Battery Question

kenkorona wrote:
OP here. Thank you all for some great insights. I read all your posts and did other research and now I understand the pros and cons of the battery types. Now with that information other questions are raised and again I look forward to any insights you can offer.

I am planning on buying a new TC and it will not come with a generator nor with a generator hookup. I am also planning a pretty long trip for next year. Right now it looks like it will be a total of 4 months with at least 2 of them in Alaska. We enjoy boondocking; usually no shore power, so having adequate battery power is important.

To that end, I'm sold on the benefit of the lithium batteries and plan to put at least 2 in the TC. The reasons I'm sold on them are 1) lighter weight, 2) OK to discharge further without degrading its capacity, 3) accepts a charge faster.

So my next question is... is there anything special I need to know or do if I decide to put Lithium batteries in a TC when the manufacturer was planning on it using FLA batteries? The camper will be equipped with solar panels, either 2 or 3 100w panels. But my question is not about whether those panels would be enough to recharge that much battery capacity, rather the question is about the equipment's compatibility.

Thanks

I'd question "no generator hookup." You mean it's a 12V only unit with no provisions for shore power?

The bigger question is, your first post says you're currently camping with 2 plain ole batteries and no power supply issues to speak of and virtually no requirement for shore power (presume that's what you meant by "only used the generator once for 15min" since you also said you boondock.

What is it about your new camper and trip that makes you think you need to bomb proof the electrical system for an apocalypse?
Wouldn't 2 normal batteries and some solar maybe work just fine, like it is now?

I think many of these projects are more "hobby" than necessity.
IE, a person who plumbs in on board air all over the truck, DC-DC charger, big solar array, LiFe battery(s), super charge controller, best converter on the market, etc.....and then doesn't use the built in generator for anything.

Personally I'd analyze your needs before getting serious about big time upgrades.
JMO