400ah of LiFePo4 on the way!

[Allen_C]

I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a factory built steel-cased LiFePo battery with 400ah capacity and bms. I plan to install the battery under the bed and upgrade the inverter from the original Xantrex, also under the bed.

What I'm not sure about yet is how to connect to the existing system? I'm leaning towards rerouting my solar wires and repositioning mppt charge controller from the outside battery compartment to under the bed. I will need to figure out how to find the original charger/converter to redirect (or add wires) to the new battery. Does anyone here have experience with the Alante or Precept motorhomes and can tell me where to look and what it looks like? Other option is to install the 40A charger the battery manufacturer is including, but how difficult or unwise is it too run two charges to two different sets of batteries? That would allow me to keep two of the 12v oem batteries as backups?

[BanjoBob]

Sorry, I don't have any answers for your questions but would you mind posting a link to the battery you bought?

[Allen_C]

https://www.amazon.com/Lifepo4-batte...2472720&sr=8-2

[Murff]

Cool! Should be an interesting experiment! And it only weighs in at 83 pounds! So, no worry about theft.

As one who has been a buyer of early technology in the early 1980s ($2400.00 portable VCR and $20.00 VHS tapes) I hope this technology gets a bit cheaper as time goes on.

Murff

[Allen_C]

Yeah, I think prices are starting to edge down with the non-premium manufacturers. I will go to my local dealer where I bought my Allante and ask them about where all of the electrical components can be found since they should have all schematics already.

[Allen_C]

Battery arrived Friday and I have it hooked up to a charger and inverter inside my house. After it is fully charged I will treat the capacity to see if it comes close to the 400ah rating.

[Florida Ranger]

If it doesn’t work out for you let me know and I will dispose of it for you ,,NO CHARGE..

[Allen_C]

Originally Posted by Florida Ranger

If it doesn’t work out for you let me know and I will dispose of it for you ,,NO CHARGE..

.

[Allen_C]

Battery and charger arrived a day early! Unfortunately the charger had an issue - the fan does not turn on and a high pitched shrill is emitted after being on for a few minutes. Seller is sending a replacement charger that should arrive Monday.

Preliminary testing of the battery looks good - t will put out enough power to run a 1400 watt heater and not affect the battery voltage reading - but I need to fully charge it with the included charger to completely test the battery capacity.

[Allen_C]

Testing completed. I can pull 4300kwh (358ah) before the inverter turns off from it's factory set voltage minimum of 11v and the battery still had about 48ah (12%) remaining. That makes the DoD 88% on a capacity of 406ah. I used a portable heater set on high (1,600w) until the battery reached 11.5v, set on low (800w) until battery again reached 11.5v, then used a 120w heat lamp until the inverter turned off with the battery at 10.8v.

I will be working on installing the battery under the bed, right next to the inverter and all the other electrical stuff. Biggest issue will be finding all positive and negative runs to and from the original battery bay then relocating all to under the bed. If anyone had done this to a Jayco class a, let me know where to look to find all the original cables!

[DaveT]

Originally Posted by Allen_C

T I used a portable heater set on high (1,600w) until the battery reached 11.5v, set on low (800w) until battery again reached 11.5v, then used a 120w heat lamp until the inverter turned off with the battery at 10.8v.

Good tests. How long were you able to sustain those loads?

[Allen_C]

Originally Posted by DaveT

Good tests. How long were you able to sustain those loads?

About 2.5 hours at the 1,600w load, 7 minutes at 800w and 50 min at 120w.

[Allen_C]

Upgrade is complete. I just need to clean up, add protective cover to the wires I ran under the RV and some expandable foam to the holes where the wires go thru the floor. Here are some pics. Only issue is the generator will only start and run if the ignition it's in the on position. I'll need to move the cables to attach directly to the chassis battery or otherwise bypass the ignition.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/detgf4gg3n...61105.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5xf0b71gu...61146.jpg?dl=0