RV Lithium! Your questions answered with guest Sandra Johnson

[@fredzuccarelli]

You 2 are such a great asset to the LTV community!!!!!

[@Pagosa]

Thanks!

[@ScottBlackmanTexas]

Another well prepared and informative video, Brandon. The power of community is strong. Ever more so when you have a community centered around things with a level of complexity and users of all skill levels who want to fully enjoy their RV lifestyle.

[@Pagosa]

Thanks Scott, Sandy knows her stuff.

[@dpfreeman1]

Best explanations I have ever heard!

[@Pagosa]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrRtbelljr]

Great job you two! Submitted my change order going back to standard battery and coming to TX for a LithiIonics, 3k inverter and softstart...now just need rig to get here.

[@Pagosa]

Great!

[@CleanPowerAuto]

When you start as a NUCLEAR ENGINEER, learning RV electrical seems like something you can pickup without much trouble 🤪

[@Pagosa]

Her humility cracks me up

[@justfollowthatvan6721]

She’s like, “Well…I don’t really have any formal training..” 😂😂

[@incaschultz3038]

Thank you both for this information I am learning so much. I am not comfortable with a propane refrigerator and would like to have an electric one this podcast helps me to understand how I can accomplish this

[@Pagosa]

So glad you got something out of it

[@SSTraveler-Sandy]

I installed an Isotherm compressor refrigerator and love it. It uses about 1/10th the battery power as the Dometic 3 way off battery. I have no worries running my Isotherm refrigerator off just the battery full-time. A compressor refrigerator is much more battery friendly even with the less powerful lead acid battery, flooded wet cell or AGM.

[@davidborden654]

Another long, but fantastic video! I’m expecting my new UTB 4th quarter this year. I recently cancelled the LTV lithium option and will definitely self install Lithionics and 3KW inverter. Thanks Brandon and Sandra!

[@Pagosa]

Glad you enjoyed it! So much more bang for your buck with the Lithionics, so good choice!

[@SSTraveler-Sandy]

Smart, You won't regret your decision!

[@michaelstanley3369]

Thanks again Sandra and Brandon for all this valued info. When I sent in the first question, I did not realize there was also a new 630ah available. From what i just read, the 630ah will not fit in existing. Darn. I am in Ontario Canada. I dont know what I will decide when we get our LTV. But I WILL be going with Lithionics. I just dont know if I should buy in the States with exchange rates and delivery

[@Pagosa]

You could go with two 320ah for sure. the 630 and 660 are prob too large for an LTV (unless you have the bike garage in the Wonder TB). We have free shipping, but pass through a Lithium handling fee of 299 for Canadians. Not sure if that helps, but let me know what you decide to do and we can help get you what you need.

[@artbarney]

Great knowledge. Thanks

[@Pagosa]

Glad it was helpful!

[@justfollowthatvan6721]

Wow! So, so helpful. I have a Wonder RTB on order. I feel like that model might be one of the easiest to add the larger batteries to because the other 2 are in the back pass through storage area which has plenty of room for additions. I’m most definitely planning to upgrade the inverter also so I’m happy to hear her say she has 2. I honestly never thought of that. I could add an additional 3000w inverter and keep the 2000w. Then I could run the A/C off the 3000w and use the 2000w to run everything else. I currently have a converted Ram Promaster with 600ah of Battleborn batteries and a 3000w Victron inverter. We have a 12V Cruise N Comfort AC so that’s not an issue for us but when we do love to use our Cuisinart Air Fryer/toaster oven along with the microwave, coffee maker and induction cooktop sometimes so we are always having to juggle turning one off and another on. We also have a Bosch hot water heater that runs on 120 so that becomes an issue also. I say often that I wish we had a larger inverter. Our 1000w of solar and 600ah of battery power is always plenty but the inverter is the challenge.

[@Pagosa]

Dual inverters would solve your problem

[@alexrest]

Great information to help me decide on how to outfit our URL ( still over a year away from delivery though). I’m hoping that by then you and Sandra have figured out how to market and install the Pagosa “Mr. Fusion” power generator (couldn’t resist the Back to the Future reference). But seriously, thanks for the great video and look forward to more.

[@Pagosa]

Ha, I'll put on my lab coat and get it figured out!

[@artbarney]

How might I get in touch with Sandra in reference to upgrading my unity Murphy bed?

[@Pagosa]

She's on Facebook, prob best way. She doesn't do upgrades however.

[@roybarnette7857]

Thanks for all the valuable information. Put me in the cue Sandy for the lithionics upgrade.battery is on order with Brandon with Pagosa supply.our unity coach has been delivered to our dealer with torsion bar bolt on recall. Thanks again-roy

[@Pagosa]

Hope that recall gets done soon! That’s such a bummer!

[@markcruz8127]

QUESTION: is it ok to use the house AC while driving using the Lithionics, can the sterling 28amp and the solar 400watts solar panel cope up when using it while driving, or you need a second alternator for this? thank you,, great videos by the way

[@Pagosa]

Hi Mark, The solar and Sterling would not keep up with the AC. We live in Texas and I have never found that I needed to run the house AC while driving, but you could run the generator while driving with the house AC on all day if you wanted to.

[@Hogger280]

What do you think of the "Pure 3" lithium system?

[@Pagosa]

Excellent system. Winnebago uses Volta for many of their higher end vans.

[@justfollowthatvan6721]

I priced one when I was planning my camper van build. They are super pricey😬

[@Hogger280]

Have you looked at the prices for the Lithionics batteries(sans inverter)?

[@richardsachar2803]

I know I’m late to this thread but I’ve been mulling this over. I think I am going to cancel the propane generator option in my ordered Unity CB. I plan on going with two inverters and additional batteries in the generator bay and other bays as needed. When I get closer to my delivery date, I’d like to contact you.

[@Pagosa]

That would be an awesome setup for sure

[@adrianpoo1076]

I'm looking at buying a Leisure Travel Van, but due to the issues of the last two years, I held off. My question is should I order my Leisure with the Lithium package and then upgrade like did to the 15000 system or should I wait and have it installed aftermarket? Thank You

[@Pagosa]

I would order without. They charge about 3X the retail value of the batteries, so you would be wasting money for sure.

[@charlesalexmccrainejr3444]

I would like to use the generator while driving only or as needed to charge the battery while boondocking, so a Hybris system is what I prefer because I travel with my Desktop computer with a 1200 Watt Internal Power supply, and have the 2 630 Watt Amp Hour Lithionics Batteries to power the Camper A/C, Outlets, and Induction Stove top, and a 12 Volt/ A/C Refrigerator Freezer, this entire system would be mounted in a Class B-Plus RV Manufacterer yet to be determined

[@Pagosa]

Yes, can't go wrong with a generator if you have one

[@dogzdad123]

Question: My 2014 LTV U24MB has 2 - 100ah Lion Energy Lithium batteries and the original 1000w Magnum inverter/charger. I would like to swap out the old inverter with a Xantrex Freedom 3000w unit. Do you know off-hand if the current wiring can handle the upgrade? Also, do you think that it would be a simple plug’n play swap out install? Thanks!

[@Pagosa]

The 3000w inverter will prob need a wiring upgrade. Also, need a minimum of 3 of those Lions to handle the 3000

[@dogzdad123]

@@Pagosa Brandon, thanks for your response. I’ve already pondered a 3rd battery (and an additional 200w solar panel). The challenge is finding an appropriate spot for that extra battery….or trying to shoe horn a 300ah unit into my existing battery box…and resell the Lion batteries. The more I research this subject , the more I’m discovering that this might NOT be a DIY project. Then again (we) don’t boondock that often to justify the expense and time??? (That sounds like a topic for a future video?)

[@PRESA25]

I was have been watching your videos and it occurred to me you have the voice and content for a podcast. So I looked and guess I am in luck. Check out Pagosa Adventures podcast!!

[@Pagosa]

Welcome aboard! Appreciate the encouragement!

[@iFxLife50Yrs]

The 630 AH is doubling the width vs the 320 AH, the length and height are same, can the 630 be fitting in the house battery compartment? -- Waiting for my unity CB.

[@SSTraveler-Sandy]

The Unity step located battery box is roughly 26"L x 8.5""W x 11"H so it is to small for the Lithionics 12VGTX630ah battery or the 12VGTO660ah battery. A GTX320 battery fits perfectly.

[@Pagosa]

You would have to do some modifications to a bay in order to accommodate the 630 or 660 I would assume

[@angelaleong7224]

Is it possible to use the 2000 watt inverter and the 3000 inverter simultaneously?

[@Pagosa]

I assume you could power the AC from a battery with the 3000 and keep your existing 2000 for everything else. But unless you plan on running microwave and AC at the same time, there's no reason to have more than one inverter. I would just change the 2000 to 3000

[@SSTraveler-Sandy]

You need at least a Lithionics 315/320ah battery for each inverter, that is why I have 630ah of Lithionics batteries in my Unity. The reason is because inverters have what is known as a high capacitive in-rush current and you must have at least 100ah per 1000w of inverter capability. I have dual 3000w inverters so 630ah of batteries. I have one battery in my step compartment and one battery slid straight in next to my inverter, since the Lithionics 315ah battery is only 6.5" wide i still have more that half of my compartment left for storage. Lithionics batteries are so compact!

[@angelaleong7224]

My reason is I want to have the ability to dry my hair with a hair dryer while keeping AC on. My 2000 inverter is brand new. Instead of selling it, I was thinking why not keep it. My tech reconfigured the new 3000 inverter so it lays flat on space where it was originally on its side. It took away some storage space but now there is a ton of room for a second inverter to be on top of it. Wondering if they can be stacked. 🤔

[@Pagosa]

@@angelaleong7224 My initial thoughts are that they shouldn't touch each other, but you can certainly have two. I'd check with someone smarter than me.

[@Hogger280]

Wow, LTV's start having problems in the first 6 months - that's really going to send buyers to the dealers to buy one!

[@Pagosa]

All RVs have problems, but more like in the first 6 days