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Similar to the way photography sites tend to foster GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), this forum can have the same effect. I was fine with running my 12V trolling motor with two 105ah AGM deep cycle batteries until I started to think of how much weight I'd save and how much longer run time I'd get out of two 100ah Lithium batteries. Why should I miss out on the technology I see so many folks here getting into?

On August 27, 2020 two Battle Born 100Ah batteries and 60 Amp Progressive Dynamics Charger showed up from Amazon. They could run the trolling motor a long time, get recharged in no time and all was good. Good up until the BMS on one of the Battle Born started shutting down after putting out about 50ah. I went through testing it under different loads and charging it back up, but it was always coming up short. Even though BB is supposed to have primo customer service, I don't like having to go down that road and it was a good excuse to upgrade. The old trolling motor, the Lithium charger, and the dysfunctional Battle Born found a new home with someone who was willing to try to get the Battle Born battery fixed.

Then in comes the new 24V trolling motor with two Chin 12.8V 200AH batteries and a 75 amp AIMS 12V or 24V Smart Charger. Kind of expensive for a charger but doing both the 12V and 24V systems along with being able to vary the charging current suits my need. The pair of 12V batteries gives a total of 200ah at 24 volts according to the web. That gives more run time than I really need, but now it can work as a backup for the 25 year old kicker on my 55 year old whaler.


So how does that apply to a van do it yourself person? The moral for me was that when I come to depend on this technology, there may come a time when I could find myself up the creek without a paddle (so to speak). I'd need to be able to get to all the components to debug a problem - without having to take everything back apart to get to it. I also have to check and make sure that whatever I plan to run off of them needs to be able to handle the slightly higher output voltage.

My van is mostly used as a daily driver and a portable living room. I don't really have any electrical needs that can't be handled by some sort of Ryobi 18V or USB powered gizmo. So, the good Battle Born battery was cobbled into "rig" that I can use in the van or in the house. It was still a little heavy to be moving around and then the GAS kicked in again when I saw that cute little Ampere Time 12V 50Ah Lithium battery.


Here is the kiddie pool version of a pair of portable LiFePO4 systems ....










The portable backup camera is mostly for pulling the boat behind the van. The low roof vans with the low mounted backup cam is ok for hooking up the trailer, but can get you in trouble if you're about to back into a tree limb. The camera is mounted inside the rear driver-side window with magnets and can be remounted on the roof if required. I'm using it with a 10" 12V monitor and running it off a 12V 6Ah Lithium battery.

Here is the kiddie pool version of a portable backup cam setup ....









And a few shots to give some perspective ....











I'm what some of you folks call a boomer. I've carried an extra starting battery in my vehicles as insurance since high school and still do. On the VW buses, you could mount an extra one back in the engine compartment. In the 80's I switched over to the new fangled AGM batteries. (Sorry, I had to throw in a little boomer lore there.) Now I'm liking these LiFePO4 batteries and It seems like having all this backup power has kept the hurricanes from sailing over my house this year. I can get a 50ah lithium for $200 that will give the same effective output as a much larger and heavier 100ah AGM. They even have 12V lithium cranking batteries and I guess I'm going to have to give that a try sooner or later.

So maybe some of you have been reading the posts on high-tech van electrical systems. Maybe you'd still like to have a little DIY action but can't justify going in big time. Go ahead, wade into the shallow end of the pool and scratch that itch .... ;-]






Amazon links for reference ....

Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery - 100Ah 12v
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XX197GJ

Progressive Dynamics 12V Lithium Ion Battery Converter/Charger - 60 Amp
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DP3X16F

MotorGuide Trolling Motor 12V 55-lb Thrust
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MYTSTY4

Minn Kota Trolling Motor 24V 80 lbs Thrust
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQCCGAB

Chins LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery - 12.8V 200AH Plus
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0993Y461N

AIMS Power CON120AC1224DC AC Converter & Battery 12V or 24V Smart Charger 75 amps
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N1K43NQ

Ampere Time 12V 50Ah Lithium LiFePO4
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K7MKRF7

Hydraulic Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal Crimper
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XR8BY65

Waterproof ANL Fuse Holder
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FYZQP6S

Battery Switch
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07413JWLD

Battery Monitor
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HP5VD4M

Current Voltage Amp Meter Ammeter
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DDQM6Z4



Waterproof Backup Camera 135 degree
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BFBCPB8

Portable Monitor
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WCQ627G

LiFePo4 Battery 12V 6Ah
.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q7FY8CC



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