Lithium Upgrade Check

Thanks again Macca

Load is only the following

60L evaKOOL fridge
Induction cooktop
An LED light
A couple of USB.

I have run out of space on the roof of the car, the 300w already takes up most of my roof rack hence habing a blanket tucked away.

If I’m running low than there is the alternator sitting under the bonnet.

I’m currently have semi flex panels on the roof, mainly for weight saving, but I’m not sure these are the best solution going forward.

Cheers

Looking at your set up from your other post, have you thought of using the realestate on your bonnet to add extra solar? Might be worth considering.

Also, consider using heavy duty paper plates to avoid some washing up. You can burn paper plates. We use these extensively when we travel, saves water, and if not too “dirty” can be used more than once. Make sandwiches at lunch, use the same plates at tea time.

Macca.

.

Not too sure about solar panels on bonnet Macca.
May not be too good driving west in late arvo..... y'know, reflection and all?

Possibly angle them up slightly to avoid the glare, and improve the angle to the sun. [:-)

Macca.

a Prado 120 series had a solar panel attached to bonnet in SA and was pulled over by SAPOL given a defect notice -also had a gas bottle attached at rear door another canary

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-17/adelaide-driver-detected-with-illegal-modifcations-to-car/10002276

Thanks Gronk

Only have the real estate of the roof rack....

I’ll investigate the max. Watts I can install onto the roof.

We have a number of reasons for switching away from gas

- Very limited space
- If we went back to conventional cylinders we’d probably carry 2 x 2kg and these would need to be on roof rack
- Off late we’ve been using the disposable canisters, lots of waste generated from packaging to the cylinder themself.
- set up/pack up every time
- re-fills

It seems the number of travelers seem to be managing induction cook tops.

By default of using the disposable canisters we have limited our need to heat things.

We wash dishes only once per day
Morning, generally Only need one cup of hot water
Lunch, no cooking generally, or 12v oven while driving
Dinner, if the 12v oven didn’t cook something during the afternoon drive than maybe 10min on the induction to cook a meal and boil 2L of water.

When available we use a fire, camp kitchen, public BBQ.

I will look into maximizing roof solar.

Thanks Bob

Re: gas, we will have a little hiking gas cylinders or two that’s always in our backpacks

Re: BMS, my installer mentioned this, we won’t be carrying a charger and I’m not sure if the alternator can wake the BMS. Installer says he install a cutout which activate when capacity reach 15%. I need to have get my head around this.

I'm having a senior moment this morning and doubt recall what these "sleep boosters" are called, but I googled them some time back & got a couple of hits. One was at Jamie's Touring Solutions, check here. He has 3 versions of the device, but couldn't find them on his site during a quick search a few minutes ago. I thought the ciggy lighter version would be the best for the remote travel I do. There was a 240v version too?

If you're running alt. power through a DC/DC charger, you won't get any charge into the batteries until the charger reads 12v in batteries. Hence need for this external "wake up" kit. Maybe a set of light jumper leads would suffice, off start battery, or donor vehicle?

Bob

Wako,

I gather from elsewhere in this thread you're buying an Enerdrive 200Ah battery. If you're buying this one you don't need the wake-up kit. The battery has it built in with a reset button to activate it.

Cheers

Hi Frank

Thanks for pointing that out.....

I recon I read the page a number of time and didn’t twig.

Cheers

Yes, that's a very good point. Not all lithium batteries can tolerate a high discharge current.

Some lithium batteries are made up of numerous small cells, all connected within a case and thus invisible. I believe that method of construction does not lend itself to high discharge currents, but am happy to take advice on the issue.

What is the power rating of your induction cooker? Say it is 1800 watts. With that sort of load placed on the battery via the inverter, the discharge current will be around 160 amps.

Some reputable high capacity lithium batteries (made with numerous small cells) have a stated max discharge current of only 70 amps. 160 amps would ruin that expensive battery in short order unless it has over-current protection (which it may do, in which case your cooker won't work).

Other batteries are made up of fewer, larger cells. That type WILL tolerate a high discharge current. I have the latter type. 360 amp-hours consisting of 8 x 180 amp-hour cells in a series/parallel arrangement. That battery happily and repeatedly delivers the 160 amps necessary to run the couple of 240V creature comforts we use. (Coffee machine, induction cooker)

If you haven't already committed to a purchase, I can recommend this business as a supplier of the kind of system you will need. Rod Dilkes is the proprietor and is exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful. (Usual disclaimer: No commercial interest, just an extremely satisfied customer.)

Specs for Enerdrive 200 Lithium is 200amls @ 25degrees for 30min.

Should easlily cover cooking a meal.

They also recommend the 2000w inverter is the max. For the battery.

Apart from boiling water I doubt we’ll be running at 1800w for the whole time cooking.

Frank how have you found this system from (company based in Margaret river WA) Ive been looking at them as well.

although I suspect just one 120ah battery be sufficient in their case, having a larger battery built up maybe overkill space wise but marginal weight compared to 2 x 130ah std batteries in parallel

Just need to convince old man its better option than the Ebay listings.

Cheers

Dean

Dean,

Many in our Kimberley Karavan owner's club (members all over Australia) have converted older vans equipped with AGM batteries to Lithium using EV-Power's products. Every single one of us cannot sing our praises loud enough. The product and the service are both without peer.

Some have had the conversion done over there, many have done it themselves. Electrically that is not hard and clear instructions are provided.

If you're using 2 x 130ah batteries, and if you're using the 50% rule of thumb for AGM batteries - that is using approx 130Ah - the equivalent required capacity to meet your needs in lithium batteries will be 160Ah. EV-Power sells one, here's a link.

To be honest, there may be more convenient options - batteries with inbuilt BMS's that are simple drop-in replacements - but you have to be careful what you buy. If there is not a built in BMS then you MUST buy an external one to suit the battery. Just as not all lead-acid are not the same, so it is with lithium.

I'm and advocate of buy right, buy once. I would go for Enerdrive in a self-contained battery and EV-Power for their built-up, extremely robust systems with the minor inconvenience of an external BMS.

Cheers

Frank, found out about it from another KK member (name alludes me but was based in Derby ) bit ironic he was at laverton couple years ago and got we talking about it. my radio comms experience solar batteries etc

Thus where the intel came from national meet and had a info session with said company owner.

Already have a redarc manager S2 fitted, seems they have a too high float charge voltage for Lithium in the earlier model/s but this been adjusted to suit. so swap out is preferred option.

Rather do it right than get unsuitable equipment.

Guess we currently have spare time on hands not to rush as well, can't even leave metro area in WA and despite a degrading to give bit of more normality any trip must still require authority to undertake it -wheatbelt is no more than 10 mins drive east of my place so limited where we can go same shire two town sites different zones !

Hi Frank

The Enerdrive has a built in BMS, I don’t believe I need an external BMS??

Correct. If there's one built in you don't need another.

Thanks HKB

I doubt we’ll be kicking back in the one spot for days on end, when we do hopefully there are other options.

With my current 110amp/hr AGM we are on float well before midday, sensible use of cook top I reckon it’s managable.

If we’re low on power than we’ll choose a different meal or start the engine.

Induction cook top is a portable version, it will be stored on a soft surface. The box says it’s designed for RV, BBQ and Rec use. Plus we are riding on air suspension....won’t feel the corrugations

Doesn't matter what sort of suspension, you will feel the corrigations.

Using an induction cooktop for months. All good. Just packed it into cloth, etc. We're travelling by caravan and did some corrugated roads (how can you not in WA)...

I had one mounted in a bench, lasted for two years then went faulty, pulled it down and found the issue, simply not made to withstand constant vibration. I have ruggedized the replacement to avoid the issue occurring again. If it is a portable stored in some sort of soft padding probably won't be an issue.

Yes the b-Tech can be view on phone but I’m always in trouble for being on the olohome too much.

Be handy to have a display in the kitchen.

"Be handy to have a display in the kitchen."

In that case you will need one suitable for lithium batteries.

Unlike lead-acid batteries where voltage is a rough indication of state of charge, voltage is not an indicator of SOC in lithium batteries because the discharge curve is so flat. Ie the battery remains at almost the same voltage from full to nearly empty.

Here's a typical discharge curve. It's for a single cell, so multiply the voltages on the vertical axis by 4:



In simple terms a monitor suitable for lithium batteries will count amp-hours in and amp-hours out and from that work out state of charge of your battery. Better lead-acid ones do the same, but not the cheapies.

Make sure you get one suitable for your 2000 watt inverter, ie capable of handling at least 200 amps.

EDIT:
Something like this should work. That's only an example after a quick search. Do your homework to ensure suitability.

Cheers

I guess each to there own I guess....

For us we think it a good fit given our overall set up.

I haven’t gained or saved weight but have extra battery capacity x 300%

No mucking around or extra solar than what I was carrying prior. I’m yet to drag out the blanket. The 300w of solar are permanently mounted.

Less set up time with induction and no longer have to battle with shielding the wind from the wind.

Chipping away at reducing waste is always a good thing.

Better temp control across the whole pot.

Time will tell I guess.....

Most sensible post of the lot.
The amount of LPG used for cooking is a 4.5kg lasts ages. Top mine up once a year.Cook on LPG exclusively and have 14L Truma hot water system and never managed to empty the 4.5kg in 5 months travelling.
With all my extensive experience travelling and electrical background, going all electrical and the cost thereof obviously the OP has money he wants to throw away.
Have plenty of solar panel capacity and 300Ah lithium and wouldn't go to electrical based cooking. If my hot water system was capable of been used on 240V yes, I would have run that, however it is LPG only.

Hi Traveller

I’m confused you say you only top up your 4.5kg once a year and to cook and heat water?? You might also want to read that I have limited space, i.e. just the car.

Waste money...am I reading you post correct that you have lithium batteries and plenty of solar?? So I guess you have wasted money as well.

Apart from upgrading to lithium the only additional cost has been a $140 cook top, but haven’t invested in a hot water system, 100amp/hr less lithium. I’m guessing I’m in front of you still.

Thanks for your input....we all travel differently, you have travelled extensively I have also, just tweaking the system.

Safe travels.

Travelling. If 4.5 kilo of gas lasts a year when used for cooking and hws you must be pretty dirty and eat a lot of cold food.

Wako it will be interesting to see the long jeopardy of your induction cooktop if you were travelling on rough tracks &roads unlike gas there's not too much to go wrong .. From what you were saying I think you don't have any hot water heating for showering etc ? Is that something you are not looking at investing in ?
The everdrive equipment doesn't come cheaply and I imagine you have spent serious money on a 200 ah lithium battery , 2000 w inverter , solar regulator & in your everdrive set up.. if you are buying quality equipment ?
When I mentioned stuffing around with solar I referred to having your solar panels charging up your batteries in all weather/ situations and we all know these pitfalls , would you be carrying a generator for backup .
I myself have gone in the opposite direction and have gone to just a small fridge 27 Litre and back to Esky and ice keeping my set up as simple as I possibly can.. have done a few trips now with this (Simpson Desert and Kimberly ) and haven't missed all the fancy stuff so far..

Hi Nick

Thanks for your reply....

Always happy to test new things out, funny enough our new induction cooktop a failed during testing at home, only lastest 4 cooks l, a fellow travel recommended it as hers has lasted 12 months full time on the road. grrrrr back to the aldi unit which hasn’t missed a beat.

Yeah big investment but we plan to be on the road for two years most likely three years.

Re: esky and ice, I ditched that in the late 90’s and no plan to return.