E17B lithium battery location

[Ron in BC]

Once again my search skills fail me but I think that this topic has been discussed recently.

My friend just submitted his build sheet for a 17B on Friday. Evidently he saw a video that mentioned relocating the lithium battery from the rear bumper to under the dinette seat. He did clarify it with the women he was dealing with and was told that she didn't think that was possible.

Since his plans include moving the spare forward and installing a box on the rear to hold a rubber boat he's not a happy camper, so to speak. Even the thought of leaving one very pricey battery on the back bumper isn't very satisfactory.

So can anyone point me to posts that deal with this? Anyone with a 17B already dealt with this issue?

Ron

[John in Santa Cruz]

Where is the power center / voltage converter in that model ? you'll just need to cable the battery, wherever you chose to put it, to the converter, or actually, to the battery cutoff switch, and to the power center ground post or bar. I would use like AWG 6 wiring for this, ideally as short as practical. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries don't need any sort of venting, but they should be securely strapped down so they can't shift.

[mr.stang]

Not a problem, at all. Moved the lithium from the bumper to under the bed. I have an access panel from the passengers side it is accessible from the inside and out. It will be right next to the inverter closer to the access door. Used a boat battery holder, clamps down battery, with no case. While in there I extended my waterlines to include a wash down on the passengers side. I also raised the mattress with wooden ikea slats. While there re-do the grounds, just because. Stan

[Ron in BC]

To clarify, this isn't a case of can an owner move a lithium battery inside.

This is a case of a buyer placing their order on the understanding that the lithium battery was now going to be off the back bumper and under the dinette seat.

Yes, dead easy to do if you're retro-fitting but not something a buyer should have to do if they have the understanding that's where the lithium battery would be.

Ron

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

My friend just submitted his build sheet for a 17B on Friday. Evidently he saw a video that mentioned relocating the lithium battery from the rear bumper to under the dinette seat. He did clarify it with the women he was dealing with and was told that she didn't think that was possible.

This video posted about a month ago talks about battery placement inside for all models as a standard feature now except the 17 (start at 3:50). As mentioned in the video they are still working out the details. Hopefully they are close and if your friend pushes the issue a bit he may indeed get what he desires.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MiCJprnHSEg

[peakay]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Once again my search skills fail me but I think that this topic has been discussed recently.

My friend just submitted his build sheet for a 17B on Friday. Evidently he saw a video that mentioned relocating the lithium battery from the rear bumper to under the dinette seat. He did clarify it with the women he was dealing with and was told that she didn't think that was possible.

Since his plans include moving the spare forward and installing a box on the rear to hold a rubber boat he's not a happy camper, so to speak. Even the thought of leaving one very pricey battery on the back bumper isn't very satisfactory.

So can anyone point me to posts that deal with this? Anyone with a 17B already dealt with this issue?

Ron

we just submitted our build for a 17B and are putting battery on bumper; but we were told it could be in either place now. it specifically says on our build to put it on the bumper.

[peakay]

this is the email we got from them when they asked for input about moving the battery for the 17. I can't find any other correspondence and our build got moved up after that email so there wasn't much time for contemplating; but as I said they noted our battery to go on the bumper so that tells me it's now an option.
"We are contemplating on keeping the batteries at the rear bumper as an option. When you configure your trailer, please let Linda or Alicia (your configuration specialists) know and we will have a decision at that time."

[Ron in BC]

Thanks, I'll forward a copy of your email to him. It looks like he should be having a second chat with both those people.

Ron

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

This video posted about a month ago talks about battery placement inside for all models as a standard feature now except the 17 (start at 3:50). As mentioned in the video they are still working out the details. Hopefully they are close and if your friend pushes the issue a bit he may indeed get what he desires.

Once again your search skills shine through.

In the video they certainly do mention that the E17 is likely to also have the lithium battery moved in and keep the battery on the bumper as an option.

Peakay's email seems to confirm that's the case. Hope a second call to ETI can clear this up. I couldn't sleep at night if I had a battery of that value sitting out in the open on a back bumper.

Ron

[Bayner]

I installed my own lithium batteries, inside under the passenger side rear seating area (would be the bed for some). The inverter is conveniently located there as well. Rest of the power center is on the driver side rear (opposite). I'm curious about what they come up with for an official location. There's just not a lot of options on the 17.
Where are your friends located Ron?

[SRS]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Once again my search skills fail me but I think that this topic has been discussed recently.

My friend just submitted his build sheet for a 17B on Friday. Evidently he saw a video that mentioned relocating the lithium battery from the rear bumper to under the dinette seat. He did clarify it with the women he was dealing with and was told that she didn't think that was possible.

Since his plans include moving the spare forward and installing a box on the rear to hold a rubber boat he's not a happy camper, so to speak. Even the thought of leaving one very pricey battery on the back bumper isn't very satisfactory.

So can anyone point me to posts that deal with this? Anyone with a 17B already dealt with this issue?

Ron

I have a 2022 17A and I moved the batteries into the PS dinette bench. It was really pretty easy. I cut the battery lugs off and pulled the wires inside the trailer. Then I shortened them and crimped new lugs on.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Bayner

Where are your friends located Ron?

Within sight.

Again, this isn't about how hard it is to relocate the battery, it's about a person that expected that the lithium battery would be located inside.

So that's why I'm asking any 17B buyer now going through the build sheet to let me know what their experience has been.

Ron

[Lanark Camper]

We have a 17B with the full time rear bed option. In this case the factory installs the converter in the front of the trailer in the passenger side dinette bench seat.

The factory didn’t move our shore power to the front of the trailer closer to the converter location, it’s kept at the back by the hot water tank on the drivers side.

The battery may depend on the full time bed vs rear dinette.

Bob

[stick]

Our 17 B is still in production and it was our understanding from one of the Escape Q &As that the batteries could either be placed on the bumper or under the ps dinette seat. They sent out an email survey and we indicated that we wanted it inside the trailer, but never heard anything after that. So I contacted Escape emphasizing our desire for the inside location, and when the production photos started appearing one of them was clearly centered on the batteries under the ps dinette bench. We ordered the dual 6 volt batteries, not lithium.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by stick

Our 17 B is still in production and it was our understanding from one of the Escape Q &As that the batteries could either be placed on the bumper or under the ps dinette seat. They sent out an email survey and we indicated that we wanted it inside the trailer, but never heard anything after that. So I contacted Escape emphasizing our desire for the inside location, and when the production photos started appearing one of them was clearly centered on the batteries under the ps dinette bench. We ordered the dual 6 volt batteries, not lithium.

Perfect, that's the answer that I was looking for. If they can do it for dual 6s then it'd be a breeze for a single lithium.

Can you post a photo of your build photo showing the batteries?

Ron

[Bayner]

Sounds like 17A/B owners will have to do the work themselves to move the batteries inside if that's where they prefer according to Escape's most recent video Q&A...


https://youtu.be/h1YZLcPBqQ0?t=434

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Bayner

Sounds like 17A/B owners will have to do the work themselves to move the batteries inside if that's where they prefer according to Escape's most recent video Q&A...


https://youtu.be/h1YZLcPBqQ0?t=434

You're right. Looks like a response to this thread.

I don't buy the reasons given. Here's a photo of a 17B in production now with the batteries inside. Extra cable needed? Pretty flimsy excuse. How can a single battery inside use more cable than two batteries on the rear bumper separated by a few feet? As if a couple of feet of cable matters for a single $1,925.00 battery. Or, for that matter, one you don't want sitting exposed on your rear bumper. I notice in another thread Nindy comments on having one of her batteries stolen.

I've always found when designing machinery etc. that most of the work in a new situation is solving the problem and getting a working unit. After that, what's the big deal with doing it again?

I'm finding this a bizarre situation.

Ron

[Bayner]

I think they make sense in their logic, though I don't agree with the decision. Built for you is becoming less and less of a reality...
By placing all batteries on the rear bumper, an owner should have everything they need within that system to relocate lithium batteries inside if they choose, as you say. If they are all inside, the opposite does not hold true. I also think part of the problem with the 17's is there isn't as much storage space available in general and the largest, arguably most useful location for storage and access is also the most likely place to relocate the batteries to.

[Bayner]

As an aside, I also put my batteries in the location shown in that photo above.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Bayner

As an aside, I also put my batteries in the location shown in that photo above.

funny thing is, thats where I put the 412AH worth of LFP on my 21, too.