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12-22-2018, 07:54 PM
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#21
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Mary, when you are ready, start a new thread titled "99 Coachmen battery/charger upgrade", or something similar. The first step would be to make better use of what you have and the Trimetric monitor is a good first step. We could do it by email but you would be better served by getting several opinions.
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12-22-2018, 09:22 PM
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#22
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Silver Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Vancouver, washington
Posts: 62
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Thank you. I can't see how to start a new thread but I will figure this out. I will not be traveling in the class B until probably april or may so I have some time to get a better set up. Happy Holidays to you and yours, mary
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12-23-2018, 02:22 AM
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#23
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Mary, while installing the Trimetric battery monitor note the brand and model of power panel/converter. You can decide later whether you want to upgrade it or install a battery charger for the lead acid battery.
Some more reading. Opinionated but a good place to start before you get your own opinions.
https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/...ging-puzzle-2/
The gift is the install of the battery monitor. Not always easy. Need to be able to see it from the bed.
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12-23-2018, 06:26 AM
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#24
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Silver Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Vancouver, washington
Posts: 62
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Thank you. I am familiar with Bob Shearer. Read his postings a couple of years ago and read his latest a few weeks ago.
Yes, my son and I have found a good place for the monitor. Running the wires will not be too bad. The hard part is going to be where to put the shunt.
I have a magnatex 7300. model 7345 45 amp. I had thought about replacing it a couple of years ago but decided at that time to leave it and just get an independent chargers for the lithium and the LA. ...but should maybe revisit that.
I do appreciate your help and ideas. I try to read posting but I have no background in electrical matters so my wee brain gets full very easily.
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12-23-2018, 04:56 PM
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#25
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Back to the topic at hand. The lithium charges very well from the alternator when set to both. FLA was at 100%, lithium at 85%. Fully charged in 20 minutes. I need a house voltage read out on the dash. Will try it with both batteries discharged a little bit and see how that works.
From our parallel testing experience we won't keep it on both without the engine running.
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12-23-2018, 06:48 PM
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#26
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Silver Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Vancouver, washington
Posts: 62
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Thank you! Have never considered charging from my alternator directly. As far as I know, very little goes in with the current set up...?? going though the converter/charger.??
When you say..."when set to both".. do you mean charge both the lithium and LA charging directly from the alternation at the same time? So... from your experience, would it be possible to have a trimetric back in the van...and a 2nd voltage meter attached that would be mounted on the dash?? ....and a third voltage meter for the lithium mounted on the dash? I know the lithium is happy accepting a high amp charge but I thought that LA 105 ah doesn't like anything over a starting bulk charge of 10 amps??
Are you saying I could get a "smart 3 or 4 stage" charger that is connected to my alternator? Actually two... one for each battery?
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12-23-2018, 09:45 PM
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#27
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW Lady
Thank you! Have never considered charging from my alternator directly. As far as I know, very little goes in with the current set up...?? going though the converter/charger.??
When you say..."when set to both".. do you mean charge both the lithium and LA charging directly from the alternation at the same time? So... from your experience, would it be possible to have a trimetric back in the van...and a 2nd voltage meter attached that would be mounted on the dash?? ....and a third voltage meter for the lithium mounted on the dash? I know the lithium is happy accepting a high amp charge but I thought that LA 105 ah doesn't like anything over a starting bulk charge of 10 amps??
Are you saying I could get a "smart 3 or 4 stage" charger that is connected to my alternator? Actually two... one for each battery?
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We just shorted the two batteries together after starting the engine. Original voltage was 14.7 but dropped down. I can't check it from the driver's seat but 20 minutes later it was 13.7 volts. I wouldn't like to drive without knowing the charge voltage into the lithium. A Scangauge would do the job. 33F ambient temp after an overnight cold soak on the alternator and chassis AGM battery.
This experiment used no charging device or converter, just the batteries and alternator. Lithium current inflow was about 40 amps.
My DC to DC manual suggests starting bulk charge should be .2C which would be 20 amps. I set the charger for 30 amps but haven't used it yet.
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12-24-2018, 04:08 AM
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#28
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Those of you that have them, do any/all lithium systems charge directly from the alternator?
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12-27-2018, 12:29 AM
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#29
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Obviously the lithium battery in a class B hybrid system must also charge while driving.
One way is to set the battery switch to both, another way would be to put another Kisae DC to DC charger (50amp) between the alternator and the battery and use it's lithium setting. Not sure I have room for another one but that would be the best way. I will work with the both setting once I get a charge voltage readout on the dash.
Traveling daily a generator would get little use since the lithium charges so fast.
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12-27-2018, 11:54 PM
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#30
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Class B hybrid battery system is a very different animal
My trip through southern New Mexico has been very enlightening, power wise.
A hybrid battery system for a class C that doesn't move is very different from one for a class B that moves.
The class B doesn't need the AC lithium charger nor does it need the DC to DC charger to charge the LA. What it does need is a DC to DC charger (50 amp) to charge the lithium from the LA when the engine is running, a marine battery switch, and a three stage converter to charge the LA from shore power or generator. The lithium could also be charged at that time through the DC to DC charger.
I received a detailed explanation from Kisae explaining why the LA is being charged from the lithium whether or not the control input is at 12 volts. Bottom line is the unit is designed to work with a solar input in a marine environment. If the boat engine is started the battery input will cross a certain threshold, probably 13.2 volts, turn off solar charging, and charge the house battery from the alternator. When we hook a lithium battery to that port it is always above that threshold. The control input is there to override when input thresholds are not met but you still want to charge from the alternator.
The only alternative for us is to put a high current switch in the charging (lithium) battery circuit.
Anyhow, a hybrid system can be installed in a class B with the addition of a lithium battery and a marine battery switch if you want to charge it directly from the alternator.
As an addendum the hybrid system worked very well, having plenty of power in freezing temperatures. I did go through a lot of propane keeping the coach at 70F during the day and 55F at night. Both batteries were at 100% at sunset, daily.
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01-15-2019, 09:58 PM
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#32
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,697
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Just passed the smoke test for the DC to DC charger from the alternator to the lithium battery. Both batteries now charge when driving.
I must have used 60ft of 6 gauge welding cable because that is what I ordered and it is all gone. Would never have guessed it would take that much.
Working on a B is such a pain it will take a while to get my neck and back working again. The contortions you have to go through to get things done in the limited space take a while to straighten out. Job complete.
I did add a 300 watt pure sign wave inverter but did not integrate it into the house system.
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