Quote:
Originally Posted by Scalf77
I know I can't give you a number that you could equate with doing that. It would be great if people were collecting data. -greg
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We just finished a project that will allow us to provide some empirical data in the future as we just replaced two 4D AGM house batteries (420 AH - 240 lbs.) with a single 200 AH - 60 lb. lithium bat. Over 18 yrs we've had two sets of 4D house batteries - the first set lasting 11 years (Lifeline) and the second lasting 7 (Full River). In this time we've spent over 1300 nights in the van, almost all boondocking, so we have a good idea of how those batteries performed. In 2020, with Scalf's assistance, we upgraded to a Kisea DMT1250 DC to DC charger and a Balmer battery monitor
We have zero room inside the van for the battery so the priority was to find a lithium that had a 4D form factor to mount on the existing under-side-door bracket and wiring. The only 4D LiFePO I could find was the 200 AH Renogy RBT200. I generally stopped buying the inexpensive stuff about 20 years ago but decided to take a chance with the Renogy since it checked all the other boxes for the project and was about the same $ as two more Lifeline AGM. I originally intended to buy a BattleBorn and then was very tempted by the Lithionics suggested in a previous post but there was no BB that would fit and the big bad boy Lithionics $4000+ tag ended that happy thought.
Dropping both batteries was a battle as any who've done it in their driveway can attest, but a couple hrs later they were both out. I then come to find that apparently, to some manufacturers, the 4D form factor is not an exact measurement as the Renogy was almost an inch deeper than the existing mounting bracket. So out come the sawzall and grinder and accommodations were made. Too bad y'all aren't going to get to see it because it was beautiful work I assure you
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So - here's my take on it: I replaced 240# of AGMs with 60# of lithium for effectively the same price, capacity and potentially a much longer life. The downside is it's an inexpensive battery mounted outside the van. I figure if we get 3-5 yrs out of it I can replace with something much better for the same, or less $ as bat tech improves. In the mean time we'll be guinea pigs for the lithium-outside-the-van debate. As a data point - we are not skiers so are generally only traveling through cold to get to warm.
Oh - one thing I really like is the built in Bluetooth connection to the BMS. They are starting to be pretty common and seems like a viable replacement to the stand alone bat monitor.