Van of enormous power Mk 4

[Stinsy]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

[Joeboy]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

Absolutely agree with all that. Aye but fifty quid!

[Stinsy]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

Absolutely agree with all that. Aye but fifty quid!

Yeah. The small increase in price of new LFP vs new Lead makes LFP a no-brainer. However used Lead can be cheap enough to be attractive.

[Joeboy]

Panel No2 is up, on and outputting. Very happy with that.

A bit of cable tidying and a few lanyards to add and we're good to go. Both skylights are fully clear and I just realised that Ermintrude has nearly double the pv capacity of Turkish hoose. Not sure there will be enough oomph to boil the travel kettle in van but I'll give it a go.

[Joeboy]

I'm quite surprised at that, 800W travel kettle boiled no problem. I was mentally set up for the inverter to crater.




Full load


Recovering


Charging


I've set charge cut off at 13.25V, that sound about right?

[richbee]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

I'm definitely going LFP for van 2 - eco-worthy have a 280Ah one for just over £400 currently!

[NoraBatty]

Have any of you seen the 12v eel battery boxes andys off grid garage reviewed?
They use the jk bms which has a heater mat connection.
Eel do the smaller heater mats for the 12v box.

All looks very neat. Box £163 plus £45 shipping
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008045302142.html

Heater £10
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008191540766.html

Then just need 4x 280/310 eve cells.

Should be under £400 easily.
much cheaper boxes are available.

[Stinsy]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

I'm definitely going LFP for van 2 - eco-worthy have a 280Ah one for just over £400 currently!

That’ll be 4x LF280k cells. c. £280 from our buddy!

[Joeboy]

Forgot to mention this. The fella I bought the 3month old 100Ah LA from was selling it due to an upgrade as he spends quite a lot of time off gridding in his van. While collecting the battery I got a look at the replacement. A 300Ah replacement! He told me that the unit comes with its own built in heater and bms. Whether or not that means the battery has its own built in charge controller to stop it overdrawing from the alternator i'm not sure and forgot to ask.

Coming from absolutely no thought about lifepo4 in van to seeing one it situ, I now get the point. That's a hell of a compact energy solution. I thought it might be of interest to anyone doing or planning to do a van? £719.99 on the 25th Feb 2025.

I'm not THAT into off gridding as i like to be able to walk into town for a Chinese meal for example but for those that are and have the pockets, some bit of kit!

https://www.fogstar.co.uk/products/fogs ... OWEALw_wcB

The benefits of LFP over Lead are multiple:
- Better energy density
- Much longer lifespan
- More efficient
- Deeper discharge

That "300Ah" LFP will be happy discharged to 10% or lower every day. However a similar Lead battery will age quickly if you discharge it lower than 60%. So the additional cappacity is way more than it might seem at first glance.

I'm sure the self-contained LFP incloudes a "solution" to prevent it chrging quicker than the altenator can comforatbaly provide power. Particularly as this can simply be a 20mΩ resistor. In fact the BMS probably imparts this resistance without even trying!

I'm definitely going LFP for van 2 - eco-worthy have a 280Ah one for just over £400 currently!

I'm very much looking good forward to seeing that. I've deliberately not allowed myself (LFP) it this year. I like to live in some form of artificial scarcity to keep the value of things in view. Any idea when Rich? Ecoworthy often do sales, might be worth tracking the price?

I'm happy with the install externally now that the cables have been fixed in place. Made up a paracord ladder that Nora would recognise from offshore. Keep reminding myself that it's still only February yet its getting some work done for itself! A few more tweaks in the van utility cupboard to go and some simple 4 bar extensions for ehu or offgrid. No point making it overfancy in year 1. Then hopefully SWMBO will get the wand out and make it all excellent. She's rather good at that.

[Joeboy]

What a great couple of hours!

The utilities (electric & gas heater, solar charge controller and water pump) are now all hidden beneath a split hatch, pipework lagged and utility space insulated.

Handmade for no cost from spares, a wee rear mounted coatrail for my checked shirts to compliment SWMBO's hanging rail. Added an led motion sensor light (AAA rechargeable batteries) too. I think the back of door needs a mirror, already have a doorstay on its way so the door locks open. Making that cupboard work for it's keep!

We've now got a 4 socket bar choice, EHU or OG.

On the Off Grid bar there is TV, multimedia player, rechargeable radio & phone charger. I'll suss out some sort of WiFi hotspot that I can preload with data for Euro touring.