Upgrading my House Batteries

[Texas Clodhopper]

I'm not financially prepared to invest in a total solar package but I'm seriously considering upgrading my 8-230AH wet cell batteries to LiFePo4 batteries. The 12v LiTime 230AH batteries are high on my list. Should I get 4 to replace the 8 wet cell batteries? Bluetooth, heated? All the options make my head swivel. I know I will need other items to safely charge the LiFePo4 batteries using the engine alternator and maybe the genset, what else? I always read not to use the LiFePo4 as engine starting batteries so how about starting the genset? Ugh!

Be easy on me my friends, I don't know enough to ask semi-intelligent questions but all advice is welcome.

 

[Richpatty]

These are all good questions…. As far as how many amp hours to get, it depends on how much dry camping you might do. And remember you probably only have to replace half of your current wet cell capacity since you really only can use half of its stated capacity anyway. So 400Ah of lithium may be enough if you do not plan much boondcoking.

Bluetooth may be nice….and depending on where you live and how cold it gets there, heated could be an option. But keep in mind you probably only have to worry about heated batteries if you need to charge them in the cold (below freezing or so). They can be used (discharged) when cold…. You could also heat the battery compartment and save money on heated batteries. Mine are not heated…have not found I needed it.

And I believe the gen gets started from the chassis battery.
A LiBim or dc to dc charger will protect the alternator. I have used a LiBim for 3 years without issue.

I hope this helps.
Keep the questions coming.
Rich

 

[Neal]

Just to add to the excellent reply from @Richpatty - first off, you don't have to have solar because you have LiFePO4 batteries. I initially did solar for a reason, storage without power, it was a great learning experience, but it has been rarely used over the years. We'll see how that plays in now with my LiFePO4 setup as that will influence me to play with the solar, but most of us big rig'ers, IMHO, are typically on shore power 98.26% of the time. The LiFePO4 batteries will last longer, have a longer warranty, and save a lot of weight. In the end, they will probably cost the same as AGM as you'd replace AGM at least twice in the lifespan of the LiFePO4 I believe.

Now it comes down to amp hours. That's how you figure out your capacity. And like I designed with my new setup, I can add four more batteries if I choose. We'll see how my 4 x 330's work out. Keep in mind you get 50% of your battery AH capacity, you'll get 90% of LiFePO4 so that math comes out to a less overall AH requirement. It's more about your budget at this point.

One thing to consider with LiFePO4 is external BMS or internal BMS, i.e. what protects the batteries. My Victron's require an external BMS, Battleborn for example has an internal BMS. I'd take a good look at SOK's and other brands. There are a lot of offerings on the market, look at warranty, etc.

I don't want to overwhelm you, keep the questions coming as Rich said. Black Friday deals are ahead. It's a good time to buy, doesn't mean you have to change them now.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Thanks, guys.
1. Wire in series or parallel?
2. What about cabling?
3. @Neal, do you have 4 - 300 ah batteries?
4. I've watched several of Will Prowse YouTube videos and reviews of different brand batteries.
5. Did you make your cables? @Richpatty , I live in the San Antonio area and since 2007 and have never been to an area where I needed to winterize.
6. This past year we did considerable boondocking and plan to do similar this next year.
7. I need to confirm my Mangum MS2812 is compatible with lithium charging.

 

[Neal]

4 x 330's - they have come down in price quite a bit since I bit that bullet.

MOD - 2017 Newmar Ventana gets major Victron LiFePO4 upgrade

The dreaded before picture. From the thread "It is time...for new house batteries" - introducing the new house batteries! This article and discussion will likely evolve, I'll do my best to tell the story with as much detail as I can remember. It has been quite the week and a ton of information...

rvforums.com

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

4 x 330's - they have come down in price quite a bit since I bit that bullet.

MOD - 2017 Newmar Ventana gets major Victron LiFePO4 upgrade

The dreaded before picture. From the thread "It is time...for new house batteries" - introducing the new house batteries! This article and discussion will likely evolve, I'll do my best to tell the story with as much detail as I can remember. It has been quite the week and a ton of information...

rvforums.com

Wow...there are several hours of reading and re-reading to be done. Unbelievable write-up.

 

[Richpatty]

Wow...there are several hours of reading and re-reading to be done. Unbelievable write-up.

Thats for sure!
Put my install to shame...

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Thats for sure!
Put my install to shame...

Let me put it this way, he has almost twice as much invested in his solar system as I paid for my first home.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@Richpatty, do you have a post somewhere with a more realistic @Texas Clodhopper budget?

 

[Richpatty]

@Richpatty, do you have a post somewhere with a more realistic @Texas Clodhopper budget?

LOL. Sure. Here is my Lithium thread from 2022.

Move to Lithium

So as I get ready for my Lithium project, I began to think about the best way to wire them. I will have 8 100ah GC2 sized battleborns. I know many of you use the wiring method on the left (see below). I have seen articles that say the diagram on the right pulls power from the batteries...

rvforums.com

Look to post #41 on the thread for my install.

Rich