Community Forums

Mikenat · 01-23-2023, 07:10 AM

I am needing to replace the four 6v AGM house batteries. I am considering the advantage of longer discharge time for lithium and the lifecycle advantage. I believe the Vega is compatible. I will need a controller and four batteries. I am wondering if the AGS will still be functional. I have calculated a recharge runtime of 3 1/2 hours to recharge to 100%. So, I would appreciate any feedback from experience owners on lithium conversions.

buddy110 · 01-23-2023, 07:22 AM

In for info. I was under he impression that Vega has trouble communicating with lithium batts. Hopefully this thread will clarify things

CaptainYARRR · 01-23-2023, 08:10 AM

I've heard that too. I have a 16 so I can't comment on your year. I swapped over to 800 Ah over the weekend and it's fantastic. I haven't played with the AGS because there's no risk of them going flat overnight.

Persistent · 01-23-2023, 08:26 AM

Your question seems to be about a "Vega" and "AGS". Post exact make and model of the Vega for better advice.

brobox · 01-23-2023, 09:10 AM

It is my understanding the the Vega Touch is not capable of charging Lithum Batteries. On my coach, the VT is having a problem charging the AGM L16's but that seems to be a problem related to my coach.

757driver · 01-23-2023, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikenat

I am needing to replace the four 6v AGM house batteries. I am considering the advantage of longer discharge time for lithium and the lifecycle advantage. I believe the Vega is compatible. I will need a controller and four batteries. I am wondering if the AGS will still be functional. I have calculated a recharge runtime of 3 1/2 hours to recharge to 100%. So, I would appreciate any feedback from experience owners on lithium conversions.

Any Entegra with Vegatouch will not properly charge lithium batteries as is without adding Magnum remotes plugged into the Magnum bridge. With this setup you are venturing into somewhat unknown territory. I have heard it works but have not seen it myself.

With regards to AGS for low batteries the highest setting I have seen on Vegatouch is 12.5v (same as AGS on the Onan EC-30 panel) which at that voltage the lithium batteries may not have enough power left in them to reliably start the generator.

Mikenat · 01-24-2023, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persistent

Your question seems to be about a "Vega" and "AGS". Post exact make and model of the Vega for better advice.

Apologies we have a 19 Anthem.

Mikenat · 01-24-2023, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

It is my understanding the the Vega Touch is not capable of charging Lithum Batteries. On my coach, the VT is having a problem charging the AGM L16's but that seems to be a problem related to my coach.

There is a choice of AGM or Lithium in a Magnum so interesting…why not have a choice in the Vega?

Mikenat · 01-24-2023, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 757driver

Any Entegra with Vegatouch will not properly charge lithium batteries as is without adding Magnum remotes plugged into the Magnum bridge. With this setup you are venturing into somewhat unknown territory. I have heard it works but have not seen it myself.

With regards to AGS for low batteries the highest setting I have seen on Vegatouch is 12.5v (same as AGS on the Onan EC-30 panel) which at that voltage the lithium batteries may not have enough power left in them to reliably start the generator.

Here are photos of high 14.7 and low 11.6 settings to start and stop charging

Mikenat · 01-24-2023, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Persistent

Your question seems to be about a "Vega" and "AGS". Post exact make and model of the Vega for better advice.

2019 Anthem

Mikenat · 01-24-2023, 06:52 AM

What did you put in exactly? 800AH of which and what brand? Yes at that level why worry about AGS?? I was thinking when boondocking a daily exercise setting on the AGS would maintain the lithium.

brobox · 01-24-2023, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikenat

There is a choice of AGM or Lithium in a Magnum so interesting…why not have a choice in the Vega?

Totally agree! In the past year Vega Touch (FireFly) has had a problem with even charging the AGM batteries. https://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/rea...rs-590328.html
Mine still are not receiving a full charge, even though the VT says they are.

You brought up a good point. Does the VT in Custom have settings that would charge Lithium batteries? When I was shopping for a deep cycle charger to manually charge my L16's, many of the chargers stated they would charge Lithium, batteries, but the reviews said they did not. Very confusing.

brobox · 01-24-2023, 07:27 AM

Found an interesting read by none other that Relion, Entegra's battery of choice pertaining to charging Lithium batteries. https://relionbattery.com/resource-c...pport/charging
After watching the Relion video's, I don't see why the Vega Touch Custom settings would not work. As they were before, they would not have worked, but Firefly has hopefully fixed that. Would enjoy hearing Don's feedback.

As for the AGS, I like your idea of manual before needed.

voltdoc · 01-24-2023, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikenat

There is a choice of AGM or Lithium in a Magnum so interesting…why not have a choice in the Vega?

So the Vegatouch communicates with the Magnum (and vice versa) via RV-C which is a CAN based network protocol.

Magnum also has its own more basic network called MagNet that supports the Magnum Remote control, battery monitor kit and other accessories.

The interface for the Magnum that gateways MagNet to RV-C (and vice versa) is a little black box called an ME-RVC. The ME-RVC is built into the MSH models but is a separate box on the older models like my MS2812.

The RV-C spec fully supports a setting for Lithium batteries. Any newer Magnum remote or ME-RVC with an "L" designation supports Lithium settings as well.

So if RV-C supports Lithium and Magnum supports Lithium, what's left? Firefly. The Vegatouch software will need modification to add the Lithium choice and send the proper code to the ME-RVC over the RV-C.

Firefly may not have implemented the Lithium setting yet because the Magnum Lithium support may be fairly recent. What happens if a Lithium command is sent to an ME-RVC that is not an "L" version and doesn't know how to do that?

Also note it is the Remote or ME-RVC that remembers the configuration and constantly transmits the settings to the Inv/Charger over MagNet. Disconnecting the Remote/ME-RVC from MagNet will cause the Inv/Charger to revert to basic default settings.

There is another thread on the Entegra forum discussing bypassing the Vegatouch with a standard Magnum Remote which has more configuration capability than the Vegatouch has implemented.

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/con...ml#post6407535

This would disable configuring the Magnum from the Vegatouch but potentially still allow the Vegatouch to display status info.

I have an ME-RVC-L and ME-RC remote and have tested this on my MS2812 and it works. No I don't have a Vegatouch but I do have an equivalent and have proven the Magnum ME-RC remote will operate normally while an ME-RVC is also present on the MagNet. The ME-RVC continues to broadcast status info about the Magnum to the RV-C network. The configuration comes from the ME-RC Remote.

The question is if the behavior will be the same on the MSH models. The MSH manual states the Remote would take configuration precedence over the ME-RVC. Someone with that setup will need to test it.