Technical Swift Motorhome Lithium Battery location

[santiniuk]

Hi all,

I have a 2018 Swift Escape 695 - Fiat 19 Reg Plate, which uses the Sargent EC600 system.
Recently I purchased an Eco-Worthy 280Ah Lithium battery to replace the existing Leisure battery.

The layout of the swift has the Starter battery at the front, Sargent system behind the drivers seat under a seat and the leisure battery is right at the rear of the motorhome under a bunk bed.

This link is a similar upgrade I intend to do.

I'm wondering if anyone has done anything similar with distant battery separation and best position for the components.

Thanks

S

(Background is in electrical / electronics but know someone will have much better knowledge or experience in this)

 

[Communicator]

I have read of one make of lithium battery that is designed to fit under a front seat. Does this apply to yours? The present layout with the battery remote from the other components is poorly engineered. One solution may be to install new cables from the battery to the 12V distribution board, these leads could be 25mm, so not cheap or easy to install. The old leads could the be reused to supply a B2B close to the battery. If the proposed B2B has a battery voltage sensing connection then with a separate sensing wire it could alternatively be remote from the battery.

I hope that the above provokes some thought.

 

[santiniuk]

Hi,

Appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

Sadly I purchased the Eco battery without any real consideration. It's too large for under the driver or passenger seat and the 'lounge' area does not have a suitable location.

My original intention was to use for an inverter combination. I currently have it as a stand alone setup in the rear garage. It's worked fine but longer term had intended to do the conversion. Might have to re-think this one. I suspected the large distance separation was not a good choice. At the moment I am using the Eco-Worthy 20A charger to recharge when mains is available.

Cheers

 

[NeilDD]

@santiniuk
I'm just starting the process with my Elddis CV20
Things you need to consider;
1/ Batt 2 Batt charger (will give you the correct voltage to the LiFePo4 batt which should be around 14.3V as the lithium battery rests at 13.8V
2/ Consider an Inverter/Charger as this combines 2 function in 1
3/ Check with Sargent that your model of charger is compatible with Lithium (See #2)

Depending on #2&3 you will need to do some re-wiring of the 12V distribution, with fuses on Alternator feed, B2B to lithium and also Solar if you are going that for.

Feel free to PM me and I'll give you as much info as I currently have

I will be doing an article later as I go through the process

Neil

 

[santiniuk]

Hi Neil,

Really appreciate the detailed reply and offer of assistance. Thanks very much.
It sounds like this will need a bit more planning than I first expected. That rear battery position certainly isn't ideal.
I look forward to following your article.

Thanks!