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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 19:04:46 GMT 10
Wow thats a serious draw what batteries do you have Lithium or AGM ? we run a 2500w inverter for the coffee machine and I know how it sucks power from our 240ah's of AGM batteries which btw are fed by 500w of solar which take up lots of roof space even when SWMBO uses her hairdryer it knocks the stuffing out of them , this is in our motorhome not our V/Van , I have considered swapping the 200ah Li from the boat into the motorhome or van for trips away but it would mean many changes so have not bothered I believe to run Lithium batteries you need cabling to suit?? Cableing is not the problem charging is Brent Li suck the charge in but do not like the high voltages of most chargers common garden variety chargers will burn and die lots of info here www.enerdrive.com.au/ the beauty is the weight and the capacity
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Post by Mustang on Oct 19, 2016 20:11:59 GMT 10
Very interesting, I was under the impression the whole unit had to be set up for Lithium?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 20:17:43 GMT 10
Very interesting, I was under the impression the whole unit had to be set up for Lithium? It is just a battery the trick is managing the charging regime mostly it is considered best to charge to 85% as this gives a safety margin and keeps the cells happy , saying that they are much lighter and a side benefit is that say a 200ah Li is the equivalent of 400+ ah of AGM or 700ah of the old type wet cell's
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Post by atefooterz on Oct 19, 2016 23:08:04 GMT 10
Very interesting, I was under the impression the whole unit had to be set up for Lithium? It is just a battery the trick is managing the charging regime mostly it is considered best to charge to 85% as this gives a safety margin and keeps the cells happy , saying that they are much lighter and a side benefit is that say a 200ah Li is the equivalent of 400+ ah of AGM or 700ah of the old type wet cell's At $3000Li v $600 AGM the interesting comparison is weight & fuel saving over outlay.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2016 6:04:35 GMT 10
It is just a battery the trick is managing the charging regime mostly it is considered best to charge to 85% as this gives a safety margin and keeps the cells happy , saying that they are much lighter and a side benefit is that say a 200ah Li is the equivalent of 400+ ah of AGM or 700ah of the old type wet cell's At $3000Li v $600 AGM the interesting comparison is weight & fuel saving over outlay. I have to ask where do you buy 4x 100ah quality AGM batteries for $600 please ? and no one pays $3000 for a 200ah Li either more realistic price for 4 x 100ah agm's would be 1000-1200 and if you do some searching a 200ah Li is around $2000 but buy your own cells and make your own and you would be looking at $12-1500 this is for something much lighter much faster to recharge and would out last most of our lifetimes at estimated 15 year life in full time use here is a link to a 150ah complete plug and play unit for $1800 this would happily replace 3x100ah AGM in 1/3 of the space with 1/5 of the weight www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pro-Power-12V-150ah-Lithium-Ion-LiFePo4-Deep-Cycle-Battery-Solar-4WD-Caravan-/141862765800 compare this to 3x 100ah AGM'S $300+ each Research Winston cells and you may be surprised how easy and cheap Li can be and if you do not charge past mmmm 13.8v BMS is often not required
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 20, 2016 11:00:20 GMT 10
If I had the money lithium batteries would be the way to go by the looks of it but for now I have a new 130amh agm battery cost $265 then a smart charger $200 that will de-sulfur the batteries with what I have read if it is true I should get 5+ years out of the battery or batteries if I need two, $200 for the 200w solar panel and the 12volt generator about $400 by the time I build it. The plan is to use the van as much as we are able to and it will do mostly caravan parks but there are lots of interesting places in our big backyard that we also want to see where free camping is so that is the main reason to have it set up.Like solar and a lot of other things even agm batteries costs were much higher years ago the price should come down over time so we can't afford lithium batteries now but when this battery finally fails then the price could be more within our reach and a much better option
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2016 11:41:27 GMT 10
I guess it is different strokes for different folk , in the van we will be 100% caravan parks as it has no ensuite or amenities plus the van is a toy in some ways for the vintage car Our motorhome is a different thing entirely and has been in a van park or paid site for a grand total of 4 nights in 13 years and 240,000km , It is however set up for freedom camping with lots of solar and battery power a grey water tank etc , in fact the 4 nights we spent in a park we were on an unpowered site it has a 12v compressor fridge and a Lpg gas Truma heater so even in snow we are comfy . The Li battery was originally purchased for the boat to run the Minn Kota electric motor as AGM's added lots of weight but if and when the AGM's in the motorhome die they will be replaced with Li for this reason and the room thing as well It is all relative I guess an extra 2000 on top for Li in a 150,000 motorhome is nothing less than 1.5% but an extra 2000 in a 10,000 van like ours is a lot 20% in fact .
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Post by atefooterz on Oct 20, 2016 11:41:47 GMT 10
At $3000Li v $600 AGM the interesting comparison is weight & fuel saving over outlay. I have to ask where do you buy 4x 100ah quality AGM batteries for $600 please ? and no one pays $3000 for a 200ah Li either more realistic price for 4 x 100ah agm's would be 1000-1200 and if you do some searching a 200ah Li is around $2000 but buy your own cells and make your own and you would be looking at $12-1500 this is for something much lighter much faster to recharge and would out last most of our lifetimes at estimated 15 year life in full time use here is a link to a 150ah complete plug and play unit for $1800 this would happily replace 3x100ah AGM in 1/3 of the space with 1/5 of the weight www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pro-Power-12V-150ah-Lithium-Ion-LiFePo4-Deep-Cycle-Battery-Solar-4WD-Caravan-/141862765800 compare this to 3x 100ah AGM'S $300+ each Research Winston cells and you may be surprised how easy and cheap Li can be and if you do not charge past mmmm 13.8v BMS is often not required Thanks for the heads up, i just googled so posted based on top results shown.
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Post by Mustang on Oct 21, 2016 6:14:48 GMT 10
Just learnt a lot here. I had cast off Lithium as it would not be needed in my camping life , looks like I need to keep reading.
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 21, 2016 10:28:30 GMT 10
To tell the truth I didn't know about lithium batteries other than the ad for them as a house battery that bolted to a wall. until retired john suggested them and I looked them up if I had the money to purchase them it would be on the shopping list but at the moment they will have to go to the wish list. I wonder how many people are in the dark about lithium batteries as I was.
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Post by tasmillard on Oct 21, 2016 19:22:56 GMT 10
put me in the 'in the dark' list...
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Post by atefooterz on Oct 22, 2016 0:34:04 GMT 10
I looked at them when i first got my caravan, but glad i spent $26 so far on 3 LED lights & a pack of discounted AA and have spent the rest on travel. If i had the cash then would do it.
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 23, 2016 20:26:27 GMT 10
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Post by Mustang on Oct 24, 2016 20:01:11 GMT 10
Getting "over the hump"
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Post by tasmillard on Oct 25, 2016 9:51:27 GMT 10
Looking like a caravan now Bruce, great progress. I bet it feels good (and a sense of relief) getting this done.
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 25, 2016 10:11:56 GMT 10
I am peering at a slight downhill I think way in the distance I can see the steep descent but I will enjoy the easier jobs although the 12volt for battery and interior is going to be a little fiddly and time consuming. I am hoping to get the ends done Sunday then have lawns and yards to do as I have neglected them too long if I don.t get to them now I will need to get the chainsaw out for the weeds and hire a tractor and slasher. have fun Bruce
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 30, 2016 17:09:35 GMT 10
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Post by Mustang on Oct 30, 2016 17:23:12 GMT 10
Hi Bruce, Just visited your PB site again, puts a new slant on repairing walls without any furniture in place.
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 31, 2016 8:37:42 GMT 10
I think it is the easy way less wrong measuring and windows and door were cut when sheet was in place.That was a big day as I had to get windows and door back in before I packed up . What I am going to do for the cupboards upper and lower is pop rivet aluminum angles to wall to bolt them to and screw battens to ceiling rafters for upper cupboards fronts. If I had a big shed it may have had the cladding removed then put on last but working in driveway and all types of weather it has been a matter of working around things and finding other ways to do what has to get done. It keeps the mind sharp I suppose.
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Post by atefooterz on Oct 31, 2016 9:39:59 GMT 10
The reality of using cardboard templates to fit the interior walls should mean no real change fitting with or without exterior cladding? Access through the naked frame may help the internal fitout but not really critical?
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Post by 78466noM on Oct 31, 2016 23:05:04 GMT 10
I used the original walls there was damage Passenger side I estimated the missing bit right the drivers side I was out by about 4cm a pain but fixed now. fitting the furniture would have been easier as it would be make it set it in then screw it in though frame as original or use thin stainless nuts and bolts though frame but no problem now it is make furniture have it set up to screw aluminum angle that I will pop rivet to wall just a little more fiddling and being bent at odd angles to put it all together. hope your fridge situation has been sorted atefooterz
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Post by atefooterz on Nov 2, 2016 7:10:30 GMT 10
Still trying to source transport chain or possible return trip to grab replacement. No joy on repairers for old unit so far. Kay Cottee AO, wrote some great articles about preparing her round the world boat. The lesson from previous was much time spent with free cardboard, stanley knife, gaffa and beer. Most spend a reasonable time pondering, so using that time to do full size mock ups help sort/ confirm wishes or prevent situations unseen when just in a thought process, cupboard doors not being able to fully open or better ways to prioritize standing or sitting space, according to preference & end use. A bonus is having full size accurate templates to speed up the real deal. I saw i great homebuilt snail style unit where approx 50mm was clear finished and the centre of panels painted, a compromise with his wife who wanted paint & his love of joinery so all construction was visible to knife thickness accuracy looking very pro, while the main effect was that boring painted "clean and not dark thing", that gets the thumbs up nowadays.
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Post by 78466noM on Nov 2, 2016 9:40:21 GMT 10
I was thinking about your fridge and last night I remember reading the 240volt is an electric element from what I have read most are still available so if you can get someone to check for continuity should be able to do that though the active and neutral pins without pulling fridge out cost is unknown for part I don't think it is expensive( took a peek at ebay looks like most are around $100 and a few others at about $200 depending on model) .look on ebay caravans plus etc for price . I don't think it is gas in you fridge but ammonia if that was leaking you would know it. took a close look at it and had a thought though and I think to test for continuity will have to be done from behind as element connects to thermostat sorry for the confusion but not an electrician and didn't think it right though first up .
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Post by atefooterz on Nov 2, 2016 11:00:10 GMT 10
I was thinking about your fridge and last night I remember reading the 240volt is an electric element from what I have read most are still available so if you can get someone to check for continuity should be able to do that though the active and neutral pins without pulling fridge out cost is unknown for part I don't think it is expensive( took a peek at ebay looks like most are around $100 and a few others at about $200 depending on model) .look on ebay caravans plus etc for price . I don't think it is gas in you fridge but ammonia if that was leaking you would know it. Ahh thanks i did have an awefull ammonia issue but was convinced a cloudy ammonia bottle had leaked!
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Post by 78466noM on Nov 2, 2016 11:16:36 GMT 10
No worries at least now you know it is cactus for shore and not worth throwing good money at.
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