Lithium in a Carthago

[stewartwebr]

Cannot help around your specific question. However, from experience I would have serious concerns around anyone at Travelworld having any depth of technical competency to make such a statement. My experience with them a number of years back was they are a shower of incompetent chancers with absolutely no technical experience.

 

[Pappy]

Cannot help around your specific question. However, from experience I would have serious concerns around anyone at Travelworld having any depth of technical competency to make such a statement. My experience with them a number of years back was they are a shower of incompetent chancers with absolutely no technical experience.

mmm. When I suggested that I should have a gel battery as that was the original I was told that it wasn't as there is a vent for the batteries and there wouldn't have been if the battery was gel.

They have fitted the AGM. I have sent them a message this morning to say I have been strongly advised to ask for a gel battery as they are better and that is what the van had prior to the lithium being fitted. I am awaiting a response.

I don't want to be awkward for awkward's sake.

 

[Lenny HB]

mmm. When I suggested that I should have a gel battery as that was the original I was told that it wasn't as there is a vent for the batteries and there wouldn't have been if the battery was gel.

They have fitted the AGM. I have sent them a message this morning to say I have been strongly advised to ask for a gel battery as they are better and that is what the van had prior to the lithium being fitted. I am awaiting a response.

I don't want to be awkward for awkward's sake.

They are talking bollocks again, Carthago have never fitted AGM, also I don't think your charger is suitable for AGM, so it won't last long.

Wanting a job done properly by someone you knows what they are doing rather than by an idiot that hasn't a clue is not being awkward.

 

[Pausim]

I have been using lithium in my Carthago for 2 years without any problems. TW are talking bovine faeces.

What brand of lithium have TW installed? Intermittent switching off could be an issue with the battery’s BMS. If the BMS interrupts the supply briefly then the CBE system will switch off.

Pappy I have just read your latest post. What has a vent got to do with it Carthago use gel not agm. I don’t recall seeing a vent in my Compactline battery compartment. Can you take a picture of the vent? Has your Carthago had a previous owner who might have modified it?

 

[Pappy]

I have been using lithium in my Carthago for 2 years without any problems. TW are talking bovine faeces.

What brand of lithium have TW installed? Intermittent switching off could be an issue with the battery’s BMS. If the BMS interrupts the supply briefly then the CBE system will switch off.

Pappy I have just read your latest post. What has a vent got to do with it Carthago use gel not agm. I don’t recall seeing a vent in my Compactline battery compartment. Can you take a picture of the vent? Has your Carthago had a previous owner who might have modified it?

The van is with TW. I am due to pick it up this morning. However,I have emailed them asking them to ring me as it was definitely a gel battery and as I am advised that they are better than the AGM that is what I want.

It was a Lifos.

I am pretty sure the previous owner will not have modified it.

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[138go]

We have lithium batteries in our Carthago. They are fine.

 

[Steve and Denise]

mmm. When I suggested that I should have a gel battery as that was the original I was told that it wasn't as there is a vent for the batteries and there wouldn't have been if the battery was gel.

They have fitted the AGM. I have sent them a message this morning to say I have been strongly advised to ask for a gel battery as they are better and that is what the van had prior to the lithium being fitted. I am awaiting a response.

I don't want to be awkward for awkward's sake.

All Carthagos come with these from new show them this picture it may help them understand.

 

[Pappy]

All Carthagos come with these from new show them this picture it may help them understand.View attachment 549595View attachment 549596

I like the idea that you think they need pictures to work with.

 

[Southdowners]

Another here who has had terrible experience using Travelworld.

We purchased two Niesmann and Bischoff vehicles from them and experienced problems with both. We should have learned our lesson after the first vehicle but thought it may be down to bad luck. We found TW to be totally incompetent... going back time after time to get the same issues dealt with. We ended up selling the vehicle out of sheer frustration.

 

[PJGWiltshire]

I like the idea that you think they need pictures to work with.

The batteries are £148.00 from Tanya batteries, so do not le them fob you off. We have just replaced two in our Cathago, Carthago do not put in AGM.

Also it would be interesting that if they have replaced with AGM if they have set the charger unit for AGM. As Gel are fitted as standard on Carthago the charger unit will be set for Gel. It was explained to me that the charger unit needs setting to they type of battery installed. I am no expert on this but having had Lithium installed was the charger then set for lithium?

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[Gaston aires]

I'm losing the will to live on this! Is an AGM battery that bad? What do I lose by not having Gel? I apologise for my ignorance.

I have had many AGMs on vans and they have never been a problem. The correct charging regime is key to it.
There has always been an anti AGM faction on MHF. I just don’t see it that way. Take the refund and use the AGM, what’s to lose ?
Phil

 

[Pausim]

II

I have had many AGMs on vans and they have never been a problem. The correct charging regime is key to it.
There has always been an anti AGM faction on MHF. I just don’t see it that way. Take the refund and use the AGM, what’s to lose ?
Phil

Unfortunately the standard CBE charger fitted to Carthagos does not have an agm setting. The gel setting does not have the the right voltage or profile for agm. It is ok though not perfect for most lithium batteries.

 

[Pappy]

II

Unfortunately the standard CBE charger fitted to Carthagos does not have an agm setting. The gel setting does not have the the right voltage or profile for agm. It is ok though not perfect for most lithium batteries.

TW have spoken to Go European who have told them that an AGM is not suitable. TW will source a gel battery.

I might just add a 2nd gel at a later date.

 

[paddymcc]

TW have spoken to Go European who have told them that an AGM is not suitable. TW will source a gel battery.

I might just add a 2nd gel at a later date.

Glad to hear that you are getting a result. I would probably go for 2 gels if you are likely to be off grid much.

 

[PJGWiltshire]

TW have spoken to Go European who have told them that an AGM is not suitable. TW will source a gel battery.

I might just add a 2nd gel at a later date.

Well just goes to show that TW must be the go too company for all your battery requirements. Skilled technicians with outstanding historic expertise in the field let them get you to spend loads of money knowing they don’t have a clue. Don’t forget to put a good review on Trust pilot with obvious paragraph pointing out when informed that they do not have a clue eventually rectified with wrong battery then sourced correct battery when agin informed their experts still got it wrong. Got to have a balanced review

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[Just smiffy]

TW have spoken to Go European who have told them that an AGM is not suitable. TW will source a gel battery.

I might just add a 2nd gel at a later date.

Travelworld, one of the biggest motorhome dealers in the country selling high end motorhomes has to call someone about the correct battery to use in the motorhomes they are selling….

There is no hope for after sales service….

 

[Lenny HB]

I have had many AGMs on vans and they have never been a problem. The correct charging regime is key to it.
There has always been an anti AGM faction on MHF. I just don’t see it that way. Take the refund and use the AGM, what’s to lose ?
Phil

Perhaps because some of us have had experience of them and found they are total crap for off grid use.
They were a standard fit in my last van both failed within 18 months.

 

[Lenny HB]

I like the idea that you think they need pictures to work with.

I think they need more than pictures. Perhaps some kids from the local school on job experience would be better qualified.

 

[cyberyacht]

In my original post #9, I typed "leave charger on Lithium setting". What I meant to type was "Gel" setting. This was on the advice of KS Energy. The issue with the on-board charger is that Lithiums don't like continuous trickle charging, so if you are a "permanent plugger in" type, definitely turn the charger off.

B2B is often recommended for lithium set-ups as they will take whatever's on offer in terms of charging rate. Whilst they can pump 30-40amps in, unless you have a "smart" alternator, a standard alternator (mine) will whack out 15amps. Add in a decent boost from a solar installation (mine 12-15amps) and you have sufficient unless you are running the Blackpool Illuminations.

 

[138go]

Pappy, I've tried to send you a private message but not been able to. If you want some advice over the phone, drop me a pm.

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[Gaston aires]

Perhaps because some of us have had experience of them and found they are total crap for off grid use.
They were a standard fit in my last van both failed within 18 months.

Hi Lennie. I can only speak from my own experience. I have never had any problems with AGMs. That includes many off grid tours and EHU campsites. Never had to replace any of them.
Phil

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lennie. I can only speak from my own experience. I have never had any problems with AGMs. That includes many off grid tours and EHU campsites. Never had to replace any of them.
Phil

You were just lucky, you only have to look on the German forums to see how bad they are.
Have you done a capacity test on them to see how they are holding up?

 

[Gaston aires]

II

Unfortunately the standard CBE charger fitted to Carthagos does not have an agm setting. The gel setting does not have the the right voltage or profile for agm. It is ok though not perfect for most lithium batteries.

I have said before I believe it’s all about the charge regime settings. The Adria twin only recommended AGM.
PHIL

 

[Gaston aires]

I

You were just lucky, you only have to look on the German forums to see how bad they are.
Have you done a capacity test on them to see how they are holding up?

I just use them, don’t go into the testing of them. As I said no problems with them.
My current Burstner Ixeo has 3 x 120 ah gels, no problem with them either.

Phil

 

[peterc10]

I have just fitted a 300ah lithium in our Carthago along with suitable chargers all works great sub 2k

Who from Steve?

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[Steve and Denise]

Who from Steve?

Roamer Batteries or Roamer vans the guy is called Steve Kennedy they have a design service and are the best suppliers of Victron equipment for price and good phone advice,
At the end of the day they are all drop in (as is) but if you want to use the full potential you need to update the charging (not difficult) 300ah less than 2k inc chargers

 

[Swifter]

Whilst I appreciate this is very sensitive matter for the OP , this post is extremely embarrassing for the named dealer . The suggestion that certain types of battery technology cannot be fitted to a specific manufacturer is quite frankly cringeworthy . I certainly won’t be dealing with this company when we purchase our second and third motorhome. I gauge professionalism on real life reviews and experiences , not glossy double page adverts !

 

[Pappy]

I'd like to thank all of those who have contributed. It's been very helpful. Thankyou.

 

[Googlebot]

I got my van used from Travelworld, the standard of the workshop can only be described as amateur at best.

It’s a long story that includes telling me a fridge shouldn’t get that cold and the Master Technician being unable to convert months into years for a cambelt change interval.

I wouldn’t ever go back. Two friends have both had the same experience.

 

[jdk62]

Perhaps this thread should be sent to the MD of Travelworld….. He might find it an interesting read.

In fact send it also to the MD’s of the competition selling high end motorhomes..they could use it as negative marketing against Travelworld….

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