Lithium batteries in Montana

[Flashracer]

Who has done this? I have a 2022 Montana 3121RL and just want a good battery to last. I do not boondock? Will lithium batteries work with factory setup?
Thanks

[AZ Traveler]

Henry,

Lithium with an internal BMS like Battleborn is pretty much plug and play. You would just need to change your converter settings. If you do not boondock you may want to look at the cost benefit before buying one. You can typically get 5-7 years from lead acid batteries at 20% of the cost.

[TripleP]

How do you change your converter settings?

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by TripleP

How do you change your converter settings?

Originally Posted by TripleP

Where is the switch to change over the converter to Lithium?

From a Past by Jeffba (Post #4 in the following Thread) https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=79933

OPTIONAL OUTPUT MODE SWITCH:
The optional OUTPUT MODE SWITCH sets the converter output to either a constant 14.6VDC with the Charge Wizard® disabled
(switch in ‘LI’ position) or a nominal 13.6VDC with full Charge Wizard®
function (switch in ‘LA’ position). ‘LI’ mode is intended
for use with lithium batteries with a BMS requiring a constant converter output. ‘LA’ mode is intended for use with lead/acid
batteries where the Charge Wizard® will optimize battery charging.
NOTE: The OUTPUT MODE SWITCH should only be switched when new batteries are installed.
Verify battery type before adjusting the output mode switch.

[Bill Austin]

Flash,
Even though you don’t boondock, we don’t plan to either, if you find yourself in a park and all the power goes out you might find having lithium batterie(s) to be helpful. Yes they are more expensive but there are benifits in a pinch.
Lead acid batteries should only be drained to about 50% of capacity before damage is done whereas lithium can be drained down to 10%.
We have had 2 instances in a year and a half where park power was lost.

[WSKGunn]

I have done the conversion on My 2021 394 RL It was super easy 1)Set converter switch to Lit . if you have factory solar then # 2) set JABONI SOLAR PANEL 30A CHARGE CONTROLLER REMOTE to Lit 3) install your lithium batteries , The best lithium Batteries are Battle Born however there are a lot of other manufactures and the price has dropped considerably

[Todd & Mary]

We have installed 6 Relion 100ah LIFPO4 batteries a year ago, we plan on boondocking. They have performed well so far and have battery management internal to them. They have good cold weather ratings. As previously mentioned, you must change your converter to Lithium setting so the charging algorithm is acceptable for the lithium battery chemistry. It will not damage the battery if you don't, but will not completely charge the new battery. The upside is wet batteries can only be discharged 50% whereas lithium can discharge to 10% capacity safely. You get a lot of extra battery for the space and money.

[TripleP]

Where is the switch to change over the converter to Lithium?

[swingby1]

I just installed (1) lithium battery and also purchased a solar panel charger. I had /have no idea about any lithium converter switch. What/where is it
2011 3665-RL

[Zinnman]

We added 2 batteries at the Rally this year. Why? We were tired of traveling all day with a residential frig only to find we were short of power to unhook once we arrived. By attending a Lippert training school while at the Rally I learned that my truck can’t equal the drain the frig draws on the battery. We bought the device that sends the battery info to an app on the phone and we’re beyond delighted to find our batteries were at 86% on our trip from the Rally to upstate New York. For us it was worth the cost for the peace of mind while traveling.

[Daryles]

If you don't boondock, it's not worth the extra expense.
Your converter probably has a FLA to Lithium switch.
The ONLY drawback to lithium is they do NOT like to be charged in below freezing temperatures.
It will GREATLY shorten their life.
I have 552Ah of lithium batteries. I made my own battery heater for them (holding tank heating pads) for when we do boondock in cold weather.
If we are on shore power I have a 120vac plug in battery heater stretched out edgeways along the front of the battery compartment floor. It keeps that compartment warm in below freezing temperatures.

Since you dont boondock, I would get a pair of good FLA or AGM batteries. You can charge them anytime.

[Voyageur]

There is a new lithium battery that is designed to be charged below freezing: Volthium. It is self heating. Dealer said you can also display the status on your phone by Bluetooth. Pricey about $2000 cdn for a 200ah but exactly what I was waiting for. A must for cdn RVer.

[GreG L.]

To my way of thinking the cost difference is about $540.00 for all the advantages of Lithium. 200A usable wet will cost about $1200.00 for 4 good batteries, 2 Battleborn's are $1740.00, difference of $540.00.
For us cold is not an issue, we very seldom cant use the heat pump and really only use the batteries to run the frig for several hours while we are packing out for a trip, but the satisfaction of knowing I don't have to replace them every few years or worry about them is big for me.

[Jeff & Gail]

Only negitive I see other than price is the batteries will stop charging if below 32 degrees and shutdown under 20 degrees. If you are always warm no issue. You can get a big agm for about $300. Giving you 210 amps which half is usable.

[JHenry]

Battle Born batteries or the new Dragonfly (parent company of Battle Born) batteries being installed at the factory from Keystone have integrated heat that allows them to take a charge below -4F and Battle Born’s have 100% depth of discharge or you can drain them to 0% without harm.

[Joint Venture II]

I have 3 Interstate SRM 24 FLA Deep Cycle batteries that easily last 24 hours boondocking. I also carry a WEN 56380i 3800-Watt generator. Besides normal loads of house lights, water pump and furnace use, I also have a portable 40 qt. freezer in baggage compartment. Whenever battery voltage drops to 12.1 volts I start the generator and recharge them.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by Joint Venture II

I have 3 Interstate SRM 24 FLA Deep Cycle batteries that easily last 24 hours boondocking. I also carry a WEN 56380i 3800-Watt generator. Besides normal loads of house lights, water pump and furnace use, I also have a portable 40 qt. freezer in baggage compartment. Whenever battery voltage drops to 12.1 volts I start the generator and recharge them.

Well I have to correct some information I put in a previous post, After arriving in Arizona and finding night time temps to be colder then expected I find my 3 batteries can not keep up to the furnace load at night just to maintain 65* temps inside the trailer. Even with the freezer unplugged from 12V power, running the generator to 10PM I find my batteries are at 11.4V at 6AM in the morning. Needless to say, I am destroying the FLA batteries in short order. Bit the bullet and bought a 270amp Lithium battery and a 30amp Lithium charger to replace factory charger. Before the need to run the furnace at night my 3 Interstate batteries did a great job but cold weather is just too much load for them.

[WSKGunn]

if your going to be in extreme cold you may want to consider heating pads for your Lithium batteries they do not like charging in freezing weather

[AZMont]

Can you please share a little more detail on the Lithium charger statement? I have a 2015 3100 RL and the panel does not have a lithium switch. I need new batteries and am researching AGM vs. Lithium. I do boondock a few times each year at events and national forest camp grounds. I am debating if I need to replace my charger and would appreciate more information. Thx.

[pitman44]

Originally Posted by Flashracer

Who has done this? I have a 2022 Montana 3121RL and just want a good battery to last. I do not boondock? Will lithium batteries work with factory setup?
Thanks

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by "want a good battery to last". Do you mean you want the battery to have a longer lifetime? More years? Or do you mean you want a batter that has more power to keep going longer without a charge? There are different answers for these.