New Record? 120 usable Amp Hours under Driver's seat

[shagginwagon83]

If you're willing to do your homework and devote time to building your own LiFePo4 battery then you can save a lot of cash.

Look at this YouTube channel


Link

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

[vwhammer]

https://youtu.be/i4oJYhGKw1s

This might get you started.

Edit: Dang! Beat me to it.

[baltik]

As far as BMS is concerned there are 3 options that are emerging in the market

Option 1: Deligreen -
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32852570488.html
PROs: cheap, easy and proven

CONs - no low temp cutoff, not suitable for colder climates, no ability to set parameters, no ability to monitor usage/capacity etc.
(side note, seller has offered me to add a temp sensor for $1 extra, however this is completely unproven and one should test thoroughly prior to implementing in cold weather)

Option 2: Smart BMS - 100A+bluetooth https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000425316662.html
PROs: low temp cutoff, some customization via bluetooth app. Ability to monitor remaining capacity, voltage etc

CONs: still relatively unproven, no ability to read capacity/voltage etc without connecting via bluetooth

Option 3: Electrodacus
https://electrodacus.com/
PROs: by far the most complete/customizable option. Suitable for 4 & 8 battery banks. Built in Solar controller. Easy to read real time displays with all data. Historical logging

CONs: by far most expensive, requires more work/wiring. SBMS 40 not suitable for high loads (SBMS 120 is)

[Jake de Villiers]

[vwhammer]

[jocoman]

The big down side for some of us, with this is the requirement to have at least 0C temperature for charging.
If you want to do any camping around the freezing mark, then this is not a good solution. Too bad
_________________
'86 Westfalia 2.0L Zetec
'97 Volvo 850 AWD Turbo
" The fun never stops"

[vwhammer]

[ledogboy]

[baltik]

something like this would work
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Fresh-Water/LaSalle-Bristol/277-000164.html

obviously you would need to remember to turn it off when not actively using the van

more discussion here:
https://diysolarforum.com/threads/lifepo4-heating-pad-for-cold-temperatures.5/

[vwhammer]

Better yet get one of the cheap diesel heaters and get it going to heat the batteries and the van at the same time.

[shagginwagon83]

That's one of the reason I installed heater here next to water tank. I hope to put a LiFePo4 in this area too!

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

[jocoman]

Now that's something to think about! Good idea! txs
_________________
'86 Westfalia 2.0L Zetec
'97 Volvo 850 AWD Turbo
" The fun never stops"

[baltik]

Bumping this thread as I was able to get this setup to work with 150AH cells in the same location:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000108409254.html...421FCe5Ag0


for those in the market:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2385712

[vwhammer]

I was just looking at those batteries for my set up and wondering if they would fit under the seat.
The dimensions are the same as the 120ah and people have done that so...

I have been thinking about moving my starter battery to the rear and putting some of those batteries under both front seats.
However, I have a 250 amp alternator and 300 watts of solar and don't really plan on being off grid for more than 2 or 3 days at a time so 300ah of battery is probably overkill.
_________________
Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=

4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/

[ProspectiveOwnergon]

[baltik]

I’ve seen others successfully do the battery relocation
Pics below

That was my plan as well to go with the dual lithium, but I came to the realization it’s overkill, I can camp in my westy without a microwave

[shagginwagon83]

[rontv]

woow, i like 120Ah

i finally went for a renogy 100Ah LifePO4, on sale in UK (i live in NL) for 600GBP, still aroun 800USD i gues, but should fit nicely in the second battery bay

now considering which DC-DC charger to use, with or without MPPT
full blown redarc, the renogy one or a german one without MPPT for which i could use my old Victron one

Love the redarc but expensive

anybody any other suggestions?

[pnwkayaker]

Do you have a link to the Renogy battery? So far I haven't seen any 100Ah off-the-shelf battery that will fit in the aux battery location, biggest ones I've seen are the GoWesty or Battleborn 50Ah batteries (the solution from this thread uses lithium-cells with an external BMS)

It took me several months to make up my mind (price was the biggest concern), but I finally bought the Redarc unit (25A version), should be finishing the installation this weekend. I like the simplicity of having the DC-DC and MPPT solar charger in the same device, with the Redarc taking care of all the charge balancing.

[jacklar]