Lithionics 315ah lithium, & 3000 watt inverter install in a Leisure Travel Van

[@Pagosa]

Full Details & Component List for this upgrade: pagosasupply.co/lithium Update from Sandy: I was told that the installation was to be on a 2021 Unity but it turned out to be a 2020 Unity. The importance of this is that on 2020 models Leisure used Tandem breakers for all the 15a circuits and in 2021 they changed to all single 15a breakers. Consequently I didn't have the necessary single 15a breaker so I could have wired the refrigerator to its own 15a breaker and left it on the shore power (left side) of the dual bus breaker box. Since I didn't have a single 15a breaker I had to move the tandem 15a breaker for the Refrigerator and the General coach outlets to the inverted bus on the right side. I don't recommend moving the refrigerator breaker to the inverted bus because you lose the refrigerator auto power select function and it is a waste of battery/inverter power to run the refrigerator off the inverted bus because it is already wired to run directly from the battery. With regard to inverter ignition control (small yellow wire I added to a 20 pin connector), my comments about it were focused on the key difference between the Xantrex inverter ignition control settings ATO and LOT. ATO (Automatic) turns the inverter control power on automatically with the coach battery switch and the LOT (Lockout) setting requires you to manually turn on the inverter. I should have gone on to say that on both the ATO and LTO settings the inverter control power is automatically turned off with the coach battery switch. This is really the most important aspect of the inverter ignition control feature. I added an inverter disconnect switch, which is important for more reasons than I mentioned in the video. The inverter disconnect switch is the absolute inverter power cutoff because it completely disconnects the battery from the inverter. Religiously using the inverter disconnect switch, as you do the coach battery disconnect switch is something you must build into your routine, but the ignition control feature can serve as a safety net or backup for at least turning off the inverter control power if you forget to disconnect it with the inverter disconnect switch. I did not connect the ignition control feature when I did my 3000w Inverter Installation and early on in my using it I forgot to turn my disconnect switch off on the inverter one time and I remembered the next day and went over to my storage area and found my battery drained down to 85%. I won't forget again, but I just wanted to give you more information and let you decide if you need to reconnect the inverter ignition control wire on your inverter installation. On a Xantrex Freedom XC Pro Inverter you need this 20 pin StarTech connector to wire in the ignition control feature, www.amazon.com/dp/B0002GRQRW. I make reconnecting the inverter ignition control wire optional in my guides but I think I'm going to change it to a requirement. In thinking about the typical Leisure Owner, who doesn't know a lot about how things work or have developed established routines about shutting everything off, it may be the best approach to reconnect the ignition control signal to the 3000w inverter and put the inverter settings for ignition control to Automatic or Lockout so it can shutdown the inverter control power. Leisure uses the Lockout (LOT) setting with their Xantrex 2000w Inverter installation. Towards the end of the video when we turned all the power back on, started the inverter, and turned on the air conditioner. The Lithionics APP showed 170a of draw and I said that was the air conditioner when in fact it was the inverter, refrigerator, and air conditioner running. As you recall the refrigerator breaker was placed on the inverted bus. So the actual draw on the battery was ~5a to power the inverter, and ~20a for the refrigerator and ~145a for the air conditioner. The inverter actually uses more amps to run the individual appliance but it uses 5a just to be powered on and run its cooling fans, that is why it is always better to turn the inverter off at the panel or put it in standby if you aren't using it when on battery mode.

[@richardstewart2680]

This lady was absolutely fabulous in her description of how to put this battery in and do the inverter she is a world of knowledge five stars great job👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🏻😍😍

[@Pagosa]

yes she is!

[@ASRivers]

Thanks! Sandy needs to write a book, if she hasn’t already

[@Pagosa]

She basically has with all of her guides she makes available.

[@suebouvy9690]

I never thought I could do this....but after Sandy's watching video and with the help of my handy brother, I think I will try and can do it. Thank you Sandy and Brandon for this terrific video!

[@Pagosa]

That's great!

[@garyoster5309]

Sandy great job showing the LTV Family how our family works together, even during an afternoon at the Spring Rally (a standing-room-only, outdoor event!). It was another very successful upgrade/swap-out led by the Flamingle's very own, LTV Empress of Electricity, Sandy Johnson. Brandon great dual-camera video/audio and superb editing! Mark, your left-handed tools also really came in handy, well-done (I know Rosana is very proud).

[@Pagosa]

It was a fantastic time!

[@SandyRVUpgrades]

What fun this was, Brandon Thank you for encouraging me and filming it all.

[@Pagosa]

Yeah! thanks again!

[@markfleming11]

Sandy and Brandon, great job, not to mention all the fun we had. Thank you again!

[@Pagosa]

It was fun! Thanks again Mark!

[@blainealdrich7940]

Wonderful job Brandon!! Five stars. Thank you Sandy!! See you in May in FT Pierce.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks Blaine!

[@CleanPowerAuto]

Sandy, you are awesome. Brandon, nice video.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks! she is awesome for sure!

[@SandyRVUpgrades]

Leisure uses the orange casing 10/2 with ground Romex solid copper wire for their 2020 and newer 2000w inverter installations wired to 30a Inverter AC In and Out breakers in a dual bus breakers box. Replacing the 2000w inverter with a 3000w inverter is a simple swap of units, all the inverter wiring remains the same then reconfigure the breakers so you can power everything in the coach from the inverter. I recommend leaving the refrigerator on the shore power left side of the breaker box so you retain the refrigerators automatic power select feature. I didn't have a single 15a breaker with me so I had to move it because it was on a tandem breaker with the General coach outlets. The refrigerator can already run directly of battery, it is actually a waste of battery power to run the refrigerator off the inverter.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks for the clarification Sandy

[@margieblair6511]

Thank you for sharing this information. Your videos are always helpful. I am hoping one day to make this change on our RV.

[@Pagosa]

Awesome, you won't regret it.

[@kevinkimball715]

Very informative video. Now I need to find a video showing the AC soft start install.

[@Pagosa]

Awesome, glad it helped. I think Changing Lanes channel has a recent soft start install.

[@florencepearson1550]

Ms you have my upmost respect. Yes.

[@Pagosa]

She's great!

[@justfollowthatvan6721]

Super cool! Thanks so much for this demo.

[@Pagosa]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BeeCreekPhotographySpicewood]

Awesome!! Thanks for putting this together. I am about ready to upgrade my 21 MB. I would love to see the video segment about opening up the metal wall to the left of the inverter and putting it back in. I did notice there was no Class T Fuse installed like she list in the guide. Why was one not installed?

[@Pagosa]

No more T Fuse. There are updated guides as well on my website, pagosasupply.co/lithium . The wall was already taken apart before I got there to film.

[@michaelstanley3369]

Awesome job! Are you planning on sharing the entire video to show all the other details?

[@Pagosa]

Hey Michael, which details are you wanting to see?

[@davidborden654]

So much win in this video - great job!!! I've got a UTB on order with max solar and lithium battery options. I assumed I'd never do Lithionics upgrade, but it looks very doable for a handy person like myself. Almost a year into waiting queue and I don't want to change my order - what would I do with those Dragonfly batteries?

[@Pagosa]

Hey David, I would ask your sales person if you can delete lithium. They are so overpriced, I hate for you to just eat that cost.

[@DavidMontgomery1]

@@Pagosa Would it be possible to take the standard LTV lithium battery (2) set-up and add a Lithionics battery on top of it for even more capacity?

[@siegelsdad]

In round numbers what is the budget including time and materials? How to find an installer you should trust...?

[@Pagosa]

Hi Mike, we do installs here in Dallas. We also have a few installers around the country we recommend. This is a +/- $7K out the door

[@reed6347]

I’m upgrading from a Coachmen Galleria Li3 to a UMB, expected delivery in August of this year. I’m spoiled by my Lithium now, and absolutely will be doing this conversion. 2 questions: 1. My batteries recharge while my engine is on, and thus the AC doesn’t draw off the battery with the engine on. Does the engine recharge the battery and power all the components with this conversion, or is it only through solar or shore power? 2. With this video and the guide I’m pretty confident I could do this myself, but who would you recommend I contact for a professional install? If the answer to my other question is no, I’d also want someone to install the necessary alternator so my battery recharges with the coach engine on. I’d also like to consider getting 2 or 3 of the 315/320ah batteries and remove the coach generator entirely. Thanks for this guide, and thanks in advance for answering my questions! Love your channel and how you serve the LTV community.

[@Pagosa]

Hello Reed, Your LTV will come with a DC to DC charger installed and that will charge the Lithionics as you drive. You can certainly add more 320's and remove the generator for sure. If you are somewhat comfortable doing the install yourself, then I believe you would have no problems. If you have more questions on the Lithionics, just email me at [e-mail]

[@alexrest]

Brilliant!

[@Pagosa]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bradleyolson3256]

I have a 2022 Wonder RL so this would be doable on my rig as well ?

[@Pagosa]

Absolutely. Email me at [e-mail] if you have any questions.

[@darksithdad]

Is Sandy available for hire to install into a 2024 Unity?

[@Pagosa]

She doesn’t do installs except in particular situations. Which area are you in and we can help find an installer

[@jimmylim6885]

Thank you!

[@Pagosa]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@daniellecomte3821]

How do you run the AC once the battery is too low? How do you recharge the Lithium battery?

[@Pagosa]

The battery is for temporary use of the AC, so need a power sources like shore power or generator to run the air. The generator, shore power, driving and solar are ways to charge the battery.

[@bourbontraveler]

A question How long will my coach run on the lithium battery if I don’t want to run ac ? Make coffee and run the microwave a couple of times a day for 10 or 15 minutes Thanks M

[@Pagosa]

The 315 will power those things pretty much indefinitely if you have solar and some sunshine. Otherwise, you are looking at 1500 watts pulling for a few minutes at a time, so the Lithionics will go for days doing that before recharge.

[@bourbontraveler]

@@Pagosa Thanks

[@gosman949]

Branden is this essentially the same install that VOGT did on your LTV?

[@Pagosa]

No, mine was before the Lithionics firmware update and such that had me replace some wiring and fuses. This is now just simple swap out. Much easier now.

[@eprohoda]

fried!so fantastic . see u around! 🎥

[@Pagosa]

Thanks!

[@florencepearson1550]

Ok would it be better to get these things doing your build? I'm a baby here I need HELP

[@Pagosa]

LTV doesn't have any options like this, so it has to be after market.

[@margieblair6511]

I was told it is now available in the Regency line of RVs.

[@norm4907]

I don’t get it, she is right 10AWG wire is for 30A, the existing wire is 12AWG with is good for 20A. That inverter will overload the existing AC wire, IMO it should be changed to a 10AWG. Can you ask Sandy why she feels this is OK.

[@SandyRVUpgrades]

On the 2020 and newer models Leisure uses orange casing Romex 10/2 with ground solid copper wire wired to 30a Inverter AC In and Out breakers in the dual bus breaker box.

[@norm4907]

@@SandyRVUpgrades wow, that’s great. Wished this would of been explained.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks for the explanation, Sandy.

[@andyconway5610]

What does the amp hours mean in practical terms to a total dunce?

[@Pagosa]

Battery capacity is measured in Ah, or Amp-hours. this means how many amps the battery can deliver in an hour. For example, a 12V lithium battery with a capacity of 100Ah can deliver 100A to a 12-volt device for one hour.

[@Mackenzieadventures1]

Send her over I’ve got a project.:)

[@Pagosa]

Ha, I’ll let her know