Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
So the old cables are two big for the posts on the lithiums?
Lithium Battery
- Thread starter Flyer32RLS
- Start date
George
Well-known member
Yes my cables had ⅜"/M10 ring terminals and the LiTime needed M8. Close but no cigar. The ring terminals I linked are also of much superior quality to the thin ones on the original cables
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
2 Allies
When you upgraded batteries did you have to change cables like George did below?
Yes my cables had ⅜"/M10 ring terminals and the LiTime needed M8. Close but no cigar. The ring terminals I linked are also of much superior quality to the thin ones on the original cables
George
Well-known member
To clarify... The two FLA batteries I replaced were in a plastic battery box. Both FLA batteries have 5/16" terminals. They were connected parallel inside the box and the dealer used ⅜" ring terminals. So I guess I didn't HAVE to change them. They obviously worked okay with miss-sized terminals. But I couldn't abide that. 🙃
The box has ⅜" feed thru terminals on it so the coach cables with ⅜" ring terminals worked fine there.
I did not use the battery box. I removed it and put in a ¾" plywood floor with an old piece of Formica underneath for water protection.
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
As long as cables fit over post it should work fine? Know soon enough?
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
You can see my current system. Standard nut style battery posts.
Attachments
George
Well-known member
I wouldn't say "As long as cables fit over post". You can probably get away with it but it'd be better if you're able to crimp on the correct size. Hydraulic Crimper , or Crimper or Hammer Type or use a vice like a Youtuber I saw doing yesterday 🙄 not.
Exactly the same Grp 24 batteries that I had. It looks like your dealer used the correct terminals inside the box. I suspect the coach cables from the battery box are ⅜" ring terminals, since they're connected to the feed thru's on the box..
I should have added that the main reason I didn't re-use the plastic battery box was that it was cracked and I'd already added a plumbers tape strap underneath it to hold up the FLA's.
One more — You won't need the vent hose anymore with Lithium(s). I wonder if Alliance still cuts the louvered hole in the front for it with a Super Solar Plus package? 🤔
Well, two — I realized I'll need some 6awg/#10 ring terminals for the busbar at some point. (later cable upgrade to 4awg) I should have bought the #10's in the first place and drilled them out to 5/16" or whatever other size I might need in the future. As long as they're wide enough. It's much harder to make a hole smaller.😉
Agree...no longer needed.
I put a 12v fan over the existing hole that is heat controlled. It will now come on automatically when the battery compartment gets too hot and will push out hot air.
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
thanks,
im leaving all my wiring as it is just putting in lithium. Are my batteries in tandem?
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
Got it!
just going to put them in just like the LA’s I am replacing.
hook it all up and smell for smoke? 🙈
Flyer32RLS
Well-known member
Installed the LiTime 100AH battery yesterday. Very easy. Pulled the electric breaker out and looked behind it. To my surprise the converter was a WFCO 9855 AD 55 amp converter. The solar MPPT 100/30 controller had a rotary switch on the bottom that went from 2 to 76 for lithium. Hooked it up and works like a champ. Started charging right away. Even without the shore power on under the cover, the battery was charging. Can't remember the wattage. It was pretty low 400 something but it charged it up fro0m the 534% when I installed to 89 by the time I left in about 30 minutes. Hope it work OK. Time will tell!
Happy Glamping!!
Happy Glamping!!
Midnight Rider
Prominent Member
Just got mine charged up today. I have a NORCO 10 so it’s a slow charge.
not quite ready to dewinterize, still cold to come.
looking forward to hook up. Love the blue tooth function, I’m excited about them.
thanks for the info. Keep it coming.
✌️
Flyer32RLS
Well-known member
Where are you located that it is still cold? In N Texas it supposed to be in the 90's the rest of the week.
Flyer32RLS
Well-known member
2 Allies, I found out I had a AFCO 9855 AD converter. i Googled it and found out the AD means auto detect. I changed the settings on the MPPT 100/30 Solar controller to lithium, plug back into shore power and it started charging immediately. Ny the time I left the RV it was at 95% and it was at 54% when I installed it. Stopped by yesterday to check on something else and it was at 100%. Love the BT!!
I bought my rig in Dec and had to fight the additional issue of parking a solar package in a dark warehouse. The batteries were drained, because of solar panels not having a breaker to shut them off....so batteries were drained....and I could not wake them up. So I had backed up and married to my 5th wheel hook up, but then jacks would not work. So luckily, I released my 5th wheel jaws and turned the truck around. Hooked my jumper cables to my batteries and that woke them up on a 28 degree day and charged them enough. I am not recommending this approach, but I am saying I survived it, nothing caught fire, nothing was damaged, and the trip was not delayed. I am offering this, as a caveman's approach...hell, I have insurance...LOL...did someone say "Camp Fire talk"?
2 Allies
Well-known member
RockDr896,
So you do not have a separate solar disconnect switch? Our 385fl came with a main battery disconnect and a separate solar disconnect. When I stored my unit in Sept with a 86% SOC on my 300ah lithium, I pulled it out 2 weeks ago and it was at 85% SOC. Do you have lead acid batteries?
So you do not have a separate solar disconnect switch? Our 385fl came with a main battery disconnect and a separate solar disconnect. When I stored my unit in Sept with a 86% SOC on my 300ah lithium, I pulled it out 2 weeks ago and it was at 85% SOC. Do you have lead acid batteries?