Not sure if this has been posted here or not. There is a Facebook Group for owners who are ditching the Ecotrek modules and switching to other lithium battery options. Lots of good info on what steps to take and info on performance results. Most seem to be switching to Battle Born or Lion Energy batteries and also ditching the Roadtrek inverter/charger. Hardest part of the process is removing the Ecotrek modules from under the van.
Ecotrek-free Roadtrek is the name of the group and it is private with more than 100 members at this point.
Kinda sad to hear but ridding themselves of the uncertainty if probably worth it to some folks.
The value is in the lifepo4 cells of the ecotrek modules. My guess is that most issues would be BMS, BMS programming and the high current consumption contactors related.
$100 per module could be the cost of a DIY fix to end up with a MOSFET based solution like the two brands mentioned. The heaters might be able to be kept and still stay within that $100 estimate.
I'd love to get a module to play with and come up with a reliable and programmable solution.
Kinda sad to hear but ridding themselves of the uncertainty if probably worth it to some folks.
The value is in the lifepo4 cells of the ecotrek modules. My guess is that most issues would be BMS, BMS programming and the high current consumption contactors related.
$100 per module could be the cost of a DIY fix to end up with a MOSFET based solution like the two brands mentioned. The heaters might be able to be kept and still stay within that $100 estimate.
I'd love to get a module to play with and come up with a reliable and programmable solution.
Yes, the parasitic drain and general complicated/unreliable operation seems to be the main reasons to switch. Most are not technically able to keep the cells and add a BMS. You can probably pick up some removed Ecotrek modules from someone...
Well the EcoTrek's were good in concept but the implementation is horrible. There is no monitoring on most of the older systems, Roadtrek wired them wrong in many (most?) cases, and the usage instructions are so convoluted. Most of the people converting as mentioned already are using Battleborn or Lion Energy batteries and using mostly Victron components with the goal of Turn it on and Forget it. Anyway, lots of good discussion, diagrams, and part lists on the Ecotrek-Free Roadtrek group.
Wow! I didn't look at that forum since I got my CS and now see my "invention" (TOAF) mentioned here Feel free to ask any questions about our "Ecotrek - free Roadtrek" group here. I will try to check that forum more frequently.
I see the following major issues in KS2 solution (Ecotrek):
1 - using electromagnetic relays causing huge parasitic draw and eliminates one of lithium batteries advantage (close to zero self discharge)
2 - luck of ANY monitoring lives people with guessing only why their system doesn't work
3 - KS2 using some cheap non-reliable inverter-chargers that don't have lithium charging profiles and even minimal protections from overcharge
4 - using two separate terminals for charge and discharge over complicated the whole system and are not suitable for using a single inverter-charger unit
5 - extremely complicated and confusing operations with all these multiple switches and separate modules
I think I can name more, but these 5 are the most obvious.
Ecotrek-free Roadtrek Facebook Group
Feel free to ask any questions about our "Ecotrek - free Roadtrek" group here. I will try to check that forum more frequently.
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