Switch to LIFePO4?
I have a trio of Rolls Surrette FS210 wet cell batteries that give me about 315 AH of usable capacity. My big concern is weight, the total is 400 lbs in my from compartment of the 5er, and I think tha...
Forum Discussion
I have been living off of lfp/ solar for 37 months now of which 35+ months have been boondocking (877 day stretch right now). Equipment installed... 12v 500ah lithium batteries (GBS LFMP battery system, 20 prismatic cells 4S5P). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts), 2S4P. Panels lay flat on the roof. Magnum PT100 controller, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter. There is a 7" display monitor and the ME-ARC 50 to read the performance of the system. A sub panel was added so everything in the 5th wheel except the water heater is running through the inverter. Entire weight of system 500#.
The batteries, inverter, controller are mounted in the front compartment. I insulated the walls better with 2" foam board cut to fit all area between the structure supports. One of these pieces can be removed during warmer weather to allow for air flow (cooling). My lfp packs actually have cell temp readings which is important if using in different environments. Last time I looked I don't think BB have cell temp displays (if wrong I stand corrected, check lifeblue lfp batteries IMO they're better than BB and same warranty).
I also have a thermometer in that compartment so temp can be seen, along with an outside thermometer. Now I don't do Canadian cold living but have been into the 20f range and the front compartment will be in 35-40f area with the lfp cells usally 5f warmer. I should say that there is always some draw on them from 2-7ah through the night so that might help keeping the cells warmer.
The cells do have protection for below 32f temps that won't allow charging but still can be used down to -4f. Once the EMS sees cell temps are above it will allow charging.
If I was going to be in colder weather or long stretches of that weather I'll get a reptile warming pad for the batteries.
As far charging I do nothing special let solar do what it can, if the lfp batteries get down to 25-30% soc and it looks like solar won't charge enough I'll hook up the eu2000i generator for 2 hours and give them a 200ah (40%) boost. In any given year the generator has not been used more than 12 times tops.
The batteries, inverter, controller are mounted in the front compartment. I insulated the walls better with 2" foam board cut to fit all area between the structure supports. One of these pieces can be removed during warmer weather to allow for air flow (cooling). My lfp packs actually have cell temp readings which is important if using in different environments. Last time I looked I don't think BB have cell temp displays (if wrong I stand corrected, check lifeblue lfp batteries IMO they're better than BB and same warranty).
I also have a thermometer in that compartment so temp can be seen, along with an outside thermometer. Now I don't do Canadian cold living but have been into the 20f range and the front compartment will be in 35-40f area with the lfp cells usally 5f warmer. I should say that there is always some draw on them from 2-7ah through the night so that might help keeping the cells warmer.
The cells do have protection for below 32f temps that won't allow charging but still can be used down to -4f. Once the EMS sees cell temps are above it will allow charging.
If I was going to be in colder weather or long stretches of that weather I'll get a reptile warming pad for the batteries.
As far charging I do nothing special let solar do what it can, if the lfp batteries get down to 25-30% soc and it looks like solar won't charge enough I'll hook up the eu2000i generator for 2 hours and give them a 200ah (40%) boost. In any given year the generator has not been used more than 12 times tops.
