Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-07-2022, 10:20 PM   #1
Sid
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Parker
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #31594
Question Doubt about Solar Panels and the Lithium Battery

Hi,

We just bought our first Montana. 2022 Montana HC 335BH.

It came with a solar panel and a lithium battery. We had other trailers in the past, but never with this setup. The Solar controller is a Victron MPPT 75 / 15.

While keeping at the storage, should I turn the battery Off ? I m leaving On during the summer because the panels keeping the battery charged.

And, as I live in Colorado, should I remove this lithium battery from the trailer during the winter?

Thanks for your support.

Sid
2022 Montana HC 335BH
2017 F-350 Lariat
 
Sid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 07:12 AM   #2
artfuldodger
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #10933
Yes I would leave the trailer without power in storage and definitely take the lithium batt home to heat. Lithium doesn,t do well in sub freezing temps and should never be charged below 32°.
__________________
Gayle and John Devall
2017 Legacy 3720 IS and Disc brakes
1120 watts solar panels and 300 AH lithium batteries
2011 Ford f350 srw long box Lariat with B&W Patriot hitch. Residential Fridge.
artfuldodger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 07:19 AM   #3
artfuldodger
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #10933
I forgot to wish you a warm welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Monty! Check out YouTube to learn how to maintain lithium batts as they are more finicky than lead acid or AGMs.
__________________
Gayle and John Devall
2017 Legacy 3720 IS and Disc brakes
1120 watts solar panels and 300 AH lithium batteries
2011 Ford f350 srw long box Lariat with B&W Patriot hitch. Residential Fridge.
artfuldodger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 10:53 AM   #4
Sid
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Parker
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #31594
Quote:
Originally Posted by artfuldodger View Post
I forgot to wish you a warm welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Monty! Check out YouTube to learn how to maintain lithium batts as they are more finicky than lead acid or AGMs.
Thanks. Everything is new for me here. Lots of valuable information!
Sid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 11:48 AM   #5
scottz
Site Team
 
scottz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 2,038
M.O.C. #19755
I also live in Colorado. In the winter, I keep my trailer plugged in (inside, but unheated storage) but I switch off the battery disconnect (my install) so the batteries are not charging all winter. I do not remove them. No issues yet after two winters with lithium batteries. I just have to remember to turn the switch back on before trying to move the slides or jacks; the converter does not have the juice to do it.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL Legacy
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
scottz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 02:57 PM   #6
Sid
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Parker
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #31594
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz View Post
I also live in Colorado. In the winter, I keep my trailer plugged in (inside, but unheated storage) but I switch off the battery disconnect (my install) so the batteries are not charging all winter. I do not remove them. No issues yet after two winters with lithium batteries. I just have to remember to turn the switch back on before trying to move the slides or jacks; the converter does not have the juice to do it.
Thanks Scott.

I have to leave my trailer outside. My concern is if I switch off the battery, and the solar panels keep charging it, the battery could be dead soon by overcharging as it will not have a minimum source to discharged it (like the smoke detectors...).
Sid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 03:24 PM   #7
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,933
M.O.C. #24086
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sid View Post
Thanks Scott.

I have to leave my trailer outside. My concern is if I switch off the battery, and the solar panels keep charging it, the battery could be dead soon by overcharging as it will not have a minimum source to discharged it (like the smoke detectors...).
Your MPPT controls the charging of the battery from the solar panels.
No worries about over charging as long as the MPPT is setup correctly.
HOWEVER...
Lithium batteries do not like to be charged in FREEZEING temperatures..

Here is a very good article about it

How to find happiness with lithium batteries
https://www.solacity.com/how-to-keep...tteries-happy/

If you do any boondocking at all I would add more batteries, panels and upgrade the MPPT to a 100/50 or better depending on how many panels you add.
Daryles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 03:38 PM   #8
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,190
M.O.C. #1920
We also live in Colorado. I left my batteries in and connected. Hit -12 over the winter without issue. I have it plugged into my 50 amp, but 15 amp will be fine. Lithium batteries aren’t damaged by the cold, they just don’t charge below freezing. If they’re Battleborn’s, they should have internal heaters.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames plus Meg - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar+ Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 03:45 PM   #9
Sid
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Parker
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #31594
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles View Post
Your MPPT controls the charging of the battery from the solar panels.
No worries about over charging as long as the MPPT is setup correctly.
HOWEVER...
Lithium batteries do not like to be charged in FREEZEING temperatures..

Here is a very good article about it

How to find happiness with lithium batteries
https://www.solacity.com/how-to-keep...tteries-happy/

If you do any boondocking at all I would add more batteries, panels and upgrade the MPPT to a 100/50 or better depending on how many panels you add.
Thanks for your valuable information. I am more confident now about the solar panels and lithium batteries.
Sid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2022, 10:15 PM   #10
PNW Fireguy
Montana Master
 
PNW Fireguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,523
M.O.C. #18081
Ok just a short add:
1. All drop in LiFePO4 batteries sold in the US have a BMS. The BMS will not allow over charging by design.
2. Check your specific battery specs but many LiFePO4 drop ins allow discharging well below freezing.
3. When temps are mentioned for charging or discharging we are talking about the physical cells within the battery case not ambient temps.
4. Again check your specific battery specs but just about every BMS on the market (minus gen1 Chins) has low temp cutout functionality.
PNW Fireguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2022, 06:53 AM   #11
artfuldodger
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #10933
There are others that do not have low temp functionality on the low price end such as Amperetime. I bought them and learned this after installation. Luckily my Solar Controller monitors batt temp and shuts down charging at 32°.The point is OP, is that lithium batts require more thought than lead acid or AGM.
__________________
Gayle and John Devall
2017 Legacy 3720 IS and Disc brakes
1120 watts solar panels and 300 AH lithium batteries
2011 Ford f350 srw long box Lariat with B&W Patriot hitch. Residential Fridge.
artfuldodger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2022, 03:57 PM   #12
Sid
New Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Parker
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #31594
Thanks again for the info.
Sid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2022, 05:00 PM   #13
Garymyro
Established Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #19408
I Live in Alberta where the temps get to -30 and sometimes colder in the winter. I have 2 lithium batteries in my 2020, 3120 Montana with solar and I leave them on with the main power to the trailer off. They survived 2 winters just fine. I do not take them out and have 2 fully charged batteries in spring when I go out.
Garymyro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2022, 06:04 PM   #14
Foldbak
Montana Master
 
Foldbak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Shingle Springs
Posts: 2,660
M.O.C. #30417
Welcome to the MOC Sid
__________________
Tony & Donna & the best dog ever, Murphy.
2022 Montana HC, 295RL, 720 watts Solar, Onan 3600 LPG, 2K inverter, 200AH Lithium. 2020 GMC Denali 2500 6.6 Duramax, Demco 21K Auto Slide
Foldbak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2022, 06:03 PM   #15
artfuldodger
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 475
M.O.C. #10933
Garymyro, not to hijack the post but perhaps your battery brand has included a BMS with cold temp monitoring and shut down. Without that feature all the experts say do not charge below freezing. Most lithiums do have that.
__________________
Gayle and John Devall
2017 Legacy 3720 IS and Disc brakes
1120 watts solar panels and 300 AH lithium batteries
2011 Ford f350 srw long box Lariat with B&W Patriot hitch. Residential Fridge.
artfuldodger is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
lithium batteries, solar panels, victron

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.