Hymer Conversion to Lithium (9 Viewers)

[Buddy1012]

Decided to 'bite the bullet' and replace my version of the Hymer 'Smart' Battery system with a full blown lithium set-up. Reason: I have an issue with one of the AGMs and whilst the system has generally served me well it seems pointless to buy 3 new AGMs when there are lots of cost effective lithium alternatives. Just wanted to run my plans past those with more technical knowledge or experience of similar:

Fit 2 x 230Ah LifePO4 Batteries
Change EBL settings to Lithium profile via the control panel - this will enable me to continue using the charging module (20A).
Remove the two auxiliary chargers (LAS 1218 & LAS1218 BUS) as neither has a lithium setting.
Fit a new mains charger to work alongside the EBL module (50A).
Replace Schaudt LRM1218 Solar Regulator with a Votronic one with lithium profile. (currently have 240w of solar but may well add another 200w to this after the winter - so I could go large with the new MPPT in anticipation of this increase in size).
Fit a votronic computer and votronic solar monitor.
Inverter to stay - normal factory fitted Dometic 1800w.
Everything else eg, cables etc seems to be fine.
Any observations / suggestions welcome.

 

[Lenny HB]

Fit a Victron solar controller as the Votronic one you would need is the 430 there have been problems with them with Lithium.

 

[Buddy1012]

Thanks for that - that's useful. I've had a totally Victron enabled house for few years so well versed in the reliability and robustness of the kit.

 

[Buddy1012]

Fit a Victron solar controller as the Votronic one you would need is the 430 there have been problems with them with Lithium.

On the solar side - would it be okay to keep any new panels completely separate and use one smaller MPPT for the existing panels and keep this via the EBL and then fit another MPPT and additional solar panels directly to the leisure batteries? (The existing route via the EBL would take care of the cab battery connection without the need to route an additional cable through from the 2nd MPPT).

 

[Lenny HB]

No reason why you can't use more than one solar controller but best to connect them direct to the batteries as you get about a 5% loss through the EBL.

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[Speve]

On the solar side - would it be okay to keep any new panels completely separate and use one smaller MPPT for the existing panels and keep this via the EBL and then fit another MPPT and additional solar panels directly to the leisure batteries? (The existing route via the EBL would take care of the cab battery connection without the need to route an additional cable through from the 2nd MPPT).

I have done our Hymer conversion myself and left the two existing solar panels controlled by the existing buttner controller as it does a good job I then added another 240 watts of solar using a Victron smart controller it all works really well in tandem using bus bars and victron multi plus inverter charger.
I actually disconnected EBL from mains but still use it for the 12v circuits.

 

[StillGoing]

Fit a Victron solar controller as the Votronic one you would need is the 430 there have been problems with them with Lithium.

The 430 was replaced a long time ago by the 440.

 

[BusyBuilder]

On a side not we put a Fogstar 280ah battery in our Hymer as recommended by Offgrid, reason being the 280 has 8000 cycles whereas 230 is only 4000. They said its the best cost effective battery, and will be about 300ah in reality, just like the 230ah are about 10% over.

 

[LithiumConvert]

Our new Hymer Exsis-i 580 came from the factory such that all we had to do was change the battery.

Took out a heavy AGM lead-acid and replaced it with the same physical weight of lithium.

Job done - Five times the usable battery capacity - just for changing three charger settings.

 

[Buddy1012]

Our new Hymer Exsis-i 580 came from the factory such that all we had to do was change the battery.

Took out a heavy AGM lead-acid and replaced it with the same physical weight of lithium.

Job done - Five times the usable battery capacity - just for changing three charger settings.

What year is your MoHo? On mine the two auxiliary chargers are not right for lithium but everything else stacks up eg cabling etc

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[Buster30]

What year is your MoHo? On mine the two auxiliary chargers are not right for lithium but everything else stacks up eg cabling etc

What year is your Hymer

 

[Buddy1012]

Late 2020

 

[Buster30]

Has it got the Schaudt WA121545 battery booster on it

 

[Buddy1012]

On a side not we put a Fogstar 280ah battery in our Hymer as recommended by Offgrid, reason being the 280 has 8000 cycles whereas 230 is only 4000. They said it’s the best cost effective battery, and will be about 300ah in reality, just like the 230ah are about 10% over.

Good choice then - if only I was young enough to take advantage of 8000 full cycles - based on 100 n days away give or take each year I was anticipating that the 4000 cycles would get me up until I’m about a 106 or so

 

[Buddy1012]

Has it got the Schaudt WA121545 battery booster on it

Yes plus the normal module within the EBL

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[Buster30]

That should have a lithium setting

 

[LithiumConvert]

Yes plus the normal module within the EBL

So 45 amps from the factory fitted lithium capable B2B.

Have you tried the 70 amps setting?

 

[Buster30]

No, 300ah Lithium being fitted next week

 

[LithiumConvert]

What year is your MoHo? On mine the two auxiliary chargers are not right for lithium but everything else stacks up eg cabling etc

Our Hymer Exsis-i 580 is 2022. It did not have any auxilliary chargers