Lithium battery option now available for Camp-Inns!

A bunch of scary good reasons to either really do your homework (if you are attempting a DIY LiFePO4) or to let CI handle it all, either as new build or retrofit.

The article's visual format is a bit of a dog's breakfast, but it does also reflect what a dog's breakfast the direct-from-China LiFEPO4 market is (as enticing as some of the pricing may be) and how many ways you could end up with 30lb paperweight and no consumer protection recourse by setting out on your own down the wrong path:

Don't Get Scammed Buying LiFePO4 - Marine How To

Will Prowse routinely speaks to many of these types of quality inadequacies (or outright fraud) in his easy-to-understand-and-follow videos, and even in a test of what initially appears to be a high quality Chinese-built LiFePO4, he ultimately is forced to give it a fail:



Short of cutting one open like these guys have done there is no way the average consumer can know what they are getting. And even then you may not be able to tell without all the testing apparatus. However, most of as would be able to recognize concrete blocks and spray foam inserted into the cases as a poor way to increase Ah. Watch and be glad it's not you.

 

Might be a good time to get the info on local distributor we can get the same LiOn as CI puts in...

And Cary, where would you suggest mounting tge TriMetric on a DIY battery upgrade? Least scary drilling of holes in wood desired...

 

I did the lithium conversation a while ago. There were some headaches, but mostly self inflicted. Especially since I did this in parallel with CI developing their Lithium offering. My setup (and in answer to your question on drilling): I have

the same 110Ah LiPo4 battery that CI offers.
CTEK option D250SE controller (the older model doesn't have a Lithium charging profile).

Victron Smart Shunt. Easy install, no drilling. No gauge mounted. Controlled by the Victron Connect Mobile App.
Victron IP65 15A charger. Also controlled by the Victron Connect Mobile App.

I chose the Victron IP65 over the Genius brand offered by CI because it charges at up to 15A versus 10A for the Genius. More importantly, I already had the IP65!

I chose the Smart Shunt because I didn't want to drill holes and mount a gauge. The gauge would have been mounted where the Trimetric goes.

I like having the two Victron components because you can monitor charging and battery condition from one app. The app Provides lots of data.

I did the installation myself. I am reasonably mechanically competent. It wasn't terrible difficult to do. I did have to make a few calls to Cary and Craig along the way, which was helpful. The problems I did have were unrelated to the conversion installation. It was actually quite fun because I learned a lot about the trailer and batteries.

I am also running a Dometic refrigerator, so ample electrical capacity has been important to me. Prior to getting the Dometic, I had a 100 watt Renogy suitcase panel. When I got the Dometic I upgraded to the 200 watt Renogy suitcase. I also have a 2000 watt Yamaha inverter. I've used the Yamaha for running the AC when boon docking and supplemental charging when I had a lead acid battery.

Last summer I took a 15K mile road trip from home (SF Bay Area) to the Arctic Ocean via the Dempster Highway and then across Canada to Nova Scotia and back home. I came to realize with the 110Ah LiPo4 battery I need to carry solar panels. The CTek charges at up to 20A when connected to the vehicle. The Victron IP65 charges at 15A. The Dometic draws about 13A every 24 hours. So I use maybe 15A per day. With the 110Ah battery I can easily go 5 days without any charging. Running either the Ctek (driving or car running) or the Victron for a couple hours gives me 30Ah or more (in Absorption mode). So the whole notion of needing solar panels is obsolete for me.

I should add I am a long time CI owner. Bought a 560 in 2011 (#425?). In 2020 I replaced my 560 with a new one (#9xx?). I actually sold my 2011 560 on this forum (in about 5 hours!). I am a long time lurker on this forum.

 

that’s exactly what I did - didn’t consider sourcing my battery on my own “research” for even a second

 

Great info, and many thanks for sharing more.

I'm copying your Victron solution...parts on order.

Your point David about having enough capacity to last 4-5 days even without solar augment, and being able to recharge so much by just driving down the road by alternator alone was the key, for cloudy days. Plus a litle genny in the galley on long trips.

More to follow...