Lithium battery recommendation

[432bartman]

Well, I was very disappointed in the lithium battery I chose from Redodo. I thought the 12.8V 300ah battery would handle my trailer without a hiccup, but the power requirements for the hydraulic 6 point leveling system is to much for it. The slides would struggle to go out, but would, and the front jacks could go up but not down with a load on it. I confirmed this with a floor jack on the frame, after lifting one side of the front jacks off the ground.

My buddy, who is using 2 of the Redodo 12.8V 100ah batteries, has no problem on his Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel, but his has the electric leveling jacks. Looking at the Lippert control panel, when I was trying to use my lithium, it said low voltage. I hooked up a set of jumper cables directly to the power lead going to the factory 80amp circuit breakers and my leveling system worked perfectly. I bought a yellow top Optima battery and hooked that up to the 12V side of the trailer like it came, and the leveling system works perfect.

So with that being said, what is everyone using for a lithium battery or two? Anybody encounter the problem I'm having after switching from a regular group 27/31 wet cell or AGM batteries? This post could help save other people from the same situation. Between the Redodo battery and the Optima, I have $900.00 into them. There are a ton of lithium batteries out there claiming to "handle' it all. What's funny is most of the ads for lithium batteries show photos of living off the grid, or being used in a motorhome, trolling motor on a small fishing boat, but not a big 5th wheel like we all have.

 

[mlh]

How many volts does your battery have? Does it show over 14 volts while being charged?
Lynwood

 

[MandK]

Sorry it’s not working out for you. I’m not sure why, I have not researched those batteries but I did see that it supposedly is not a good choice for “high power applications”, whatever that may mean. Others here would be better at helping you with the problem. You asked what others are using so I can say I have a 300ah Temgot. It’s blue tooth, built in bms, and heated. It works fine. Last week when we left up north, our first night was at a Cracker Barrel and it was mid 20 degree temperatures that night. First time that the battery was going to have to run the furnace all night since I installed the battery. We arrived at 6:30 pm, put down the landing gear and leveled it side to side, slid out the slides, and fired up the furnace. After we ate we ran some lights, and watched some tv. Set the furnace to 60 degrees and went to bed. Shut off the furnace and packed it up at 7:00 am and went in for breakfast.
When we left at 8:00 it still had 65% left, it also ran the residential fridge and charged our phones, etc. The truck had the batteries back to 100% through the dc/dc charger when I checked it a few hours later. This is what I wanted from my upgrade. We don’t have solar and don’t boondock much, if we do boondock, I have a little generator to charge the batteries.
I just installed the battery in June so only been using it 6 months. I’d buy another one. Good luck.

 

[Desert5er]

I switched to Lithium earlier this year and picked up this Epoch 300ah Heated battery for around $1k. So far it's been great and easily handles the Lippert Titan hydraulic leveling.

https://www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-300ah-heated-bluetooth-lifepo4-battery-epoch-essentials

 

[432bartman]

Thank you guys for the replies

 

[432bartman]

How many volts does your battery have? Does it show over 14 volts while being charged?
Lynwood

Yeah, it's being charged by a 3000 watt Redodo inverter with a built in charger. So weird........or I'm just unlucky.

 

[R.S.O'Donnell]

I installed 6 Battleborn’s. Other than the undersized breaker tripping I’ve had zero issues with them running the hydraulics at all.

 

[foldbak]

I installed 6 Battleborn’s. Other than the undersized breaker tripping I’ve had zero issues with them running the hydraulics at all.

I would hope not!
I think there's a problem with his battery. One 100ah lithium should run the hyd pump.

 

[Carl n Susan]

My Chins run the hydraulics just fine.

 

[Creeker]

I think there is something else going on with his set up. Bad battery, not charging correctly, wiring problem or even pump pulling too much amperage. I would guess hundreds of people out there with a single LiFeP04 100 amp battery running their hydraulics just fine. I know of three that I camp with doing this very thing.

 

[mlh]

I think there is something else going on with his set up. Bad battery, not charging correctly, wiring problem or even pump pulling too much amperage. I would guess hundreds of people out there with a single LiFeP04 100 amp battery running their hydraulics just fine. I know of three that I camp with doing this very thing.

This is what I was trying to get at. One battery should, will run it just fine. So is it the battery or something else like not being charged right.
Lynwood

 

[R.S.O'Donnell]

I would hope not!
I think there's a problem with his battery. One 100ah lithium should run the hyd pump.

I agree. My first guess would be that the BMS is sensing the load of the pump as a short and shutting the battery down.

Tom Morton did a test that I found to be pretty interesting.

 

[432bartman]

Thanks everyone for the replies

 

[foldbak]

I agree. My first guess would be that the BMS is sensing the load of the pump as a short and shutting the battery down.

Tom Morton did a test that I found to be pretty interesting.

It was a long video but worth the watch.

 

[432bartman]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I just reached out to Redodo, and told them what the problem is and what you guys suggested the issue could be with their battery. I asked they send me a replacement battery. Hopefully they do the right thing and stand behind it. We shall see.

 

[LeftOverParts]

We have the 12V SOK 206 Ah and 500 watts (2x250) on the roof. GE resi fridge.

 

[432bartman]

The response I just got from Redodo.............well that's just great.

"Dear Robert,

Thanks for your reaching out.
We don't recommend to use our batteries to power electic jacks, which may cause surge current when start that far more than the max. current of the battery.
That's why you have seen the battery was cut off.

Best Regards,"

 

[R.S.O'Donnell]

Well that’s a cop out pure and simple. I know they’re pricey and there are several other good brands but Battleborn’s are on sale right now. I just bought myself two more for our upcoming truck camper purchase. The price was just too good to pass up.

https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/12v-lifepo4-deep-cycle-battery/

They really are top notch batteries. Although the cells are from China the batteries are manufactured in Nevada.

https://youtu.be/WKS4N4IXL54?si=QNB9gg2DziftvYJ9

 

[foldbak]

The response I just got from Redodo.............well that's just great.

"Dear Robert,

Thanks for your reaching out.
We don't recommend to use our batteries to power electic jacks, which may cause surge current when start that far more than the max. current of the battery.
That's why you have seen the battery was cut off.

Best Regards,"

I call BS! Use a DC amp clamp on a LA battery and see what the actual amp draw is. I'll bet money it's a BMS problem. Crap customer service!

 

[Carl n Susan]

Battle Born 100ah @ $749 vs Redodo 100ah @ $179.
That is a heck of a price difference! The Redodo obviously aren't working for you whether it is a defect or inability to draw enough power for the pump.

I would consider trying to seel them on Marketplace, Offer Up, etc. to someone who doesn't need bulk power but can utilize these losers. Take a quick loss and move on. The BB batteries are very good and over priced in today's RV market. There are plenty of good, inexpensive Li batteries out there being used by MOC members with hydraulic slides and levelers. Chin makes a 290ah with heat and Bluetooth BMS for $525.