240v Battery Charger for Lithium Upgrade

[Chris61]

Hi I need some help to find a new battery charger for my 5th wheeler.

What would be best suited to a future upgrade to Lithium, I have 210ah AGM now and will probably go for 200ah Lithium.

I have been reading lots on here for a couple of months and this is my first post. My dilemma is I am heading from Tassie to Queensland in a weeks time, nothing seems to fail when you don't need it and time is my enemy.

Any help would be most appreciated.

[Dot]

Hi and welcome Chris, I am sure that one of the boys with the answers you need shall be along soon.

[BruceS]

Chris, Terry will advise you in due course. (He has gone shopping in Adelaide today)
I wonder where in Qld you are heading to? Did you read the thread in regards to someone wishing to get an aluminium rim up to Rockhampton? Might help with some fuel costs?

[Chris61]

Crisis over, seniors moment , 240 charger doesn't charge with isolator tripped from low voltage. (Grandad or Grandkids left a outside light on). Solar was charging (only 2 to 5a) but 240v charger hooks direcly to fuses, then to battery via isolator. Penny dropped after removing charger and reinstalling it when the slideout still worked with isolator still tripped . Manually reset isolator, 25 amps measured through Victron BMS. Something to rewire when I come home.

At this stage I am only going to the Maryborough region, subject to change

[bagmaker]

I had a recent upgrade requirement of the same and a certain Mannumite recommended this unit.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-IC5 ... 1231847298
Seems to be working well so far, I am very impressed with its response time whilst charging. Turning things on /off, shading panels intermittantly whilst its charging, etc, the amps going in vary quickly in response -keeping the voltage exactly where its supposed to be.

Running 1120Ah of AGM, will be going to Li soon enough

[Busman]

After going through a bench full of cheapies, (chargers and DC/DC converters) I fitted a projecta, ended the drama, there is no other answer really
William

[Chris61]

I had a recent upgrade requirement of the same and a certain Mannumite recommended this unit.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-IC5 ... 1231847298
Seems to be working well so far, I am very impressed with its response time whilst charging. Turning things on /off, shading panels intermittantly whilst its charging, etc, the amps going in vary quickly in response -keeping the voltage exactly where its supposed to be.

Running 1120Ah of AGM, will be going to Li soon enough

Thanks for the recommendation Bagmaker, I am tossing up with the Projecta and a Sterling ProCharge Ultra, which I have been informed has a lithium setting. I thought I had a major problem but all is good now but all suggestions will go into memory for future reference

[bagmaker]

the IC5000 has a "supply" setting for LA batts when connected full time to the grid
13.8v -perfect!

[Busman]

Second the above, we have 12 and 24 v lith banks, the projecta is on a time switch on power mode setting, when timer comes on if the 12 v bank needs some it gets it, otherwise draws bugger all, no worries at all

[native pepper]

Hi I need some help to find a new battery charger for my 5th wheeler.
What would be best suited to a future upgrade to Lithium, I have 210ah AGM now and will probably go for 200ah Lithium.

G'day Chris, you'll get some different answers and methods here for using lifepo4, which I assume that's what everyone uses as other lithiums have problems. I've had lifepo4 for many years on my home and in my bus a few years less, plus my workshop runs on them and have a 120amp portable pack that is easily carried round my property and when travelling, it gives us a spare 120amp if needed. So far have only used it to power our band when we couldn't get power or the bus close enough to the stage to use it as a power source

Been down the BMS path, tried lead acid chargers using relays etc and in the end had specially built lifepo4 mppt lifepo4 charge controllers. Which are just a single stage bulk charge controller, once it reaches 14v in the pack, it switches the charger off completely and back on when the pack drops to 13.6v and switches off load at 12v. Have never taken my packs down to 12v, they charge so fast they are always full with just a few hours of sunlight and using 24v panels and mppt controllers, means you get the best out of your system.

Keep reading, as there are many differences in approach to this technology, most still use lead acid battery chargers with float etc and may have some problems after 4-5 years use. Lifepo4 hate slow charging when they are close to capacity, it shortens their lives dramatically tests have shown. Whilst bulk charge and off at 14v has no effect and seems to keep them very happy.

All you need is a bulk mppt controller and a cell balancer, which you can buy on ebay for peanuts, but not the bulk charger. I'm having built at the moment a 240v single stage bulk charger so can charge the pack when have access to mains power.