7 replies to this topic

[Northbynortheast]

Hi all,

 

I'm doing a few more modifications to my 2017 FWC Fleet front dinette electrical system. (it sits on a 2015 Tacoma)

 

As it stands I have changed the solar controller to a Blue Sky Solar boost 3000I, I have 3 100 watt Renogy rigid solar panels on the roof.  I went to the bother of dismantling the cabinetry and replaced the Iota charger with internal IQ4 module to one with the external module. (the original one was over charging my AGM batts.)  I did the truck to camper wiring myself with 10 awg duplex.  With the AGM batteries we can go around two days with no charging.

 

The  goal of intended changes is to be able to go 4-5 days without charging if need be and to improve charging efficiency from the truck alternator.

 

I have ordered a Victron 12 12 30 Isolated dc-dc converter, 6 awg wire to run from truck to camper and camper outside to inside and the Iota module for charging LiPo batteries.  I'm planing to order 2 100 ah LiPo batts.

 

I'm asking for open ended advice and specifically:

 

Should the dc-dc converter be set up in between the Blue Seas battery disconnect and the truck battery or between the disconnect and the house batteries?

 

Battery advice please?; I'm trying to be frugal and make a good choice.  I was close to buying two heated Life Blue batteries but discovered at the last minute that the heated model cannot be mounted any way but upright.  The Fleet battery compartment has very limited space.  Working with typical 100 ah battery dimensions, I need to place one on end and one can be upright. (heated is attractive since we live in VT and do some cold weather camping, one less thing to think about.)  I'm considering one heated and one not, possibly the heated one would warm the other one in a tight cabinet. (maybe add some insulation during cold months)

 

Cheers

Edited by Northbynortheast, 14 March 2021 - 08:57 PM.

[Jack]

You don't need the Blue Sea with the DC-DC; The DC-DC only lets current flow from the truck to the camper and only if the truck is running so it does what your Blue Sea does to protect the truck battery.

I have a 2015 Fleet FD and looked at the 200Ah LifeBlue - it should fit and it's a bit less expensive. https://www.lifeblue...um-battery.html

 

I looked at changing out my Iota to either get the LiFePO4 module or install another converter but finally said I could live with limited charging from the Iota. You are clearly not faint of heart.

 

[Northbynortheast]

Hi and thanks for the reply, very helpful about the Blue Seas, that'll free up some space too.

 

I actually made a cardboard mock up of a bigger battery, cabinet dimensions are ok but when you try to

angle it in through the access, (door removed) sadly it's a no go.  

 

 

[Zirdu]

I have a 2016 Grandby, front dinette, with the battery compartment by the door.  I bought and installed a 200 AH LifeBlue Low Temp battery and it fit perfectly into the battery compartment.  Mounted upright.  All I had to do was to unscrew the wooden strips holding the prior batteries in place, and re-install in slightly different place to fit the new LifeBlue.  I did not have to remove the door, and the new battery did slip in. 

[Northbynortheast]

My battery cabinet, 2017 Fleet front dinette is located to the left, just inside the door. Interior dimensions are 22”Lx8”w x 12 7/8”h (H as dictated by door opening) at the front of the cabinet, height is limited to 10.5” for about 3” of the length. I thought I had the door opening width dimension on hand, I don’t. When trying to fit a 150-200ah battery, the battery corner hits the back wall of the cabinet before clearing the door hole. It’s not even close to fitting, unfortunately. I think everything is a bit bigger on the full sized camper models.

[Jack]

I'm glad I did not get the 200Ah LifeBlue! I ended up building my own LiFePO4 with prismatic cells so my 280Ah battery is only about 30% longer than one 100 Ah BattleBorn. But DIY is not for everyone.

 

I've lived in VT (NEK) so I know the temperatures and I would recommend a heated battery, particularly with the batteries in the back corner in the Fleet FD.

 

However, you may be able to get by with unheated batteries and a manually operated heating pad. Here in the Pacific NW, I have not needed a heater, even in the high mountain desert (typical lows down to 10F in winter). But I did put 1" polycyanurate R6 foam on the outside of the battery compartment and I leave the compartment door open. We have the heater on most of the time; 50F when driving.  This also keeps the water system from freezing. We also carry a 1500W portable heater that we use when we have shore power. Drawing power out of the batteries also heats them (check with LifeBlue - they will have a better idea of how much current will heat the battery to what temperature)..

 

A manually operated 12V heating pad on the back side and end of the batteries should do you almost as well as an internal heater. There just happens to be a switch panel to the left of the battery compartment door in the Fleet FD and FWC will sell you the switch inserts for a few $. I used one for my inverter (it has an external on/off connection) and mounted a blinking red LED to keep reminding me that the inverter is on.

 

Another option, can you go with one heated and one unheated LifeBlue? Check with LifeBlue - I found them to be very helpful when I was looking at their batteries.

 

[Northbynortheast]

Thx Jack,

What components did you use to build your battery? Anything you’d do different? I’ve been thinking about building one (or two).

[Jack]

I am very happy with the battery. I posted the build: https://www.wanderth...red/?hl=lifepo4

I got another request on my DIY so I will post the sources and follow-on comments in the above link.