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12-27-2017, 01:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,162
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Lithium Battery Upgrade and Move Complete!
Except for carpeting the box the lithium upgrade and the move to the back end of the basement storage area is complete. The batteries are LifeBlue 300AH each for a total of 1200AH.
It was an extensive project to rewire the 12v from the front left factory battery area to the rear of the basement, but very worthwhile in the end.
The project was completed in several stages. 1. Move the vacuum outlet, water pump and water filter. 2. Redesign the passenger side water tank access to accommodate the water filter and water pump. 3. Build the battery box and wire/busbar enclosures. 4. Mount the busbars, switches and run the new 4/0 inverter cables and battery cables (not connected at this time). 5. Move day involved shutting off all power, hooking up the new inverter cables, cutting the 2 gauge 12v cable from the Big Boy and moving it to the busbar. Cutting the 1/0 from the BIM (battery isolation manager) and moving it to the busbar. Use one set of the old 3/0 inverter cables and extend them to the busbar to power the jacks, generator and the front Spartan PDC. 6. Connect the battery 2/0 cables and turn power back on. The final day was 8 hours from power off to back on.
Over the next few days the Midnite Solar controller was moved next to the batteries and the remote for it was wired to a spot above the entrance door.
Pros:
Removed over 500 lbs from the front axle.
More than doubled the usable AH from the stock 8 AGM battery installation.
New batteries weigh a lot less than the original flooded.
Consistent higher voltage than flooded.
Streamlined unbalanced battery charging and 12v draw.
Improved battery charging.
Shorter inverter cable runs.
Cons:
Increased up front cost.
Slight decrease in basement storage (once old battery space is reclaimed).
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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12-27-2017, 01:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 11,110
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Wow Don..... didn’t know you had that mod on your mind!
Guess you’re not planning on a trade anytime soon.....  
Gary
__________________
Gary and Dee, Zowie and Bowie (traveling cat sibs)
2019 Cornerstone 45B, X15-605hp, Imperial, Spartan K3,
2013 Honda CR-V toad, Demco Excali-Bar II,
Demco Baseplate, Demco Toad Light system, 73 de W5FI
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12-27-2017, 01:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary.Jones
Wow Don..... didn’t know you had that mod on your mind!
Guess you’re not planning on a trade anytime soon.....
Gary |
After all that work there are no plans to trade. LOL 
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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12-27-2017, 01:39 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Highland NY
Posts: 3,602
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I assume you are planning to power the entire coach with solar panels?
__________________
Bruce, Lisa and the pups, Charlie, Opie and Rebel
2021 Cornerstone Y Azure
2018 Anthem, Victory Blue Sold, 2019 Ram Laramie 1500
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12-27-2017, 01:55 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buddy110
I assume you are planning to power the entire coach with solar panels?
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It is pretty much that way now with 1100W of solar. Might look at moving #1 AC to an inverter and add a soft start to the AC.
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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12-27-2017, 02:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Highland NY
Posts: 3,602
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With 1,100 watts you can run all three, me thinks. 
How much did the batteries cost you EEEEEEK!
__________________
Bruce, Lisa and the pups, Charlie, Opie and Rebel
2021 Cornerstone Y Azure
2018 Anthem, Victory Blue Sold, 2019 Ram Laramie 1500
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12-27-2017, 02:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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Curious why you did not put the Lithium in the same location as the old lead acid.
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12-27-2017, 03:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nothermark
Curious why you did not put the Lithium in the same location as the old lead acid.
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Somewhat out in the elements (lithium does not like to be cold), to get weight off the front axle, to shorten the run and thus line loss on the inverters and 12v supply.
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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12-27-2017, 03:10 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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See how close I can guess; $12k for batteries alone. Ouch!
Someday these lithium will come down, I hope!
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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12-27-2017, 03:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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But what a way to go, nice job.
Other than A/C, did you calc how much battery cap you needed, or was it just 'more the better'? Curious.
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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12-27-2017, 03:22 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Back Woods of NC
Posts: 1,077
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Nice work!
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12-27-2017, 03:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Polk City, FL
Posts: 3,322
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Wow
Now that is a Monster Garage project. Nice job. I think I’d end up trading before I could do all that work.
I like those copper bus bars. Are they homemade?
__________________
Dave & Debbie
2021 Newmar DutchStar 4369
2016 Ford Edge&2019 Ford F-150 toads
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12-27-2017, 03:34 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Bayfield, Ontario
Posts: 5,162
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzbill
See how close I can guess; $12k for batteries alone. Ouch!
Someday these lithium will come down, I hope!
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Too high, under $10,000 for the batteries.
__________________
Don & Gerri
2014 Entegra Anthem 44B
2014 Honda CRV Touring
1300W Solar, 1200AH LiFePO4 FMCA F443497
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12-27-2017, 03:36 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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Within 20%. Good deal on the batts!
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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