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Rpod 190 and Lithium Batteries
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npalumbo89 View Drop Down
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Posts: 68 		Post Options Post Options   Quote npalumbo89 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rpod 190 and Lithium Batteries
    Posted: 01 Aug 2024 at 1:10pm
I've got a 2022 RPod and its in storage right now but my battery is toast sadly. Im thinking about an upgrade in the near future but wanted to ask if it was possible to just swap out the stock battery for a lithium one or If id need to make additional modifications to make this possible.  Has anyone done this recently and care to share their experience?

Thanks in advance!
Nicholas Palumbo
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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Posts: 399 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Aug 2024 at 2:57pm
Your Rpod is new enough that the power converter and charger should have a lithium setting that you will need to switch to. You will have two, maybe three settings: Pb, AGM, Li. You will need to switch it to Li. Lithium batteries have a different charging profile than Lead and AGM batteries. Aside from that you should be okay. If you really want to go all out on the conversion, you can install a DC-to-DC converter that will condition the power coming from the tow vehicle but that is not necessary.

One thing to consider is that Lithium batteries are tempting targets for thieves and having it sit out on the tongue is not a great idea. You will need to come up with a way to lock it down.
Gpokluda
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npalumbo89 View Drop Down
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Posts: 68 		Post Options Post Options   Quote npalumbo89 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Aug 2024 at 4:27pm
Thank you for the reply. I recall there being a sticker near the panel mentioning lithium but I’m not near the camper currently. I’ll double check that this weekend. That’s good to know though about the settings. Im assuming they make batteries that are similar in size to standard agm and if so I could just put it back into the battery box that’s already mounted. Assuming it fits they wouldn’t know unless they open it.
Nicholas Palumbo
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Posts: 399 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Aug 2024 at 9:18am
Originally posted by npalumbo89

Thank you for the reply. I recall there being a sticker near the panel mentioning lithium but I’m not near the camper currently. I’ll double check that this weekend. That’s good to know though about the settings. Im assuming they make batteries that are similar in size to standard agm and if so I could just put it back into the battery box that’s already mounted. Assuming it fits they wouldn’t know unless they open it.

Yes. Usually a LiFePO battery of equal amp/hour rating will have a similar, if not smaller footprint than a lead acid battery.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2708 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Aug 2024 at 10:36am
When you switch to lithium, you should consider moving the battery indoors. Being a smaller battery should allow some options as to where that would be.

Edited by GlueGuy - 02 Aug 2024 at 10:54am
bp
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6423 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Aug 2024 at 9:17am
Or, you could get a Harbor Freight tongue box and install it. Then you can put the battery in there and it will be locked and harder for someone to steal. Not impossible, but even inside it isn't impossible. The goal is to make it more difficult so the thief will go looking for an easier target.

I have a 200AH LiFePO4 battery in a Harbor Freight tongue box bolted to the A frame on our current Cherokee Grey Wolf. I have had no problems with it being there. I did have to drill a hole for the cables (be sure to use a bushing to keep the sharp edges from cutting the wires).

Given the year of your trailer, it may be an auto-sensing converter. Ours is. That means no switches. It will detect and set the charging profile automatically. There is one other issue and that is the ability of the tow vehicle to charge the battery. Modern alternators do not use a fixed voltage regulator, but vary output based on battery charge. Since an LiFePO4 battery will carry a higher charge than the vehicle's starting battery, you may find that the trailer's battery will feed power back to the vehicle and you will leave with a fully charged trailer battery and arrive at your destination with a partially discharged trailer battery. There are ways to mitigate this.

The simplest is to use a diode which allows current to flow from the vehicle to the battery but not the reverse. Couple this with a solenoid which only allows the current to flow when the vehicle is running, and you will be most of the way there. To be able to charge on the move, you may need a DC to DC charger. This takes the tow vehicle power and steps it up to the proper charging voltage for the LiFePO4 battery. If you have solar, you could go with an MPPT solar controller which also has a connector for tow vehcle power. Most trailers go the cheap way with a PWM controller. Mine did. I replaced it with a Renogy controller which had the ability to also get power from the tow vehicle.


There may be other/better ways to accomplish this, but this is what I chose.
StephenH
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