LiFePO4 Batteries: Discussion Thread

[dobryan]

[Energy Concepts]

Hi All,

I'm at a loss here, and any help, wisdom or advise is greatly appreciated!
mechanical is one thing electronics quite another!

First off, I have a 1991 Vanagon Hardtop.
Has anyone moved their starting battery to the p/s tail light area?
I believe they used to be mounted there on early busses.

I would like to install a 100amp leisure battery
under both front seats. (2ea total
and a 20amp controller under the drivers side seat.
And, I guess, the 2000 watt inverter I have would have to be
mounted on the rear side of the cabinet.

This is so I'm not using space under the rear seat.

If you may be aware of this as being documented already,
could you please point me that direction?

I realize wire size for these lengths needed may be an issue.
And perhaps, the OG battery cable my be re- purposed.

Thanks! Your expertise and experience is Invaluable as Always !
JC...

[metahacker]

[ragnarhairybreeks]

I made a different lid for the aolithium too. Lowers the height of battery enough to fit in the stock box better. Put grommeted holes in side of battery to lead cables out. Cables replaced the laminated copper bar set up that connected to the original top mounted studs.

Also tried a multi part 3d print. That had provisions for top outlet of the power cables.

_________________
'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[whatwrenchwhere]

Question: What are the upgrade paths for the GoWesty 100amp battery, to expand the system to 200amps?

Link: https://gowesty.com/products/auxiliary-battery-lithium-iron-phosphate-lifepo4-100ah

The documentation says you can use a max of 2 in parallel. Great, but if you put one in the auxiliary battery box behind the driver, where would the second go, that can be sanely wired in parallel (Minus not using the sink cabinet, or the starter battery box).

It could only go into the bench, tiny closet on in corner, or back wardrobe closet. But that would be really awkward to make the diagram below make sense, and with large wires.

Would this wiring make sense to combine 2x 100amp batteries to make 1x 200amp in parallel?

_________________
'85 Westfalia, 1.9L 2wd Manual

[fxr]

You can fit 320Ah of LFP battery in the tiny closet, together with its charge controller (inc solar), a 2kW inverter, and fuses and switch gear. Under the driver's seat then becomes a tool cabinet (get rid of the swivel).
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[jimf909]

[shagginwagon83]

I have two batteries - 300ah and a 150ah. I use the 150ah as backup - along with circuit breakers installed on each battery. If I want to switch batteries, I turn one off and the other on. There is usually about 30 seconds where both batteries are connected, but no issue there. I could shut down one, have no power to the van, then bring the other online.
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[danfromsyr]

~300AH are getting really close to $1/Ah

https://www.amazon.com/PUPVWMHB-LiFePO4-Bluetooth-Max-3840Wh-Trolling/dp/B0DL9MNRDN

Curious how cybermonday pricing will impact.
_________________

[shagginwagon83]

[jimf909]

[shagginwagon83]

Prior to your comment, I linked a battery a 280aH for $221. Battleborn of similar capacity is $2300. Just for reference. https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/270ah-12v-lifepo4-deep-cycle-gc3-battery/
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[bobbyblack]

Hmm... Ya, only a few bucks more than a 100ah one I have not even installed yet.. (original self built one I've had for 5 years, and I fit under the driver seat is starting to give me concerns. The location is not ideal for my use case, since that area is drastically affected by outdoor temps, and I don't like it when my temp sensors cause charging or power delivery issues)

Where does a battery 17.8 x 9.37 x 8.7" (61.7 lbs) fit?

-bobby
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[jimf909]

[jimf909]

[shagginwagon83]

I like the idea of multi-cylinder cells for marine applications, but they’re not really worth it outside of that use case.
_________________
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin

[zerotofifty]

Connect a good generator to your Van engine and run it. My Dad did that in his 1963 Microbus back in the early 70s. we lived in that Bus for a month while traveling through Alaska. He installed a 12 volt generator for a 12 volt battery to power a fridge, and sink pump and a few other accessories, (he kept the stock 6 volt system to run the Bus stuff) AND he installed a 120 volt generator to run a microwave oven and home made hot water heater.
Yes three electric systems, a triple crank pulley for three Vee Belts to run Three generators. 6 volt, 12 volt and 120 volt.

Turn on the Bus engine for 120 volt operation if you have no other source of power, the 12 volt lead acid battery would run the small fridge for a a day or two as I recall with out the need to run the Bus.

easy peasy. No worries about over heating lithium batteries.

when we crossed into the Yukon from Alaska at the northern most border crossing, the Canadian agent there, who only saw a couple cars a day at most, his house was the only one there, and it was the border station, no village, just him. He was amazed, he had never ever seen a microwave oven, much less one that was powered by a 1963 VW Microbus!! My mom made him some hot apple sauce in the Microwave. That microwave was the first microwave Sears sold, new consumer technology back in the early 70's Very rare to see one at all, much less in a Bus, powered by the Bus.

This is the Bus, and in the background is the Yukon/Alaska Border crossing station where that guard saw his first microwave!!!!
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[fxr]

[zerotofifty]

[bobbyblack]