Forum Discussion

hpdrver's avatar
hpdrver
Explorer
Apr 15, 2020

Lithium Confusion

I currently store my coach in my garage plugged into 30 amp service. My new coach came with lead acid batteries. The coach has a progressive dynamics PD 4060 charger in a mighty mini power center.

I am wanting to change batteries to lithium battle born batteries. Progressive dynamics has a replacement charger that outputs a constant 14.6 voltage but no 13.6 float voltage. Battle born told me not to leave this charger on constantly to avoid battery damage.

Progressive Dynamics also offers a complete new mighty mini power center with a output switch to change from lithium to lead acid. Since I store my coach plugged in it seems this might be better since lithium charger could be switched off and charger would go to lead acid float of 13.6. Each choice is about equal in price.

My question is how difficult are these choices to install and what choice is best. Thanks

Progressive Dynamics was shut down for Covid so no help there.
  • MDKMDK's avatar
    MDKMDK
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2020
    I'd ask Battle Born support what they recommend based on your existing setup.
    If the PD 4060 charger can accept an external remote Charge Wizard Pendant, I'd keep the existing charger, add the pendant, and just manually increase the voltage up to Boost mode once in a while.
    From PD's webpage for their 4000 Series Chargers
    "Inteli-Power 4000 Series Mighty Mini models can recharge the battery to 90% in 2-3 hours using our patented Charge Wizard® technology.

    The built-in Charge Wizard automatically selects one of four operating modes: BOOST, NORMAL, STORAGE, DESULFATION.

    BOOST Mode 14.4 Volts - Rapidly brings RV battery up to 90% of full charge.

    NORMAL Mode 13.6 Volts - Safely completes the charge.

    STORAGE Mode 13.2 Volts - Maintains charge with minimal gassing or water loss."

    DESULFATION Mode 14.4 Volts every 21 hours for a period of 15 minutes to prevent battery stratification.
  • vermilye's avatar
    vermilye
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2020
    My solution was to replace the lithium/charge wizard jumper with a double throw switch. In the lithium position I get 14.6V to rapidly & fully charge the batteries. When full, I switch to the charge wizard & use the pendant to select the normal mode (13.6V), the recommended float by Battleborn.

    If I am staying with hookups, I only switch back to the lithium side ever 4-5 days to get 14.6V to balance the cells in the Battleborn batteries. I doubt I'd be losing much if I only charged at the charge wizard 14.4V, but it was an easy thing to do.

    On edit fixed float voltage...
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2020
    vermilye wrote:
    My solution was to replace the lithium/charge wizard jumper with a double throw switch. In the lithium position I get 14.6V to rapidly & fully charge the batteries. When full, I switch to the charge wizard & use the pendant to select the normal mode (14.6V), the recommended float by Battleborn.

    If I am staying with hookups, I only switch back to the lithium side ever 4-5 days to get 14.6V to balance the cells in the Battleborn batteries. I doubt I'd be losing much if I only charged at the charge wizard 14.4V, but it was an easy thing to do.


    Suspect typo--13.6 for Float, not 14.6 . "Normal" is 13.6 too.

    BB says:

    "Here are our charging parameters for our batteries:

    Bulk/absorb 14.2 – 14.6 Volts(14.4 is great)
    float 13.6 Volts or lower
    No equalization(or set it to 14.4v), no temperature compensation and absorption time is 20-30 minutes per battery(if its an option."
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2020
    I think you are fine with the existing PD converter. Also I understand the LI option does not hold 14.6 continuous but does drop voltage or shut down when the battery is full.
  • cptqueeg's avatar
    cptqueeg
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2020
    See battle born charging thread in Tech Topics forum. Everthing you need to know about charging BB batts and a BUNCH of nice to know stuff and links.
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Apr 16, 2020
    time2roll wrote:
    I think you are fine with the existing PD converter. Also I understand the LI option does not hold 14.6 continuous but does drop voltage or shut down when the battery is full.


    I spoke to PD about their 9100 series dedicated Lithium charger and was told that the 14.6v stays on continuously, and they added that when in long term storage it’s best to not leave the charger on... So I decided for the time being to just stick with my PD 9245 and it’s charge wizard...

    Having said that, I’ve noticed per the Xantrex LinkLite meter that even with the PD in the ‘normal mode’ (13.6v - manual link below), the SOC of my 200a Lifepo4 continues to slightly creep up in charge...The Li manual calls for 14.4-14.6, so I find this aspect a bit surprising. Because of this, once the battery is at about 90% SOC ( < >, I have no real need to go all out...) I just shut the PD’s breaker off...

    https://www.manualslib.com/manual/604715/Progressive-Dynamics-Pd9200-Series.html?page=3#manual
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 16, 2020
    3 tons wrote:
    I spoke to PD about their 9100 series dedicated Lithium charger and was told that the 14.6v stays on continuously, and they added that when in long term storage it’s best to not leave the charger on... So I decided for the time being to just stick with my PD 9245 and it’s charge wizard...
    Continuous 14.6 volts is not a converter I would use with Li batteries or any batteries for that matter.

    Far better with the standard wizard profile.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Apr 16, 2020
    Not answering the OPs question, but I would NEVER store (for more than a week or so) ANY BATTERY with it connected to any type of charger !

    Plug your charger into an inexpensive mechanical lamp timer and set it to charge for about 4 hours per day.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Apr 16, 2020
    time2roll wrote:
    3 tons wrote:
    I spoke to PD about their 9100 series dedicated Lithium charger and was told that the 14.6v stays on continuously, and they added that when in long term storage it’s best to not leave the charger on... So I decided for the time being to just stick with my PD 9245 and it’s charge wizard...
    Continuous 14.6 volts is not a converter I would use with Li batteries or any batteries for that matter.

    Far better with the standard wizard profile.


    Seems a legit approach to manually shut down the charger when the Li is as full as your target SOC, and you do not float.

    Was some discussion whether to float them or not ISTR.

    Xantrex chargers had that option to choose two stage vs three stage for if your batteries did not like being on a float charge and that was for 6s IIRC.

    The problem with all that is using them in an RV where you need the converter to stay running at 13.6, but don't want the battery being on a float. How to isolate the battery. Some ways let you do that so the converter can still run things; other ways kill both so no 12v.

    If you have an inverter/charger, you must have the battery connected to it or you get nothing (unlike with a converter). How do you still get 12v to the rig and not float the battery?

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