Lithium REPOWER - Renogy DCDC + Solar Charge Controller

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

🔥 Renogy have hooked up a deal for you all - use code 'Theroadchoseme' at checkout for a 10% discount ! Renogy 12V/24V IP67 50A DC-DC Battery Charger with MPPT: renogy.sjv.io/5gNPnD Renogy 100 Pro Smart Lithium Battery: renogy.sjv.io/5gNPnD

[@zd533]

Hi Dan, I've been enjoying the build series, really looking forward to seeing the new build in action. Does the Renogy code still work, I'm looking to grab one of the 50A DC chargers but the code is coming up invalid....

[@VelcorHF]

It’s crazy how far battery tech and car options have come since I first started watching you. It can be distressing to watch how expensive overlanding has gotten overall but it also means that budget options are better.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

I had dual AGMs with a solenoid in my last build too and switched to single lithium iron phosphate battery and the renogy dcdc charger with 400W of flexible solar. I now have 250% the usable battery and 130% the solar compared to my old system and it weighs less than half what the old system did. Crazy how quickly things have changed in this area for the DIY vehicle builders.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Wow, yeah, you said it!

[@sharpsticksnz4112]

Great to see you here Matt, I'm subscribed to you both 👍

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

@@sharpsticksnz4112 I subscribe to TRCM as well. And not just because we both have long, vague channel names 😂 I hosted a round table with Dan at Overland Expo a few years ago. He's a genuine good guy. You can probably guess that I appreciate his honest, functional approach to vehicle design and video making.👍👍

[@davehitt8917]

FYI my 50 dcdc renogy also has the solar cutoff setting and I like that I have turned it down to 30 amps. Also it will charge the starter battery at much more than a trickle. Which is great

[@Eddie_-_]

I’m about to buy that one. Happy with it?

[@davehitt8917]

@@Eddie_-_ so far yes, works perfectly

[@erikcele1604]

Nice to see you fixing upp the old girl! Well Done Dan! 👍

[@Smaksum]

As Long as your LiFePO4 has Low temp cutoff you don't need the temp probe, but if not you want to set it up not to charge if battery is below 0C. LiFePo4 can be damaged when charged at low temp

[@sleddogsam]

Really nice video Dan! You've covered off thing very well. Without knowing the length or your wire run I suspect you need 4AWG wire due to needing add both the length of the positive and the length of the negative wires together. Food for thought. My reference is the wire size calculator from Nate's website Explorist life.

[@mitchellpaterson7062]

in my jeep jku crd i have my renogy DCC50S 12V 50A and 100Ah Smart Lithium and arb twin compressor in a Uneek 4x4 under floor box that you cut the floor out it works so good

[@abjeepify]

I'm about to put this same setup together in my Tacoma thank you from a fellow Albertan!

[@ClarkyMalarky]

I just also set up the dc to dc, game changer in size . ( compared to old dc to dc and or plus a solar charger) Don’t have to bring a generator if you’re in a pinch. But keep in mind folks you only want to pull 20- 30% of your alternators current output without straining it too much. My alternator is 220 so the 50 amps is bang on pretty much. Thx for the video! Not much out on these new dc to dc.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Great to hear! One of the great things about the Wrangler and Gladiator with the tow package is it comes with the 240Amp Alternator from the factory.

[@ClarkyMalarky]

@@TheRoadChoseMe my 220 is for a ram 3500 dually, that is a massive alternator for jeeps. Light up the night with that power. 💡😎

[@1CommonView]

Pardon me!! Haha great video

[@BobTheBlue]

Great to see you back online Dan 👍

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks 👍 TONS coming !

[@Vankookz]

Great video! You definitely need a temperature sensor on lithium batteries they don’t l”like to be charged cold. Some lithium batteries like the renogy one you have had a bms with a temperature cut off but some don’t.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

These batteries have them in-built.

[@escapingthenest2020]

I use Victron and love it, lots more advanced and complex, but I love that stuff!

[@aussienscale]

I have been running the Renogy gear for a few years now, faultless !!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Great to hear!

[@yorkchris10]

I think Captain Cook did some ship repairs in Oz. He must have ended up with mixed materials. Probably North America had different tree species to that which was used by the original builder as well.

[@robertsegura6451]

World class crooner brother

[@samjohnson9894]

Has Renogy fixed the weak wire lug issue? When I was building my system in 2020 I looked into Renogy DC-DCs and it was about 2:1 people reporting that the terminal lugs were weakly attached to the main board and broke off. I ended up going with RedArc as a result and have had no issues as one can expect. Also glad you dumped the PWM charger. Those are not nearly adequate for modern wet lead-acid batts, much less AGM or lithium. +1 the comment regarding temperature limitations with lithium. It is such that I could not use them in my cold climate so stayed with AGM. And they become more and more vulnerable to failure as they age so be vigilant. I cannot stress enough the importance of voltage and current monitoring - both charge and discharge - for those things.

[@gavinwilliamson3944]

That Renogy DC-DC Does not have lugs. How do they break it?

[@samjohnson9894]

@@gavinwilliamson3944 I see. So they did fix it on this particular unit. Similar setup to Redarc. The other models have lugs. Wish they would have done that sooner but whatever. 👍

[@sswwooppee]

Look into CIGS solar panels. Shade tolerant, heat tolerant, more efficient, much lighter in weight and far more durable. The only downside on a vehicle usecase is CIGS tech has a lower cell density compared to mono.

[@willwilliams141]

as always; great video, . thanks for sharing

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

You bet

[@reddirtoverland]

Great video, I disagree with not connecting the temp sensor though, lithium’s don’t like to be charged below 0 degrees Celsius

[@gopackgo69]

Battery BMS will control the low temp cutoff

[@robertpanick2660]

@@gopackgo69 Only if the battery's BMS supports an internal temperature sensor, not all do.

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

@@robertpanick2660 That's why you buy the Smart version of the Renogy range, these include automatic self heating, overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemp, under temp, short circuit control, basically the battery looks after everything now.

[@kartikaysengar5884]

Great salesman !!!

[@seib6324]

Excellent job

[@StephenShreds]

Look at me at 23 on the verge of spontaneous combustion woe is me!

[@TheKodiak72]

Be very interesting to see you mount that lithuim battery on its side, only to get a "it failed" video in a few months time

[@davidmilledge221]

Yep I've seen a vid and their batteries were stuffing up on there sides they put them up right and never had a problem again

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

The manual specifically says not to mount it on the side, so I won't be doing that.

[@Brother_Lander]

Love the video Dan. Just a quick observation you might consider changing. Your links to the charge controller and the battery are the exact same link. I'm sure anyone with half a brain can find the parts on their website. But just thought I'd bring that to your attention.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks very much, I just updated it (doh!)

[@klumsytone]

Hi Dan, I have the same DCDC MPPT charge controller you had in the Australian Gladiator, would you upgrade to this new version from that?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I think the only major benefit is the low current solar cutoff setting - if you don't have a need for that I wouldn't upgrade.

[@derJackistweg]

Some notes: - These Optima are no Gel Batteries but AGM, that´s just a different type. - SoC (state of charge): AGM should not be discharged more than 50% to keep a min. of lifetime out of them. NOT up to 70%! LiFePo4 should keep their SoC between 30-80% ideally. Every thing higher of lower drastically reduces lifetime as well. For sure no 100% discharge in LiIon! - You finally decided different but do never place a LiIon battery under the bonnet! LiIon are highly sensitive to HEAT. Above 70°C they go DEAD, which is very likely under the bonnet. - same goes for the DCDC charger: 50A = 600Watt, these thing get hot. Victron for example reduces the output by 20% if temp is higher than 40°C! - Temp sensor: VERY important for LiIon. LiIon (depending on Grade A or B and on weather one has the absolut newest Cells inside) they must not be charged above 0°C (temp of the CELLS!) and must not be discharged below -20°C! Very important. Check the specific LiIon cells. Just a few BMS (Battery Management System) include a temp sensor. So this is crucial. Edit: - You called the selenoid of the AGM setup inefficient. It is not. For that specific setup with identical batteries and one who have the capability to function as a starter one, it is perfect. (if not discharged below 50%)

[@raulbustamante8337]

easy peasy

[@MultiReinforced]

Hey Roadie, I installed this in a Ford Ranger 2021 with a smart alternator, unit won’t charge 50amps only about 25-30amps. I’m assuming the Jeep doesn’t have a smart alternator hence why you get 50amps any words from anyone else that might know why my unit won’t get 50amps, I don’t even have solar connected.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Check the manual, I believe there is another wire you need to connect when you have a smart alternator

[@MultiReinforced]

@@TheRoadChoseMe only has 4 wires, main wire to starter battery/alternator, earth, solar input and auxiliary battery. Other wires are a temperature sensor. People get confused with old units that had a aux wire

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Hmm, I would reach out to Renogy support and see what they say about it not charging at the full 50Amps

[@sharpsticksnz4112]

Does it also sense when there is no alternator input (e.g. engine off) and allow the solar alone to charge the batteries at the full 50amps? ..... really why I'm here is to find out your solution to making the bed pop up in your new composite camper with straight pop roof.... please tell me 😁

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I actually don't know the answer to that, you'll have to reach out to Renogy support. I'm working on the pop top now! Video coming when it's done

[@bindingcurve]

50x12=600 watts actual of solar, not on his roof

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

@bindingcurve I accept your wager sir :)

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

@@TheRoadChoseMe Yes it does sense when there is no alternator input, if the input voltage drops below 14V ie the vehicle is off, it will switch off so it does not drain the main battery into the house battery.

[@SamAminisam]

What size gage wires are you using from starter battery?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Consult the chart I posted, it depends entirely on how long the wire run is

[@BrandonBaecker]

I did a full Renogy build-out in my truck and loved their stuff, until I had a component fail on me and had to use their customer service. Absolutely the worst customer service I've ever experienced from any company in my life. I unfortunately will never buy their products again, nor can I recommend them to anyone, until they improve their CS.

[@erhgeteewehtewehet9108]

i had exactly the same experience. good components until there is an issue and then you have to deal with absolutely terrible customer service.

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

@@erhgeteewehtewehet9108 I have had the complete opposite, I have used the customer service a few times for swaps and they have been great every time.

[@markfelder4819]

Are you now planning on keeping the JK?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I'm still trying to find a forever home for it. Now I'm working on the new one, it makes no sense to keep it sadly.

[@boringusername792]

​@@TheRoadChoseMeCurious that you'd upgrade it then. I'm not complaining, great video. Makes me want to upgrade my house solar.

[@markfelder4819]

@@TheRoadChoseMe You should hide it out in the wilderness and whoever finds it gets to keep it.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

@boringusername792 The setup that was in there had died - as I mentioned the fridge and any accessories have not functioned for a couple of years. It needed replacing.

[@DeanShirley818]

Sadly those Optima batteries are junk. Ever since they off-shored manufacturing their quality control has tanked. I took back so many new red and yellow tops that were dead. The warehouse had pallets of dead optimas. Sad because they used to be GOAT.

[@christiand6768]

Why not just use a gas fridge and an old kerosene camp kitchen. Takes almost no space, cheap as hell and no worries about all that modern tech go out or been on fire. I feel that nowdays it is so much about to stuff a vehicle as full as possible with high tech stuff for thousands and thousands of dollar. I thought going away for a couple of weeks was about to leave the boring city life. I know your trips is very long so I can get what you are doing but in many cases it has just gone silly. Just look at the channel 4wd/27 . That channel has become a commercial channel for ad ons. I found it a it silly, they are on 10 to 14 days trips and sometimes bring a whole house on wheels with them.😅

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Gas a keorsene are very hard to get globally - you need a bucket full of adaptors, you're dependant on the local supply chain, etc etc. They stink, they're dangerous. They are both a very hard no for me.