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Old 01-13-2025, 10:07 AM   #1
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Lithium upgrade 2015 Dutch Star

Miraculously, my original AGM batteries are reaching their end of life at just over 9 years. My plan is to replace them with 3 of these: https://a.co/d/33OQxT1. Litime 12V 230Ah Bluetooth Lithium RV Battery, Low Temp Cutoff Protection, Built-in 200A BMS, Max 2944Wh.

I’ll also use the Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor and the Renogy 12V 40A DC to DC Battery Charger.

I’m pretty clear on how to install everything but I have one concern. I’ve read where people use the Litime batteries to start the generator without any issues. This makes sense to me since there would be 3 200A BMS’s in parallel for a theoretical 600As. Litime states the BMS in these batteries have 1000A surge capability. They also have a disclaimer about using their batteries as starting batteries.

Does anyone here have 1st hand experience with using Litime batteries to start the 10k QD generator? If so, have you had any issues?

I won’t be using solar so I’m counting on using the generator to recharge.

Thanks - Phil
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Old 01-14-2025, 07:13 AM   #2
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I didn’t think the generator started from the house batteries….so it may not matter?
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Old 01-14-2025, 07:45 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richpatty View Post
I didn’t think the generator started from the house batteries….so it may not matter?
I'm with Rich. I thought the genny was wired to the chassis batts.
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Old 01-14-2025, 09:47 AM   #4
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I went with the Epoch battery because it was heated. The low temp cutoff type means you have to turn the battery on again once the cutoff trips.
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Old 01-14-2025, 12:46 PM   #5
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I was in the "Doesn't the generator start off the coach batteries" camp until I realized that there isn't hard fast rule as I browsed various forum posts. I looked on Newgle for your model and year, but couldn't find anything. For my coach (2023 New Aire) there are instructions about how to start the generator even if the coach batteries are dead ("join the batteries by pressing BATTERY BOOST then start the generator, keep button held for 20 seconds after generator starts" as an example for my factory Lithium equipped rig) which implies my generator starts off the coach batteries.

For a cold generator start (like below -4 degrees F) there is even an added suggested step in the Newgle article of starting the rig first then the generator if you can...

Disconnect the house batteries and try to start the generator as a quick test for your specific year / model?

Best,
-Mark
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Old 01-14-2025, 05:56 PM   #6
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Along those lines, there's no law preventing you from swapping the generator to the chassis start batteries if you want.



I've considered putting ALL 12V loads on the chassis if going to 48V, makes a lot of sense because until the 48V is completely dead, it will have power to recharge the chassis to start the generator, and if it IS dead, then you wait for solar to get going.
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Old 01-15-2025, 12:31 PM   #7
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Just got this from Newmar:
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Old 01-15-2025, 12:49 PM   #8
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If your generator starts from the chassis batteries or you rewire them to, be sure to confirm that something is charging them. Many RV generators don't have charging systems because the RVs charging system handles that thru the BI-DIRECTIONAL isolation system. That is often disabled with DC to DC charger installs.
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Old 01-15-2025, 02:15 PM   #9
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It would seem to me - and someone mentioned this above - that if you do start the generator off the house batteries, that pressing the "Batt Boost" button would spread that relatively small load over a bunch of batteries.

I just switched to these about a month ago.

https://www.vatrerpower.com/products...es-2560w-power

I went with 2 of these self heating batteries so cold temps are less of an issue. Also caught these on a good Black Friday sale, so both batteries were just under $1100 delivered. Even the current price is not bad.

I also made very few changes to install these. I simply dropped them in the way the Wet Lead Acids were installed.

The only change I made was to my Inverter/Charger which I set to Absorb Charge at 14.6 and Float Charge at 13.8. (Those settings came from the Vatrer website).

My generator DOES start from the house batteries (the 2 new Vatrers), and I have an old QD 12.5 HDCAB with the 3LD1 Isuzu Diesel. The batteries don't even blink. Just a strong solid startup.

It's only been a month, but so far I'm very happy with this solution, and while it might not work for all, it's working for me.
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Old 01-15-2025, 02:20 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by richpatty View Post
I didn’t think the generator started from the house batteries….so it may not matter?
Most RVs use the house battery bank to start the genny. This is common as the genny itself does not have charging capability and needs power to run. So the design is for the house battery charger which gets power from the genny will support the genny while running.
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Old 01-15-2025, 02:22 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by pshoe View Post
Miraculously, my original AGM batteries are reaching their end of life at just over 9 years. My plan is to replace them with 3 of these: https://a.co/d/33OQxT1. Litime 12V 230Ah Bluetooth Lithium RV Battery, Low Temp Cutoff Protection, Built-in 200A BMS, Max 2944Wh.

I’ll also use the Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor and the Renogy 12V 40A DC to DC Battery Charger.

I’m pretty clear on how to install everything but I have one concern. I’ve read where people use the Litime batteries to start the generator without any issues. This makes sense to me since there would be 3 200A BMS’s in parallel for a theoretical 600As. Litime states the BMS in these batteries have 1000A surge capability. They also have a disclaimer about using their batteries as starting batteries.

Does anyone here have 1st hand experience with using Litime batteries to start the 10k QD generator? If so, have you had any issues?

I won’t be using solar so I’m counting on using the generator to recharge.

Thanks - Phil
Consider going with 2, 300 amp batteries. This will allow a 3rd for future expansion. Testing my 12K genny requires ~265 amps for a start in cold weather. 2 of the 200 or 300 amp batteries with 200 amp BMS do this with ease.
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Old 01-22-2025, 09:59 AM   #12
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Do not use as a cranking battery

According to the manufacturer of your battery:

"Do NOT use it as a starter battery. If need a starting battery, please consider LiTime 12V marine starting batteries series."

Also, the 1000A surge capacity is instaneous (i.e. a short) and is not the same as cold cranking amps which considers a longer duration.
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Old 01-22-2025, 10:23 AM   #13
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Thanks to everyone for the input. I’ve decided to go with 2 Vatrer 300ah self heating batteries that vtwinwilly used. I will install the DC to DC charger to protect the alternator and the shunt to monitor performance. I’ll let you all know how it works out. To be clear, the house batteries start the generator in our DS.
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Old 01-22-2025, 06:42 PM   #14
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Those 2 batteries will start the genny no problem. As you will have 2 batteries you need enough charger capacity to support both BMS and also support the heaters when needed. I would go with at least 60 amp DC-DC. To get best use of the generator for charging the batteries consider an inverter charger with a charge section of 100 to 150 amps. That will put you at a 6-to-4-hour charge rate. The shunt meter will get all confused whenever the heaters are used as it will record the heating current as charging current. Keep in mind the 60A DC-DC that the 60A is the rated output. Should alternator voltage drop it will draw even more current to compensate.
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