A Humble Path to a Lithium Set-Up

[BushWacker]

I currently have an 'old' HCDP battery set up ;
2 or 3 AGM Gel (Aux-) Batteries
A DIY HCDP battery box
Optimate 6 Intelligent Charger
A 100w say 20v 5A solar panel
And other requisite wiring connectors etc

It works well for about 4-5 days in camp
or weeks on trips charging off sun & alternator .

But I want to transition to Lithium ( Say Blue Nova)
Without too much supporting capex spend

So my plan is to
Buy an 80AH Blue Nova (~R8k)
buy a Victron SmartSolar MPPT Solar Controller
(See attached specs) (+/- R2k)
and heres the humble plan ...
Make or buy basic transformers to feed
20v at 5 A to the solar controller
from either the alternator or from an existing
old unintelligent charger (mains)
Ie solar or mains or alternator will variously
Be made to feed apprx 20v@5A to the solar controller
... so I avoid also purchasing a
Dedicated Li compatible Intelligent charger
Dedicated Li compatible DC-Dc charger
for the alternator/charge battery feed.

If successful that solarcontroller will think the
Sun always shines and my BlueTooth monitor
Will keep ever informed of state of charge etc.

Will it work ?
Will it be a viable tactic ?

See the spec sheets in this site below:
https://www.livestainable.co.za/product ... ontroller/

.

[Mad Manny]

Chas, I really wanted to post a helpful reply, but I have no idea what you are on about.

It seems you want to go Lithium but want to use a Clusterfcuk way of charging...

You want to use Transformers to force juice into the Solar Controler?
WTF?

[Samaya]

Oom Chas... you want to fit Land rover parts to a Rolls-Royce...
Dedicated Lithium chargers are not that expensive. You are spending R8k on a battery but not using decent charging methods.

No its a bad idea to do the setup like that.

Instead of the Victron rather get a Ctek DS250 for lithium and you dont need to do weird connections that will just cause you to lose a vehicle when it burns...

[BushWacker]

From what Ive heard
Solar Charging of the battery is a lot faster (~4hrs?)
but need alternative means.

I get it to be a saving of about R5k ( 10v15 ? )
with versatility to charge off
Car
Mains
Solar
… with charge monitoring.

[AndreasR]

You not going to like what I say but, do it once do it right. It will save you money in the end.

[Mad Manny]

Chas, please do as you propose - I need a laugh...

[BushWacker]

… hold my beer …

( I built my current full function battery box
( PbA … and its worked non stop for ~10yrs….)

[BushWacker]

… so I put my exotic theory to some Landy Campers
this weekend at RdW Jeep Club, where I attended recovery workshop and played around in the Gymkana area and along the thickly treed/shaded river course.
… they typically run 60-80L fridge Freezer combos
off a Li battery and a DC-DC charger and say they
no longer really even need/carry solar panels
… can generally last 3-4 days without having to charge
‘on vehicle run time ’ …

[iandvl]

<snip>
off a Li battery and a DC-DC charger and say they
</snip>

As has already been pointed out on this thread, that would be the correct way of doing it...