GlampDaddy]

@GlampDaddy needs lithium now. True.

Hmmmm. Let’s see… new BR slide floor or replace new AGMs with lithium batteries. I’ll have to think about that for a second.

 

[Neal]

Oh no. @Chuggs is at Newmar now getting that done.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I’m not sure if you really half to seal it unless you’re going to use the Rv in extreme temps or the battery compartment is vulnerable to debris. I did do mine with thin metal sheets I could bend by hand and self tapping sheet metal screws.

People are always asking me if I would want to refurbished this, that, or the other thing. A neighbor just dropped off a couple failed 2019 battle born batteries.

So this is the conclusion, and findings.

This person seldom boondocks

The batteries were in an un hermetically sealed battery box.

One battery had serious corrosion to the point the BMS had traces on the board completely corroded through. Both had cells that were no longer connected due to corroded end plates.

Both had cells sitting in water.

The battery box that contained them was completely dry with no signs of water in the past.

The seams lacked a full glue seal. I have been hearing about the quality of this brand, however, the seal allows for humidity to make its way into the battery.

My conclusion is the water was condensation, without a way to remove it. The owner was lucky, the batteries only failed, it could have been much worse.

The only way I can see to prevent this from happening, is to have a hermetically sealed battery box. Fill the box around the batteries with a desiccant. And have a drain valve in the bottom of the box.

To close! This may sound like overkill, but, 100% sample of a highly respected brand was faulty regarding water ingress. I would like to believe that ultrasonic welding was used in the assembly of these batteries, but no! And glue seams don't cut it!!!

So install your lithium if you must, but at least have a well designed box for them.

 

[mhbell]

Unless your converter is set up for lithium, it will only charge the Lifepo4 to 80 percent. So you need to consider the cost of replacing the converter. Same fo your alternator you will need a batter isolator or a DC to DC charger. Learned this the hard way.

 

[lostinfla]

My inverter is Lithium capable, and I just received the LiBIM today. 460a Epoch battery is on the way. (I may add another later on) I'll start buying the supplies for sealing up the box tomorrow. Not going to start this project till I have all the items in my hands. I have a good idea of what I have to do as far as partially sealing up the present bin. At least the temps are cooperating. I'll probably have to kill all the power for a couple days. Now, where to peddle the battery tray and 8 flooded 6v is going to be the next thing.

 

[punkinhead]

Now, where to peddle the battery tray and 8 flooded 6v is going to be the next thing.

I got $74 for my 8 flooded batteries at the local metal recycler. I haven't figured out what to do with the tray yet - it'll probably go to the metal recycler too. It's too big to store and I can't think of how I'd repurpose it. I know for sure it will never go back into the coach. It's nice getting an entire new basement bay for storage. The conversion to lithium also got rid of over 400 lbs between the batteries and tray.

 

[lostinfla]

BTW, anyone using flooded Interstate 6v, I have a Flo Rite filter system that will handle up to 8 batteries that I'll part with.

 

[Wemustrv]

I switched our flooded cell 6 volt batteries to AGM V-Max 6 volt 240 AH batteries about 3 years ago and they have been great. They are much lighter than the flooded cell. You do have to reconfigure your energy management system to accommodate the change in type. Same would be true with Lithium.

We do boondock on a regular basis. We have two resi fridges on board the main one in the kitchen is a Kenmore Elite 24 cubic foot and one small 2 cubic foot fridge in one of our basement compartments. The two fridges and regular power demands (lighting and TVs) we can run 10 + hours before we need to charge the system. FYI this includes me running my 120 volt CPAP all night

The only reason we did not go Lithium was that they do not handle extreme cold very well and we live in Iowa where our temps drops well below zero frequently during the winter.

Interesting side note. When I replaced my flooded cell batteries in 2021 They were the original Interstate batteries that were installed when the rig was built. Their build date was 09/2006 our rig is a 2007. When replaced they would only support off grid for a few hours.

 

[lostinfla]

I've got the bin liner panels cut and painted on both sides. Also configured the inverter charger for the lithium. Hoping the battery gets here before the weekend. I sold the old batteries on marketplace cheap just to get rid of them. I'm waiting on the new one before I disconnect and have the buyer come over to pick them up. He didn't want the tray...

 

[Neal]

One other thing to consider is your battery bay basement door doesn't have a gasket. I had SES install one on mine to help seal the bay from anything getting in kicked up from the left front tire, etc. I learned what Newmar uses and bought some and was going to replace what SES used with the same stuff Newmar used but then questioned myself as to why change it, it works fine. The only thing is it may be a little too stiff so that the aft end lower corner of the door doesn't close flush. Anyways, if I could find the receipt I could either tell you what it is and where I got it, possibly sell you mine I'm not going to use, but moral is, a gasket/weather strip should be installed in the door frame. I need to find the box and see if that tells me what it is.

 

[Neal]

Found it, and my invoice.

Uni-Seal B : Uni-Grip Rubber and Plastic Seals

uni-grip.com

 

[lostinfla]

Thanks Neal, I'll let you know when I get to that point.

 

[newmarokie]

Neal,
Is that the upgraded seal material that some are going to make bay doors easier to close?

 

[Neal]

Neal,
Is that the upgraded seal material that some are going to make bay doors easier to close?

Yes, I think @Dutch Star Don told me about this stuff. It is very soft.

 

[freeman]

I have LiFEPO4 and AGM wired with a battery switch. This is because I often can be out during the shoulder season when it gets cold, and it has been a benefit to switch to AGM at times if my LiFEPO4 batteries are too cold. I don't have a heater setup for my LiFEPO4 batteries. Also, I don't have a large power demand, but I understand that this won't work for people who have large power hungry cycles and cannot have both battery types in their setup.

Also, kind of a no-brainer to me that while you are driving you benefit from the alternator and run your fridge or other devices off that. I use a 75-amp Anderson plug for that along with a DC-DC charger.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@lostinfla , how will you seal the top of your battery compartment?

 

[lostinfla]

The sides seal to the top of the compartment, the back goes to the top of the frame rail. I was going to stick with that and see if it really needs more protection.

 

[lostinfla]

Finished the box and wiring, now just waiting for UPS and the battery. Might even have this thing finished up today!

 

[lostinfla]

UPS showed! Finally have power back in the coach. And...MORE STORAGE!

 

[Neal]

Nice job. Amazing the difference. How much weight are you saving?