10 inch vs 12 Inch 12 volt Led acid Battery, What's the Difference?

[Midnight Rider]

What are your current battery stated capacity? Whatever you have now...did that work? If you replace with same amp hours, but with Lithium, you will have 2x your old setup.

Installing DC-to-DC isn't hard...just time consuming. PLUS a lot of work under your truck and running cable from kingpin to inside battery compartment.

When I did my DC-to-DC, I used 4AWG cable for the 50 amp Victron Orion XS.

Thanks for the offer OC! I do appreciate it.
i want to out and about before you get back. It’s cold here but no snow to speak of. I am getting Andy and ready to roll out.
ill get this wiring figured out. Ya’ll will get me through it.
its the buss bar stuff that confuses me? I understand the red and black coming from the corner of the bay , its the rest of stuff I have to get figured out?

thanks again.

 

[Midnight Rider]

It does appear from the pictures that there are (2) positive and (2) negatives that you will attach to the new battery that are feeding the rig. When you disconnect the batteries and pull them out along with the (2) jumpers on top of the batteries, there looks like there will be (2) negative cables and (2) positive cables left in the rig. When placing the new battery in you will combine the (2) positives onto the positive terminal and the (2) negatives onto the negative terminal of the new battery and you will be in business.

Regards,

So I will have three cables hooked to the terminals. The two red and black coming out from corner of battery bay and the red and black coming from the buss bar. All the rest I won’t need.
I’ll get in and get a good look tomorrow As it’s all unhooked for winter.
thanks for all your help.

 

[BryanValRox]

Tell ya what....

We get home from our 4.5 month trip in the middle of May. I'd be happy to come over and help you with this wiring project.

Jim, what a great offer!

Rider, now how could you refuse an offer like that! OC will have your electrical system looking as good as his in no time!

Get some of the suds on ice for him, for when the project is done of course 🤣

 

[BryanValRox]

Thanks for the offer OC! I do appreciate it.
i want to out and about before you get back. It’s cold here but no snow to speak of. I am getting Andy and ready to roll out.
ill get this wiring figured out. Ya’ll will get me through it.
its the buss bar stuff that confuses me? I understand the red and black coming from the corner of the bay , its the rest of stuff I have to get figured out?

thanks again.

Rider, it might be helpful for the group to assist you by applying some”tape tags” with numbers on them to your main wires. Then take some wide field of view pictures for posting. That way folks can respond with a number to you that would provide a more definitive identifier for direction on what to do with a given cable.

Just a thought!

 

[M and E]

Tell ya what....

We get home from our 4.5 month trip in the middle of May. I'd be happy to come over and help you with this wiring project.

Kudos and applause to you!! Funny how shared interests in RVs, trucks, motorcycles build generosity and community. I'm the same way and love helping others. I'm not a "volunteering" guy (like soup kitchen, or food bank stuff...not my thing) but when I can help another individual, I will.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

This is my current configuration. What do I remove? maybe show me what yours looks like hooked up on one battery and I will copy it?

It would be great just having one big battery!

Here is how I see your new setup. I don't think you have an inverter, so I didn't put one in here. This means you will need some new cables and 2 Blue Seas busbars. The wiring you show is a mess from the dealer. Alliance doesn't hook up batteries, unless you have their "super solar package"...which come with Lithium battery(s). The victron shunt is optional, IF you buy batteries that have remote (bluetooth) connection to see their charge rate.

** Note...once you move to Lithium, your battery level indicator will no longer show real power level, due to Lithium holding a >12v charge all the way down to ~10% battery life.

 

[Midnight Rider]

Here is how I see your new setup. I don't think you have an inverter, so I didn't put one in here. This means you will need some new cables and 2 Blue Seas busbars. The wiring you show is a mess from the dealer. Alliance doesn't hook up batteries, unless you have their "super solar package"...which come with Lithium battery(s). The victron shunt is optional, IF you buy batteries that have remote (bluetooth) connection to see their charge rate.

** Note...once you move to Lithium, your battery level indicator will no longer show real power level, due to Lithium holding a >12v charge all the way down to ~10% battery life.

View attachment 4679

I’m overwhelmed 🥴🥴🥴🥴
not sure this is in my wheelhouse?
i Do appreciate the diagram, just don’t know what to do with it.😵‍💫

 

[Midnight Rider]

Question?
Why can’t I just buy two lithium batteries with standard posts, one on each side Like pictured below?
Drop them in the Battery box and hook them back up just like my led acid batteries are/where hooked up?
Then I flip switch on the converter box inside by the fuses to “LI” and the solar controller to lithium charging?
Shouldn’t I be all set at that point? What am I missing?
Can’t the lithium batteries be hooked up exactly like the LA Batteries?
thanks for all the help, just trying to lock this down!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Question?
Why can’t I just buy two lithium batteries with standard posts, one on each side Like pictured below?
Drop them in the Battery box and hook them back up just like my led acid batteries are/where hooked up?
Then I flip switch on the converter box inside by the fuses to “LI” and the solar controller to lithium charging?
Shouldn’t I be all set at that point? What am I missing?
Can’t the lithium batteries be hooked up exactly like the LA Batteries?
thanks for all the help, just trying to lock this down!

You can 100% do that. I was under the impression you were looking to clean up the mess of wires you have now and make it cleaner with some busbars.

Note...Once you change to lithium, your 4 LED battery gauge is worthless. Lithium will hold a higher voltage down to about 10% of battery remaining. You will see 4 LED showing 100% charge, until it is waaaay too late. You need to install a battery shunt, which will show you the exact battery level and the amount of amps coming in & out of the battery.

The Victron shunt is by far the gold standard. The installation will take about 20 mins.

https://amzn.to/3WbUyfw

Then all you have to do is flip the converter to the Lithium profile as well as update your solar controller to correct profile for Lithium.

 

[Midnight Rider]

You can 100% do that. I was under the impression you were looking to clean up the mess of wires you have now and make it cleaner with some busbars.

Note...Once you change to lithium, your 4 LED battery gauge is worthless. Lithium will hold a higher voltage down to about 10% of battery remaining. You will see 4 LED showing 100% charge, until it is waaaay too late. You need to install a battery shunt, which will show you the exact battery level and the amount of amps coming in & out of the battery.

The Victron shunt is by far the gold standard. The installation will take about 20 mins.

https://amzn.to/3WbUyfw

Then all you have to do is flip the converter to the Lithium profile as well as update your solar controller to correct profile for Lithium.

I will do all that clean up eventually. The Bus bars look a lot cleaner, I just don’t understand how to do all that?

Maybe when we are both home I’ll take you up on that offer and you can show me what to do and how to clean it all up.

The batteries should not need a shunt to read all the charging stats as they are now blue toothed and you can see it all the phone?

I’m not sure how to redo it all, but I am sure how to re hook up the mess I have ?? 😂😂

I’ll get started with Lithium and do the clean up when we can get together.

Thanks again I’ll keep you posted!

Now I have to find a good price on some LI batteries!

Thanks again for everyone assistance.

Any tips are helpful!

 

[2 Allies]

Rider,

Here is a lithium swap video by Jared Gillis. Gives you some ideas.

Enjoy,

 

[Midnight Rider]

Rider,

Here is a lithium swap video by Jared Gillis. Gives you some ideas.

Enjoy,

Rider,

Here is a lithium swap video by Jared Gillis. Gives you some ideas.

Enjoy,

Thanks that was very informative.

 

[Midnight Rider]

Question To the team,

Long story short, I can’t get inside my rig when batteries are pulled. The way my pole barn is structured for heavy snow load, I can open the door but I can’t get stairs down. That means I can’t reach the converter to flip the switch over to LI. prior to hooking up my new lithiums.

So my question is if I put lithiums in and the converter is set on LED ACID will the lithium batteries function to work my jacks so I can get my truck under the old girl and get her pulled out, then get stairs down then flip the switch LI?

If not I will have to put LA’s back in get her pulled out then switch over to lithium? Not a huge deal just a little more work.

So what say yee?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Question To the team,

Long story short, I can’t get inside my rig when batteries are pulled. The way my pole barn is structured for heavy snow load, I can open the door but I can’t get stairs down. That means I can’t reach the converter to flip the switch over to LI. prior to hooking up my new lithiums.

So my question is if I put lithiums in and the converter is set on LED ACID will the lithium batteries function to work my jacks so I can get my truck under the old girl and get her pulled out, then get stairs down then flip the switch LI?

If not I will have to put LA’s back in get her pulled out then switch over to lithium? Not a huge deal just a little more work.

So what say yee?

No problem... Without flipping converter to Lithium, your battery will only charge to ~85-90%. (which is PERFECTLY fine in storage) Once you get it out of the barn, then flip converter.

 

[BryanValRox]

Question To the team,

Long story short, I can’t get inside my rig when batteries are pulled. The way my pole barn is structured for heavy snow load, I can open the door but I can’t get stairs down. That means I can’t reach the converter to flip the switch over to LI. prior to hooking up my new lithiums.

So my question is if I put lithiums in and the converter is set on LED ACID will the lithium batteries function to work my jacks so I can get my truck under the old girl and get her pulled out, then get stairs down then flip the switch LI?

If not I will have to put LA’s back in get her pulled out then switch over to lithium? Not a huge deal just a little more work.

So what say yee?

Rider, as others have said, this won’t be problem. The converter would only output a charge voltage if you were plugged into shore power. Additionally, if it was charging the output rate would be lower and just not result in a fully charged battery. Don’t forget the solar controller.

I would also recommend (no real reason, just my OCD I guess) to flip the switch on the converter before applying shore power to it. Likely isn’t a issue to do it while plugged in, I am just not to keen on the voltage increase/charger profile change while in operation.

 

[M and E]

I would also recommend (no real reason, just my OCD I guess) to flip the switch on the converter before applying shore power to it.

I’m not sure I could switch over the converter without shore power. Mine has a momentary contact switch that I have to press and release until the indicator switches to the color indicating the correct battery type. I believe it requires shore power to do that. Don’t know… question not an assertion.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I’m not sure I could switch over the converter without shore power. Mine has a momentary contact switch that I have to press and release until the indicator switches to the color indicating the correct battery type. I believe it requires shore power to do that. Don’t know… question not an assertion.

Just install the new battery(s) and plug in with everything the same. Once you pull RV out of storage, move solar and converter to lithium profiles. Trust me...all will be fine.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

....I am just not to keen on the voltage increase/charger profile change while in operation.

Voltage increased all day long to the solar controller.

 

[BryanValRox]

I’m not sure I could switch over the converter without shore power. Mine has a momentary contact switch that I have to press and release until the indicator switches to the color indicating the correct battery type. I believe it requires shore power to do that. Don’t know… question not an assertion.

Mike, you have a newer style of converter box. I agree that yours would require shore power.

 

[BryanValRox]

Voltage increased all day long to the solar controller.

It sure does, but I was offering my personal caution against changing from one charge profile to a higher one while in operation. I also realize that chargers have different profiles that they cycle thought during the normal charge cycles As I also stated, it likely won’t be a problem. I was just offering what I would do if it was me.