Converter changeout

[Sola123]

I have a 2018 Pinnacle that apparently does not have a setting/switch for charging lithium batteries according to the manual….. how much trouble is it to change out to a converter that will charge lithium?…. I have 525 solar and have set the parameters to the recommended setting per my controller …. Is it necessary to change the converter ? … I have 2 x 300ah lithium batteries installed….hoping to do some boondocking….

 

[Learjet]

you may want to read the attached doc first, if you have this unit there may be a work around. Make sure to go to the model you have.

 

[Sola123]

Thanks for the article…will check it out….

 

[RogerR]

Regular lead battery setting will get lithium to 80% or more. Solar does the rest for me. I had to work on that area and that mess of wiring, confined space and cost is just not worth it for the rare need to charge with no solar working.

 

[Nevr2late]

You can add a Victron DC to DC charge controller. Much cheaper than replacing the converter, will also act as a BMS that you can monitor. I’m not sure the 2018s had the LI/ LA switchable centers.

 

[DaveT-JAY]

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f34/auto-detect-wfco-109451.html

 

[Radar57]

I switched to Lithium batteries on our Pinnacle and changed the converter. Pretty simple job. Just followed the instructions.

 

[extrachrispy]

I also have a PD4500 on my rig. It'll get the batteries up to 80% as others have stated, and when I start seeing short discharge times, I'll just turn the converter off and charge the batteries with my portable NOCO 10 on the Lithium setting. It can take awhile, so that they can rebalance, but it gets it done.

I like the idea of a Victron DC-DC controller. That's going to be a LOT less expensive than swapping out the onboard converter.