Lithium questions after looking over various posts.

[KSWI]

I have the rooftop solar 190 watt, zamp port with 100 watt portable. No inverter. Converter wf8955pec (non lithium). 2-6volt golf cart batteries. Tow with 2018 F150. This setup works great for us and we rarely plug into shore power. Solar keeps the batteries charged year round.

The batteries are now middle aged in battery life so I am now looking at future options for battery replacement and have stumbled into the lithium threads. After reading as many as I could find I have a question.

Do I really need to upgrade the converter to a lithium converter like a pd4655L? I understand the non lithium charger is limited to 80 percent.

However, I can’t figure out why a solar charger with lithium profile wouldn’t be enough to keep the batteries healthy and fully charged. What am I missing? Thanks !

[Vermilye]

In most cases your solar can be set for lithium batteries & provide the 14.4 - 14.6 volts necessary to top them off & balance the cells. Balancing is not necessary every charge, but should be done every couple of weeks. Balancing only take place after the batteries are fully charged and takes anywhere from a couple of minutes to as much as a half an hour.

The only time I would want a lithium capable converter is if I wanted to top off the batteries before I moved for a long stay in the shade or expected a prolonged cloudy period & the new location did not have hook ups. Otherwise, for most, 80% from the converter combined with topping off by the solar controller will work fine.

One possible problem - the WFCO 8955 provides 55 amps on paper, but in real life rarely actually provides that much. If you want at the full amperage for a fast charging, you may need to switch to a better converter.

[GinoandLinda]

I would have to agree. In 10 months of ownership, the only reasons we have plugged in were to save propane and run the fridge on AC and to run the heating pads for the fresh and gray tanks in below freezing temps. We have never plugged in to top off our batteries, solar does that for us. You should be fine with your proposed setup, leaving your current converter in place supplemented by solar. Just my opinion, however. Others may think differently.

[Grasshog]

They now have the SOK 286amp hrs for 1190

[KSWI]

Thanks for all all the good info.

[Hawkeye Ed]

Originally Posted by SageRpod

I would have to agree. In 10 months of ownership, the only reasons we have plugged in were to save propane and run the fridge on AC and to run the heating pads for the fresh and gray tanks in below freezing temps. We have never plugged in to top off our batteries, solar does that for us. You should be fine with your proposed setup, leaving your current converter in place supplemented by solar. Just my opinion, however. Others may think differently.

Here’s the obvious lithium beginner’s question then:

Can any Escape owner with a standard non-lithium setup safely swap in lithium batteries without causing trouble other than their non-lithium converter (and tow vehicle) won’t be able to fully charge the new lithium batteries?

And then, for folks without solar, just top off the new lithium batteries whenever connected to shore power with an AC 10-20A portable lithium charger?

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye Ed

Here’s the obvious lithium beginner’s question then:

Can any Escape owner with a standard non-lithium setup safely swap in lithium batteries without causing trouble other than their non-lithium converter (and tow vehicle) won’t be able to fully charge the new lithium batteries?

Yes.

Lithium batteries do not degrade when kept at any charge level. Most lithium guru's feel you should balance the batteries once a month or so.

Originally Posted by Hawkeye Ed

And then, for folks without solar, just top off the new lithium batteries whenever connected to shore power with an AC 10-20A portable lithium charger?

We have a Victron IP22 charger for charging our batteries as well as any other type of large battery (for instance, your truck). Our F150 has a 400 watt inverter that charges our lithiums by running a 120 volt extension cord from the truck to the charger. However, for us it's for emergencies since we have solar.

_______________________________________

However, down the road you may want to add a portable solar panel to also balance your batteries, or charge them, if you find you're camping without services.

Since January 2020 we've been running without a WFCO charger by charging our batteries with a 170 watt panel on the roof and/or a 100 watt portable. We don't need a specific charger only for the camper (WFCO replacement), nor do we need a DC-DC unit between our truck and the camper (n IP22 will work great). If you spend some more money down the road, buy solar, starting with a portable.

Food for thought,

Perry

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye Ed

...
And then, for folks without solar, just top off the new lithium batteries whenever connected to shore power with an AC 10-20A portable lithium charger?

You may already know this - the "12" Volt lithium batteries charge to 100% and perform the balancing when charged with 14.4 - 14.6 Volts. Solar is a fairly simple method to obtain the required voltage. But keep in mind that you may have electronic devices in your trailer that are not happy with 14.6 Volts so use your disconnect switch if charging at that voltage. (Maxx fans seem to fail when subject to voltage above 13.8).

[KSWI]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

You may already know this - the "12" Volt lithium batteries charge to 100% and perform the balancing when charged with 14.4 - 14.6 Volts. Solar is a fairly simple method to obtain the required voltage. But keep in mind that you may have electronic devices in your trailer that are not happy with 14.6 Volts so use your disconnect switch if charging at that voltage. (Maxx fans seem to fail when subject to voltage above 13.8).

Does escape have a solution they use with the lithium package to avoid frying the maxx fan?

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by KSWI

Does escape have a solution they use with the lithium package to avoid frying the maxx fan?

I installed a voltage regulator in the Maxxfan housing when the new board was installed.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Hawkeye Ed]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

I installed a voltage regulator in the Maxxfan housing when the new board was installed.

Enjoy,

Perry

Perry, could you give some more information about the voltage regulator you installed for folks who’d like to do the same?

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye Ed

Perry, could you give some more information about the voltage regulator you installed for folks who’d like to do the same?

Out camping, but if you go to YouTube and search for “voltage regulator for a MaxxFan” you’ll find many videos on how to add the regulator. I looked but couldn’t find the one I followed two years ago, but there are many others showing how to add a regulator.

Hope this helps,

Perry

[CE Vogel]

Originally Posted by KSWI

Does escape have a solution they use with the lithium package to avoid frying the maxx fan?

In other threads about MaxxFan, it appears this issue has been addressed by the manufacturer. My 2020 trailer has three MaxxFans, and I converted to Lithium batteries in 2021. I have had no issues with my fans even though my batteries go to 14.4 volts while balancing.