Fitted new lithium battery

[Steve and Julie]

Our new 200ah lithium battery arrived this week so took out the lead acid battery was shocked when I took the clamps off as the negative was badly covered in white gunk so cleaned up the clamp . I googled what the gunk could be found out is is sulphur build up. I assume now I've got a lithium battery this won't happen again.
Next job is to change the setting on our Stirling B2 b to lithium then buy some solar panels to keep everything topped up.

 

[st3v3]

I'm no expert, but I don't think you've connected it properly.


Lol.

Lithium will be mine when my 2 x 230Ah lead expire

 

[Derekoak]

We can assure you that you will have no more problems with sulphation! The future may not be problem free.

 

[Trotter]

Lithium will be mine when my 2 x 230Ah lead expire

Ditto. Unless I expire first.

 

[Steve and Julie]

I'm no expert, but I don't think you've connected it properly.


Lol.

Lithium will be mine when my 2 x 230Ah lead expire

Yes wiring needs a little rejigging so I can fit it in the corner. Blimey I bet your batteries are some weight luckily you have the wagon to take it when you finally change over the weight saving for you will be massive our 200ah is lighter than the 110 lead acid it replaced

 

[Deleted member 86180]

We can assure you that you will have no more problems with sulphation! The future may not be problem free.

Could you expand on that Derek?

 

[st3v3]

weight saving for you will be massive

Yea, currently 120kg!

 

[wildebus]

Yea, currently 120kg!

can your 7.5t handle it?
120Kg is a bit lightweight anyway (my battery bank in the camper is over 200Kg of pure PbC power )

 

[trevskoda]

I hope they did not CHARGE too much for them, how long they last will be the ACID test.

 

[Derekoak]

Could you expand on that Derek?

That was a little tongue in cheek. There will be no more sulphur as lithium chemistry does not to my knowledge use sulphur.
It was what Steve and Julie said, that they were getting solar to "get everything topped up". The more I find out about lithium the more I realise that while lead likes being full and because it leaks energy all the time likes to be constantly topped up so it does not sulphate. Lithium prefers being half full and left alone when it is not being used , and likes cycling randomly in the middle range when being used. Like you were saying you try to switch off your solar when the battery is mid range and your camper is stored.
There is of course all the other things that damage lithium. Perhaps the Stirling b2b deals with some or all of them. Really lithium has great potential but brings new problems, if you fit and forget it does not last as long as it ought.

 

[Deleted member 86180]

That was a little tongue in cheek. There will be no more sulphur as lithium chemistry does not to my knowledge use sulphur.
It was what Steve and Julie said, that they were getting solar to "get everything topped up". The more I find out about lithium the more I realise that while lead likes being full and because it leaks energy all the time likes to be constantly topped up so it does not sulphate. Lithium prefers being half full and left alone when it is not being used , and likes cycling randomly in the middle range when being used. Like you were saying you try to switch off your solar when the battery is mid range and your camper is stored.
There is of course all the other things that damage lithium. Perhaps the Stirling b2b deals with some or all of them. Really lithium has great potential but brings new problems, if you fit and forget it does not last as long as it ought.

Ah I see, well I hope you get your system up and running with everything working as it should, because using a phone to disable the solar when not using the van is no chore compared to the constant battles I had with lead acid.

 

[Nabsim]

Ah I see, well I hope you get your system up and running with everything working as it should, because using a phone to disable the solar when not using the van is no chore compared to the constant battles I had with lead acid.

And I don’t run out like I did on lead acid

 

[Steve and Julie]

That was a little tongue in cheek. There will be no more sulphur as lithium chemistry does not to my knowledge use sulphur.
It was what Steve and Julie said, that they were getting solar to "get everything topped up". The more I find out about lithium the more I realise that while lead likes being full and because it leaks energy all the time likes to be constantly topped up so it does not sulphate. Lithium prefers being half full and left alone when it is not being used , and likes cycling randomly in the middle range when being used. Like you were saying you try to switch off your solar when the battery is mid range and your camper is stored.
There is of course all the other things that damage lithium. Perhaps the Stirling b2b deals with some or all of them. Really lithium has great potential but brings new problems, if you fit and forget it does not last as long as it ought.

Thanks for that I didn't realize that I would damage it by constantly charging when not in use I can turn the battery off by the Bluetooth app is that the best thing to do when not using the van and also should be able to turn off solar when I fit some any help greatly appreciated as would hate to damage the battery as were hoping it will out last us

 

[Derekoak]

Hi

Thanks for that I didn't realize that I would damage it by constantly charging when not in use I can turn the battery off by the Bluetooth app is that the best thing to do when not using the van and also should be able to turn off solar when I fit some any help greatly appreciated as would hate to damage the battery as were hoping it will out last us

I am only one step ahead of you as I am waiting for my Lithium to come from China, so Not knowing your system I cant say. If you read other lithium threads you will learn more. Others with longer experience can help more.
With my b2b I think I cannot disconnect it from the battery while it is connected to power. Although I could and should have a simple way to disconnect the alternator and the solar from the b2b.

 

[Steve and Julie]

I only found out when I was looking at the Bluetooth app that you can stop the battery accepting power and releasing power as when I first tried to test various power consumption nothing was working I panicked trying to figure out what I'd done wrong then found out battery was locked brilliant bit of kit I also ran the engine and was recieving charge from the sterling b2b then when I locked it the charge stopped so think I should be ok controlling when the battery receive charge

 

[trevskoda]

Ah I see, well I hope you get your system up and running with everything working as it should, because using a phone to disable the solar when not using the van is no chore compared to the constant battles I had with lead acid.

Why a battle with l acid, no understand.

 

[molly 2]

can your 7.5t handle it?
120Kg is a bit lightweight anyway (my battery bank in the camper is over 200Kg of pure PbC power )

Eck that would be most of my payload gone

 

[wildebus]

Eck that would be most of my payload gone

Yup, I've only got 1,000Kg left to play with once water filled up

 

[Derekoak]

I only found out when I was looking at the Bluetooth app that you can stop the battery accepting power and releasing power as when I first tried to test various power consumption nothing was working I panicked trying to figure out what I'd done wrong then found out battery was locked brilliant bit of kit I also ran the engine and was recieving charge from the sterling b2b then when I locked it the charge stopped so think I should be ok controlling when the battery receive charge

Great! Hopefully lithium will be a great improvement when we all know a little bit more. The app you are talking about came with your battery?

 

[Deleted member 86180]

Why a battle with l acid, no understand.

Must just be very unlucky Trevor, went through 4 of them in the last van and with this one, the single 100ah wasn’t fit for purpose, two new ones (200ah) struggled in winter. All good now though.