Lithium battery in winter

[Arnold R]

I replaced my X17Z 's lead acid battery by a LiFePO4 battery, in part to reduce the tongue weight; the new battery is now located in the back.

By now, my camper is in storage; covered but otherwise open air. The battery is kept charged by a timed outlet that provides power for two hours a day. And this is in Massachusetts.

Can I safely leave things as they are or should I take the battery out and keep it indoors over the winter? I seem to recall a comment that lithium batteries don't do well in freezing temperatures. And the instructions appear a bit ambiguous.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Given the cost of a new battery I would take it home. Protect the battery and won’t have to worry about it walking away.

[DaveT]

I think the issue is charging them when below freezing. I'd take it home. An advantage of lower weight.

[craigav]

My information is also that it is the charging below freezing causes the degredation of the battery. With that, and I am in Texas where we sometimes do get to negative temperatures, I leave mine installed and fully charged. However, I am able to make changes as needed and one change is if there is a power failure, then the battery discharges some, and then when the power returns the battery charges back up. (I unplug the RV until the temps are above freezing in the case of a below freezing power failure). The recharging needs to be avoided whenever the temperatures are below freezing and likely that would be happening with two hours per day on shore power due to power being supplied to the 02 and propane sensors and perhaps a few other items. I would bring it in instead of taking chances. ~CA

[Mikemc423]

I just put a LI in my new, to me, camper. I will be bringing it inside for the winter. Should have done that with my LA batteries, they might have lasted longer.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Arnold R

I replaced my X17Z 's lead acid battery by a LiFePO4 battery, in part to reduce the tongue weight; the new battery is now located in the back.

By now, my camper is in storage; covered but otherwise open air. The battery is kept charged by a timed outlet that provides power for two hours a day. And this is in Massachusetts.

Can I safely leave things as they are or should I take the battery out and keep it indoors over the winter? I seem to recall a comment that lithium batteries don't do well in freezing temperatures. And the instructions appear a bit ambiguous.

Lithiums don't like to be cold, that's why they make some with heaters in them. I have simple lithium, no bluetooth, no heaters. I take off tongue bring inside for winter. I used to have lead acid and did the same but, keep those on trickle charge all winter. Lithiums like to kept at 50% charge for storage periods. Get them to 50%, then put them to bed in a temp. controlled environment

[Mikemc423]

Originally Posted by JKyle

Get them to 50%,

What's the best way, in your opinion, to accomplish that? I want to drain my battery down to test something with my convertor. Was thinking of just leaving the lights on until I get it where I want it, but with LEDs, that's going to take a while.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Mikemc423

What's the best way, in your opinion, to accomplish that? I want to drain my battery down to test something with my convertor. Was thinking of just leaving the lights on until I get it where I want it, but with LEDs, that's going to take a while.

run the 12 v fridge, if you have one. If you have the Maxxair roof vent fan operate it at max speed. Vent hood fan and light in vent hood will drain it.

Seems my battery will drain pretty fast, when I dont want it to...

Sometimes when I pull into home, I unhook truck and leave camper as is. Maxxair going, bathroom mini ceiling fan going, fridge working. Light above stove by accident, once. Within 2 days it's screaming for help.

[Mikemc423]

Thanks JKyle. Never thought about the fans. No 12V fridge, though. Will be doing both my bath fan and my exhaust fan and will run all my lights.

And want to talk about leaving something on accidently, I left my water pump on on the drive home from Rhode Island to NJ. It ran 4 1/2 hours, dry. Surprised it didn't burn up.

[Mikemc423]

About 14-15 hours of two fans and every light on and my battery is only down to 46%. This could take awhile.

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by Mikemc423

About 14-15 hours of two fans and every light on and my battery is only down to 46%. This could take awhile.

you are already in the storage range at 46% ???

[Mikemc423]

Originally Posted by Learjet

you are already in the storage range at 46% ???

Yep, but not draining it to store. My autodetect convertor hasn't detected the LI battery. WFCO told me to change two fuses from 30 amp to 40 amp, one at the POS side battery terminal and the other in position 6 on the convertor, discharge the battery and recharge it.

[Woodsman54]

Originally Posted by Arnold R

I replaced my X17Z 's lead acid battery by a LiFePO4 battery, in part to reduce the tongue weight; the new battery is now located in the back.

By now, my camper is in storage; covered but otherwise open air. The battery is kept charged by a timed outlet that provides power for two hours a day. And this is in Massachusetts.

Can I safely leave things as they are or should I take the battery out and keep it indoors over the winter? I seem to recall a comment that lithium batteries don't do well in freezing temperatures. And the instructions appear a bit ambiguous.

Here is the story on LiFePO4 batteries. They are not a problem in the cold, in fact they like the cold. Just not severe cold. There is no liquid inside to freeze like a Lead Acid. In MA you do get sever cold so I would bring them inside. But in storage 50% level with no charger on is preferred.

Heat is the problem. They will stop charging at 118F and will shut down completely at 130F give our take depending on brand and BMS.

Also LiFePO4 batteries only lose 2-3% of charge per month as opposed to AGM or L-A which lose 20-30% per month. Check with your battery manufacturer. If they are Lion Energy or Battle Born those companies have excellent tech support. You may be doing more damage by only charging for 2 hours per day and unless they have built in heaters (like some Battle Born) they will not stay warmed from 2 hours. And the heater will deplete them even if not hooked up. Most of these heaters kick on at 38F. But realize you also have vampire appliances like CO detectors, auto step motors, etc. These often run even if you throw the main disconnect. Again, check with the manufacturer directly. Even settings in your charge controller will change manufacturer to manufacturer. And you do not want to take a chance on voiding the warranty.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Mikemc423

About 14-15 hours of two fans and every light on and my battery is only down to 46%. This could take awhile.

thats good. Lithiums like to be stored long term at 50-ish %

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Mikemc423

Thanks JKyle. Never thought about the fans. No 12V fridge, though. Will be doing both my bath fan and my exhaust fan and will run all my lights.

And want to talk about leaving something on accidently, I left my water pump on on the drive home from Rhode Island to NJ. It ran 4 1/2 hours, dry. Surprised it didn't burn up.

Not sure what it takes to burn it out, but I think damage is more likely if you leave it on and you are demanding water via a faucet, but you have no water in the tanks.

RI to NJ..uhg. You traveled through my neck of the woods. I95 from Groton to Madison. That's the stretch I always travel with my camper.

[440 scout]

Originally Posted by Arnold R

I replaced my X17Z 's lead acid battery by a LiFePO4 battery, in part to reduce the tongue weight; the new battery is now located in the back.

By now, my camper is in storage; covered but otherwise open air. The battery is kept charged by a timed outlet that provides power for two hours a day. And this is in Massachusetts.

Can I safely leave things as they are or should I take the battery out and keep it indoors over the winter? I seem to recall a comment that lithium batteries don't do well in freezing temperatures. And the instructions appear a bit ambiguous.

You didn't mention and nobody asked what brand/model lifepo battery you got. Many are available with low temp cuttoff that can protect the battery from being charged when they get to 32 degrees. It is a builtin automatic ⁶feature that usually costs about $30 more. I have that feature on our batteries and leave them in the camper all winter here in Colorado. They are connected to roof mounted solar so far after 3 winters, no problem.

[Mikemc423]

Originally Posted by JKyle

Not sure what it takes to burn it out, but I think damage is more likely if you leave it on and you are demanding water via a faucet, but you have no water in the tanks.

RI to NJ..uhg. You traveled through my neck of the woods. I95 from Groton to Madison. That's the stretch I always travel with my camper.

I left it on with no water the entire ride home. Fortunately, it still worked this weekend.

I am getting smarter on this drive. Go up there every year for a week of fishing. This year, I left about 6am on a Sunday morning and didn't hit traffic the whole ride. I left there at 6am to come home and only hit traffic at the GW bridge.

[Arnold R]

Thank you all for your comments. It was all very helpful and the battery is now in the garage. On the basis of its voltage I estimate its charge to be about 70% - a bit high perhaps, but it will loose some.
FWIW, this is a Li Time Group 24, 100Ah, 100A BMS battery.

[JKyle]

Originally Posted by Arnold R

Thank you all for your comments. It was all very helpful and the battery is now in the garage. On the basis of its voltage I estimate its charge to be about 70% - a bit high perhaps, but it will loose some.
FWIW, this is a Li Time Group 24, 100Ah, 100A BMS battery.

These are the exact batteries I have. Would heaters make ownership easier? Probably. But, I went for highest quality battery vs cost and come up with the LiTime version of simple group 24 sized 100ah lithium w/o bluetooth or other bells and whistles. They're a good buy if you can catch them 'on sale' at various times of the year...about $177 each. I store my camper at home, so it's easy to take them off the tongue and store them in the house. I'm still amazed at how incredibly light they are. I used to procrastinate in fall, knowing I'd have to 'handle' my lead acid battery off the tongue.

[RogerR]

Below is a long article on storage of all types of lithium batteries with the reason for doing so in pretty clear detail.

It seems to apply to all LifePO4 batteries and systems regardless of brand.



https://www.renogy.com/blog/how-to-s...ntenance-tips/