You Need Lithium Batteries and They’re Not Hard To Install!

[@triphius]

8:46 The only way you wouldn’t get that arc is if you weren’t actually completing a circuit. So if you had, for example, a positive cut off switch for the battery and it was turned off, there would be no arc as the circuit is interrupted. But Ben, you say… isn’t the battery disconnect switch exactly what you’re describing? Unfortunately, on most RV’s that switch doesn’t disconnect everything. There is often still some completed circuit on the battery side of the switch. It could be something like the emergency break-away brake controller. It’s generally safety equipment that the manufacturer does not want to ever be without power.

[@erinnesslage]

Always helpful, even from afar! ❤

[@triphius]

I was with you in spirit! Excellent work y’all. 🎉

[@toms5676]

great content guys!

[@SVAdAstra]

The sparking was the capacitors in the RV's inverter charging. It's mostly harmless, but you can eliminate the spark by first making a connection through a low value resistor (like 10 ohms) or in a pinch, connecting through an incandescent light bulb for a few seconds using clip leads.

[@SEANRMZ]

great job switching out them acid batteries for some awesome lithium. If am not mistaken, on my Fithwheel Cougar, I just removed the main panel in the rig and the converter was right there. So you not needed to get back there.

[@robbishop6450]

Wow, such a small size for the capacity.. great job 👏

[@davelorenz2981]

Looked on vid like neg cable needed clearance from positive post. Looked like it would rub and eventually short out. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Five2Go]

I adjusted it when I added the strap, nothing is touching

[@pmcallister]

Nice to see these batteries in use, thanks for making this video. Hope you can add a suitable high-AIC fuse (ANL or Class T) close to the positive terminal. Lithium batteries are not just drop-in replacements, they have their own requirements. Sorry if I'm telling you what you already know, just want people to be safe with these swaps.

[@murraysissons1809]

Also, you have to change charge profile in solar MPPT controller

[@merlpriester]

I put mine and all the connections inside a plastic box and kept all the lead batteries also. Put a 1 or 2 or off switch in. Not a 1+2 that would be bad. Also a charger like yours that does both profiles. A switch on the charger turns it on or off and selects the profile i want. I had room so why not. Solar charges the LiFePo4 as well. 800 watts of solar.

[@michaelskvarek4508]

Great video! I need to update mine to lithium. I've so many brands...just dont know which ones to get!

[@MaxPartridge146]

Great content!

[@murraysissons1809]

You connected solar, not sure why it didn’t show charge before battery connect turned on. That spark was a bit more because of solar and sunny day!

[@healeybob1]

I would move the neg cable from rubbing on the pos post.

[@Five2Go]

I swung it around a bit farther when I was putting the strap on the battery, it’s not touching

[@BradLMN]

Great video on the install. That is a great size for a 300ah battery. Epoch knocked it out of the park with that one! I am curious as to where you got the tie downs for the strap? I picked up a few to hold ours down the same way...they worked, but we're very thin & bent a little while I tightened the ratchet strap. The ones you used looked a little stronger than what I found.

[@Five2Go]

We got this exact set and they were quite nice and very sturdy: www.amazon.com/dp/B09CLDY32J/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_6WP8WW1B2GJP0WNQS448?linkCode=ml2&tag=five2go-20

[@BradLMN]

@@Five2Go thank you for the link.

[@jameshelm2847]

What is the size difference between the old batteries and the new EPOCH battery? Could the new EPOCH battery have fit in the existing battery container?

[@Five2Go]

The battery we put in was 1” larger in each direction so it wouldn’t fit in those boxes but it’s a LOT smaller than those two combined.

[@jameshelm2847]

@@Five2Go Thank you.

[@kilcranp]

Is there any chance that the charger was accessible from a wall panel on the other side of the charger?

[@Five2Go]

There aren’t any access panels over there, we made sure of that before he crawled in there. Unfortunately it’s not the least accessible piece of hardware I’ve ever seen in an RV 😜

[@johnorens7375]

Thanks for the video. I’m new to all this. Would my renogy 30 amp charge controller work with this battery? Or do I need a bigger charge controller?

[@HomeMeetsRoad]

Tingly elbow? My knees get a sharp pain for a split second when I see someone else fall/biff it in real life or a video. It’s phantom pain 😂

[@SEANRMZ]

maybe get a shunt, any brand so you could where the battery stands at while your in the rig

[@CJ30123]

They also just came out with a 460ah version of the essentials battery for $1400. Im curious if the inside build quality is as good as their higher end 460ah battery. RoyPow makes the higher end one. Not sure who they have making these.

[@theunknowntinman]

Are there any issues now that you have your tow vehicle charging the new battery through the 7 pin wire? I've heard talk about it being damaging to lithium batteries vs lead acid???

[@stv111play]

do you need solar panels or switch out with 12v to 12v. never get clean video on lithium switch without panels. thinking a invertor generator, better, cheaper and easier than th hype with solar. hoping you do a video on that or a deeper dive into Li w/o panels cost, install efficiency

[@sneidsontheroad]

So did you ever get the chance to go meet up with Epoch in GA? Or Tamla? Can't remember but very curious about that episode...

[@samfish6938]

Use 40 ohm resistor to stop spark on battery connect between battery lead and battery before you connect battery just hold it to battery Then remove and connect battery no sparks or tingling elbow

[@chrisw9451]

How is there an arc when you opened the battery disconnect before you started working. Are you sure that wasn't a solar disconnect?

[@Five2Go]

The battery was disconnected from the RV but it’s still completing a circuit on the battery side of that disconnect. The only way for it to not arc is to turn the battery discharge off, which this model of battery doesn’t have. The Epoch 300Ah V2 that I have in my RV can be “turned off” so there’s no charge anywhere when working with it.

[@meistersonthemove]

Such a horrible spot for that charger box! I’m now curious where mine is. Probably somewhere dumb.

[@Five2Go]

Almost assuredly 🤣

[@Ross_Joe]

My RV is 12v system. Will this 12.8 work? (Sorry, I’m an RV noob) 😂

[@Five2Go]

Yes, these are made for any 12V system such as those in RVs or boats

[@Coronado-nz7wu]

Epoch batteries are nice, but twice the price?

[@scottfirman]

If you have an older RV, your charging system will not properly charge a lithium battery. It was designed to charge lead acid batteries, not lithium.

[@UpintheAir.stream]

It sparked because you had a load on it. Wont spark if there is no potential.

[@taichanie]

My converter was a lot easier to switch. Remove faceplate. Move switch. Reinstall faceplate. All inside the camper. Of course buying the camper with lithium and that switch not being done by the factory. Very annoying.

[@Five2Go]

That’s definitely easier! We’re glad Chris’s RV had the option - not having to replace the charger is huge

[@JunitafluxcyfatriciaJunita]

China Overcapacity makes lithium batteries cheaper than lead acid

[@montanadan2524]

You dont need lithium. I have a 2003 Roadtrek camper van. I run one cheap Walmart 100 Ah deep cycle for the house battery. If your camper has a three way frig (AC, DC, propane) run in DC mode when traveling and in propane mode when boondocking. You will be money ahead and your system will be much simpler.

[@DougPogue-fe3hx]

You should not discharge a lead acid battery more than 50 percent or you shorten its life. A lithium battery can be discharged to 5 percent without affecting it's life. So a 300 amp lithium will deliver 5 times the energy on a regular basis.

[@montanadan2524]

@@DougPogue-fe3hx yeah that's all true but for a $100 I have all the reserve I need and the battery will last for as long as I own the van. Why anyone would spend the unnecessary amount to change to Lithium is a real puzzler to me. FYI - I run both a freezer and a refrigirator and everything else on a sailboat with three 100Ahr AGM'S, recharged by 400W of solar. I never come close to to running my batteries down to a level that will effect their longevity, which are five years old and running strong.

[@montanadan2524]

​@@DougPogue-fe3hxsure but if you don't need that much reserve, it's worthless.

[@DougPogue-fe3hx]

Shut off all the breakers before removing and installing a battery. There should be no spark.

[@Bikercliff]

Made me laugh.

[@talk2hubba]

1 300 Ah not enough, need more...?