Battery confusion

[ManTheVan]

Definitely sounds as if your consumption is higher than your capacity. It’s fairly easy to do the calculations if you have the power ratings of the various appliances. If you’ve a deficit...

Possible solutions:

1. Cut your consumption by switching things off and swapping any incandescent bulbs for LED.

2. Increase your battery storage capacity by wiring another (identical if possible) battery in parallel (i.e. +ve to +ve, -ve to -ve).

3. If no space for doubling batteries, consider LiFePO4. Taking your lead-acid battery below 50% will kill it rapidly. LiFePO4 will give you double the storage for half the weight and will tolerate deep discharge.

4. Install a decent B2B which will charge your leisure battery more rapidly when driving.

5. Increase solar charging by installing another (similar rated) panel.

 

[DrewE127]

Thanks MantheVan, those are some good things to consider. I think I’ll end up buying a LiFePO4, like the sound of those especially if I could hook 2 up together. Plus a B2B charger if still necessary with LiFePO4.

Another solar panel would be nice but I’m not sure we have the roof space unless it could go across the back.

 

[ManTheVan]

2 x LiFePO4s will set you back a very pretty penny!

One will probably do, as if it’s rated 100Ah, it will give you that because its possible to run it down almost to zero (although that’s not a good idea, apparently). On the other hand, an 80Ah lead/acid discharging to 50% (the maximum recommended) will only give you 40Ah, so you’ll need 2 to give you 80Ah.

Check batterymasters.co.uk for cost-effective LiFePO4s.

 

[Muddy1]

A very rough guide from college days. 10% voltage drop equates to 40% power loss.

 

[DIY campervan]

Hi

We are away at the mo, the hab battery was full when we parked up on Saturday night at a pub stopover. By midday the next day it was at 11.3v 50% so I switched everything off

We drove for about an hour and stayed the night in a car park, this morning the battery is at 11.6v

We are watching tv and the hot water is on (gas), we would like showers too.

All I know is that 11.3v is bad from searching the web. I find it confusing that the hab battery can only be used down to 50% unlike everything else (phones, laptops etc)

Am I running the risk of damaging the habitation battery by running it down again?

Thanks

Reading other messages, it sounds like your battery bank is too small for your consumption. You definitely need to reduced your consumption by only turning on stuff you really need and be aware of how long you use something. However all you really need to do is upgrade the amp hours to 260ish and get more solar on the roof about 450watts. That would satisfy most peoples needs.

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