Battle Born LiFePO4 batteries

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

If I recall correctly technomadia was postulating that the loss of capacity was due to running the batteries at high temps, i.e. outside ambient in summer. If that's true you may want to move that battery inside. Also would help with charging while freezing.

I think you are right. They have a bus, and if I recall they were recording very high temps inside that storage compartment, like extremely high. They also had their HUGE inverter in there. And zero airflow.

[dschellenger]

I posted earlier that I was going to visit the Battle Born facility as I live in Reno, NV. I did, it was great. They do all the assembly on property. I was well received and they gave me a thorough tour. I was particularly impressed with attention to detail in the assembly process. The individual cells were checked and matched twice for capacity then assembled into modules, then the modules were rechecked for capacity to insure there evenly balanced. The BMS were also checked 3 times. Needless to say I got a great tour, learned a lot about LiFePo4 batteries.
I bought 2 Batteries and an 60 amp converter charger, I hope to get started on the install in my 66' Trade Wind this week. When I do I will post some before and after pics. I am pretty exited about this project as it is the first update of the TWs electrical system since the original charger/converter gave out 20 years ago.

[Troutboy]

Nic challenger, please do keep us posted on your upgrade. Good luck, you will live the lithium performance.

[SCOTTinNJ]

Yea. Thanks for the update.

[TouringDan]

dschellenger

I will be following your installation in earnest as I have a 66 Tradewind and plan to go to lithium some time in the future.

Will you be installing an inverter to take advantage of the extra power from the lithiums? I have a Zamp 1,000 watt inverter now bur will go to a 1,500 watt Samba when I install lithiums due to the extra battery capacity and physical space that the litiums will make available.

Dan

[toyman]

dschell,

How is it working out withe your installation?

[battlebornli]

Originally Posted by dschellenger

I posted earlier that I was going to visit the Battle Born facility as I live in Reno, NV. I did, it was great. They do all the assembly on property. I was well received and they gave me a thorough tour. I was particularly impressed with attention to detail in the assembly process. The individual cells were checked and matched twice for capacity then assembled into modules, then the modules were rechecked for capacity to insure there evenly balanced. The BMS were also checked 3 times. Needless to say I got a great tour, learned a lot about LiFePo4 batteries.
I bought 2 Batteries and an 60 amp converter charger, I hope to get started on the install in my 66' Trade Wind this week. When I do I will post some before and after pics. I am pretty exited about this project as it is the first update of the TWs electrical system since the original charger/converter gave out 20 years ago.

Doug
Thank you for coming by to visit. It was a pleasure to meet you and we appreciate you taking the time to stop in. Please let me know if we can help you at all, as you build out your new system. We are happy to help. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing the final system.

Sean

[dschellenger]

An update to my post of a few weeks ago, to get started. I want to install the batteries in the bay where the original was. There is a limited amount of space but they will fit. I will put the converter / charger where the original was installed. this seems like the easiest way to get started and get the system up and running.

A side note on Battle Born Batteries. I really praised them in my visit. The attention to detail in the assembly was most impressive. For instance, and this should apply to anyone thinking of having the batteries shipped to them. The packing is top notch. There is a custom made high impact foam retainer around the battery that makes it immovable in its box, just another detail they looked after.

Another side note, if any one wants give a Magnetek 3240 PX a good home and will use it, not try to resell it I will part with it for shipping and a modest packing fee. I just want to see it get used.

I will try and upload pics of the bay , one with the a new bat in the old bat position, any suggestions are welcome. I am thinking of mounting [2] them in a 'T' where the original sat, I will have to modify the battery tray to do so, or I could mount one on either side of the toilet plumbing, then I would have to build or buy another tray.

p.s. also bought led replacement bulbs...should cut down on some power usage

[Mattirs]

Originally Posted by dschellenger

An update to my post of a few weeks ago, to get started. I want to install the batteries in the bay where the original was. There is a limited amount of space but they will fit. I will put the converter / charger where the original was installed. this seems like the easiest way to get started and get the system up and running.

A side note on Battle Born Batteries. I really praised them in my visit. The attention to detail in the assembly was most impressive. For instance, and this should apply to anyone thinking of having the batteries shipped to them. The packing is top notch. There is a custom made high impact foam retainer around the battery that makes it immovable in its box, just another detail they looked after.

Another side note, if any one wants give a Magnetek 3240 PX a good home and will use it, not try to resell it I will part with it for shipping and a modest packing fee. I just want to see it get used.

I will try and upload pics of the bay , one with the a new bat in the old bat position, any suggestions are welcome. I am thinking of mounting [2] them in a 'T' where the original sat, I will have to modify the battery tray to do so, or I could mount one on either side of the toilet plumbing, then I would have to build or buy another tray.

p.s. also bought led replacement bulbs...should cut down on some power usage

I was wondering how the update went. I was hoping to have dropped in a little while a go but a major snow storm delayed my travels. Next time .

Thanks
Matti

[dschellenger]

ok...worked late into the night, there is light in the Airstream!. Progressive Dynamics converter /charger is working flawlessly. 1 Battle Born battery is hooked up and charging [14.60 volts] . Will mount second battery when I buy or fabricate a battery tray similar to the original. Once the battery is fully charged I will run it though its paces. Installation was fairly straight forward, moved the converter/charger into the closet in rear bath. up and away from any potential water leakage.

[battlebornli]

Originally Posted by dschellenger

ok...worked late into the night, there is light in the Airstream!. Progressive Dynamics converter /charger is working flawlessly. 1 Battle Born battery is hooked up and charging [14.60 volts] . Will mount second battery when I buy or fabricate a battery tray similar to the original. Once the battery is fully charged I will run it though its paces. Installation was fairly straight forward, moved the converter/charger into the closet in rear bath. up and away from any potential water leakage.

Doug,
We are happy to hear your install is going well. Looks like you are close to the next phase of your project. Please let us know how we can help.

Also if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to coming by and seeing the trailer once its all done.

Sean

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by dschellenger

I will try and upload pics of the bay , one with the a new bat in the old bat position, any suggestions are welcome. I am thinking of mounting [2] them in a 'T' where the original sat, I will have to modify the battery tray to do so, or I could mount one on either side of the toilet plumbing, then I would have to build or buy another tray.

dschell

I built a wood shelf over the sink drain line and the electrical conduit line for my "Curve" porta potty toilet and to replace the metal shelf to support my two golf cart batteries and my Zamp inverter. I used 3/4" wood; I could have used something thinner I suppose, but it is not very big and the shelf is solid. One advantage of the toilet is that it is removable to get access to the batteries and to my 9245 PD converter. This setup works great for us. The black water tank now becomes the gray water tank. We only pea in the toilet and just dump it in a regular toilet about every few days.

Dan

[SCOTTinNJ]

Well, mine are in. 3 x 100 ah.

The folks at Battle Born were great to work with. Answered all my questions and I'm confident these will be good long term. Will try to report back from time to time.

[dschellenger]

nice clean install

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by dschellenger

nice clean install

Thank you. For the time being I only wired the 12v trailer circuits. I have a Victron 700 on the way. When that arrives I will install it along with the inverter wiring. Then a solar charge controller as well.

While i will try otherwise, things might get a bit messy...

[battlebornli]

Scott,
Your install looks great. Please let us know if we can answer anymore questions for you. We are happy to help.

Please stop in and see us when you get out west.

Sean

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

Well, mine are in. 3 x 100 ah.

The folks at Battle Born were great to work with. Answered all my questions and I'm confident these will be good long term. Will try to report back from time to time.

Attachment 287338

Attachment 287339

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by battlebornli

Scott,
Your install looks great. Please let us know if we can answer anymore questions for you. We are happy to help.

Please stop in and see us when you get out west.

Sean

Thanks Sean. See you in December!

[Aviator]

interesting thread. subscribed

[Monza]

Not bad looking. I'll be watching.

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally Posted by SCOTTinNJ

Thank you. For the time being I only wired the 12v trailer circuits. I have a Victron 700 on the way. When that arrives I will install it along with the inverter wiring. Then a solar charge controller as well.

While i will try otherwise, things might get a bit messy...

Victron and inverter wiring is in. Batteries still rocking. I'm plugged in now so have discharged them much. But they are still behaving well.

And I'm loving the victron battery monitor with bluetooth.