This is the next instalment of the largest upgrade I've attempted on our motorhome yet. Five times the leisure battery capacity with a 2kW inverter and solar upgrade to match. It didn't all go to plan either...
Excellent completion to the project sir, a worthy use of what is basically dead space under the jump seat, and nice addition of the inverter. time for me to break out my wallet i think and order a couple of batteries for mine. well done!
Thanks very much. We used to use that locker for the bedding for the dinette bed but eventually we got more efficient and it was left empty. Good luck with your project! If there's anything I can help with, let me know!
@@2.4inaVan just realised my behind seat locker is a slide out so i can't get a battery and inverter in the same box!! but also which batteries did you buy as i contact renogy to see whether their 100Ah Lithium Ion Phosphate battery would go on its side under the drivers seat and they said no, so interested in which ones you had. cheers.
@@stephenfoster1971 I mounted ours on its side under the driver's seat. It's the 100ah phosphate lithium. Maybe that's wrong but we've not had any issues and I've seen others do the same with Renogy and other lithium batteries. Did Renogy say why it shouldn't be mounted on its side?
@@2.4inaVan hi there, no they didn't offer any reasoning at all, just said not to be installed that way. i agree with you though, i've read that lithium can be installed in any orientation as they don't have liquid nor do they need a vent, i'm going to get one and give it a try, then work out where to install the other one and my inverter. cheers
Very helpful and much braver than me, think I will leave cables that size to an electrician. Interesting that the Sargent battery monitor thought the lithium were 100% charged when they were only 30% and can the Sargent mains battery charger be adjusted to work with the lithium or have you added an additional charger?
@@2.4inaVan Lithiums (the BMS inside it) try to maintain a steady voltage so a battery monitor that relies on voltage to estimate the statre of charge are pretty much useless. I think adding a shunt or a smart battery is the only way. Does the sergent contain a shunt? I don' think so.
Thanks for this really interesting video. Just had to say that we have an Escape 604 and our kids are named Ella and James too! Older than yours though at 16 and 18! Have you stopped filming vlogs as i was hoping to follow somebody with an Escape? Thanks again, Tim & Gemma
Glad you found the video useful. What a coincidence on names! Unfortunately life and work has got in the way of filming and we've had to enjoy our trips without documenting them for a while now. Maybe in the future!
Good job, I've got he same van and doing the same upgrade next month. Is there anything you would change with the set up now you have been living with it for a few months? Enjoying the videos btw..👍
Appreciate the feedback and good luck with your own project. I have added a Renogy 50A battery to battery (B2B) charger to the system. When the engine is running and the fridge is on, there isn't enough current to charge the batteries so they are drained by the fridge. Adding the B2B solves this. As it has an MPPT solar controller as part of it, it replaces the Victron solar charger too.
Can I ask what’s the model of your fridge, Didn’t the built in split charger charge to battery’s enough when the engine was running. I was thinking of changing my leisure battery to a renogy one does the factory fitted charger charge them ok
@@ryanallwood8490 it's a Domestic RC 10.4. Without the addition of the B2B it drained the Lithium bank whilst we had the engine running. The Sargent charger works fine for charging the lithiums on mains hookup.
If all your 130 watt panel does is charge the cab battery why not just use a Battery Master to top up the cab battery? Great job though and props for having a go.
Love your RU-vid channel, I’m going to be doing what your in the process of doing at some point. Time is my nemesis at the moment. I have the same vehicle a Swift escape 694. Would you be able to tell me what error code e513 or es513, pops up when the truma heater is on for a while and shuts down.
Great video and as much as I would want to do that I don't think I'm brave or DIY enough to attempt it.. I notice or more like that didn't notice if you added in a DC to DC charger to boost the output of the alternator, 200Ah of lithium is a lot of battery to refill. I don't know if you considered it or not and I'd be interested to hear.
No, I've not done anything with the alternator charging. Might be something to revisit in the future if we need to but for now we'll see how we get on I think.
Sorry, but you really should be leaving this type of work to the professionals. It’s a good job you are not bothered about cables hanging from the ceiling or wonky switches.
