Installing a New Power Converter in My RV for LiFePO4 Batteries

[@SeidelRanch]

I needed to change out the power converter in our RV with one that can handle LiFePO4 Batteries, so I install this RecPro 85 Amp RV Power Converter: amzn.to/3Aga7eY Have you done this? How is it doing? This one is doing great so far.

[@HumilityisHumble]

Your other charger would work fine with lithium. 13.6 is the perfect float voltage. Manufactures are so keen to sell you another model.

[@daviscrt]

Looking forward to seeing your battery instillation. Don

[@SeidelRanch]

Cool. I will put that on the list to make.

[@ytmadpoo]

I love how the RV manufacturers just install water lines on top of electrical equipment (or run screws through wiring). Things you would totally fail on a home inspection, they just don't care. I replaced my factory converter a while back (I think it was a WFCO) with the PD model, but I think my PD converter had a switch for at least lithium ion, but not LFP which I think have different charging voltage curves. They might have models that do that now as well, but hopefully that RecPro works out well. As you saw, it's a relatively easy swap, with the hardest part just getting access to it all.

[@SeidelRanch]

Yeah, these RV builders must not give any shi... *cares* based on the things I see in them. The one we recently bought will be our last one from the big manufactures. I will build my own before I buy another junk box they sell.

[@Desert-edDave]

Even if you don't change converters, it will still charge the LiFePO4 batteries but at a slightly lower voltage for lead-based batteries (which only serves to prolong the life of the batteries).

[@Kotaztrafee]

My 25 year old converter works except it is not charging the battery. So I'm learning that all I need to do is connect an external charger. My understanding is that an external charger and a solar charger can be hooked the battery at the same time. This would allow one to use any kind of battery charger. I have little need for, just battery power. Actually I have no need for any power in the camper since the economy is not allowing me to use it.

[@SeidelRanch]

If the converter works, then it should charge the battery. I wonder if a fuse is blown or something. All the converter is doing is taking 120v AC and turning it into 12v DC. But, as you said, it's just a fancy battery charger. I have 2 solar chargers and this converter hooked up in my RV now, all charging a bank of 12 LiFePO4 batteries and it's working fine.

[@Kotaztrafee]

@@SeidelRanch I feel like it is a problem at the component level such as a relay or thermistor. You just reminded me that I wanted to check an inline circuit breaker I noticed at the back of the unit. EUREKA! I tested the circuit breaker a couple days ago and it tested open but I got caught up in , what if I need a new unit and maybe an external charger would work that I forgot about the breaker and never went back to it. I jumped over the breaker and got 12v to the battery! Well, thanks so much for the reminder. It looks like all I have to do is replace the breaker!

[@OskarHartmannsson]

In my book the 14,4V boost and 13,6V altho slightly high I would still say it is OK usually the actual Voltage at the battery is slightly lower than rated and it vill go to 13,2V for storage

[@SeidelRanch]

Yeah, the 14.6V seems to be more like 14.4V at the bus bar. The old converter would not get my LiFePO4 batteries to 100% before it cut off. This new one does bring them to 100%. I use the bluetooth app to monitor them when I was testing it.

[@UpintheAir.stream]

1/0 is excessive for the wiring, you will never have that kind of draw on the battery by your 12V power distribution and never that much energy going into your battery from the converter.

[@SeidelRanch]

Yeah, that's true. I tend to oversize on things I don't want to mess with again.