Echo-charge question and LiFePO4 update
Yahoo Message Number: 116764
Hola -
First, echo-charger - I'm not really able to test since my domestic
battery is 13.5v, but I did disconnect the domestic battery fuse wire
(while engine running), and so it seems like I should see 12+ volts then
on the domestic wire since the engine wire reads 14v. But I'm seeing
only 2v out on the domestic wire. All fuses look good (visually, the one
inside the echo looks good).
So, my questions is does it sound like my echo-charger is not working?
(or does it need to read some voltage on the domestic side) I have a
2000 CC Allure, so it looks like I only have the one red led on the echo
box to indicate overheat condition. Also, while on my lead acid
batteries before replacement, they decreased in voltage while driving,
so it seemed like surely 15amp output of the echo should have at least
maintained the voltage it was at before I left.
So, overall, I'm very happy with my four 100ah LiFePO4 batteries. It
seems I will likely get at least 36 hours domestic use before having to
charge - and I'm sure I have higher than average domestic use. My
batteries have a phone app which is great, tells me the real time
charge/discharge rate, voltage, % use, number of cycles, etc. Yay, no
more guessing on how soon I'll need to charge. So I can see this on a
per-battery basis.
I have a "normal" home refrigerator instead of a propane/120v fridge. It
fills the entire space of the old fridge, so it's not a smaller
apartment fridge. With the fridge running, the draw on each battery is
3.3 amps (x4 = 13.2 amps) and it seems like the fridge runs maybe like
50% of the time.
With fridge off, I'm drawing 1.1amps each battery or 4.4 amps (computer,
monitor, weather station base, clock, etc).
So, after 24 hours, I've used 60% (40% remaining), and so am then at 13v
still. This is also with my furnace fan being on most of the night since
it's been 40-45 degrees at night here.
I've also been able to use my big convection microwave - and so my use
above includes at least 6 minutes use (coffee water 2x daily). And,
during this higher amp use, the voltage stays basically the same as
no-load voltage, so over 13v. And before my micro would sound strange if
I ran it on my lead acid (since the voltage would drop to 11.x?).
As far as charging, they do charge faster, but I'm limited now by the
max 100amp charge of my model 20D inverter/charger. So after 24 hours
use, it took about 2 hrs, 15 mins to charge fully back to 100% on the genny.
Apparently I can run a parallel charger with my inverter, and so am
looking at the iota 90amp charger, so that I can decrease my genny time
daily by almost half. So maybe I'll get 24 hours battery use, with 1.5
hours genny time (yay).
What would really help is if someone has ever installed new lead acid
batteries, and could offer some comparisons. My comparison is coming
from my six 6v golf cart batteries. When I bought my coach 3 years ago
(not new batteries then), I could run on the lead acid batteries for 12
hours, then would charge as it dropped just below 12v. And charge time
on them was fully 1.5 hours until my xantrex panel first indicated float.
Wes Owens
2000 CC Allure 36' #30443
Currently in Arizona, tomorrow in Kino Bay, MX, then after a week headed
south.
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