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Dumb questions about moving to Lithium

dluckdluck Member Posts: 9
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Hi, 
We have a 2021 320 CS-S. I want to move to a lithium battery so I can run the fridge when boondocking (tried that last year with the stock battery and it wouldn't last through the night). I was looking at this one: LiTime 12V 140Ah Bluetooth Lithium Deep Cycle Battery for RV – LiTime-US

We have the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/10, and I understand I'll need to change some of the settings in the app. I've read on here about all sorts of other things people are adding/doing, but do I *need* to do those? Can I just swap the battery out, change the Victron app settings, and be good to go?
I read somewhere about needing something to protect your truck battery if you're charging through the 7-pin - is that true?

Thanks,
DeAnne
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Comments

  • Grumpy_GGrumpy_G Member Posts: 590
    You can just swap out the battery, change the charge controller settings and call it a day. There are a number of things people do in addition to that like add a DC-DC converter between the tow vehicle and the trailer battery to help charging while driving but that is not required. Even more so if you have a solar panel on the roof that can charge during the day while moving. 
    Modern automotive charging systems can reach 14.4V so back feeding from the trailer does not subject the tow vehicle battery or electronics to undue stress. 
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 4,163
    The adjustment for the Victron controller is very easy.  Hold on to this link.  When you get your battery, the LiTime brochure will have the various "voltages" in their brochure for the settings.  They won't differ very much from the Battleborn numbers.
    The thing to check is the size of that battery, and how it may fit inside your current "battery space". It seems the 140 amp hour battery is about 3 inches longer than the stock Group 24.  So, measure that out.  

     I really like seeing how LiTime now has several amp hour ratings of batteries between 100 and 200 amp hours.  And, there is an "Extra Mini" battery that might even slip easily into any of the spaces under the benches in a 320.

    If you are skilled at these sorts of "mods", any of the various things owners add can be easy.  If you are not...they can get expensive and time consuming.  The best bang for the buck (for me) was a Victron shunt and a portable solar setup.  You may "need" more solar charging capacity with a larger battery, especially when the trailer is not in an optimal solar spot.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • dluckdluck Member Posts: 9
    Thank you, @pthomas745 and @Grumpy_G! This info helps a lot and I've ordered the battery. I'll let you know how it goes!
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  • SlackersSlackers Member Posts: 490
    edited May 27
    FWIW, Our 100 Ah Lithium was larger and required a Group 27 sized box. We were able to fit in it in the front tub by angling it. To do that I screwed some deck balusters along the inside rails of the factory tray. Then I screwed the Group 27 box onto the balusters. It takes some finesse to get the battery in and out of the box, but it works. The strap goes around the existing tray and battery box to keep everything snug.

    Edit: Bottom line: A larger battery may fit.
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
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  • MarcelineMarceline Member Posts: 1,635
    Slackers said:
    FWIW, Our 100 Ah Lithium was larger and required a Group 27 sized box. We were able to fit in it in the front tub by angling it. To do that I screwed some deck balusters along the inside rails of the factory tray. Then I screwed the Group 27 box onto the balusters. It takes some finesse to get the battery in and out of the box, but it works. The strap goes around the existing tray and battery box to keep everything snug.
    One small point: A lithium battery doesn't need to be vented so it doesn't need to be in a battery box. I ended up putting my battery + SmartShunt into a plastic file folder box. 


    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
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  • bjn2bjn2 Member Posts: 107
    Don't worry about your tow vehicle's battery. There isn't enough voltage through the 7-pin harness to reach the charging threshold for a lithium battery. 

    The simplest upgrade is to just swap out the lead-acid battery with lithium. Make sure the new battery has low temperature protection (most do). If you then change the solar settings for the lithium battery, you'll be in business with minimal effort and expense.

    Note that the WFCO "lithium-ready" converters aren't really ready. They don't sense lithium easily and like to revert back to lower lead acid charging on a whim. If you want to use one for charging from shore power, you'll really need to contact WFCO, remove the converter, and send it back to the mfg. for modification. I'd suggest using a Victron portable charger instead. I use a Victron Energy Blue Smart IP65 Smart Car Battery Charger 12V 15A with a quick connect adapter wired to our battery. You can plug the charger into shore power running the charger's cord through the trailer's front window to an AC outlet inside. 
    Utah-based
    2023 T@B 320 S Boondock
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