ROADPRO OFF-GRID 100: 100Ah/150A 12V Lithium Battery User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- ROADPRO
Table of Contents
Practical Products on the Move
Here’s what’s needed for a safe lithium installation using a 2kW or 3kW
inverter.
OFF-GRID 100: 100Ah/150A 12V Lithium Battery
More and more people want to use their campervans and motorhomes “off-grid”.
Thanks to lithium batteries, going off-grid is easier than ever, at least as
far as electrical power is concerned.
At Road Pro, we’ve been supplying and installing lithium systems since 2015,
so we know what works. But there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all”
lithium battery installation. Some people might only want to run 12V equipment
such as lights, pump and, maybe, a TV. Others might be spending all their time
off-grid and need to run all their 240V appliances as well. Everyone’s needs
are different, with different equipment required.
Different lithium batteries perform in different ways and have their own
features. They have different capacities and physical sizes, discharge and
charge at different rates, can be connected in parallel in different
quantities and some have built-in heaters. Make sure that the batteries in
your motorhome are suitable.
1, 2, 3 or 4 Lithium Batteries
(See 12V Lithium Leisure Batteries)
To run powerful 240V appliances from a 2kW or 3kW inverter requires a lot of
energy, so you’ll need to use batteries that are up to the job. Tempra
batteries from NDS and Poweroad Infinity batteries, with a discharge rate of
150A, are what we recommend. Choose the number of batteries according to how
long the vehicle will be off-grid, what charging will be available – solar? –
and what appliances will be used – induction hob? coffee maker? hair drier?
One crucial factor is the available space. We have several batteries that are
190mm high, so that they fit under some vehicle’s seats. Use our online energy
calculator to help work out what capacity the batteries need to be:
https://rptech.co.uk/
One of the main advantages of lithium batteries is the speed at which they can be charged. But, to ensure that they are charged correctly, the correct equipment is essential. We recommend the products shown here.
1 x Battery-to-Battery Charger
(See Battery-to-Battery DC-DC Chargers)| To ensure correct charging, you
must have a B2B charger which is installed between the starter and leisure
batteries. Which model you choose depends on various factors including how
fast you want the leisure batteries to be charged. We have chargers with
outputs from 30A to 90A and all our chargers are compatible with lithium
batteries.
For a 200Ah installation, we recommend a charger with an output of 40A-80A.
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1 x 240V Battery Charger (See Battery Chargers)| If your vehicle already
has a 240V charging system built in, it can probably be used to charge lithium
batteries, as long as the charging voltage doesn’t exceed 14.4V. This can
happen if the charger has a “desulphation” mode and a charger
with this feature should not be used unless it has a specific lithium mode as
well. However, if the voltage is much less than 14.4V, the lithium batteries
won’t ever be fully charged and won’t last as long as if the charger had a
dedicated lithium battery setting. So, for maximum performance and useful
life, a dedicated 240V charger is always preferable.
1 x Solar Power set-up (See Solar Power)| Solar panels are a great way
to charge batteries and we recommend getting as many Watts as possible on the
roof. We have a range of panels, rigid and semiflexible in a variety of sizes.
Panels need regulators and we only supply MPPT
models which can increase the amount of energy going into the batteries by as
much as 30%. They make a big difference, especially in overcast weather or
when conditions are less than ideal.
(Click on the pics for more information)
RoadPro Ltd: 3 Egerton Close, Drayton Fields, Daventry, NN11 8PE
E-mail: sales@roadpro.co.uk
Website: www.roadpro.co.uk
Installing a lithium battery in such a way that it performs to its maximum capability and lasts for many years y requires a different approach to lead- acid batteries. On this page, you can see what’s needed.
Cable & terminals
| If a B2B charger or an inverter is being installed, they’ll need cable that
can carry the current. For B2B chargers, we recommend 15mm cable as a minimum,
depending on the charger being used and the length of the cable run. For 2kW
or 3kW inverters, we recommend 35mm or even 50mm cable depending on the
distance to the leisure battery. And terminals are important too!
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Fuses & fuse holders
| Fuses are essential. They have to be installed in the appropriate places and
be suitably rated.
1 x Cliveway (C7679A) OR
1 x RCD (C8474)| We have found that – especially when there connected in
parallel – lithium batteries work better when connected to bus bars or joining
boxes. In fact, some batteries won’t work at all unless bus bars or joining
boxes are used. This method also makes it easier to connect other items and
ensures a neat finish.
1 x D+ Simulator (C85179)| D+ is a 12V signal from that is only present
when the engine is running. When installing a B2B charger in a vehicle with a
“smart” alternator, it’s essential to connect the unit to D+. Unfortunately,
in some vehicles it’s very difficult or even impossible to find a D+ signal
and a D+ simulator can save hours of looking for one. This Votronic unit does
the job perfectly..
Temperature sensors| Temperature sensors help to ensure correct charging
of lithium batteries and are available for most type of charger. They are
optional on some and essential on others. Some chargers come with a sensor,
some don’t.
1 x Energy Meter (C9454)
or Battery computer (C8462)| Even if a lithium battery has Bluetooth and
connects to an app, we always recommend the use of a battery monitor with a
shunt. This is because app-based monitors can give inaccurate and misleading
readings. A battery computer will be more accurate and reliable.
1 x 2kW (C7688) or 3kW (C7689) inverter| The inverter converts 12V
DC to 240V AC and which one you need depends on what appliances are going to
be powered by it. Find the Watt ratings of the appliances and the highest will
determine the inverter required.
For example, a coffee maker may be rated at 1,600 Watts, which needs a 2kW
inverter.
If the inverter is only to run an e-bike charger rated at 160W, a 400W
inverter will do the job. For an induction hob rated at 2.4kW, use a 3kW model
but make sure the wiring being used is the right gauge.
1 x Inverter
remote control (C7658A)| If the inverter is installed out of sight, a
remote control is a useful thing to have.
1 x Cliveway (C7679A) OR
1 x RCD (C8474)| If an inverter is connected to all the 240V sockets in
the vehicle, it’s necessary to use an RCD. (If appliances are connected
directly to the socket/s on the inverter, an RCD is not required.)
If the inverter has a built-in priority switch, the output can be connected to
an RCD. If it doesn’t (NDS 3,000W for example), you’ll need a Cliveway. The
Cliveway is designed to ensure that an inverter installation is “as safe as
houses”. It incorporates a switch so that 240V is automatically supplied from
the inverter when mains hook-up is not available.
All the products shown here can be found on our website, along with
specifications, further details and instruction manuals.
www.roadpro.co.uk