lithium ion charging

[Jamric]

Plan on traveling in cold weather, will charging from truck damage batteries if its below 32 degrees .

[Ram Montana High Country]

If the battery has a good BMS, it should protect the battery. What brand are you using? I'm thinking of moving mine to the basement for that reason.

[Jamric]

dakota lithium batteries

[mlh]

It may hurt your truck alternators. Lithium batteries can take a much higher amperage charge than your truck alternator can provide and burn up your alternator.
Lynwood

[Daryles]

Excellent article regarding lithium batteries.
As far as burning out your alternator, the most I have seen through the 7 way cable is 7A.

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

Charging lithium in cold weather is a big deal. I added two layers of 1" pink styrofoam board insulation to the entire battery compartment. I also installed battery heaters (holding tank heaters, wrapped around the batteries) for when we are camping in cold weather.

When you reach your overnight stop you will need to warm up the batteries before charging them.
Maybe a small 300W plug in heater In that compartment.
I'm currently using one of these due to the extreme cold weather

Wall Space Heater 350W&450W Remote Portable Electric Heater with Programmable Adjustable Thermostat, Overheat Protection, Precise LED Display, CSA Certification Safe Heater for Office Dorm Room https://a.co/d/8oCp7e3

[Jamric]

havn't worried about burning out alt, more worried of cold weather and charging them. Good idea of putting heat pad under them!

[Jamric]

thinking of adding tank heaters under the batteries , just leave them plugged into 12 volt

[Foldbak]

https://www.amazon.com/Facon-Holding...zcF9tdGY&psc=1

[Daryles]

Originally Posted by Jamric

thinking of adding tank heaters under the batteries , just leave them plugged into 12 volt

I would not put the tank heaters under the batteries. They are heavy and could damage/short out the heating pad. Here's a link to what I did.

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...90#post1255190

I still have the original FLA battery which can be used anytime. I have a 4 way switch to control which battery bank is active.

As for charging while going down the road I installed a DC-DC charger

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...hlight=charger

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Daryles

I would not put the tank heaters under the batteries. They are heavy and could damage/short out the heating pad.

My lithium's only weigh 24 lbs.

[Jamric]

does the solar system recharge batteries when traveling? if so should it be shut off in cold weather

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Jamric

does the solar system recharge batteries when traveling? if so should it be shut off in cold weather

Yes it does. Your batteries should have a low temp cutoff, meaning that they will stop charging at a set temp..


Question for Lynwod and Daryles. Should I be concerned about damaging my Alternator. I guess I could disable the charging through the BMS.


I was just reading the GMC forum on this subject. There's a 30 amp fuse that will prevent the alternator from overcharging. I've been pulling this rig with lithium for almost a year. No problems.

[Daryles]

Foldbak,
The MOST I have measured going through the 7 way cable is 7A. Batteries were at 40%.
I have an F350. It also has an 30A fuse in that charging circuit. Check your owners manual.

I have Victron 100/30 MPPT.
There is a low temperature cut off setting to prevent charging from the MPPT at low temperatures.

Back to the OP question...
If traveling at freezing temperatures you CAN disconnect the charge voltage coming through the 7 way cable by:
1. pulling the fuse in the truck
2. Removing the RED charging wire (coming from the 7 way cable) at the RED circuit breaker on the wall behind the batteries. You need to identify which one, there are 2 on the right Circuit breaker).

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Yes it does. Your batteries should have a low temp cutoff, meaning that they will stop charging at a set temp..


Question for Lynwod and Daryles. Should I be concerned about damaging my Alternator. I guess I could disable the charging through the BMS.


I was just reading the GMC forum on this subject. There's a 30 amp fuse that will prevent the alternator from overcharging. I've been pulling this rig with lithium for almost a year. No problems.

Tony if you are only truck charging your batteries via your seven way umbilical, then current trucks can only charge at a max of about 7 amps when connected.
With that said, since LiFePo4 batteries can indeed readily accept a very high charge rate, several of us are running DC to DC chargers to supply higher charge rate safely while also protecting our alternators. Daryles has a very good write write up on this. I charge my batteries at 40 amps when traveling.


Added: https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...light=charging

[Ernie B]

No problems w / lithiums for last 2 yrs w / 1 solar panel and turning off power except to batteries from solar. In Colorado.

[ep4me]

if you have and solar charge controller you will not burn up your alternator

[Jamric]

Going to move batteries to the heated storage area !