Whenever there is a mention of VoltX batteries Dick0 (Richard) always pops his head up with a great big grin. 

To be honest Richard I think they are a company looking to grow.  Whilst at first they were providing cheap batteries their prices have increased but with the exception of the specials that come along they now seem in the mid range pricing.  I see they have a range of other products now.

But thank you for keeping us updated on how they are going.

Good luck

Tim

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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Hi Tim, Richard,
I assume I could replace my AGM (a bit dodgy) with one of these batteries with no risk of fire (the battery is under my bed, I don't want to be the bbq meat). We're heading for Canberra at the end of next week so I'd have it sent there & do the changes to the Jayco SETEC charging arrangements when we come home in late November. I have a solar controller (Renogy Rover 20A) that can be set to lithium.

I"ll probably be in touch with both of you when it comes time to do the conversion. Having been guiding my son through his problems with the Jayco BMPro system, I don't want to go along that quite expensive system.

---

 Hi Warren,

Lets get this very clear.  LiFePO4 are not the lithium batteries at you hear and read about on the news.  They are a different chemistry and do not just catch fire even if overcharged.  They are considered safer than your AGMs. To overcharge them you would require a failure of your charger, be it a DC/DC, solar or 240V, plus a failure of the BMS inside the battery. I would not have installed 2 x 280Ah internally and 2 x100Ah externally LiFePO4 batteries in my van if thought that there was any risk of them catching fire.

By the sound of it a Jayco BMPro would be overkill  for you and most caravaners can get away using a basic system.

I more than happy to help you and Im sure plenty of others are too.

Good luck

Tim 

Overcharged cells equivalent to 19.2V for a 12.8V battery.

https://gwl-power.tumblr.com/post/65416024643/lfp-cells-will-bloat-if-overcharged-the-photo

Whilst the prismatic cells do have a pressure relief vent the battery cases do not.  So even if the pressure relief valve were to operate on one or more cells it can only vent into the sealed battery case.

Tim

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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Thanks Tim & Richard,
As we use the van mostly on power - free camping is a minimum these days, are you suggesting that I don't have to change or modify the SETEC charger (I think it is a ST35) if I change to from AGM to Lithium?

That being said I modified the wiring to the house battery to be charged only from the solar - not the car & I use the house battery to power our 12v accessories, lights - not from the power (SETEC system). With the amount of sun that we get up here in NQ, I thought it was the best way to go. The car provides the 12v to the 3-way fridge.

I know the charging pattern is different between both types of batteries - will that make a difference?

Over to you - if I need to make a change, what do you suggest?

Cheers

---

Hi Warren,

I too charge my house batteries mostly by solar and MPPT solar charger. If I want to charge the house batteries from a 240V>12V charger then I use a dedicated LiFePO4 charger and disconnect the solar charger by an isolation switch.

When on the move I can also charge the house batteries, from the tug, by dedicated LiFePO4 DC>DC 12V charger, however, solar charging is normally more than satisfactory between destinations. My AES 3way fridge is also powered by 12V from the tug when on the move.

With this setup I have no fear of the batteries, situated under the bed, being subjected to "fire" as all charging is LiFePO4 specific.

I changed all of my charging system from AGM to LiFePO4 specific.

From what you have stated all you have to do is swap the battery over and then set your Renogy solar charger on the lithium profile and away you go.  Remember the order of connection.  Disconnect loads, disconnect solar and then disconnect solar controller from battery.

Connect solar controller to battery so that it determines battery voltage, connect solar and connect loads.

If you did connect your Setec up to the battery it will not fully charge as the Setec voltage is only 13.65V whereas you require 14.6V for LiFePO4.  It may get to about 80% charge but when my battery arrives I will do a test taking the battery to 13.65V, seeing what voltage it settles at, and see what capacity it has at that voltage.

Here is your manual in case you do not have one.

https://www.setec.com.au/pdf/ST-Series-User-Manual.pdf

Only your can determine whether you need to connect to the Setec for some charging, whether you need a 240V charger or whether you can get by without either.  Or even if you have any need for a DC/DC charger like Dick0 has.  Your power use and style of of camping will determine that.

Good luck

Tim

-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 10th of September 2024 09:50:13 AM

200AH Voltx on Ebay for $599.00.

VoltX 12V 200Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Premium Prismatic Cells Camping | eBay

Dick0 wrote:

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200AH Voltx on Ebay for $599.00.

VoltX 12V 200Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Premium Prismatic Cells Camping | eBay

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  Even better, there is a 25% discount coupon, bringiing it down to $449.

Dick0 wrote:

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200AH Voltx on Ebay for $599.00.

VoltX 12V 200Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Premium Prismatic Cells Camping | eBay

---

 Looks like $899 to me.

Are We Lost wrote:

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There is a coupon code to bring it down to $449.

---

 That was correct and I saw it too but has rapidly been changed.

I forgot that my Victron 240V charger could be set as a power supply so I set that up to charge my Voltx up to 14.6V. 

I put the capacity tester on the battery and set it up to draw 20A only to find that I blew my tester up after I had drawn 85Ah from the battery.  You know what those Chinese instructions are like and hidden away was a note that the power should be less than 150W .  Anyway, a new one on order along with a Victron 300A shunt that was on sale reduced to $79.65 with coupon.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/286035998526

I continued discharging the battery with some LED light down to 10.6V and with the time it took and having considered the battery voltage and amps being drawn I was almost certain i have drawn over 100Ah from it.  When my new capacity tester arrives I will test it again.

In the mean time I charged it up from 10.6V to 14.6V and my Victron charger indicates that that the capacity is 107AH.

Tim

My pleasure .

Arrived in two days with a Victron catalogue and a Victron pen.  Not that I need anymore pens lol.

Excellent service from the seller.

Great to hear that you managed to get one Warren.

I have just completed two full discharge and charge tests between 10.6V and 14.6V and they all confirmed that the battery has 107Ah capacity.  Will do a test next week taking it up to 13.65V, the same as the Setec and see how many Ahs I can get out of it taking it down to 10.6V.

Tim 

Yes Trev,

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005690292845.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.4.1ceff19cKpdTel

Just bought a new one as I blew mine up.  But I also have a couple of Victron shunts plus a 240V charger so have been able to use those to test the capacity.

Tim