🔌 SYSTEM UPDATE! RV Lithium Battery & Electrical Project - 3 1/2 Months In!⚡️

[@scottcampbell4116]

You two have added to our "wish list" with this Xantrex set up (along with our 15 year old pusher up grade dream to a new coach). Keep this stuff coming our way. We appreciate, most of all, the new things you bring to mind, installation procedures, etc.

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you so much, Scott! 😊

[@NomadicNative]

Paying for lithium’s... Total spent - $5000 Average RV park - $30 5000/30=167 nights We did that, easily, with the old flooded battery bank. Love the lithium’s!! Great video series!!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks! Love your math! 😄

[@carl2591]

that depends on your location and ability to boondock.. west not a problem,, east big problem, but do understand the math.

[@NomadicNative]

Carl Newton hi, go to the Walmart sporting goods counter in Florida. Buy a WMA permit for $26. Boondock at Florida WMA’s all winter. Last winter we stayed at 3 Lakes WMA 47 miles South of Orlando.

[@carl2591]

@@NomadicNative ... WMA water management agency?? Yes I have heard to them. some are remote as heck.. 47 miles is that close to Lily Lake of hwy 27,, RV park with golf course on lake?? now how about NC, VA, and north etc.. :) that's where it get tricky during summer. But do like the WMA ideal.. already check the website.

[@NomadicNative]

Carl Newton wildlife management area. Near lake Jackson, Kenansville Florida, off N Canoe Creek Road. The single permit covers all Florida WMA areas.

[@brendanwalsh1675]

Fantastic series of what almost seems like science fiction. It's Popular Science magazine coming to life! You both are changing the way we'll be able to enjoy the fulltime lifestyle. We just hope that Xantrex will be able to put together a package of modules for a seamless installation in Class A's. Solar will be the icing on the cake! Safe travels and thank you, again. Brendan & Lena

[@RVwithTito]

Cool. I've heard the lower resistance when charging Lithium is like adding another solar panel or two. So I'm curious to see how your existing panels do.

[@ianm7856]

Great explanation on how the system works.

[@gosman949]

Thanks for showing the industry what can be done with these big RVs. Maybe they will listen and install this equipment from the factory!

[@lindagross8112]

Thanks for the info. You always do a great job explaining things. Thanks and Happy trails.

[@LowsJuan]

Thx for the update a lot of channels would have left us in the dark. I look at your roof and see thru my magic mirror many, many 305 watt mono's in your future, Maybe even 1.5 kwatts

[@debra-vs]

It’s so great to see you and hear your wise experiences. THANK YOU.

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you, Debra, for making our day! 😊

[@FerroequinologistofColorado]

Never clicked on an RVgreeks notification so quickly

[@nancyf52]

Great explanation! I know it's costly but I can sure hear the excitement and at ease. Thanks for the update. Safe traavels.

[@Maik1968]

The roof of your RV is so clean, I am impressed and reminded to take more attention to our trailer 👍😂

[@hermes6587]

Thanks for the nice update, glad it is working well for you. With our Battle Borne Lithium batteries we have found the same benefits of having them as you and I am particularly blown away by how fast they charge.

[@brianmombourquette5381]

Welcome to Nova Scotia! Although you are probably half way to Arizona by now. Glad you had the chance to see this corner of North America. Safe travels!!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Brian. This was our second summer in NS and we absolutely adore it!

[@lizbowen1149]

Hey guys! It's Elizabeth from the restaurant last night! Hope you have a fab trip and can't wait to see the updates. Safe trip! X

[@RVgeeks]

Hey Elizabeth!! So great to see you here! Can’t thank you enough for all the great info and for taking so much of your time to share. We’re sitting here in the rain right now (inside the RV of course!) mapping out potential stops over the upcoming two weeks. Be sure to check out Instagram for the most up-to-date sharing of our trip. Thanks again. It was such a pleasure to meet you. 😘

[@lizbowen1149]

@@RVgeeks I'm stuck inside too but I'm sure you'll get going soon enough. You are more than welcome! Was great to meet you both and I can't wait to follow your adventures! Be sure to head into Leighton buzzard tonight to The Black Lion pub on the high street to go to the gin palace or to Ollie Vees for the best Rum cocktails in town! Lots of love xxx

[@RVgeeks]

More awesome tips! You’re the best. 😊😘❤️

[@lizbowen1149]

@@RVgeeks You're welcome! OH! for an Italian, go to Mama Rosa's you'll love it xx

[@RVgeeks]

Just downloading theFever app, too. You’re amazing (and in the wrong business)! 😉😘

[@raybbj]

Congratulations on the Rvers !!. WOW!. Good for you !! I hope we'll be able to see it in Canada !

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Ray! We hope so too! We’ll keep you posted of course. 😊

[@nealdavis350]

Thanks for the old intro music! :-) Thanks, too, for the update! :-)

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Neal! I was long overdue to use my recording of Maple Leaf Rag! Thanks for noticing. 🎹😁

[@LetGoAnLive]

Your system is pretty amazing ! I just installed 500 watts solar with 200ah battle born lithium batteries. I am blown away by the super fast recovery time as well. I don’t have the residential fridge so the 200ah is plenty for me right now but will install another 200 ah in the future.

[@DuncanRawlinson]

This series was tremendously useful and informative. Thank you!

[@TheAdventureTravelers]

Always love watching your informative videos.

[@markfaunce7744]

Hey guys I want to wish you the best of luck in your new directions been calling you guys for a while so it'll be a nice transition

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you, Mark! 😊

[@Trishpage312]

So excited for you! Awesome!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Trish! 😊

[@bryonh6928]

Hello again, my wife and I will start our full time rv life after thanksgiving. We expect to be in the south west by early Jan 2019, hope to meet up with you both at some point, take care and be safe.

[@jeffallen4505]

Thanks for the info on batteries! I didn't know much of what you two discussed!!

[@sociopathicnarcissist8810]

I have been waiting for this review and I am delighted that it has worked out so well. I look forward to viewing the solar upgrade project, keep living the dream guys.

[@desertcat8029]

Great info! You and the Chickerys have us convinced.... next time we need batteries we take the plunge

[@VTHokies1987]

You guys do great videos. Another good series. Thanks for the knowledge bank. I wish I had that kind of knowledge and ability to put it into practice.

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you so much, Michael! 😊

[@jerrydaminato743]

So great. We are just heading back to Ontario after 5 months west. NWT to Arctic, YK, AK, BC, and back through prairies while you are headed the other way! LOL.

[@RVgeeks]

Sounds like you had a great trip! Sorry we missed you.

[@billyjay4672]

As ever lads very informative on the batteries wherever you go drive carefully and have a great trip.

[@kitesquid]

6th. Thanks for the outstanding update on your lithium battery upgrade. I really wish that Newmar would offer lithium batteries as an option on their coaches. Keep the great videos coming and safe travels to the both of you!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Kite! A little bird told us that Newmar’s working on it. 😉 But of course this kind of leap forward takes time and diligence. Hopefully soon.

[@kitesquid]

I sure do hope your little birdie was telling the truth. Also we are probably going to buy a New Aire in 2020 so I hope they have it sorted by then!!! I'm sure the option will be quite expensive, but it will be probably less than back fitting as you would have a battery charger and a set of flooded lead-acid or AGM batteries that are used to dispose of. And then there's the issue of building a battery tray as you are well aware of. Once again thanks for the great video and keep them coming.

[@rd4660]

Great presentation. Now we need lithium to come down to a reasonable price/value.

[@dalewatkins9889]

Yes, if there where a large drop in price on Lithium, I would have had it already, thus the slow drop is holding up many I'm sure, especially if solar is another option wanted, with it's pricing.

[@rd4660]

I have 425 watts of solar on the roof and 540 AH of AGM for house power. No generator. 12V refer, Webasto cooktop and house air/water heat. The solar works great to charge the batteries on a nice clear day, but after three days in a forested area, I have to start my engine and use the alternator which give me 60 AH of charging. But if I’ve discharged the batteries to 50% (220 AH, or 12 volts indicated) I’ll need to run the engine 3-4 hours to give me three days of juice. We almost always look for a sunny boondocking site and rarely have power problems, but a lithium battery would be very, very useful. But the $5000 to $10000 price tag is hard to swallow.

[@WillProwse]

Lithium is currently much cheaper than lead acid if you factor in charge cycle life. Lead acid is most expensive battery now.

[@Scott-gu5bz]

DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse please do a video on this “eGen” system!

[@misterkota1252]

They’re actually reasonable compared to lead acid. You’d have to replace lead acid 5 times in the lifetime of a lithium battery. So considering this, lead acid batteries are many times more expensive.

[@thecanadianrvrepairguy3062]

Another excellent battery video.

[@Rocki5pr]

Thanks for another great update and video

[@HumbleRoad]

Great update. As you've mentioned here, this system improves boon docking on so many levels. Would you consider a drawer style marine fridge freezer? AC/DC, no propane. Heck I think a pair of them would not equal the consumption of your residential! Love your videos, I speed click the notifications! :-)

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much for the nice comments and great question! Since we have so many friends on boats, we know about those awesome units, but we never thought about doing that in the RV because they don’t seem to fit as well with the layout as our residential unit. Maybe we haven’t given it enough thought and are wrong about that. But it would definitely take some reworking of interior space to switch to one... or even two. Maybe our next How-To topic? 😉

[@debra-vs]

RVgeeks, I was wondering about that, too. I’m closing in on buying my first RV after a long time of research and self-searching (at least two years). Unless I buy new, I’ve decided to get a large Whynter with a freezer section. Expensive, but it’ll pay for itself quickly with a lower power draw and food storage.

[@knightwing4]

RVgeeks That will be a good topic because I don’t know anything about marine refrigerators. I’m also thinking about getting my first RV but I want a 5th wheel. Seems like a lot of this stuff could apply to either one though. Do you have any videos that talk about the differences between the two? I’d like to hear your take on that subject too.

[@RVgeeks]

We don’t have any videos comparing towable to motorhomes, so we’ll have to add that to the list!

[@bsjcook]

Very informative video! Thanks. You may benefit from the Sewer Solutions equipment to do away with the 3 inch sewer hose system - we are delighted with how it works and how clean it is when you are done.

[@smitty71665]

Another great video. Thanks Guys

[@ScottBaker1]

HOLY CRAP...welcome to NS! Not sure how far behind you are, but I'll be keeping an eye out this weekend for you, as we'll down around that area!

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Scott! Sorry. We just landed in England!

[@randycarston986]

welcome to nova scotia. I realize this is now days old but what campground did you film this in? You appear to be just a couple hours from our hometown.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks for the welcome, Randy. We LOVE NS! This was shot in Blomidon Provincial Park (on Monday, Sept. 17).

[@randycarston986]

@@RVgeeks great tbank you. that was going to be my guess. We are looking at heading there next weekend

[@ScottBaker1]

Figured as much. Glad you enjoyed your time in our beautiful Province :)

[@campermike8879]

Came dang close to buying a 2015 Forest River Travel trailer. Looked really nice and about exactly what I was looking for and the price was right. I got cold feet at the 11th hour. Not quite ready to take on the payment. Maybe kind looking for a excuse to back out. But found out they were the second owners. Reason for selling seamed a bit weak. Cause the truck he tows it with is too rough for the wife. But she loves the camper. I will get the heck out of that pop up by spring and will be using your videos to learn things with a travel trailer though you have a coach. Still works mostly

[@wanjockey]

Just finished the video. You guys have so much info to take in. I am so glad that those batteries are working for you. I have a LiFePo 36v / 10ah battery for my ebike. Way better then the SLA. So much lighter, like half the weight. If you know the answer. I drive to work 2 miles so don't use much and I have need waffling about charge after each run, or wait for back and forth. what is better for the battery I bought? thank you for the time to answer me.

[@joethecomputerguy1]

The only thing I am ahead of you guys on is solar 960watts. 600Ah lithium is also what I have and it's awesome!

[@allankawakami7851]

Great update👍

[@MIdaffy502]

There's only one negative about Lithium, that is Freezing Temperatures, they don't like it. SLA-AGM batteries charge in as low as 0°F temperatures. Solutions are: add Battery Blanket or Heat the compartment enough to meet the minimum operating, or go south for the winter months. Next step guys, order up those 235 watt solar panels you always wanted, its only money... they say.

[@hermes6587]

It is true what you say about freezing temperatures, but in our experience it has been a non-issue and we have camped as ow as 25 degrees. Keep in mind that the lithium batteries have a battery management system and part of it's job is to shut off any charging when the core temp drops below 32 degrees, so it protects the battery from damage. In our install, I lined the battery box with reflectix and placed a work light with a 60 watt bulb to heat up the compartment, and have never had to turn on the light except as a trial, even when the ambient temps were at 25 degrees.

[@LowsJuan]

The Xantrex battery as you can see does not look like normal batteries lithium or lead... anything. That's because it is a sealed unit with the ability to heat itself to maintain proper temps. If you have the time you should look at the previous five episodes of the install of the batteries, to learn more about these prototypes. If you watch any of there previous videos you will see their attention to detail is extremely high. Another way that other classes of RV's solve this problem is by placing them inside the rv where the heat is. Of course, most Diesel Pushers have there banks outside the living space.

[@dalewatkins9889]

Well said, the attention to detail is exquisite that these guys put into their video's, giving us a lot to learn from their successes! As mentioned, the Xantrex heats itself to maintain the warmth and ability to charge. Unsure on the cooling if/when in extreme heat situations, but I've seen other video's where they have added fans to blow the heat out of the battery compartment, so it's basically the cold situations to watch for, especially those of us in the Pacific Northwest or Northeast coast folks. Yes, we often make our way south, but often it's very cold prior to heading south!

[@BKKKevin]

The batteries they installed have a special system that will heat themselves in cold temps... One could add a automotive battery heating pad & thermal receptical and insulate the battery bay in a self install

[@legaleagleandpaws8198]

Could you explain a little more of them "heating" themselves? Like can it heat itself in 10 degrees?

[@dalewatkins9889]

Thanks for the update guys, well done and a very good explanation! I was wondering why you went with the Xantrax rather than any of the other Lithium choices, but I suppose that's a personal choice! I look forward to your Solar upgrades in the future, as we're thinking of adding a solar array to our Tiffin over the winter at some point, which gives me a little more time to educate myself on a sufficient system, as we don't full time, but we do boon dock often when we are away! Safe travels!

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Dale! A couple of unique things about the Xantrex Freedom e-GEN battery... 1) It’s self-heating, so no worries about charging in sub-freezing temps, and 2) It’s the only battery we know of that is tested and approved to UL Standard 1973 for use in “Stationary, Vehicle Auxiliary Power, and Light Electric Rail” applications.... basically the only one actually approved for use in an RV. Others only meet UL standards that do not include daisy-chaining them together.... but it’s being done anyway. 😕

[@BearfootAdventures]

Great video

[@MililaniJag]

CONGRATS GUYS!.....PRESS RELEASE: RVgeeks to Host New RV TV Show on PBS!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much, Rob! 😊

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

I've been keen on the complete removal of the generator entirely and using an additional alternator to my engine to charge my batteries like the Volta Power System.

[@RVgeeks]

That’s exactly how the Freedom e-GEN system is being implemented on Class B RVs. We opted not to go that route at this time as we were about about 10 months and 10,000 miles on the road far away from Xantrex! We’re not done upgrading, and looking at many options. 😊

[@elizabethferguson9280]

Y'all always have something interesting. Thank you. Have you decided how many solar watts you will have when you upgrade?

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Elizabeth. We’re mapping out space for eight 160-watt panels for a total of 1280 watts! Stay tuned for details as soon as we have everything confirmed.

[@elizabethferguson9280]

@@RVgeeks Wow, that was quick. Thank you!

[@kenlee6123]

Another Fantastic Video! Always so informative and to the point. When will this battery be available to purchase?

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks, Ken! Glad you enjoyed it! We've been in touch with Xantrex about when the eGEN battery will be available, and as of now, they're saying "later this year" (sorry it's so vague). They are getting authorized dealers trained on installing the battery, so it won't be available to purchase directly... only as part of an installation by a certified tech. Sorry we can't be more specific... but that's all we know at this point.

[@lincolnklee]

do you have to buy all batteries needed or can you add as need/afford

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Karen! This battery system isn’t on the market just yet, so we don’t know all the particulars. But as soon as they start selling them, we’ll share as much detail as we can.

[@knightwing4]

I’m learning a lot from you guys. I do have a question though. Will they make a system that works on a 5th wheel with a gen set?

[@RVgeeks]

When the Freedom eGEN system comes out, there's no reason why it shouldn't work on a 5th wheel with a genset. Our motorhome has a generator, and it all works great!

[@jeffbowers950]

Hi RVG. Wondering what made you decide on that particular battery over other manufacturers, and what other lithium brands did you consider ? Great video and good info for all. We live in the U.S.V.I. and run our home and vacation rental villas fully on solar -w- lithium storage along with an emergency backup diesel genset. I've never had to use the diesel since starting up the solar system in 2018 (except for maintainance exercise runs of course)and we sure love not paying 42 cents per KWh to our awful unreliable local utility provider anymore. Also am very pleased knowing I can leave the lithium at any state of charge for days if needed tho I do top them up every day. We keep our camper in Michigan (hurricane evacuation center) on a small lake property and spend 6 months each summer there. Looking forward to setting up a permanent off grid power supply for property/camper tho I'm not decided on a mobile or stationary system yet. Have fun on the road and keep up the great vids. Thanks from the sunny Caribbean -www.joyoflifevilla.com

[@RVgeeks]

There were a couple of decisive factors that lead us to choose the Xantrex Freedom E-gen system. First, it takes up less space than any comparable battery we’ve seen, using the approximate space of four standard flooded lead acid or AGM batteries and replacing them with the power equivalent of more than 10 of those. It’s also the only self-heating lithium battery we know of, allowing it to operate, including accepting a charge, in virtually any temperature condition versus other lithium batteries which cannot accept a charge below freezing. Also, the Xantrex reputation, and our experience with other equipment from them, gave us great confidence, in which we were not disappointed.

[@Jumpingoffthecliff]

I love my lithium batteries, 800AH worth. I’m figuring that I’ll save at least 1,000 a year depending on how often we’re off shore power. Since the number of cycles is probably at least 10 times as many as lead acid the costs even out quickly, or actually shift to the favor of lithium, The problem is that list price on my lithium comes to over 5,000. I saved money because I imported these in bulk, but still, not cheap. IF, those batteries fail prematurely, that’s a lot of lead acid batteries. Only time will tell, but if they were less expensive, it would be a total no brainer, on he meantime, it will be a couple of years before I really see a financial payoff.

[@traveller9625]

Very good information. Play the piano!!!!!

[@LAPGOCHINSTRUCTOR]

New SUB here - you have a great channel - what you're doing is so relevant and on trend at the moment, and I suppose will eventually lead to complete EV RVing . Given the current systems and we know battery tech never stands still what was the ball park financial figure for the complete new battery[s] system - inc all the monitoring accessories fabrication, cable reel etc and approx time carried out to do this work. Did you do an ROI on the system Did you get anything for the old batteries etc. All the best both and safe RVing :)

[@RVgeeks]

Hello, welcome and thank you! Great to have you here with us. This system was installed as part of a case study and showcase for the new Xantrex Freedom e-GEN lithium battery, and we don’t know the exact cost, as it’s not available for purchase yet. YET!! 😉 We’re hoping that our project, along with Xantrex’s working with several manufacturers on an OEM offering, will lead to lots of interest and the availability of the system as an aftermarket upgrade. We will of course keep you posted on availability and price as soon as we hear anything.

[@arizonanumbersstation1727]

Love this video series guys. So at approximately the 1:00 time stamp you said that with your old AGMs you had 440 of capacity but only 50% was usable. So were your old AGMs batteries 100 amp batteries or 200 amp batteries? I have four 6V bats wired in series/parallel each battery is 200 amp hours but I don't understand if that gives me 800 amp hours with 400 usable? Or do I need to half that since they are 6V being used in a 12V configuration so I have 400 amp capacity with 200 amp usable? Can you help me understand that? I've watched a ton of vids and no one really explains how that works.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks! Glad you liked these videos! And great question. When you wire batteries in series (positive terminal to negative terminal) you are adding their voltages together, but not their amp-hour capacity. So two 6V batteries wired in series become one large 12V battery with an amp-hour capacity equal to one of the batteries (in your case, 200Ah). When you wire batteries in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative) you are adding their amp-hour capacities together, but voltage stays the same. So taking two pairs of 6V batteries that are wired together to become two larger, 12V batteries then adds their amp-hour capacity together (your combination now having 2 x 200Ah = 400Ah of capacity). Because the batteries are lead-acid chemistry, you should only use 50% of their rated capacity to avoid damaging them and significantly reducing their usable life. So 1/2 of 400Ah = 200Ah capacity from the 4 x 6V batteries wired in series-parallel. Hope this clears it up for you!

[@arizonanumbersstation1727]

@@RVgeeks Thank you! That answers it--yes. I've learned so much from the vids and watching you guys on the Discovery Channel. Well Done!

[@DonQ]

Maybe you've covered this in other vids, but I'm wondering about the cost of system upgrades to lithium by RV manufacturers. Often they are $20-22,000. Lithium batteries can be around $6000. What is involved in a lithium upgrade and what do you think of these prices?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Jonathan. We have not covered that topic, as we don't really have much info on it. We're not sure what other items each manufacturer may be including in their "lithium upgrades" that could be being added to the cost (i.e. does it include and upgraded inverter/charger, larger alternator, etc?). We would guess that, barring other expensive components being added to the package, that the RV manufacturers are charging what they think the market will bear... providing them some (a lot of?) profit margin in the process. Each lithium battery (and accompanying BMS - Battery Monitoring System) is different... so there's not ONE answer to the question of "what's involved in a lithium upgrade". Plus, not all RVs are equipped the same... so if you have an older RV with an old charging system, that may need to be replaced to ensure the lithium battery is seeing the correct charge profile. And there could be additional components needed to address charging the house battery from off of your RVs alternator while driving (which could include replacing the existing alternator with one that's lithium compatible or adding a second alternator for that purpose). But all that said... you're likely talking a worst-case scenario of an additional $2,000 in components/parts needed to upgrade to your $6,000 in Lithium Battery (not including labor if you're not doing the upgrade yourself). Hope that helps!

[@jamclay]

Hi Guys, thanks for the update. My wife and I have just started working with Xantrex to install this system on a DRV 5th Wheel at the factory. They expect to be in the aftermarket sometime next year. I have a question, Can you charge the system on 30amps while drawing from the battery bank? So, if you are at a campground with only 30 amps, normally you would not be able to run the A/C and the residential fridge, the microwave etc att al the same time. With this system, does it draw from the battery bank all the time even while you charge from 30 or 50amps? This will determine if we get a regular gen set from DRV installed or get an aftermarket 30amp Predator or something else. We plan to have quite a bit of solar installed so we would only need the generator when its bad weather and we draw down the battery. Thanks and keep up the great videos.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Chuck. When parked at a campsite using 30 amp power, of course you have to manage your power usage to make sure you don’t exceed the limit of the circuit breaker. So when we are on a 30 amp pedestal, we can continue to charge the battery using the built-in inverter/charger, but have to make sure that we don’t exceed the 30 amp capabilities of the circuit. So we reduce our use of air conditioning or electric water heater or microwave, etc. to be sure that we don’t tax the system too much, until the battery is fully recharged. But keep in mind that when you are on shore power, you don’t need the inverter (pulling 12 V power from the battery and converting it to 110 V), since you can just draw the 110 V power from the pedestal. If we were in a situation where we NEEDED the power for an air conditioner or the microwave, we can flip the circuit breaker that provides 110 V power into the inverter charger to get it to click over and begin inverting, which then takes the outlets and puts them on the inverter, freeing up power on the 30 amp pedestal to run other devices. Since the lithium has plenty of power capacity, we can run like that for as long as we need to before turning off the 110 V device that is pulling power, so that the inverter/charger can replace the power back into the battery. Every RV is wired differently, so your system may not be exactly the same as ours, and may take some getting used to to figure out what works best for you. Let us know if that didn’t answer your question.

[@jamclay]

@@RVgeeks Thanks for the great info as usual. I think that sums it up. It think its really going to depend on room in the generator bay of the DRV as to how much space I have for a generator. I really want an installed gen set but I can settle for a portable if necessary. We will be sure and document the install as much as possible so we can show others. Thanks again

[@bertju100]

great video i have 1 200amp works great

[@wanjockey]

Gotten? is that a word. Still watching. LOL

[@RVgeeks]

ɡɒt(ə)n: past participle of get. Yup... it’s a word! 😁

[@remitremblay2091]

Hello, GREAT video again! How much for those new lithium batteries (or is it an accumulator???)? As well, what if they are on the tong of the RV? Is this an issue? Thanks guys, your videos are extremely well done and informative! We like them! Safe travels always :-) Rémi from Montréal

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Rémi! We don’t know pricing yet because they are not yet available for aftermarket installation. We will of course keep everyone up-to-date as soon as we know more. And yes, they are actual lithium batteries, not an accumulator. We would suggest that placing the batteries anywhere other than inside a protective compartment wouldn’t be a very good idea. We’ve never seen anyone do that before, and don’t recommend it.

[@roydavis2242]

Have you checked out the next generation high output solar panels? You can get 260 watt panels if you're willing to go with a 24v system. They can really recharge batteries fast.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Roy! We’re checking out the options! 😊

[@jmos96]

What length of warranty does Xantrex provide with this battery?

[@RVgeeks]

3 years. Complete details here: www.xantrex.com/documents/lithium/20190920_LithiumIonBattery_Datasheet2019.pdf

[@TheStile2]

Could we get a rough idea of how much it cost? I'm going to build a skoolie and want to go with the same system. Thanks

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry Keith, but it's not available for aftermarket purchase yet. Xantrex is starting out testing with a couple of manufacturers as an OEM installation only. Of course we'll have details the moment they become available!

[@TheStile2]

Thanks anyway

[@PierreaSweedieCat]

What you guys need is a miniature nuclear reactor! But congrats on the work so far!

[@RVgeeks]

💥😂

[@RVgeeks]

How about a Mr. Fusion, like Back To The Future II? 😁

[@MililaniJag]

Hi Is there a vid on pros/cons of all electric vs propane heated DPs? Thanks!

[@RVgeeks]

Check this one out, Rob! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6HKioporbaqntE

[@MililaniJag]

Thanks guys! Another very informative vid. Me...Looking to buy a new or newer used DP. Your site is a great educational tool!! Seems so many new DPs are all electric. Love to see you guys discuss all electric DP vs a propane equipped DP. Also, do you have a vid on RV refrigerators? Residential 120v refer vs traditional propane/electric RV refer. Remember seeing vid of a residential refer going thru drivers windshield opening. Finally, love to hear what major options you'd choose in your next new or used motorhome. Been following you guys since you were on with The Wynns. Apologies if I've missed applicable vids!! Haven't viewed them all yet. And again really appreciate your vids and your time!!! Thanks Rob

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks Rob! We did indeed ditch our RV fridge for a residential unit, and love it! The only downside of course is power consumption, but obviously we’re working on that. 😉 Sorry we haven’t done a video about options, but that’s partly because it’s SUCH a personal decision. Whatever we said we absolutely HAD to have (like king bed, residential fridge, separate washer & drier, etc) others would insist that none of those are important! As my Mom always says “That’s why they make vanilla and chocolate!” 😁

[@MililaniJag]

Thanks very much for the info!! Rob

[@chrisallen9706]

A narrow boat channel I saw recently claimed Lithium batteries had 1 serious weakness. Recharging them in near freezing temperature almost kills the battery. I cannot speak from experience because I don't have such a battery & Sydney it never gets that cold. Do you have any advise on this point?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Chris! It’s correct that lithium batteries cannot be charged below freezing, but good ones have circuitry that prevents charging when it’s too cold, and the best one (our Xantrex Freedom e-GEN) is self-heating, eliminating the problem.

[@carpenterfamily6198]

In my EV I only charge it's lithium battery up to 80% b/c heard it's healthier for the battery. I assume that would also be true for your battery. Did your OEM recommend you charge all the way up to 100% ? Ty

[@RVgeeks]

100% charging is no problem at all, but for storing, lithium is generally better left at 80% or below.

[@PentaxLife]

Great video guys hoping to put in some Lithium battery's in this year in our 5th wheel have installed 2880watts of solar With out putting any hole in the Roof yes there is videos but no where in the quality of yours thank guys.

[@RVgeeks]

Whoa! That’s a LOTTA solar!! 😳

[@PentaxLife]

Thanks you no the Canadian weather and hate to run the GEN as well heading south again in 6 days southwest area My have run into you Guys.

[@lawrenceconstantine7735]

I can't believe that you guys could not afford to just do it all at once! I have one question how much does that battery cost because I don't see it on the site I am guessing like 5 grand?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Lawrence! The battery isn’t available yet. Ours is a pre-production unit.

[@tomumberger1356]

What charger did you change out to ?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Tom! Our system uses a Freedom SW 3000 W inverter charger

[@paulsmith-ld8xl]

Sweet

[@jacobhanline2913]

Where can I get this setup here in the us I'd love to get the same battery

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry, not yet available. But hopefully soon. Stay tuned!

[@donspoor8367]

It looks like the good thing to do, but at what cost? I'm sure that's not a cheap thing to upgrade to.

[@RVgeeks]

For sure it’s a luxury... but an awfully nice one!

[@peterdement]

What advantages does your battery offer over 6-100AH Battle born Lithium batteries?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Peter! Two things: 1) It’s self-heating, so no worries about charging in sub-freezing temps, and 2) It’s the only battery we know of that is tested and approved to UL Standard 1973 for use in “Stationary, Vehicle Auxiliary Power, and Light Electric Rail” applications.... basically the only one actually approved for use in an RV. Others only meet UL standards that do not include daisy-chaining them together.... but it’s being done anyway. 😕

[@a2zandbackagain334]

Any guide to cost on the Lithium House Battery?

[@RVgeeks]

The e-GEN system is currently only available as an OEM installation from a couple of Class B manufacturers, but we’re eagerly waiting to see what the next step is as Xantrex tests for the Class A and aftermarket. Ours was installed as a case study for that, so we’re hopeful that our experience can help move that process forward. We will be sure to keep you posted as we know more about availability and pricing.

[@a2zandbackagain334]

Well that’s a bummer. Guess we will wait with baited breath. 😀

[@MrBeeboh]

Buy a Predator 3500 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator from harbor freight. It works in the shade, rain, snow, etc. Its recharge time is zero, it has unlimited cycles, it doesn't need batteries or a separate inverter and its about 20% of cost of solar/Lithium. The installation is fairly simple, You start it and "Plug it in". Please be sure to read these instructions very careful to prevent damage to yourself or your equipment. "You start it and Plug it in". If you enjoy spending thousands of dollars for equipment that under performs, than do the solar thingy and bust your calculator out, get your calculations correct, make sure you charge it correctly, dont drain it too low, have a back up hydrocarbon based system (generator) on hand for when it is cloudy, dont run air conditioner or hair dryer etc. and your friends will think you are really cool because you have solar. You might be all sweaty and your hair is f'd up but... you have solar. :)

[@RVgeeks]

Glad that works well for you, Michael. But we don’t want to “run” anything every time we want power, even a “super” quiet engine. Us solar/inverter/battery users love having continuous, silent power, with zero sound... or exhaust.

[@JohninTucson]

Hi guys - I have been watching your install in earnest and your smiles tell the story. I am putting 3 LG 305 watt residential solar panels on top of my 27 ft class C and using 8 Battleborn 100 amp hr batteries to power everything inside. The rooftop A/C is going on Craigs list along with the generator. I'm using a G.E. thru-the-wall unit following a fellow youtubers channel and his build. People think I'm nuts to lay out such a large amount of money on just the battery bank, but with the BMS running things I have no worries. I will be adding a battery to battery charger connected only to the alternator as a generator back up but I don't intend to use it if I don't have to. Great job guys - I'm right behind you in my install !

[@RVgeeks]

Wow John! That sounds like an amazing system you’re putting together! Suhweeeeet!! 😁

[@JohninTucson]

My bank account is going to scream loudly when I shell out $8k for just the batteries, but it's worth it. We only get one chance sometimes in this life and by God I am worth it...LOLOLOL

[@MrBeeboh]

I dig.. more "Power to um'". I enjoy your videos. The solar thing just dont pencil out for me yet though. Maybe a small setup, but the Lithium batteries, MPPT controllers, etc The cost just dont justify the return. Thanks again!

[@brendanwalsh1675]

Is a Xantrex truesine wave inverter a pure sine wave inverter? Thank you in advance. Brendan & Lena

[@RVgeeks]

We just checked the Xantrex website, and the Tru Sine models are indeed pure sine wave.

[@brendanwalsh1675]

Hugs to both of you.

[@guillermokey9149]

I have a class C I have no solar and I only have two house batteries if I would remove the two house batteries and put in the lithium batteries that you installed is that enough to power the air conditioning lights refrigerator Etc and how much would it cost me to get rid of the two house batteries and put in that lithium battery from one our beer to another just asking for some info and help if you can answer any of my questions thank you guys great video like always

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Guillermo. While the lithium battery is CAPABLE of powering the AC (i.e. it can handle the power output demands needed for start-up of the compressor, etc)... it's still not likely something you'd want to do without also pairing it with a BIG solar array, because the power draw needed to run the AC will suck even a large lithium battery dry in a fairly short period of time. With enough solar, you could keep up with that demand so that you didn't end up sitting in the dark all night! 😉 Check out Nikki & Jason Wynn's video about doing exactly that in their RV: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGHVi4xrqtSngas Another issue with trying to run the AC will be ensuring that you have an inverter that's capable of supplying the necessary start-up amperage the AC will need. So either the inverter will need to be extra robust... or you'll need to modify the AC with a soft-start kit to help reduce the demand. So... with the costs of Lithium batteries, large inverter, and big solar array... you're probably better off running your generator to power your AC.

[@vegasdavetv]

geeks, question for you and any viewers, do you know of a nice rv park at or very close to banff in Canada. thanks

[@RVgeeks]

Sure thing, Dave! Last time we were there (last summer), we stayed right in the park at Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court. The name doesn’t make it sound great, but it’s a beautiful environment with lots of excellent campsites for any size rig. The GPS coordinates are 51.188153, -115.536912

[@vegasdavetv]

@@RVgeeks thanks guys, helps a lot. guess you know where I will be next July. glacier then banff. never been to Canada or outside USA in a rv. as always your a wealth of information

[@RVgeeks]

You will love the Canadian Rockies, Dave! Be sure to visit Lake Louise and Peyto Lake! And if you can, book campsites WAY in advance as July & August are the very height of a short summer season. Have a great time!

[@austinjay403]

U need to get a engine start module from Maxwell

[@RVgeeks]

Those capacitors are cool! Unfortunately there are other items wired to the chassis batteries besides the engine starter, like the steps and the awnings. If we were to go with our Maxwell module, we would have to hunt down and rewire those to the house batteries to prevent them from draining the Maxwell.

[@austinjay403]

@@RVgeeks not as long as u keep one of ur agm starter batteries

[@paulchristiansen9633]

Maybe you mentioned this somewhere, but did you look into using Battle Born lithium 12 volt 100 amp hour batteries?

[@RVgeeks]

We did Paul, but the Xantrex battery is the only one we’ve ever seen that is actually UL approved for use in an RVs (UL1973). We decided that using any battery not approved for this type of use, or daisy-chaining in series, parallel, or series-parallel (which is what’s needed when using multiple smaller batteries like the “drop-in replacements” everyone is touting) is simply not worth the risk. Even though the Xantrex battery isn’t available aftermarket yet, we’ve done enough research to be totally confident that we’re not guinea pigs, and we simply can’t say that about many other brands we’ve looked into.

[@GlennD007]

Is your last name Marzulli? You could be LA's twin brother!

[@RVgeeks]

No relation! 😂

[@DENMONKEY]

This 50% thing on agms is really being pushed by those promoting lithium. You can go lower with minimal impact on the batter longevity. Yet, lithium sellers push this as a hard rule. I think you guys bought into what they were selling. Lithium is still a better portion for those who can afford it but don't fall for everything the seller tells you.

[@RVgeeks]

It’s not that we fell for it.... we experienced it. We pushed our AGMs a bit for seven years and saw markedly reduced performance. They paled in comparison to our first year of lithiums. We’re not saying they’re cheap. Just life changing! 😊

[@DENMONKEY]

@@RVgeeks 7 years is a pretty good run if your "pushing" them. I'm not denying the benefits of lithium, just how it has changed from you could run an agm down 70% without significant impacts on longevity, now it's go below 50% and you'll kill them. Everyone seems to be towing that line now. A few years back it wasn't what was generally accepted. I'll move to lithium soon enough and look forward to all the benefits you mentioned but I'll be keenly watching to see how others go with theirs first. Keep us updated.

[@paulmatott8331]

Do you know lithium batterys Don't like cold weather ?

[@RVgeeks]

While that's true for other lithium batteries, this one doesn't care. If you watch the introduction to this series (Part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWjQooCZaJWWm7c ), you'll see that the all-weather capability of this particular battery is a prime reason we installed it. It's self-heating, and as a result, the only lithium battery we know of that that can be used fully (charged and discharged) in any weather.

[@paulmatott8331]

Thanks for the info .

[@dam1041960]

Costs,costs! :( Just add max panels and live like in combat just the basics. And quit belly ack.

[@mts982]

are you two father & son?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Scott. We’re a married couple (10 year age difference).

[@glenparris9176]

You do know that an AGM battery lets off gas, right? So even if you used AGM or lead acid next to your lithium you're still going to out gas that compartment because AGM's will admit a gas. Just letting you know

[@glenparris9176]

Also, you mentioned 50% capacity out of the lead acid or AGM batteries and if you real study those you'll only get about 38% of capacity, not 50. No AGM or lead acid battery will give you 50% of its power ever. It just can't do it