150Ah LiFePo4 flat under driver seat + swivelectomy

[Sodo]

One year later and all is well (I think).
I kinda don't 'believe' the % charge levels presented by the BMS though.
I think it's guestimating wildly.
We took an 8 day trip, using only 100w solar in November and returned home with 49% remaining.
Then 2 days later with the fridge OFF it reported 15%.

Well anyway the batteries haven't 'swelled'.
I planned to take it all out last year after the first camping run and "tidy up".....
but I have done nothing.
Posting this so you fellers can hold me to it,
to actually 'tidy up'.

I want more protection, knowing the metal battery case (under that thin blue plastic) is "positive".

Wondering about a battery heating pad under the batteries, appx 14x14" for 4 batteries laid flat.
Not sure I'll ever need it, but would be nice to have (in that rare condition).
Ther is a 12v unit on Amazon. I don't know what other draw I have that could self heat the batteries (other than the heating pad draw).
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[ledogboy]

FWIW, my van has the type of lid that screws down (not the hinge). I replaced it with a piece of plexiglass that I had cut to size at Lowe’s. Used the original as a template for the screw holes, and no more worries about shorting!
_________________
1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

[ProspectiveOwnergon]

[kguarnotta]

I like the idea of a battery heating pad - but space is so tight on mine - I don't know how to get it in there.
I bought a couple - and a sensor to turn it on and off - but have not got around to installing it.
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA

'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper

[DeLvxe]

[Sodo]

installed July 2020.
March 2022 ( 20 months ) report.

I took my cells out to inspect.
Intending to re-install them a little better than before.

But found some problems.
One cell is leaking.
Two have "something" in the "cell window".
One cell window has nothing to report.
They all have appx 3.18v and the system seems to be working but I don't have an easy way to do a capacity test.
Maybe just put about 20 amps of lightbulbs on it and time it with a stopwatch.
150AH can run 20 amps for 7.5 hours.

I wonder if it's OK to replace just that one leaking cell.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[shagginwagon83]

Sorry to hear this. I know it was a lot of work to get these batteries to fit.

It all depends on if you can get a replacement of similar kind. I don't know if you can find 150aH batteries anymore. And to get a single cell - it might be expensive.

I mean it looks like you might have two bad cells. Again it depends on the price of replacements, but it might be best to upgrade to a 300aH setup. I have been rocking my 150aH setup similar time to you. However I installed mine in the area where your DC charger is. They have pressure from a top bar holding them together. The setup is working great since Fall of 2020 I believe.

These cells are not meant to be in vehicles are all really. Ideally many smaller cylinder cells like Battleborns have are ideal for mobile and especially Marine applications. We can get away with having these bigger cells (like 272/300ah setups) in our Vanagons because of clamping (or pressure) - to really isolate the vibrations - especially between the links of the cells.

_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[pretzilla]

[DuncanS]

[Sodo]

Duncan the batteries are surrounded by foam, with hold-downs.
The foam is 1/4", just thick enough to isolate them from the steel and aluminum.
I haven't addressed vehicle vibrations at all, but there's no battery movement.
I don't think a 5,000 lb vehicle vibrates much but that's a guess.

It's my understanding that LiFePO4 batteries do not have a fire danger.
These are not LiPo batteries (lithium-ion polymer).

Some other folks are having failures with cells standing on end.
For all I know they could be just 'grade B'' LiFePO4s failing.
Some percentage of them may have failed anyway.

I have an 80A fuse on the other end (by the start battery) but none on the LiFePO4.
I need to fuse each battery!

[DuncanS]

Sodo, thanks for your lengthy and considered reply. I feel much better knowing the batteries are surrounded by foam. They sit right over 16 gallons of gas which is pretty safe. And across the way is the lead acid item which is safe. And we have propane for the Westy stove with is also safe. Safe as untoward events are rare. When T3s go up it's usually because a relentless fuel pump sprays gas over a hot engine with high tension electricity and unfused 12 volts all over the place with insulation which can melt and then Bob's your uncle.

Safe is what you deem it to be. Is driving a 30 year old car sitting right up front while on top of 16 gallons of gas safe? Well, we all do it. As it is said about VW bus drivers, we are the first on the scene of an accident.

Here's where I got the 4 sticks of dynamite from. https://www.topspeed.com/cars/warp-coils-seem-clos...85365.html

"Gasoline energy density is 47.5 MJ/kg and 34.6 MJ/liter; the gasoline in a fully fueled car has the same energy content as a thousand sticks of dynamite.

A thousand sticks of dynamite. If we release that amount of energy while driving 5 or 6 hours, it's easy to see the problem of trying to quickly recharge an ecar. We can put those thousand sticks in the gas tank quickly as it is a different form of energy from what actually is used to propel the car. The electricity you need to charge an ecar is the same form you use when driving. So trying to put the the same energy form we use in 5 or 6 hours in a few minutes, just 'ain't gonna happen..........yet.

https://www.grepow.com/blog/can-lifepo4-batteries-explode/

Have fun and enjoy your car.

Duncan

[Sodo]

Its our 11th night out since replacing the leaky cell and I haven’t seen chargel levels less than 91%.
No alternator charging, charging only with the 100w panel in the cargo area.
Fridge is maintaining 34-36F.
Pretty easy to camp in May, in California (SyncroFest!!), with 100 watts & 150Ah.

OK……so what about this 91% number?
Is it believable?
Right now its 9pm, dark and it says 97%.
I’ll bet its still above 90% in the Morning.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[DuncanS]

Congrats, you seem to have it all dialed in.

Duncan

[jacklar]