Bargain lithium battery.

[Wully]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 68739" data-quote="MERL" data-source="post: 1518043" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518043" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518043">MERL said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Without a poke around and taking measurements with a DC clamp meter it&#039;s hard to say what&#039;s going on Wully.<br /> The charger is supposed to deliver 22 Amps BUT according to the manual it goes into &#039;standby&#039; mode after ten hours. Not sure what standby mode entails but it could equate to the 10 Amps that was being displayed on the images of the App?<br /> You&#039;ll have to make a judgement as to whether your existing mains charger is up to your requirements and get it swapped out for a higher power model if need be.<br /> Someone will be along soon to tell you that the charger is intended for lead acid batteries and you shouldn&#039;t be using it for lithium.... don&#039;t worry it&#039;ll be fine. Set the battery type switch to the upper setting (PB) and don&#039;t leave it running for days on end once the batteries are charged and you&#039;ll be fine. <a href="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/150906/" target="_blank">View attachment 150906</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Cheers Merl done as you said. I’m just running a test put everything on in van to deplete the batteries down below 90% before I plug the mains back in. I’m just wondering these batteries hook up to the Bluetooth app individually and seem to be running as two separate entities on charging and discharging with a bit of electronics. I wonder if that 10amp on each battery would double up. Sorry if this sounds daft but I’m as thick as chit when it comes to this. Van had two 100amp gel batteries I just ran all cable as they were attached to these. I have a victron shunt and the BMV battery monitor should I connect this for a better reading of the overall state of batteries. I’ll get you a big pint when I see you next. Promise <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😁" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f601.png" title="Beaming face with smiling eyes :grin:" data-shortname=":grin:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /></div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 49915" data-quote="Wully" data-source="post: 1518047" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518047" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518047">Wully said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I wonder if that 10amp on each battery would double up. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Absolutely it would. So yes 20A output from the charger would get shared and each battery would receive 10A each and seems to align with the time taken to charge them both. <br /> The shunt is a pretty indispensable and this would have displayed the TOTAL net current and certainly helped you to see what was going on. I&#039;d recommend you get it installed. The shunt will do everything and more that the BMV will do so adding the BMV to the leisure batteries is probably not particularly useful. Probably install the BMV on the starter battery so you can keep your eye on it?</div>

 

[Nabsim]

<div class="bbWrapper">I would install the shunt and ignore whatever the batteries say if it was me</div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 49915" data-quote="Wully" data-source="post: 1517999" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1517999" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1517999">Wully said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Hi Merl here’s a photo of my vans charger. Looking at the electronic panel above my door it looks like there’s a sub menu for charging settings . I’ll take a photo of what they are at. I plugged it in yesterday at about 4pm it’s now at 97%<br /> <br /> <script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json"> { "lightbox_close": "Close", "lightbox_next": "Next", "lightbox_previous": "Previous", "lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen", "lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "lightbox_download": "Download", "lightbox_share": "Share", "lightbox_zoom": "Zoom", "lightbox_new_window": "New window", "lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar" } </script> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="IMG_0324.jpeg" data-src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0324-jpeg.150895/" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0324-jpeg.150895/" data-url="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0324-jpeg.150895/" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="IMG_0324.jpeg" title="IMG_0324.jpeg" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Just noticed that you have the later CBE charger which has 3 battery alternatives, you should use setting A for your lithiums.<br /> Also I thought I&#039;d mention that if you decide that you need to charge faster via the mains it&#039;s perfectly ok to retain the CBE charger and simply add an additional charger to the system working alongside the CBE. You don&#039;t necessarily have to rip the thing out and start from scratch with a mahoosive new charger.</div>

 

[Wully]

<div class="bbWrapper">I noticed that too merl and wasn’t sure which one was right so I set it in middle I’ll change it tomorrow. I also had this bad boy charger in the loft after you mentioned another charger I went amd found it. I’m a bit of a hoarder and bought this from another member who had it for a large truck. It’s a bit of a monster.<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="IMG_0351.jpeg" data-src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0351-jpeg.150917/" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0351-jpeg.150917/" data-url="" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="IMG_0351.jpeg" title="IMG_0351.jpeg" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" /> </div><div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="IMG_0350.jpeg" data-src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0350-jpeg.150918/" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://wildcamping.co.uk/attachments/img_0350-jpeg.150918/" data-url="" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="IMG_0350.jpeg" title="IMG_0350.jpeg" width="2000" height="1500" loading="lazy" /> </div></div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper">Took a look at the spec briefly and it has multiple battery settings including charging 16V lead acid batteries??? The chosen setting is selected by toggling a selection button and being a bench charger you may have to go through the selection process every time you use it and probably not convenient.</div>

 

[Wully]

<div class="bbWrapper">Changed the settings on the vans charger to A seems more stable and steady at 22 amps split between two batteries so showing 11 at each battery. Then I connected the big stand alone charger on its own on lithium setting it would only charge at 6amp at each battery. When I ran both at same time it brought the charge upto 15 amp at each battery. But this might all be down to the batteries being at 88 % charge and batteries themselves not allowing more at that high state.</div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 49915" data-quote="Wully" data-source="post: 1518297" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518297" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518297">Wully said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> But this might all be down to the batteries being at 88 % charge and batteries themselves not allowing more at that high state. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Yep, almost certainly what was happening. <br /> You&#039;re obviously a bit of a &#039;tronics egg spurt on the quiet<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /></div>

 

[Wully]

<div class="bbWrapper">Thanks for your help Merl it’s very much appreciated. I’m not great with elctrickery. I’m a lowly roofer my toolbag is full of different size hammers<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /><br /> <br /> All seems good for now that’s as much as I’m doing myself. I’m gonna pay a professional to do the other stuff thought I’d start with the battery upgrade as this vans a hungry monster. I’ve got the big Vitoman power pack with spare battery and 400 w fold out solar panels that should keep her hairdryer going for a day or two.</div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 49915" data-quote="Wully" data-source="post: 1518317" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518317" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518317">Wully said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I’m a lowly roofer my toolbag is full of different size hammers<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>We renovated our cottage ourselves including doing the roofs with Swithland slate. You&#039;ve probably never come across it because it&#039;s quite limited to the local area but It&#039;s installed with a diminishing lay and a large 3 slate plus 75mm overlap. The maths behind setting out the battens nearly did my bonce in. Completely baffling how the batten spacing would go down and then jump back up again... Bonkers</div>

 

[rugbyken]

<div class="bbWrapper">swithland slate is a real gem if you managed that yourself big respect , i did the leadwork on a convent in loughborough they bought an old boy out of retirement to supervise the job even he said he hadn’t seen slate the size of the bottom row they were about 4ft by 2 ft+ and weighed more than a paving slab , some rotten didn’t go back up and i was very carefull dressing the lead ,</div>

 

[Robmac]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 15631" data-quote="rugbyken" data-source="post: 1518411" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518411" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518411">rugbyken said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> swithland slate is a real gem if you managed that yourself big respect , <b>i did the leadwork on a convent in loughborough </b>they bought an old boy out of retirement to supervise the job even he said he hadn’t seen slate the size of the bottom row they were about 4ft by 2 ft+ and weighed more than a paving slab , some rotten didn’t go back up and i was very carefull dressing the lead , </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> You&#039;re a glutton for punishment Ken!</div>

 

[marchie]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 49915" data-quote="Wully" data-source="post: 1518317" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518317" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518317">Wully said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> Thanks for your help Merl it’s very much appreciated. I’m not great with elctrickery. I’m a lowly roofer my toolbag is full of different size hammers<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" alt="😉" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" title="Winking face :wink:" data-shortname=":wink:" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" /><br /> <br /> All seems good for now that’s as much as I’m doing myself. I’m gonna pay a professional to do the other stuff thought I’d start with the battery upgrade as this vans a hungry monster. I’ve got the big Vitoman power pack with spare battery and 400 w fold out solar panels that should keep her hairdryer going for a day or two. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>I&#039;m better than you, Wully; because I nothing about either electricity, *OR* roofing. It&#039;s called multi-skilled incompetence and takes years to learn ... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f923.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":ROFLMAO:" title="ROFL :ROFLMAO:" data-smilie="18"data-shortname=":ROFLMAO:" /> <br /> <br /> Steve</div>

 

[rugbyken]

<div class="bbWrapper">( <b>i did the leadwork on a convent in loughborough)<br /> You&#039;re a glutton for punishment Ken<br /> one of the nuns acted as clerk of the works climbing scaffold etc in her habit , i mentioned i’d been at school there she went quite when i mentioned sister mary davis , our old nemesis </b></div>

 

[MERL]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 15631" data-quote="rugbyken" data-source="post: 1518411" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518411" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518411">rugbyken said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> swithland slate is a real gem if you managed that yourself big respect , </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Oh yes. We did the whole renovation ourselves and I mean the whole lot apart from the external render, I&#039;d have done that too but the larger elevations were simply too large to get done in the same day by just one man and his wife and we didn&#039;t fancy a day joint so we got a team in for that but that was the ONLY thing we got help with. Four years of solid graft living in a mobile home on site but it was great fun. I&#039;ll post some pics later. But here&#039;s the close mitred hips on the separate outbuilding which we also did in Switzerland to match the house which we&#039;re currently converting into our new bungalow..... another load of graft!</div>

 

[rugbyken]

<div class="bbWrapper">i grew up in mountsorrel bike rides in the summer to swithland woods and braggy park back in the days when summer lasted forever, and of course no knowledge of the danger of the big open pits the slate had been quarried in now full of water</div>

 

[Robmac]

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 15631" data-quote="rugbyken" data-source="post: 1518445" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/goto/post?id=1518445" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" rel="nofollow" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-1518445">rugbyken said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> i grew up in mountsorrel bike rides in the summer to swithland woods and braggy park back in the days when summer lasted forever, and of course no knowledge of the danger of the big open pits the slate had been quarried in now full of water </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote><br /> Halcyon days Ken, I did much the same.</div>