I might have over est how much power I will need

[saltydawg]

So I bought 1 of the amped outdoor 60 ah lifepo4 batteries and a 700 watt pure sign inverter, basically I sized the inverter to what the battery was good for. The battery is good for 50 amps continuous discharge, surge to 80.

Well renogy decided to send a 1000 watt inverter instead. I tested it and the battery was certainly good for 40 amps or so continuous running a 500 watt quartz light thru the inverter. Ever once in a blue moon the battery did not like the start up surge of the inverter, mostly after it had been sitting turned off for a few days. The charging of the capacitors in the inverter would kick in the battery high amp protection which I think is at 100 amps, which makes sense to the fact that the inverter could draw 100 amps under full load.

So I had a choice, return the 1000 watt inverter and say I want the 700... nope. Next I could have bought another 700 watt inverter, with my luck I would have gotten a second 1000 watt inverter. Yes The 700 watt only should cost 130 or so, but the 1000 costs 200 or so, I was not going to complain about the bigger inverter, but i only need one.

Next option, live with the battery every so often kicking in its protection. Nope

So what did I do like the cheapskate I am, I bought another 330 buck battery. yup my little 12 foot camper has 120 amp hours of lifepo4 battery, and 1000 watts of pure sign inverter.

A pic of the basic setup, still needs to be cleaned up, just installed for testing of the wiring for the 12 volt fuse block. Nope not over board at all.

[saltydawg]

ts a good thing I dont tend to go over board, Nope. Lets see a separate wire to every exterior light, a separate wire to each power point, pretty much everything is a dedicated wire. So that meant I needed distribution blocks. The one on the right is the exterior lights, the one on the left is power points and interior lights. The wires hanging down in front will be for a master switch bank where I can shut each circuit off, meaning I want the light circuit on, I can turn it on, water pump, power points etc all with a switch. Nope not over done.

[tony.latham]

I bought another 330 buck battery.

Where'd ya get it?

Tony

[saltydawg]

I bought another 330 buck battery.

Where'd ya get it?

Tony

amped outdoors. they have everything from 6ah to 100 ah. and there is a coupon out there for 10% off. plus free shipping over a 100 bucks.

[tony.latham]

they have everything from 6ah to 100 ah.

If it was a year ago, I'd be ordering one.

Tony

[Tom&Shelly]

So what did I do like the cheapskate I am, I bought another 330 buck battery.

Well, clearly, you really had no choice in the matter!

This is what my hatch looks like (business end)



So how'd you get away with so few terminal strips?

Tom

[NevadaBlue]

Nice! I had two AGM batteries for my little trailer and the bigger trailer decided it needed them. Sigh, now to look for a battery for the little guy.
Keep us posted with progress please.

[featherliteCT1]

[saltydawg]

So how'd you get away with so few terminal strips?

Tom

Well first I am not done yet, secondly one of my terminal strips is equal to 1 of your. Both 12 screws with wires on em. I just put wires on the jumper side as well. Plus I will be using some of the 8 switches in the master switch bank as a block too.

lighting fuse goes to the master switch, then to the actual switch that I will use to turn the lights on. The power jumps to all three switches, one is inside light, which at this time is one led strip ( or will be ), one kitchen light and the last is the 4 outside lights. the outside light switch wire goes to the block here it then goes out to the lights.

I still need to run the wire to water pump, eventual water heater based heat, but they will come straight off the master switch bank so no block required.

and no the wiring looks like crap, but it will get better as I finish it up

[saltydawg]

Nice! I had two AGM batteries for my little trailer and the bigger trailer decided it needed them. Sigh, now to look for a battery for the little guy.
Keep us posted with progress please.

These are not agm they are lithuim. Thats 120 ah hours of usable power that weigh like 25-30 lbs total. If I had that much usable power in lead batteries it would be like 130 to 150 lbs of batteries.

[NevadaBlue]

Understood. That’s why I’m watching you. I still have to buy the battery.

[noseoil]

Hmmm, their 100 AH lithium battery looks interesting for $699. The duty cycle shows 2000-5000 charges & a weight of only about 25#, so a reduction of almost 40# rolling weight, more power available (functionally) & not much of a down-side except for the cost. Will have to think about his for a replacement on the trailer. I'm wondering about the duty cycle vs. an AGM replacement, since the trailer load is pretty light, it may be a "permanent" installation, at least for me. I'm still buying green bananas & 25 year caulk, but that's pretty optimistic for a battery.

[saltydawg]

The duty cycle shows 2000-5000 charges & a weight of only about 25#, so a reduction of almost 40# rolling weight, more power available (functionally) & not much of a down-side except for the cost. Will have to think about his for a replacement on the trailer. I'm wondering about the duty cycle vs. an AGM replacement,

duty cycle is a definately on the side of the lifepo4 battery. The way lithium is is yes you take a hit for a 100% discharge, but its not as sever as LA. at 100% you will get the 2k charge cycles, if you never take it that low you will get the 5k. The best thing is they are happiest when held at 75% charge for storage, no need to keep it 100%, no need to plug a charge in monthly when not being used. Charge it, and shut it down for a year and the battery will not care.

The only real downside to the lithium is the cold weather charge, cant charge it below freezing. But some people put battery heating mats under it. when they get to where they need to charge it cold they just turn on the mat, sure you burn 3 ahs but you can at least charge it. also if its in the cabin how often does it actually get freezing in there when your using the camper. Lastly a charger actually set up to do lithium is nice, basically once they hit 14.6 no more charge is needed. You can use a normal lead acid charger, just shut it down when you hit14.6 volts.

[featherliteCT1]

Saltydawg,

"just turn on the mat, sure you burn 3 ahs but you can at least charge it"

That is great to know. Charging a lifepo4 in cold weather has been a stumbling block for me. ... but no longer.

I always learn good stuff from your posts!

Thank you

[saltydawg]

Hmmm, their 100 AH lithium battery looks interesting for $699.

This deserves it own quote and post. yes the price looks good and it is pretty good. But the best deal out right now is the SOK 100 ah from amazon also 600 bucks. There have been tear down reviews, they are really well built and actually have a low temp cut off for charge. So if its too cold for charge they will not allow it to charge, thats internal. The SOk battery is also serviceable, ie its not glued together so if a cell where to die, or the bms it is replaceable.
https://youtu.be/RxMIs0PXrBw

edit if I had known I was going to go bigger battery I would have bought this one off the start.