Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Tech Issues: Electrical/Battery issue.
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theoldwizard1

SE MI

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Joined: 09/07/2010

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Posted: 07/25/23 12:15pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

msmith1199 wrote:


I have two 100 watt LiPo batteries.

I assume you mean 100 Amp-hour (Ah) batteries. I also assume you have LiFePO4 batteries)
msmith1199 wrote:


Been dry camping for 7 days now. The first 3 were on the road so batteries were charged by (vehicle) alternator for the first three and the generator only for the last 4.

The power source is not the issue. What are you using for charging ?

Hooking directly to your tow vehicle 12VDC is NOT the best way to charge yoiur batteries. You will never get 100% fully charge that way. You really should be using a DC-DC charger with output settings for LiFePO4

Second, a "standard" converter is NOT the best way to charge your Li batteries either. You will never get 100% fully charge that way. Get a converter that is designed to charge Li batteries.

Better yet, remove the converter and your current inverter. Replace them with a combination charger/inverter/automatic transfer switch. Wire your 12VDC circuit directly (via a fuse) to the battery bank

3 tons

NV.

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Posted: 07/26/23 11:38am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You didn’t say how you are determining state of charge…Determining SOC with lithium (LiFePo4) batteries can sometimes be problematic due to what is an uber flat voltage discharge curve, and I would think that running a CPAC is mission critical…Do you have a lithium capable SOC (state of charge) meter such as a Victron Smart shunt, or a BMV-12 or equivalent?? …If not, then it’s gonna be difficult for you to know what your true SOC is - voltage alone may not be telling you the whole story…

Outside of that, when your battery is undergoing a charge, you’ll need to see a voltage at the terminals of somewhere around 14.2 to 14.6 v and holding to achieve a full charge, yet this will occur prior to a passive internal cell-balancing regime which can usually take (depending on number of less than full charge battery cycling) say another 15-30 min or so - this phase can be readily monitored on your SOC meter via intermittent amps vs volts until holding at near zero amps (assuming no load)…After this, it is best to discontinue longer term charging to avoid the possibility of dreaded dendrite formation that may occur due to such overcharging…

3 tons

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