Taking delivery of new escape trailer with lithium batteries in the winter.

Adkrottie Dad

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Tupper Lake, NY
Hey guys, I will be having a new E23 with lithium batteries being delivered to upstate New York this late winter/ early spring. My concern is about potential damage to the batteries in sub freezing temperatures during transport. It is my understanding that lithium batteries can tolerate freezing temperatures short term as long as they are not being charged. The problem is they will be hooked up to 400 watts of solar on the trip. Should I ask Escape to unhook the solar cables to the charge controller before transport? What do yo think?
 
My understanding is that you can store them and even use discharge them in very cold temps but you don't wan to charge them in anything below 32 degrees.


Not necessarily good for them but it sound like a one time event wont hurt them seriously. I would definitely have escape disconnect the solar so it won't be charging.
 
If were me I would have Escape disconnect the batteries completely, mechanically, from connection to the trailer. This should require only one cable connection opened to interrupt the circuit. If you call Escape, they should have no problem with this. The batteries should have some charge, enough to power its own circuitry (BMS). Recommendations differ but ~70% would be reasonable.
Depending on the battery type, the BMS may provide protection against sub-zero (0C)charging. That's good and most likely works well. However I look at this like overdraft protection on a bank account - it gets used when I screw up only. My battery (280 AH SOK), with internal heating and cold temperature charge protection, is sitting safely in my basement until spring.
 
We took deliver of our Escape in January, 2023. It had 200ah of battery and we added another 200ah and it had two solar panels up top. We've never felt the need to disconnect them or take any special action in really cold temps.
 
Remember that if the batteries are completely disconnected from the trailer the break away switch will no longer function as well as an electric tongue jack (if you have one). While specific batteries may have different values, in general a lithium battery can be discharged down to -4°F, but should not be charged below 32°F.

I would depend on the BMS to prevent charging, however if you want a mechanical disconnect, disconnect the solar panels from the input to the controller, not the batteries from the trailer systems.
 
I am unfamiliar with what brand solar charge controllers Escape is using now but if Victron, the default lower temperature charge cut-off is 41º (can easily be adjusted + / -).
 
My suggestion would be to ask the factory to install a switch between the solar panels and the controller. I have found a switch handy for selective charging of our lithium battery since day one not only to prevent charging in sub-freezing temps but also because I choose to operate the battery mostly between 85 and 65% state of charge for longevity. I also leave the battery at 55% storage state of charge while plugged in to shore power and only bring it up to 100% once every three months or so unless we're deep in the woods with heavy usage.
 
My E23 came with a solar disconnect switch close to the main battery disconnect switch. I think this is standard, should be verified (mine was a First Edition with some extras), but if so, all they have to do is switch it off before transport.
 
I am unfamiliar with what brand solar charge controllers Escape is using now but if Victron, the default lower temperature charge cut-off is 41º (can easily be adjusted + / -).

that only applies if you've installed the optional temp sensor on the Victron, and installing that temp sensor means you can't use the 2nd voltage sensor as they share the same pin. This optional temp sensor screws onto the positive battery terminal, so its really reading the temp outside the battery, not deep inside where it counts.
 
the batteries *should* have internal BMS that will block charging if the battery core temps are near or below 32F
A few years ago it was uncommon to have a BMS with a low temperature (charge) cutoff. Looking at this latest wave of cheap lithium batteries coming from China, it appears to be more common - but read the fine print carefully, as always.
 
A few years ago it was uncommon to have a BMS with a low temperature (charge) cutoff. Looking at this latest wave of cheap lithium batteries coming from China, it appears to be more common - but read the fine print carefully, as always.

huh. most all of them had it when I was shopping for LFP in late 2021. I settled on the SOK 206AH
 
Could be my natural inclination towards cheap but I still note that a good number of the 200-500 AH LFPs that have funny, unpronounceable brand names have "tiny" 100 Amp BMSs without low temperature charging cutoffs.

An LFP is not a good purchase to make using assumptions...
 
that only applies if you've installed the optional temp sensor on the Victron, and installing that temp sensor means you can't use the 2nd voltage sensor as they share the same pin. This optional temp sensor screws onto the positive battery terminal, so its really reading the temp outside the battery, not deep inside where it counts.
The Victron temp sensor I have is attached to the battery case. Not sure how one would go about getting a temp reading from the inside of the battery. Regardless it is valuable to me.

Related: This probably explains why Victron MPPT controllers default to 41ºF as the temperature charge cut-off/turn-on...to allow for shell to internal temp variance; just a guess.
 

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