Travato Lithium Battery Upgrade

How to drop the AGM batteries and upgrade to Battle Born Lithium batteries

[@PaulaJayFairbrother]

Great job. I’m glad you didn’t edit out the effort of getting the nuts off of the AGMs. Also really helpful to see you pull out AGM and insert new batteries. Looking forward to seeing kore videos! I still may end up driving out to see you for update!!

[@toycarcollector]

We have swapped out the 2 AGMs for 2 Battleborn Batteries. Also a bluetooth shunt. When the shunt monitor reaches about 60% we get a low battery warning. And when we reached 55% recently while on a trip the battery bank completely shut down. Any idea as to what could be the problem?

[@TheSilviomorraz]

you did went the hard way, just loosen the side bottom screw the battery will come down with the metal platform once in the floor you just unscrewed the cables and that it, to put back flollow the same procedures. merry christmas and happy 2023

[@p-dub22]

Are the cables long enough to drop the battery on the floor then disconnect the cables?

[@TheSilviomorraz]

@@p-dub22 yes, mine from the right side were long enough and the left side a little shorter so I just put in the bottom 2 pieces of 2x12 wood and that was more than enough, remember each battery weighs about 62 pounds, so to put it back I did needed an extra hand to lifted!

[@gamerdad5010]

@@TheSilviomorraz looks like you have to pull the battery forward, then it can drop?

[@raptr49]

I don't think you can just drop the batteries as there is a lip on the battery tray that supports it. You have to slide it out as shown. I have a different tray design where you can remove the screws then drop the battery straight down.

[@tyarbrough]

Great video and supporting docs! I am planning to make the swap when my AGM batteries die. Thanks again!

[@jasondonovan1408]

Did you do the swap?

[@almanco5476]

LOL ...mods are harder on a 59G especially electrical ones.. Doing the Battle Born heated battery upgrade this weekend - DIY project. Wish WGO designed the battery tray so it pivoted down and add enough cable slack to tilt the batteries down and forward thus making it easier to remove cables. Love to see this battery upgrade video updated to include the Victron shunt. I think it will be straight forward unless there are surprises when I start trying to fit shunt and cabling into the water proof case.

[@peaceoutvanlife]

I have one of mine out on my 59G to see why the Ethernet-monitor isn't working, and came to see if I'd learn a tip on reinstall 😂 I couldn't get the 3 positives reconnected after the batts in position. Ran out of daylight and patience! Fresh eyes tomorrow. Oh, FYI the design of the Renogy's is NOT good for this application. Looks like dirt and moisture has ruined the Ethernet ports they use to connect to one another and monitor.

[@Graymanvanlife]

Forgive me please. 7 minutes into the video I'm still trying to figure out what You have. I have a 2021 Travato Gl. Did your batteries Fail. I'm trying to figure out what the story is and why you're replacing your existing batteries.

[@ScottGriepentrog]

This video only applies to G/K models and not the L models (which have a different lithium battery). This is a video that provides an example of how to remove the original AGM batteries on non-L models, so that they can be replaced with Battleborn Lithium batteries for more capacity. You could also replace the AGM batteries with new AGM batteries using mostly the same technique.

[@toycarcollector]

What do you see as the benefits of the new batteries? Is it something like 50 amp useable before and now around 180? In your use of your van were you running out of juice if so why? Were the old batteries needing to go anyway? So now that you have them will you be swapping out the inverter for a 2K model up from the 1k in there now? For us the benefit with a 2k inverter would be use of the microwave and a higher power kettle. If not connected to AC we have to start up the generator for those 2 items. More details would be appreciated. Thank you.

[@ScottGriepentrog]

Swaping two AGM's at 50ah usable (100 total) for two BB's at 100ah usable (200 total) gives you twice the battery capacity, and thus longer runtime, but it's also longer lifetime on the batteries without the worries of keeping them from discharging too deeply and shortening their life as with AGM. You can just swap the batteries and make no other changes, but you can also add or upgrade an inverter for higher wattage capability. I usually install a Victron 3000 inverter which allows you to run all of your appliances, even the air conditioner. For more details see stg.net/docs.html

[@ericmed]

What about the converter? Does that automatically know how to charge BB battery?

[@ScottGriepentrog]

It will mostly work with the Lithium batteries without modification. There is however available a low cost modification (CBP) to the converter to force it to stay in the higher voltage mode for faster charging, this is available on stg.net website.

[@avlisk]

Just bought a Winnebago Solis Pocket and have 2 BattleBorns BB10012h ready to go in. I don't see a solar panel disconnect anywhere. I've been told the first thing to do is disconnect the solar from the system. Thoughts? Thanks.

[@philc.9280]

just happened to catch your 10-month-old post. I believe you are supposed to disconnect the panels to avoid the voltage to continue to the controller without the battery. So just cover up the panels above with a towel or some cardboard cover while you're switching the batteries. I'm only here to see if anyone else has done this. My AGMs are still going strong but when they start weakening I'll change them. I wouldn't use battle-borns as there are many LiFePO4 batteries like Power Queen or Ampere Time that are literally a fraction of the price of BB's. I already have them in a home solar system and love them

[@jweeks12]

An excellent, informative video and an even better website. What temperatures can these batteries be used at when placed where the AGMs were?

[@ScottGriepentrog]

Depends on if you get the heated model. Without the heater, the power can be used but not recharged below about 27 F.

[@daveduncan4031]

When adding a Smart Shunt, I know it goes in line with the negative. Does it matter where in line that is placed? In your situation here, it seems it would be much easier to add it to the battery with only 1 negative cable.

[@ScottGriepentrog]

You want to have the negative of all batteries tied together, and then a cable from one of the negatives to the battery side of the shunt. Nothing else touches the battery negative, so the ZAMP ground wire and the chassis ground connection have to be put on the other side of the shunt. That way all power in/out of the batteries goes through the shunt and it can accurately monitor the charge level. Generally you want to use a relatively short cable, and it needs to be the same gauge or better as the rest of the battery connections. The original connections are all 1 gauge, so you can use a 1ga jumper or whatever you have handy that is larger. If you've upgraded to an inverter, you'll need to replace all the cabling with 1/0 gauge. Also: the shunt cannot be left out in the open where it can get wet, so you have to put it in a sealed box or run the cables through the floor and put it in side. And if you put it in a box underneath, the bluetooth signal will be so weak that you probably can't talk to it with the victron connect app from inside the rig. So if you're going to go underneath in a box to avoid putting thick cables through the floor, get the BMV-712 instead of the SmartShunt and put the display head inside. If you put the cables through the floor, you can use the SmartShunt, although I strongly recommend only using the SmartShunt with a GX controller, as you have no relay control and no alarm.

[@michaelmckie8050]

Can you share information regarding the new wires and install needed for a 2000-3000w inverter. I would like to upgrade my system to a 2000w system, keeping the functionality of the generator and alternator etc.

[@ScottGriepentrog]

See https//tinyurl.com/TravatoLithium for details.

[@Pinky121971]

Hello Just wondering How you will protect your BB from getting wet while driving? and How you will charge them do they need heater to maintain temperature. Thanks for your insights.

[@ScottGriepentrog]

It is no problem for the battery to get wet while driving because it is sealed. Also battleborn has a heated model that prevents the problem with not being able to charge when too cold.

[@Pinky121971]

@@ScottGriepentrog You know what temperature the BB shuts down when cold or hot?

[@ScottGriepentrog]

@@Pinky121971 27F

[@unapologeticallyconfused3402]

Maybe I missed it but was the reason for changing out the wiring? Also, if you are replacing the inverter with 3000 watts and adding more solar can you keep the original wiring or still need to replace it? Hypothetically, let's just say double the solar, to go along with the 3000-watt inverter. Also, are the lithium batteries lighter than the AGM batteries?

[@ScottGriepentrog]

When I was doing this video, my goal was to put in a high capacity inverter which would require an upgrade to 1/0 cabling. Otherwise without the inverter, you can stick with the original 1 gauge cabling. The solar doesn't require a cabling upgrade. The lithium batteries are half the weight of the original AGM batteries.

[@huskychronicles3249]

With a camper van priced upwards of a 100k you'd expect a stock lithium battery bank.