Lithium? The big con?

[haganap]

Number of things could be wrong there:
-Shunt settings are way off
-Shunt +ve feed fuse loose intermittent connection and caused re sync
-loads wired incorrectly that bypass the shunt
What is clear, the SOC percentage is not correct, at 12.6v Lifepo4 is about 10-20% max charged, not 81%. At 81% the voltage would be 13.2v or there abouts.

Thy posting a photo of your shunt setting first, and we'll have a idea whats what.

Sorry Raul.

I didn't miss this, I just didn't quote it when I questioned further down... I don't know how to find a shunt setting, which Lenny responded to, however, I't moved on very quickly as I got home and plugged in and others suggested full charge and reset, which is what Victron suggested.

However, this is an example to others of how threads develop, in my initial "Lithium is a con rant" this wasn't even a question, it hadn't even happend at that point (the increase from 30% to 85%).

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Not sure what amps he uses!!!!

But he would be a good “demonstration conservative”

All the hot air he generated must use a lot of gas and electric.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't know how to find a shunt setting, which Lenny responded to,

Don't keep me in suspense I'm still waiting to see them, please.

 

[AdrianChen]

Don't keep me in suspense I'm still waiting to see them, please.

If it is a full victron system, I wonder if it has a lynx Smart bms and no shunt as such? Have a look at the connect app device list.....

 

[cyberyacht]

Is the underlying problem that someone is trying to do a bit of welding on the chassis whilst off-grid?

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[gus-lopez]

whom has given an explanation backed up by those at Victron in a phone call this morning,.. There is nothing wrong with my system, only that I use to much power.

Why waste money on a phone call to Victron? * You were told that by Raul in post #3
We're on post 398 now

; its clear that you are a heavy user,

followed by many others?

* & my phone calls don't cost anything either.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

But only in jest and a light hearted vein

 

[B+W vanman]

I told you not to mention The Lithium!
A quadro-centennial post

 

[Neckender]

I AM NOT THE OP -- I am and always have been Haganap or Haggers if you so wish... a few even call me Paul.

Bit of a white lie there Paul as you were originally on another forum Panagah.

 

[Minxy]

Oh well, sleep well then, a prime candidate for exploitation by so-called experts!

That was rather patronising wasn't it? . You obviously missed my earlier post when I said I'd read pages 2 to 8 in one go and that it had sent me to sleep, the content was interesting and informative and I now understand it much more but reading it late at night had the effect of tiring my brain so I got a good night's kip which for me was a bonus as I sleep badly.

... just to reiterate, I really don't think people who shy away from technical stuff are unintelligent, so apologies to anyone who had that impression.

Okey dokey ... I'll put my weapon of choice away now ... being from Hull with it's fishing history the traditional weapon is a big wet fish to give you a good slapping! Maybe in the context of this thread an electric eel would be more appropriate but we tend not to get them round our part of the country!

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[Coolcats]

Please add table top pizza ovens to your list ....

As a brick and mortar dweller I want the benefits of modern day electrical appliances.....

I'm also considering buying one of those demonstration conservatories on a trailer that I can tow behind my motorhome and really enjoy 20th century living ....

Don’t forget the Hot Tub or Sauna or maybe both

 

[Carpmart]

All good then… at least everyone seems happy campers now!

 

[MrPG]

Ok, so if you're writing a jovial/joke post, make it obvious (as it certainly wasn't). The first post reads like a person that has a problem and then criticises the equipment. I think you made the classic internet error of forgetting that your tone and body language does not show on the page (unless you're a very skilled writer). Many of us read it as it seemed - a request in a tech help forum section to decipher why your system wasn't working as expected. A lot of us have setups that disprove your assumption (that lithium is a con), so wanted to help sort yours out.

(Just repeating myself here) - there IS a problem with your setup, or your ability to use it. The fact you don't even know how to find the settings in your Victron is evidence of that. Your app showing 84% at 12.xx volts. You don't answer anyones questions and can't seem to accept that you're wrong. I can see a lot of knowledgeable and seasoned users (Lenny, Raul and loads more) giving and being dismissed.

That's why my post may have seemed patronising - because you seem at a level of knowledge that needs things explained, but maybe you're only posting after you've had a few and this is just entertainment for you? Or you're just messing us about? I've been around motor homing now long enough to know there are a lot of people in them best avoided.

It doesn't matter if you’re not technical. You don’t have to know how to use it other than turning things off and on when needed. I don’t know how to find my settings either (there are great folk on here who will help if ever needed) but I’m using my set up.

I don’t have an app and I don’t worry if I have enough power or spend all my time checking my SOC display as I always do.
For me it is a ‘game changer’ as I really enjoy having enough for my needs.
I’m thankful for my fitters for asking me lots of questions about my usage before taking my money

 

[mikash]

Don’t forget the Hot Tub or Sauna or maybe both

Amusingly enough, some finns do pack a tent sauna in their vans and I also know a fulltimer who always has a trailer sauna in tow.

Wood stoves though so not a battery issue.

 

[Jim]

I've had to delete a number of messages here that forget rule 1, those that address the poster personally, rather than the post content. There is never a need to be rude or condescending to fellow Funsters. Thanks

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[carolyn]

All good then… at least everyone seems happy campers now!

Actually Harvey I am not happy at all. I felt so inadequate that I downloaded the Victron Connect app yesterday and then spent hours trying to work out how to connect to the BMV700 little round thing in the van. I read the manual and looked online but it seems I should have a 12 digit code that’s on the device to set up an account. The code is on a label on the device which is behind boards that would need dismantling.

Now I am still feeling inadequate but also disappointed. I don’t know if having the app would have added to my enjoyment of life but it might

 

[eddie]

Actually Harvey I am not happy at all. I felt so inadequate that I downloaded the Victron Connect app yesterday and then spent hours trying to work out how to connect to the BMV700 little round thing in the van. I read the manual and looked online but it seems I should have a 12 digit code that’s on the device to set up an account. The code is on a label on the device which is behind boards that would need dismantling.

Now I am still feeling inadequate but also disappointed. I don’t know if having the app would have added to my enjoyment of life but it might

Try 000000

Should work

 

[eddie]

Oh well, sleep well then, a prime candidate for exploitation by so-called experts!

Which “So called experts” have “exploited anyone”

Or, was it a figure of speech to paper over the cracks of making it up?

I’m intrigued

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I posted the below in another chat, but thought to finish off my earlier comments it would be useful here too. The summary is I don't feel conned:

'We recently had a lithium set up installed. We have 150W solar which was pre-existing and installed a Victron 75/15 MPPT. We have a 280ah Fogstardrift which when fully charged sits at around 308ah. We also have a Victron Multiplus inverter.

We have just returned from 4 days away and as an experiment we didn’t use EHU because that was charged separately. On arrival the shunt showed 100% charge. To begin with we were fairly conservative, turning the inverter off at night or when we went out for a few hours, using gas to boil the kettle and so on. By day two we realised that was no sort of test because the shunt showed very little impact on the battery, so after that we behaved as if we were plugged in. Using electric to boil the kettle, my wife also used the hairdryer and I charged my PC. I'm not near the app to check the solar but can recall I was surprised we got anything from it, but I'm sure over the four days it was no more than 200W. When we left the battery was showing 46% and we calculated we could realistically do four maybe five nights in winter with little worry.

It was a three hour drive home and by the time we got home the battery was fully charged again. If we translate that to our travels in spring, summer and autumn when we may also want to charge bike batteries but should get more solar, I think it is very unlikely we will ever need EHU.'

 

[eddie]

It was a three hour drive home and by the time we got home the battery was fully charged again. If we translate that to our travels in spring, summer and autumn when we may also want to charge bike batteries but should get more solar, I think it is very unlikely we will ever need EHU.'

Careful someone that can’t afford lithium will be along to start arguing your wrong (When I say “can’t afford” I mean “wife won’t let him”)

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[funflair]

Careful someone that can’t afford lithium will be along to start arguing your wrong (When I say “can’t afford” I mean “wife won’t let him”)

Simples. I just bought her one for Christmas

 

[Pausim]

We have a 280ah Fogstardrift which when fully charged sits at around 308ah.

Does it really sit at 308Ah or is that the BMS losing track. One widely available battery monitor/shunt (not Victron) regularly displays charge at 105% which is clearly ridiculous and scientifically impossible.

 

[AdrianChen]

Does it really sit at 308Ah or is that the BMS losing track. One widely available battery monitor/shunt (not Victron) regularly displays charge at 105% which is clearly ridiculous and scientifically impossible.

I guess if the vendor uses a lower rating than necessary to manage potential variances and warranty, then the battery may be bigger than the sticker on the box - so you could put the "wrong" capacity in the shunt? Or a combination of the two....

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Does it really sit at 308Ah or is that the BMS losing track. One widely available battery monitor/shunt (not Victron) regularly displays charge at 105% which is clearly ridiculous and scientifically impossible.

From conversations with others I think it is quite normal for the battery to hold a little more than expected. The 308ah was from the shunt by the way, not the FogStar BMS. The Victron shunt has never displayed anything above 100%.

 

[Minxy]

I guess if the vendor uses a lower rating than necessary to manage potential variances and warranty, then the battery may be bigger than the sticker on the box - so you could put the "wrong" capacity in the shunt? Or a combination of the two....

From conversations with others I think it is quite normal for the battery to hold a little more than expected. The 308ah was from the shunt by the way, not the FogStar BMS.

Same with the gels from Sonnenschein/Exide as the 95ah battery is actually 98ah from memory.

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[Wanders from Glos]

Simples. I just bought her one for Christmas

I think my wife views it as 'boys toys' a little. But she does agree it will make our travelling far more flexible now, especially in Europe and when we go to Scandinavia. We will I am sure recoup some of the cost over time, but probably not all of it. But I view it as paying for flexibility.

 

[Cush]

Does it really sit at 308Ah or is that the BMS losing track. One widely available battery monitor/shunt (not Victron) regularly displays charge at 105% which is clearly ridiculous and scientifically impossible.

Is the quoted capacity from when they are charged to14v? That’s been my experience.

 

[Pausim]

Is the quoted capacity from when they are charged to14v? That’s been my experience.

That is what it is telling you but how does it know that the capacity is truly 308Ah?

 

[Cush]

That is what it is telling you but how does it know that the capacity is truly 308Ah?

Good question. I have a feeling this may have been explained before. I’ll have a search.

 

[Raul]

That is what it is telling you but how does it know that the capacity is truly 308Ah?

It doesn't, you have to tell it in settings what capacity the battery is. I can easily change the value on the bms or shunt by whatever I want.

Try 000000

Should work

I think BMV700 does not have blue tooth, the app is not useable without a dongle.

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