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Old 10-11-2019, 08:52 PM   #1
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Lithium batteries in ETI tongue storage box

We do not travel in really cold areas, and we can program our Sterling battery charger and Morningstar PPT solar charger with lithium temperature profiles.

Am wondering about mounting four Trojan Trillium batteries in the front tongue box. Has anyone else put lithium batteries there?

73/gus
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Old 10-11-2019, 09:11 PM   #2
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Or maybe keep them in an armoured car?
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Old 10-11-2019, 10:59 PM   #3
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What is the weight of the batteries? I recall there being a 100 lbs weight limit in the box. Also if the batteries are really heavy it will add to your tongue weight. You may have to put 2 batteries in the back.
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Old 10-11-2019, 11:28 PM   #4
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Compressor fridge? Otherwise why?
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Old 10-12-2019, 05:35 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
Compressor fridge? Otherwise why?
If OP is anything like me, the why or need ain't got nothing to do with it.

I have an Onan 4000 I no longer use for it's intended purpose. Weighs 170 lb and drinks fuel. I'm casting sideways glances at the tongue of my 21.

Hmmm, if I remove the box, it would fit very nicely there. Now that would be double dumb, but still....
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Old 10-12-2019, 06:06 AM   #6
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What is the weight of the batteries?.
ETI installed two Interstate Flooded GC2-ECL-UTL 6V = 124 lbs 225 AH
Current two Lifeline AGM GPL-4CT 6V = 132 lbs 220 AH
Four Trojan Trillium LiFePO4 TR 12.8-92 12V = 108 lbs 368 AH

Staying with Group 24 10-1/4”x7” size to fit length.

Yes storage box has label saying 100 lbs, which must be beyond the batteries.

73/gus
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Old 10-12-2019, 06:17 AM   #7
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Compressor fridge? Otherwise why?
Yes, thinking Isotherm Cruise 165, Vitrifrigo DP2600, or similar.

Plus our Codan Envoy ham radio HF transceiver.

My concern is the potential cold exposure in the storage box. Are most Escape LiFePO4 installations inside under benches?

73/gus
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Old 10-12-2019, 07:46 AM   #8
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My concern is the potential cold exposure in the storage box. Are most Escape LiFePO4 installations inside under benches?
The few lithium installs I have seen were inside under the benches, but Dan just recently shared his install in a front box. The advantage inside is you can more easily keep it heated but a long tow through cold weather will chill the inside just the same. I know Reace used to say you can run the propane furnace while underway but not sure how many owners actually do that. We have tested it on a short tow and the older Atwood 8012-II furnace doesn’t seem to have an issue running while moving. I can’t speak to the newer Atwood AFSAD models.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f3...tml#post311017
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Old 10-12-2019, 07:53 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gklott View Post
We do not travel in really cold areas, and we can program our Sterling battery charger and Morningstar PPT solar charger with lithium temperature profiles.

Am wondering about mounting four Trojan Trillium batteries in the front tongue box. Has anyone else put lithium batteries there?

73/gus
We have three battleborn 100 amp batteries in the front box of our 19. We changed the charger to accommodate LIIon and things seem fine so far, went down to 0C on our last camping trip
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Old 10-12-2019, 01:07 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by gklott View Post
Yes storage box has label saying 100 lbs, which must be beyond the batteries.
I agree. I think Escape's logic is that the batteries are mounted on something (a plywood panel?) resting on the box bottom right on top of the frame rails, so they don't put any load on the storage box structure - the 100 pound limit is presumably for stuff held up by the fiberglass of the box.
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Old 10-12-2019, 01:12 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
I know Reace used to say you can run the propane furnace while underway but not sure how many owners actually do that. We have tested it on a short tow and the older Atwood 8012-II furnace doesn’t seem to have an issue running while moving. I can’t speak to the newer Atwood AFSAD models.
We have run an Atwood furnace similar to (but one generation older than) the Atwood AFSAD while driving in a motorhome, without issues. Some propane appliances have difficulty staying lit while moving due to airflow, but the furnace combustion air is fan-forced so it seems unlikely to be a problem.
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Old 10-12-2019, 01:50 PM   #12
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The Sterling BB1260 will pull up to 60 amps from the source, if the battery will accept the corresponding charge power... which a 368 Ah LFP battery presumably will. Gus, would you be using the stock 7-way connector and typical charge wiring on the tow vehicle to handle this? In a quick reading of the manual, I didn't see a settable current limit.

I just asked the same question of Dan in his thread, in which he describes using an LFP battery of similar capacity with the same Sterling DC-to-DC charger.
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Old 10-12-2019, 07:10 PM   #13
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Here's Don's response to my query about the charge circuit capacity issue:
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Originally Posted by dstreight View Post
... I ran two conductors of 1/0 from the battery in the engine bay to the rear bumper using Anderson SB175 connectors at the bumper and trailer side...with their environmental boots and a WitsEnd SB175 mount bracket.
If you use a 60-amp DC-to-DC charger, some solution to capacity - whether it is this separate connector or something else - would be appropriate.
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Old 10-12-2019, 07:17 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
I know Reace used to say you can run the propane furnace while underway but not sure how many owners actually do that. We have tested it on a short tow and the older Atwood 8012-II furnace doesn’t seem to have an issue running while moving. I can’t speak to the newer Atwood AFSAD models.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f3...tml#post311017
I ran the Atwood AFSAD12 furnace in my 21 all the way back to Texas when I picked up the trailer at Chilliwack in January 2017 (what was I thinking!). The furnace ran fine the whole way.

Actually it's kinda nice to climb into a warm trailer after slip sliding through the ice and snow to get there from the tow.

Oh, and anyone doing this again - bring ice cleats for your shoes. We don't bounce as well as we used to!
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Old 10-12-2019, 08:42 PM   #15
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Showing charger placement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
Gus, would you be using the stock 7-way connector and typical charge wiring on the tow vehicle to handle this?
Our Sterling charger is the PCU1240, which works from shore power, not the Sterling battery-to-battery model. Went with the 40A shore charger because of the physical size which had to fit as shown below.

Both chargers are capable of charging the LiFePO4 batteries, as well as flooded, AGM, gel, and others.

First image shows the custom mounting bracket I made using 80/20 aluminum, which is 15" tall and allows for air circulation space above, below, and between the chargers. You see the Sterling charger on the mount, with the solar charger behind.



This image below is a top looking down into the front bench seat in our U-shaped dinette. It the shows the chargers in place. I got both to fit just to the street side of the WFCO 8955 power center. As mounted I have access to both front panels for reading meters and controls.



That's the 1500W Go Power inverter in top left, and the AC transfer switch is top right.

We do charge using the +12V line on the 7-pin from our INFINITI QX80 tow vehicle. That connects to a Victron ORI121236100 12/12-30A (360W) Isolated DC-DC converter. This allows us to keep a constant AGM float voltage to the battery bus when connected to the tow vehicle.

73/gus
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Old 10-13-2019, 12:29 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by gklott View Post
Our Sterling charger is the PCU1240, which works from shore power, not the Sterling battery-to-battery model. Went with the 40A shore charger because of the physical size which had to fit as shown below.
...
We do charge using the +12V line on the 7-pin from our INFINITI QX80 tow vehicle. That connects to a Victron ORI121236100 12/12-30A (360W) Isolated DC-DC converter.
Oops, I guess as I flipped around between the three lithium projects I got the Sterling chargers mixed up. Since the Victron DC-to-DC is only 30 amps, there's no concern with wiring to the tug. Thanks for the info.
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Old 10-13-2019, 07:34 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
We have run an Atwood furnace similar to (but one generation older than) the Atwood AFSAD while driving in a motorhome, without issues. Some propane appliances have difficulty staying lit while moving due to airflow, but the furnace combustion air is fan-forced so it seems unlikely to be a problem.
Thanks Brian. That was my thought too knowing how these furnaces work.
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Old 10-19-2019, 10:08 AM   #18
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We have three battleborn 100 amp batteries in the front box of our 19. We changed the charger to accommodate LIIon and things seem fine so far, went down to 0C on our last camping trip
The Trojan Trillium TR 12.8-92 Li-ion maximum charging current vs. temperature profile is:
Recommended Charging Voltage = 14.4 - 14.8V
Recommended Float Voltage = 13.8V
>73°F (>23°C) = 92A
41° to 73°F (5° to 23°C) = 46A
32° to 41°F (0° to 5°C) = 13A
14° to 32°F (-10° to 0°C) = 5A
-4° to 14°F (-20° to -10°C) = DISCHARGE ONLY
This is similar to most all LiFePO4 batteries. Our 40A chargers are good without temperature limiting down to 41° F.

Did you install a battery temperature sensor that works with your charger to limit charging current?

73/gus
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Old 10-19-2019, 10:08 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
I agree. I think Escape's logic is that the batteries are mounted on something (a plywood panel?) resting on the box bottom right on top of the frame rails, so they don't put any load on the storage box structure - the 100 pound limit is presumably for stuff held up by the fiberglass of the box.
On our 19, there's a plywood panel glassed in to the box for the batteries. Since the bottom of the box is rounded and tapered, the box bottom is raised in the middle to allow for a flat spot for the plywood platform.
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Old 10-23-2019, 03:28 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by gklott View Post
The Trojan Trillium TR 12.8-92 Li-ion maximum charging current vs. temperature profile is:
Recommended Charging Voltage = 14.4 - 14.8V
Recommended Float Voltage = 13.8V
>73°F (>23°C) = 92A
41° to 73°F (5° to 23°C) = 46A
32° to 41°F (0° to 5°C) = 13A
14° to 32°F (-10° to 0°C) = 5A
-4° to 14°F (-20° to -10°C) = DISCHARGE ONLY
This is similar to most all LiFePO4 batteries. Our 40A chargers are good without temperature limiting down to 41° F.

Did you install a battery temperature sensor that works with your charger to limit charging current?

73/gus
Great question
The Battleborn batteries have a battery management system (BMS) and from a question and answer forum on their web site: "The BMS is programed to handle temperature compensation. No need to add a battery disconnect for charging. When the BMS senses the temperature is below 25 degrees F, it will not let the battery accept a charge. Once the temperature is back up above 25 degrees F, the battery will be able to accept a charge again."
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