Add batteries to 27FBQ

[Troubadour]

I just took delivery of a 24 27FBQ with solar and lithium batteries. Current setup (2 100 amp batteries) won’t even last the night before going below 11v. I’d like to add 1 or 2 more lithium batteries in the simplest manner possible.

I want to keep current batteries in the current box and add 1 or 2 below the bed and keep the rest of the current system in place. Has anyone done this? Any ideas, especially pics, very much appreciated!

[GOUSC]

I’m sure others will chime in. IMO I would not add 2 more batteries until you find out the issue with your current batteries as they should last longer than thru the night.

1. Are the batteries full charged by your converter? I’ve read that sometimes the factory converter doesn’t switch to the lithium profile automatically.
2. Check your fuse box to see if the converter fuse has tripped. I had an issue where this was the issue (converter wasn’t charging the batteries)
3. Were your batteries faulty when delivered.
4. Is solar working properly?

I would hate for you to add 2 more batteries if there is some other issue causing the problem

[Troubadour]

Charger and solar working fine, I was at 13.1v when I parked. I think the culprits are my Starlink, which I found draws almost 1 amp, along with my inverter which I had left on. I’ll be doing more checking on this, but still would like additional battery capacity as I intend to do more boondocking. Solar is not so critical as I have a portable generator to top off batteries as needed.

[TitusNW]

We took delivery of our trailer in November of 2021 and had a similar 'wake-up call' regarding power use. My phrase was "This thing is just a lawn ornament!" We had lead-acid batteries and switched to lithiums. Your Starlink uses 120-150 watts. That is 1 amp at 120v... That would be ~10 amps at 13v. Your refrigerator pulls ~4-5 amps and in winter when the temps are between 20-40° our furnace cycles every 10 minutes to keep the interior at 60-65°, so it's using ~5 amps. It all adds up. We have 2 ea 100amp lithiums and regularly find ourselves down 60 amps (30%) after 12 hours overnight. If we're stationary it takes the generator a couple of hours to recharge or if we're moving about the same time with the 40 amp DC-DC charger.


Steve

[jeffmc306]

Troubadour, the answer may be your batteries are not fully charged at 13.1V

According to a chart I found for Battle Born batteries, 13.1 is just 40% charged. You might want to look into that, perhaps you have a weak charger/converter or as others suggested it’s not set to Lithium profile.

Good luck!

[JeffKim]

If you're going to be running Starlink a lot and plan on boondocking, then I don't think two batteries will cut it (assuming they are being charged properly) unless you run the generator a lot. We went with four with 700W solar (no generator) and get a week or so without worrying much about charging with judicious use of Starlink. I don't think we would get very far with just two with similar loads as your spanking new camper.

If you do go with four, and want to keep two in the front, I think it gets tricky with a split bank or two banks keeping everything balanced, also adding separate monitoring, fusing, and switching (but I defer to others here who know more about this). It might be a lot easier to move them all into a hatch or under the bed so they are one bank.

[gypsydad]

Following...power usage important when boondocking...turn off what you really don't need. Set furnace to 55-60 at night and use down blankets if camping in cold weather. Can't help you with Starlink use, but everything adds up, as you know.

[Taco Joe]

I currently have 500Ah of lithium and 480 watts of solar on my 23FB. I turn off Starlink when I've finished with the internet for the night. The inverter is also a fairly large draw, so I keep it off unless I anticipate sunny days. You could search for 'starlink 12 volt conversion' on the internet, where you can eliminate the 110 volt input and run on 12 volts. There are parts available, you tube videos, etc. I plan on doing that this summer.

I also have a dual input router and use the hotspot instead of the starlink when I get a good signal and have plenty of minutes available.

I can squeeze 200aH more battery under the bed and 2 more 50 watt panels on the roof and plan to do so. I also added a DC to DC charger from my TV to Airstream. Once I max out the solar and batteries, I plan to upgrade to a 3000 watt inverter and soft start, and will be able to run the air conditioner for a few hours when needed.

[Life is a Highway]

Pulled into a Cracker Barrel at 5 pm set up the StarLink
ran the Ac for 15 minutes to take the edge off. So StarLink was on all night wife used the microwave and Keurig coffee maker , Apple TV running computers charging phones charging furnace all night at 64 lights the Victron was on Cerbo on water pump for showers and a floor fan running. From 5 pm till 10 Am we pretty much killed one of 2 - 270 Game Changer Battle Borns

I just wanted to see how much it would consume. I did not play it conservative or save anything. But I did learn in the future what needs to go off so as to not consume unnecessary watts

We had the fridge on gas as our 2021 will draw a lot on elec when not plugged in

[fran&frank]

If you going to put 1 or 2 below the bed it will simplify your wiring to put them all below your bed. Use the old battery box for storing levelers and wheel chocks.--Frank

[gypsydad]

How many folks here with Starlink, set it up every time they camp? (Crackerbarrel for a night, comment above comes to mind.) I only set up my Weboost signal booster when I get down to 2 bars or less, and when we set up camp for a few days or more in remote low cell signal situations. Rest of the time while traveling if I can get 3 bars or more, using my phone as a "Hotspot" for my computer access or watching TV, works for us. I don't have to work anymore, so high data transfer not needed. Our ATT unlimited data plan works for us...not ever had a "throttling" of data issue...YMMV

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by Troubadour

I just took delivery of a 24 27FBQ with solar and lithium batteries. Current setup (2 100 amp batteries) won’t even last the night before going below 11v. I’d like to add 1 or 2 more lithium batteries in the simplest manner possible.

I want to keep current batteries in the current box and add 1 or 2 below the bed and keep the rest of the current system in place. Has anyone done this? Any ideas, especially pics, very much appreciated!

Don’t keep batteries outside if adding inside, ie, relocate the batteries all inside, in a single battery bank.

Two 100A batteries should last you longer than overnight, unless you either have issues with the batteries, or, are trying to push the envelope on what you can do (ie, running AC on batteries would take a lot more batteries and other stuff done to be able to try such).

[GOUSC]

I guess I committed the error in my first response by not asking what your amp hour usage is. After reading everyone else’s response, seems to me you need to figure out what your power usage is and then build your system to match YOUR actual use.

Once you get your batteries fully charged, if you have a shunt, you can measure the actual usage from your lithium batteries to see how much power you need to supply every day for your needs.

The good news is you have more options today to build your system the way you need it than even a few years ago. You also have a generator as a back up while you’re Boondocking to make sure you don’t completely run out of power while you are doing this test. I would take the time to do this and various boondocking situations to make sure you get the system right when you finally decide to move forward.

You have the option of adding more batteries, adding more solar, adding a portable lithium battery like a Jackery or goal zero as a supplement, or just sticking with your generator. I know people who just use their goal zero to power their Starlink and stay away from the using the converter. Their 200 AH lithium is more than enough to handle their other 12V uses. That fits their situation but may not work for you.

Good luck in your tests and let us know how it turns out.

[Troubadour]

thanks for all of the replies....

* I ordered a Victron smart shank and will install next few days
* Boondocked again with
- starlink off
- tv off
- fridge on 'night' function
- furnace running, but very little
- had 12.9 volts in the morning

really looking forward to installing the smart shank to clearly identify the elec hogs, will hold off new battery project until thats fully resolved

thanks again for all the tips

[ASWinos]

PSA - I have two 100 AHr BB batteries.
Fully charged = 13.65 VDC as measured by my Victron smart shunt.