Converter

[cliffy49]

I was wondering if there is any one here that has changed to LifePo4 batteries and has not changed their converter/charger over. Reading this and other forums and talking with mfgs. and suppliers I get different answers.

I have decided to ask those that have done this what their experience has been. Do you wish you had changed, are you going to change or are you quite content with the results you are getting and if so what percent of charge are you finding from the non-lithium charger.

I am considering changing over to lithium but at this time I can not afford to change my converter and add DC to DC charger to keep my truck from damage. Not real sure about this one either as I get mixed answers regarding the truck also.

Appreciate all your insight.

[cliffy49]

I forgot to ask, is it possible to stop the battery from trying charge from the truck when you are towing it? The only way I can think of is to disconnect the 7 pin.

[StirCrazy]

ya thats what I do, don't hook up the charging line, or just pull the fuse from under the hood.

[StirCrazy]

I did it for a few months, but can't realy tell you much about it as my solar controler kept it charged properly.  but personaly I would do the converter over the dc to dc chargerunless you think you will be relying on the truck to charge you up alot.  I don't even use charging from my vehicle.  I did however just buy a dc to dc , well last fall, but it is being installed more as an emergency generator, so I'll probably never use it....  a DC to DC isn't there to protect the truck altanator as you will blow the charging fuse long before you would ever kill the altanator, it is to provide proper charging voltage to the battery as what you get from the altanator will be degraded from the long small wire and won't be the proper voltages or anythign as they are set up for a starting battery not a deep cycle or LifePO4.  you can get a 20amp dc to dc for under 100 bucks US so they arn't a big hit to the pocket book, the new converter section will be a bit more, but depending on the age of your rv you might not need a new one, it might have a switch for Li already.  

[cliffy49]

Actually, my plan was to use the factory converter/charge to charge the battery and if needed I would use a lithium charger and my champion generator to top it off. Since most of out camping now is with hookups I dont think that the truck would need to be charging the battery.

My only reason for even looking at lithium is because my 2 gc2 batteries are getting to the point they may be ready for replacement. That and the fact that I really like the thought of saving close to 100 lbs. of weight. I guess that I may just look into replacing with either a marine/rv battery of either fla or possible even agm.

[StirCrazy]

ya the weight savings is amazing.  thoes two 100amp LFP batteries will give you double the usable power over a 6V pair,  or close to it depending on the 6V's plus they will last a lot longer.  if you look at it over the long run, you can just buy a converter section to change your power center to a li capable one.

if you have a WFCO converter THIS  would work if you want to stay WFCO, otherwise any li compatible converter can be wired up.. they start at 129cdn but most seam to be about the 200 range so whats that in the US probably around 100 bucks