OP
OP
It's the renogy 30a all in one that does solar too.
The solar is turned off at mo so it's 30a from the alternator, if solar is on its only 15a.
Lithium pre install charge advice.
- Thread starter Dazzola
- Start date
The solar is turned off at mo so it's 30a from the alternator, if solar is on its only 15a.
Was there any reason that you chose the 100AH AOlithiums over the 105AH Fogstar Drifts that have built in heating ?
The Fogstars were £299.99 the same price as the AOlithium.
Just wondering if you thought the AOlithium were a better battery and if so why.
OP
OP
I only paid £429 for the pair! So they were super cheap, and looking at test videos that people have done with them they seem to be a very good battery.
Tombola
LIFE MEMBER
wont take too much driving then to top them off, and it sorts the lithium
Fogstar are doing some tests on a quieter fan that will be able to be retrofitted to their chargers.
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You’re better off fitting without charging, mainly because that allows you to test the various charging methods (solar, ehu and DC-DC) after fitting. Then you can use any of the charging methods to bring to full SOC.
OP
OP
Funny you should say that, I've charged them both to exactly 50% and each cell is within 0.2v so I'm fitting them tomorrow and I'll see how they go while driving next week just using the b2b, then I'll turn the solar back on just to trickle them during the dark days.
That’s what I did as I didn’t have a suitable charger available other than the one wired into my motorhome.
OP
OP
Just thought I would update this thread with the final results.
After charging them both to 50% exactly I fitted them in the van, linked them together and set the charge profile to lithium.
After a few runs to work and back they both charged up at the same rate, had the final boost to 14.6v for maybe the last 15 mins and settled to 100% at 13.6v.
After charging them both to 50% exactly I fitted them in the van, linked them together and set the charge profile to lithium.
After a few runs to work and back they both charged up at the same rate, had the final boost to 14.6v for maybe the last 15 mins and settled to 100% at 13.6v.
Can’t say our Multiplus is particularly noisy in fact hardly any noise
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OP
OP
Well, on our first outing with the lithium batteries fitted, what can I say, we are parked up in castleton and been here since lunchtime, had the 12v hot water on for an hour before setting off, the diesel heaters been on since 10am, compressor fridge since 11am and 240v tv through our 600w inverter has been on for a good few hours, water pump and lights etc.
So far we have hardly dented the 200ah batteries, still on about 83%.
Brilliant, simply Brilliant.
So far we have hardly dented the 200ah batteries, still on about 83%.
Brilliant, simply Brilliant.
Did you mean 14.6V ? That's a bit on the high side.......... 14.2V or 14.4V max is normal.
OP
OP
Yep, as I understand it 14.6v ensures the cells are balanced, ie all at maximum voltage.
Technically the 14.6v its true, but in real life you cant achieve that without a perfectly balanced pack and voltage calibration. At that voltage you run the risk of overcharging at least one cell. If you care about long term performance, lower the absorb at 14.2v, or even 14.4v if possible. That will give you room for error and you stand a better chance for not exceeding 3.65v per cell.
I have built few packs by now, and fresh cells takes few cycles to balance out at a lower voltage. You can fully charge with 30-60 mins absorb at under 14v. You don't need high voltage, you need time.
A good compromise victron found that 14.2v gives a reasonable fast charge, a good chance for balance and less warranty claims for them. They been in business for years, and had a fair share of claims in the past. So they changed the old spec 14.4v to 14.2v, yet batteries are the same.
In my opinion 14.6v is only for a bench test with calibrated equipment. I doubt you have calibrated voltage to dish out a accurate figure. Just a thought.
So like your ‘Give me a man…banner! Agree totes
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OP
OP
Just done as you suggested Raul, I'm new to this and don't want to break anything!
Cheers,
Daz.
.
What kind of cheap is crazy cheap ?
And why do they need charged before fitting pls - obviously another gap in my knowledge !
_
OP
OP
They were reduced from £533 to £249 each! For some reason I got a pair delivered for even less!
Looks like they are sold out at the moment, I'm not surprised.
Probably not relevant to most people, but my rather inaccessible built-in charger came on automatically as soon as you plugged into EHU with no off switch. I changed it when I switched to lithium and was glad that the new charger had an on/off switch even though I have to lie on the floor to switch it off 
OP
OP
Guys, I may have a problem with the batteries or the charging 
After using the van Saturday and Sunday, all was good with the batteries, but I've noticed today that they are recharging differently!
When I checked this morning one was at 84% and one at 80%, although all the cells were within 0.1v
When I got home this evening one was at 99% the other at 95% but they were charging at different rates, the 99% was at about 14 amps and the 95% at between 6.5 and 7.5 amps?
Is something wrong or do they need a good few cycles to work things out?
After using the van Saturday and Sunday, all was good with the batteries, but I've noticed today that they are recharging differently!
When I checked this morning one was at 84% and one at 80%, although all the cells were within 0.1v
When I got home this evening one was at 99% the other at 95% but they were charging at different rates, the 99% was at about 14 amps and the 95% at between 6.5 and 7.5 amps?
Is something wrong or do they need a good few cycles to work things out?
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Nothing wrong and perfectly normal, you connections and cables will NOT be equal resistance so the one that takes a bit more, it has lower resistance connections. It will even out at the top when fully charged, and as you cycle it will repeat.Guys, I may have a problem with the batteries or the charging
After using the van Saturday and Sunday, all was good with the batteries, but I've noticed today that they are recharging differently!
When I checked this morning one was at 84% and one at 80%, although all the cells were within 0.1v
When I got home this evening one was at 99% the other at 95% but they were charging at different rates, the 99% was at about 14 amps and the 95% at between 6.5 and 7.5 amps?
Is something wrong or do they need a good few cycles to work things out?
When you parallel batteries, it should be done to a common buss bar with equal lengths cable, equal crimps and equal number of connections. One extra washer on one path, can throw the balance by few amps.
OP
OP
Christ, thanks for that, I do have a couple more connections to one battery positive than the other, but I can even those out if it will help, as long as nothing is getting harmed I'm relieved.
Every day is a school day, thanks for your time fella, it's much appreciated
Every day is a school day, thanks for your time fella, it's much appreciated
OP
OP
Could you guys point me in the right direction for buss bars to clean my setup?
I currently have 2 100ah batteries connected in the usual fashion, but I have multi fit battery terminals like these-
These have various things attached and are far from ideal, now I have lithium they are showing up how its a rubbish and incorrect way of doing it, and it's showing one battery is getting used quite a bit more than the other, eg diesel heater running last night was only drawing current from one battery, low current I know but still less than ideal.
So I would like to tidy up my installation with buss bars to connect the batteries to and then tap my needs from the buss bars.
Anything that's not mad money but is decent quality.
Thanks again.
Daz.
Outdoors Dad
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I got a battery from fogstar last year it was charged to 50% it sat in dining room as an expensive ornament for a couple of months
I then fitted it at the same time I fitted my Renogy B2B charger. I connected everything including votronic mppt solar charger. The MH sat on drive a week and I occasionally watched it's charging progress. The next week we went motorhoming and the B2B charged and balanced cells, it chugs away now no problems...job done. IMO there's to much stress involved in getting lithium. Research, fit battery, check it works....then enjoy life!
I then fitted it at the same time I fitted my Renogy B2B charger. I connected everything including votronic mppt solar charger. The MH sat on drive a week and I occasionally watched it's charging progress. The next week we went motorhoming and the B2B charged and balanced cells, it chugs away now no problems...job done. IMO there's to much stress involved in getting lithium. Research, fit battery, check it works....then enjoy life!Subscribers do not see these advertisements
- Sep 29, 2007
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