Lithium Upgrade Install

MartyMoose007

We have a 2022 Tab 400, with the standard two AGM batteries.  Also the Victron shunt. I want to swap out the batteries for a Li Time 230ah lithium.  Can anyone walk me thru the install and what the final setup looks like once there is only the one battery?  Thanks

pthomas745

The only real difference for installing the batteries is you do not have to be concerned with the batteries being wired in "parallel".  Your single LiTime will just need a set of cables that go to the "Battery Distribution Block" inside the battery area. Follow the battery cables you have now, and you will find a black squarish "block" where the battery cables are attached.

After that: you need to set up the Victron solar controller to "properly" charge a lithium battery. Hold on to the LiTime brochure, and all the basic numbers you will need will be there.  On the Battleborn web page, they have a couple of good guides.  This is the solar controller guide (again, use the LiTime numbers, but they will be close to what Battleborn batteries use).

https://battlebornbatteries.com/programming-a-victron-smartsolar-charge-controller/

Here are the basics for the Shunt settings:

https://battlebornbatteries.com/faq-all-about-bmvs/

Some of the 400's models have the distribution block "hidden" behind a panel that may be hard to find.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/17507/2021-400-access-to-battery-distribution-block-and-inverter-fuse

There are many discussions about installing the LiTime setups (or the equivalent) but I could not find any photos of the installed batteries.

Do not hesitate to post a few pictures and we can help decode what you are seeing.  Many owners have done this, and it is not "too hard".

MartyMoose007

Thank you so much.

pthomas745

And: I just realized this might be the same question asked on one of the FB pages yesterday!  The battery replacement is not hard to do, but with the various parts involved, it can get confusing.  Post some photos of your battery compartment and the location of your shunt and wiring.  There are many owners here who have done this, and can point you in the proper direction.

marleecamps

As luck would have it, I took a photo of my new LiTime 230 ah lithium battery in my 2021 400 before pulling it for storage.  Wanted to make sure I re-installed it correctly.  I also added the Victron smartshunt at the same time.  I did add a small piece of wood on the lower right hand side to fill a space gap, but otherwise, it was pretty much plug and play.

DonF

We have a 2022 T@B 400 and I have ordered the same 230 Ahr LiTime battery.  pthomas745 - you answered some battery questions I had on another recent thread.  Below is a photo of our battery compartment and it seems the battery upgrade should be simple as the LiTime battery's terminals are in the same general location as the positive and negative cables on our current setup.  Am I missing something?  I realize I need to change the Victron app to the lithium settings per the link you listed above.  Thank you!

Horigan

You got it.  While you're in there you should add the Smartshunt.  Well worth it.

DonF

Horigan - thanks!  Which shunt should I get?  They offer 300, 500, and 1000 amp and it seems the 300 amp should be adequate for the 230 Ahr battery.  I doubt I'll be upgrading to a larger bank anytime soon, if ever.

Horigan

I would get the Victron shunt, which would be sized by the inverter wattage you have.  The 300A would should be sufficient.  There are two shunts, the 712 with a display, and the Smartshunt that is bluetooth only and displays on the app on your phone.

DonF

Rich - The specs online for the inverter are 1200 continuous/2400 peak watts (although I think ours may be 1200/1500) but if I did the math correctly even at 2400 watts, the max peak draw is 200 amps.  I ordered the 300 amp shunt.  thx!

cottonmouth

LiTime has Cyber Monday pricing. My originals are not holding a charge as well as before. Thinking of making the switch. I need to check if the 280 fits my 2021 400 space. 

https://www.litime.com/products/12v-280ah-plus-lifepo4-battery

bern64

I too am upgrading to a LiTime battery on my 2020 Tab400 Boondock, ordering one on Black Friday.  I plan to install myself.  Prior to installing do I need to turn off the WFCO breaker? Is there a switch on the AIMS Inverter that needs to be off? Does the Victron Solar Controller wires need to be disconnected at the controller? 

pthomas745

You should have the battery switch off, and unplug from shore power.  Your inverter should be off when it is not in use, in any case.