Making the change from lead acid to lithium - a thread with pictures

[Googlebot]

Add lots of zip ties and restrict any cable movement as much as possible.

I will be doing that, just need to test everything to make sure all is well before having to do it twice.

I have some sticky pads I can zip tie for the floor as well just to make sure there is no vibration that could affect the cables.

 

[Tombola]

This thread is going to be a good help to plenty people Gbot

 

[Lenny HB]

I have some sticky pads I can zip tie for the floor as well just to make sure there is no vibration that could affect the cables.

Make sure you screw them down, sticky bases often give up in hot weather.

 

[Googlebot]

First problem is that the starter battery is showing low on the shunt. Bit weird as it isn’t low. Will have to find out why.

 

[Googlebot]

This thread is going to be a good help to plenty people Gbot

I hope so, I have read enough of other peoples so it’s nice to know it will help someone else.

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[Wagoneer]

Assume you've already installed the Votronic B2B under the passenger seat, next to the EBL (think that was your plan).

 

[Lenny HB]

.

 

[Googlebot]

Problem found!

Fuse was not passing the current from the engine battery connection at the solar controller. Couldn’t get it to either so had to wire a new one in.

 

[Googlebot]

Assume you've already installed the Votronic B2B under the passenger seat, next to the EBL (think that was your plan).

That’s the next job once everything is tested and working.

 

[Googlebot]

Invertor is working and not getting hot at the connections. Will let the battery down a bit to test the solar tomorrow now using a fan heater to test the inverter and will get the fridge on so I don’t knacker the battery drawing that much with just the one.

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[Googlebot]

That’s it for today!

Tomorrow is test the solar controllers and tidy up the cables. Will leave the fridge for an hour and then turn everything off ready for tomorrow.

 

[Googlebot]

Been out to do some testing again. EBL charging fine and no issues with starter or hab batteries.

Also tried the engine alternator charger to get some comparison for when I put the B2B in tomorrow. It is a standard Hymer setup.

Initially chucked out 32 amps which then settled to 21 amps into the battery a few seconds later. Not bad for a standard setup. However, I then put the fridge on and was surprised to see it drop to 17 amps. This was consistent on idle or holding steady at 2500rpm.

Even with a 30 amp B2B you can nearly double the charge going in. Will be interesting to see the results once the B2B is wired in tomorrow.

 

[Googlebot]

Solar controllers all working, can’t test the power output though as it’s so dull outside but all the lights are working and the current goes up slightly when switched in so I am happy. B2B is going here.

Space is tight so I have connected the live from the starter battery while I know I won’t slip in the small space. Just need to work out the neutral connections now as there isn’t space in the EBL for another one so I have a junction box.

 

[Googlebot]

I haven’t used the junction box, it uses ring crimps and I would have to disconnect the factory crimps designed for screws. I have just looped it into the B2B and crimped the cable I have put in.

 

[Googlebot]

That’s all the connections sorted.

Just need to find the d+ on the EBL to connect to and I can test it before mounting.

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[Googlebot]

Thank you Hymer for a nice and easy d+!

 

[Googlebot]

Nice steady 27 amps even with the fridge on!

Fan going nicely on the B2B and switches on and off when it should.

 

[Googlebot]

Mounted now behind the EBL and out the way under the seat.

There is plenty of room behind the mounting block for the EBL to vent too. That’s it for today, extra night beckons as we are short staffed due to COVID so I am off to bed.

Will tidy up and cable tie everything tomorrow when I get up.

 

[Googlebot]

That’s everything tidy and cable tied.

You can see the temperature sensors on the battery ready for the lithium too. Everything is tested and ready, ordered some straps to secure the lithium down as it isn’t the same footprint as the lead acid.

Feel much better now everything is tidy and secure.

Now to just wait for the lithium battery to be delivered. As it’s SORN, I am changing the settings on the B2B now and will do the solar controllers when it arrives and I open it up again to fit it.

 

[Googlebot]

Just weighed the lead acid out of interest. I am constrained with payload as we both like to drive and my wife doesn’t have C1. Every bit therefore matters and one of the reasons I went for the Hymer Exsis I.

The lithium from Ecotree is apparently 13.1KG. You can see how heavy the lead acids are, a combined weight of over 50KG.

I know 38KG isn’t a lot for some, for us it’s the difference in taking the bikes or not, or taking an extra aqua roll of water in the garage if we are going off grid for a few days.

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[Googlebot]

Some testing tonight again, just running the battery down a bit to see how good solar is tomorrow when and if the sun appears. The inverter has started to beep in protest now there is only one battery as the voltage is probably too low from one lead acid at 70amps.

I know this isn’t good for the battery but it’s going anyway.

You may recall I said it was the crimp at fault for the overheating at the inverter.

It would appear that it is actually the inverter that’s at fault for the overheating. It’s only ever run at full blast when I test it. It’s a 1200 watt max and the most I ever use is short blasts of a vacuum at 1000w.

Drawing 900w would appear to make the input terminals very hot and after 10 minutes they were over 100 degrees and I could smell the cables burning.

I suspect this is the cheap and nasty inverter and not my wiring as nothing else got remotely warm.

Checked the price of a Victron 1200w and settled with the fact I am just not going to use anything continuously that’s high wattage!

 

[funflair]

Nice neat job well done.

 

[Irishrover]

Great thread

 

[Tombola]

What's the reason for both neg leads in the one slot googlebot

 

[Lenny HB]

What's the reason for both neg leads in the one slot googlebot
View attachment 459225

Look again they are seperate connections for input & output.

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[Googlebot]

What's the reason for both neg leads in the one slot googlebot
View attachment 459225

The two slots are linked negatives. It’s fairly chunky cable and I wasn’t 100% how big the internal bridge was in the Votronic. As I am looping the negative all the current goes through these and I wanted to make sure there was a thick enough current carrying capacity.

 

[jongood]

Looks like a major improvement and correcting a few longtime issues while you go. I'm doing a similar thing with our newly acquired Clou. Replaced the whole solar and monitoring set up to make it more off gridable and just starting to look at the mains chargers because you never know.

I don't remember seeing anything about mains charger in your thread, have never owned anything with Electroblock, do they have a Lithium setting?

 

[Googlebot]

Looks like a major improvement and correcting a few longtime issues while you go. I'm doing a similar thing with our newly acquired Clou. Replaced the whole solar and monitoring set up to make it more off gridable and just starting to look at the mains chargers because you never know.

I don't remember seeing anything about mains charger in your thread, have never owned anything with Electroblock, do they have a Lithium setting?

Post the pictures as you go, I can pick up some tips.

Ecotree advise to just use the gel setting on the EBL. It will take it to about 90% full but not high enough to damage it. The solar and B2B will take care of the rest.

 

[jongood]

Post the pictures as you go, I can pick up some tips.

Ecotree advise to just use the gel setting on the EBL. It will take it to about 90% full but not high enough to damage it. The solar and B2B will take care of the rest.

Not that I'm in any position to challenge their opinion, but during my research I've been told that Lithium needed its own charging profile to get the best out of it.

Not sure you re going to learn much from me but I had my own thread running here

How many amps can I bang into my leisure batteries without cooking them?

Following my shakedown trip I'm considering update/upgrades to the charging of the leisure batteries on my 2003 Clouliner so it lasts longer off grid. It's unusual in that it has 2 alternators, a 24 volt one that charges the vehicle batteries and a 12 volt one that charges the leisure batteries...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Ive done most of it although really need a few days in it preferably in the sunshine to see whether it all works but may well put some pics of the jobs so far.

 

[Googlebot]

I love threads with pictures, so please do.

Great thread of yours too with loads of really good info.

I know what you mean with the sun. It just come from behind the clouds here so flipped the app on and found over 10amps going in from the 365watts of solar. Given the time of year, I am happy with that!

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