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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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 Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2021 9:05 pm Post subject: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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I understand that the stock charger in my 95 EVC charger doesn't have the proper charging profile for a lithium house battery.
To overcome this problem, while connected to shore power, could one use a lithium trickle charger to top it off? Is there a problem plugging in the van via shore power and also connecting and using a lithium trickle charger at the same time?
I am thinking of permanently hard wiring the lithium trickle charger to the house battery. Then plugging in the lithium trickle charger into the 110 outlet located in the rear. In that way, the lithium trickle charger is only activated when the shore power is used.
I am considering the CTEK:
https://www.amazon.ca/CTEK-56-926-LITHIUM-Automati...amp;sr=8-4 |
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 452
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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For about the same money, why not replace the existing power converter entirely with this unit?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TRRCZ75
That's what I did, it works great, and can be set to a lithium charge profile. |
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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| So you pulled and replaced the Magnetek? |
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TFB777
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2021
Posts: 35
Location: Camas, Washington
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 452
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| 1961tbird wrote: |
| So you pulled and replaced the Magnetek? |
Correct. |
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 452
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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This is also a great option. I liked the Victron as it offers bluetooth, and works with their MPTT charger controllers, DC-DC converters and whatnot. |
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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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TheOneTrueQuux,
Your first posted link to Amazon references the Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 12-Volt 20 amp 120V, Single Output Battery Charger NEMA 5-15, Bluetooth.
Excuse my lack of knowledge but does this Victron product replace the Magnetek? It appears to be just a battery charger or am I missing something? |
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 452
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| 1961tbird wrote: |
TheOneTrueQuux,
Your first posted link to Amazon references the Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 12-Volt 20 amp 120V, Single Output Battery Charger NEMA 5-15, Bluetooth.
Excuse my lack of knowledge but does this Victron product replace the Magnetek? It appears to be just a battery charger or am I missing something? |
It replaces the Magnetek unit. It's smart enough to charge the battery while power is being drawn, hence it can be both a converter and a power supply. If you read their documentation they talk about this. You do have to combine two wires that go to the original magnetek and connect them both to the positive connection on the Victron, but this is NBD. David at 1705.net did something similar. He used a progressive dynamics unit, but those are similar in operation to the victron.
See this link:
https://1705.net/converter-upgrade/
You could use the same unit he did, or use the Victron like I did. Both will work fine. I like the victron for the bluetooth, and configurability. |
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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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Many thanks. I did not realize the Victron could act as a power source and a battery charger. I'll certainly research further. Again, thanks for the tip.
BTW, what size did you opt for? |
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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| Lastly, does the Victron will automatically work as a power supply while charging? I thought those functions were separate. |
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TheOneTrueQuux
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2021
Posts: 452
Location: Winona, MN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| 1961tbird wrote: |
| Lastly, does the Victron will automatically work as a power supply while charging? I thought those functions were separate. |
You can set it to a pure power supply mode, but it should supply power just fine when in charging mode and a load is applied. |
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Jay_El
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2025
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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| TheOneTrueQuux wrote: |
| 1961tbird wrote: |
| Lastly, does the Victron will automatically work as a power supply while charging? I thought those functions were separate. |
You can set it to a pure power supply mode, but it should supply power just fine when in charging mode and a load is applied. |
Thanks for all the info. I’m in the process of replacing the Magnetek in my EVC 95 with the Victron as you recommended, but worried about the existing wire gauge (excuse my lack of knowledge). Since my Magnetek is a 20A charger and the Victron is rated at 30A, would this require upgrading the existing #10 wire for the filtered output to a #8 wire per TFB777‘s post?
Thanks |
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1961tbird
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2018
Posts: 330
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2025 5:38 am Post subject: Re: Charging a LiFePo4 Lithium Battery House Battery 95 EVC |
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Good question. I believe you would be okay but to be safe perhaps contact Victron.
BTW, I ended up acquiring the 20 amp convertor from Victron. I made the decision to stay with 20 amps as I did not anticipate any future power needs. I am very happy with the purchase. Works perfectly |
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