Solar with Lithium Battery
I will be purchasing a Battle Born lithium battery in a month or so. My truck camper came with a solar charge controller, inverter and I can simply drop the new battery in place of the lead acid one b...
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Yes, change your solar controller settings so it won't do more than 14.6v, and kill any temp comp for the same reason--nothing above 14.6v ever. No "equalize".
The sun won't shine any brighter by changing to LFP from your FLA so ignore all claims about "faster charging" with solar if only you swapped to LFP.
In the same way, a 55 amp converter will not do more than 55 amps either if you swap to LFP. Engage brain before believing the advertising! :(
You will get more usable AH but not twice as many. From a 100AH batt you will get 80 instead of 50 by following the guidelines for each type.
(20-100 vs 50-100)
Watch out for high temp limits on the LFP since you say Pueblo it might get hot there. Also low temp limits at night?
To go camping off-grid you need more than 100AH or be a tent camper, so that means you will need two of those very expensive LFPs, not just one. That also means your one batt now is not enough. Get your wallet out for a second one of whichever you choose.
A 100w panel will help a little but not much. 200w can do a useful day's work.
Now the good news! :) LFP works well with solar, because you don't have to get back to 100% SOC every day. Solar can kill FLAs for this reason, that the sun goes down before the batts get truly full, which eventually kills them from sulphation. No worries about that with LFPs (or SiO2 for that matter).
Also Battle Born is not the only pebble on the beach.
The sun won't shine any brighter by changing to LFP from your FLA so ignore all claims about "faster charging" with solar if only you swapped to LFP.
In the same way, a 55 amp converter will not do more than 55 amps either if you swap to LFP. Engage brain before believing the advertising! :(
You will get more usable AH but not twice as many. From a 100AH batt you will get 80 instead of 50 by following the guidelines for each type.
(20-100 vs 50-100)
Watch out for high temp limits on the LFP since you say Pueblo it might get hot there. Also low temp limits at night?
To go camping off-grid you need more than 100AH or be a tent camper, so that means you will need two of those very expensive LFPs, not just one. That also means your one batt now is not enough. Get your wallet out for a second one of whichever you choose.
A 100w panel will help a little but not much. 200w can do a useful day's work.
Now the good news! :) LFP works well with solar, because you don't have to get back to 100% SOC every day. Solar can kill FLAs for this reason, that the sun goes down before the batts get truly full, which eventually kills them from sulphation. No worries about that with LFPs (or SiO2 for that matter).
Also Battle Born is not the only pebble on the beach.
