AGM to Lithium converstion

[BHage]

I’d like to know that my new installation of 2 - 100a Battle Born batteries is being recognized and being optimally charged after switching from an AGM setup.

Our unit is a stock, 2023 23’ flying cloud FBT with the Merlin solar option and an WFCO auto detect converter/charger.

How can I know for sure that the WFCO converter has properly recognized the lithium setup and has optimized the lithium charge profile?

I ask because the Victron smart shunt (also new) shows a graph of chg characteristics. 100% status, 13.6v, and the charge voltage never exceeded 14v.

Seems like full charge should be higher?

[ROBERT CROSS]

13.6v is fully charged in my head.
We have our Boondocker 60a lith converter set at 14.4v max.
Not sure if yours is adjustable I believe it's 14.6 & a 'float' @ 13.6. BB lith recommend 14.4 max.

Bob
🇺🇸

[BHage]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

13.6v is fully charged in my head.
We have our Boondocker 60a lith converter set at 14.4v max.
Not sure if yours is adjustable I believe it's 14.6 & a 'float' @ 13.6. BB lith recommend 14.4 max.

Bob
🇺🇸

Pretty sure same settings on ours, I have a message into Battle Born to double check. BTW, top notch customer service there.
Cause for my doubt is the shunt indicates the battery hit nothing more than 13.6v during the charge ?��

[BigAl]

Charger probably detected that the battery was fully charged and stayed in float mode.

[Tyler2you]

I believe the WFCO AD converter will have a blue light visible from the vent openings when it's in Lithium mode. You'd probably need to pull off some panels to get to it.

13.6 V should be fully charged for a resting LifePO4 battery. Optimal bulk charging is typically in the 14.4 to 14.6 volt range. I assume 14 volts would get it charged, but it's probably not optimal. There have been several complaints about the WFCO AD converters on here recently. Some were putting out very low amperage and some weren't going into Lithium mode. I believe the fix was sending it in for a firmware upgrade.

[BHage]

Great info! Thank you

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Your shunt needs to be properly programmed for lithium. It may or may not be full set up. If it still is on some of the factory defaults, it may think you have lead acid batteries. Double check the shunt settings first.

Lithiums very much need to get above 14.4V on a fairly regular basis. Their cell balance / equalization software in the BMS engages when they do. Lithiums *need* to be balanced. Bad things can happen if they are not. Go back a decade or two and you can read the horror stories.

As others have mentioned, the "auto sensing" converters may or may not work out that you have switched to lithiums. It is very worth your time to dig into that.

Bob

[27ftToaster]

I recently did the same upgrade on my 2021 27' FC. I did not have the WFCO AD converter, so purchased one. I was instructed by WFCO that in order for the Auto Detect to "detect", I needed to do a few steps. Here is the message they sent me that worked:

The process is pretty straight forward.

Please see the link below.
https://youtu.be/-pFuVnUsPz4

The model is different, but the process is the same.

[BHage]

Originally Posted by 27ftToaster

I recently did the same upgrade on my 2021 27' FC. I did not have the WFCO AD converter, so purchased one. I was instructed by WFCO that in order for the Auto Detect to "detect", I needed to do a few steps. Here is the message they sent me that worked:

The process is pretty straight forward.

Please see the link below.
https://youtu.be/-pFuVnUsPz4

The model is different, but the process is the same.

Hmmmm
I might need to go through that process. Batteries are now discharging again, no Shore power, WFCO has a blue led shining in back. Should be in lithium mode. Plan to let the batteries fully discharge (guided by the internal shutoffs). One more full charge cycle, knowing light is blue, to see if it registers near 14.4.

[wilsodf]

I would call WFCO and see if yours is one of the recalled ones. I heard they had an issue with a limited number that would not auto detect. This is a thread on this. If you do, WFCO wants you to send them the unit for a software update to fix the issue .

If you call them with the model and serial number they should be able to tell you.

Good luck

[wilsodf]

Here is the link

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ht-240363.html

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Again: Double check the shunt settings. If the reset point is still "lead acid" it will go to 100% automatically once it's much past 13V .... For Lithium you don't want it to reset below 14.4V.

Bob

[soling917]

I just changed over to LiFe batteries and had to get them drained all the way down, then put the Airstream back on shore power and checked for the red Led, shortley after powering back up the green led went blue, indicating the change over to LiFe batteries. WFCO has a great tutorial on there systems. Note: green is lead battery, blue is LiFe batteries.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The nice new Victron Shunt does not know anything about the converter and gets no information when it switches. It comes out of the box set up for lead acid. It needs to be manually reprogrammed for Lithium. That needs to be checked.

Bob