Results for "bim"

Tried everything my neighbor did to charge his LiFePO4 batteries but mine keeps frying the alternator while his works flawlessly — what's different? I want to install a temperature sensing device that can interrupt charging by opening the solenoid between chassis and house charging systems if the alternator gets too hot. I'm looking to spec out components and understand the installation process, and I'm open to hearing why this might not be a good approach. My goal is preventing alternator overheating when these lithium batteries draw high current compared to my old flooded or AGM batteries. I'm looking for technical feedback and am totally open to critique. …more

Staring at my 2019 Newmar's freshly wired lithium upgrade with Victron BVM-712, Orion XS DC-DC charger, and Cerbo GX — finished yesterday but the system still isn't charging properly.

The main issue is I can't figure out how to properly integrate my existing boost switch with the new DC-DC charger setup while maintaining the ability to trickle charge chassis batteries. Currently, my Orion XS DC-DC charger flows only one way from engine alternator to lithium batteries. Should I replace the existing BIM with a LI-BIM, which would be in series with the 2/0 cable? Is there a control wire on the Orion XS that will allow flow from lithium to chassis batteries while on shore/inverter power?

I'm considering adding a 120V battery tender for chassis batteries, but want to confirm what modifications might be needed to my existing BIM. Can someone provide guidance on the correct wiring approach? …more

Got my weekend planned to install a lithium battery manager relay in my 1999 Fleetwood American Dream Saturday — what should I have ready beforehand? I understand these relays are crucial for protecting lithium batteries from overcharging by managing the connection to the alternator, but I want to make sure I understand the complete installation process before I start.

I'm looking for detailed information on how these battery manager relays function - specifically how they disconnect the batteries from the alternator when charging isn't needed. More importantly, I need step-by-step guidance on the actual wiring process, including how to properly connect the relay between my alternator/converter and the new lithium battery bank. I'm particularly concerned about getting the fusing right and understanding what control circuits are involved in this setup.

This is a significant electrical modification to my RV's charging system, so I want to ensure I have all the technical details covered before I begin the installation. Any comprehensive guidance on the complete process would be extremely helpful. …more

Turned on my 2024 Entegra Reatta XL this morning to find the house batteries completely dead again despite being plugged into 50 amp shore power—third time this season and I'm done guessing. New batteries, good connections, power was working fine for days then died completely. Voltmeter shows 12.69V on chassis, 4.7V on house batteries at the BIM.

What's the proper troubleshooting sequence for house batteries not charging on shore power? Need to check converter, breakers, and connections but want to do this systematically. …more

Leaving the RV in storage for five months over winter and worried about the chassis battery dying again. Last year I came back to a completely dead battery and had to get a jump. Looking into DC/DC chargers connected to a trickle charger setup but not sure about the wiring. …more

Despite everyone saying I need a DC-DC charger for my lithium RV batteries, I'm skeptical about dropping $400 — will it actually protect my alternator? Just got a shiny new 2026 F250 (after my poor F150 basically begged for mercy when I hooked up my 2600RB) and had a 230ah lithium battery installed in the trailer. Now I'm reading horror stories about truck alternators and lithium batteries having some kind of electrical death match that could fry my alternator or damage the battery.

I keep seeing mentions of DC-DC chargers but honestly have no idea if I actually need one or if this is just RV paranoia at its finest. The trailer has solar and I've only got a 12V fridge drawing power when towing, so it's not like I'm running a mobile data center back there. Can I just use my truck's existing charge line to the trailer, or am I about to become another cautionary tale about expensive electrical mistakes? …more

Wondering why the manual shows a reset breaker location on my Freedom 20D inverter that doesn't match what I'm actually seeing inside the unit? My 1999 motorhome has a Freedom 20D inverter that was working fine until recently. I was running some heaters during cold weather and when I started the engine, something went wrong and I lost one of the AC circuits completely.

I've reset all the house breakers and checked every GFCI I could find. All the other circuits work fine, but this one inverter circuit has no power at all. When I look at the inverter itself, none of the breakers appear to have tripped - they all look normal to me.

I'm wondering if there might be some kind of internal breaker or component that failed inside the inverter that I can't see? Is this something that can be repaired, or am I looking at replacing the whole unit? Any help would be greatly appreciated since I'm not sure what to check next! …more

Finally got a 2019 Ford E450 and I'm upgrading from AGM to lithium batteries but can't figure out if I need a DC-DC charger. Now I'm seriously considering ditching my AGM 12V batteries for the shiny new lithium upgrade on my E450 chassis.

The thing is, I've got a decent 200 amp alternator already installed, and I'm wondering if that's enough muscle to properly charge lithium batteries, or if I need to add yet another gadget to my ever-growing collection of RV electronics. Do I really need a DC-DC charger for this upgrade, or can my alternator handle the job? My wallet is already crying from pricing out lithium batteries, so I'm hoping to avoid another expensive add-on if possible! …more

After three years with my 2003 Fleetwood Terra, these dual 6V golf cart batteries only die when it's above 85°F outside — perfect charge retention in cooler weather. I've been reading about LiFePO4 lithium batteries and wondering if I should make the switch. We're not full-timers - probably use the RV maybe 6-8 times per year for weekend trips and the occasional week-long vacation.

I keep hearing about the benefits of lithium, but I'm honestly not sure if it makes sense for our situation. My current lead acid batteries seem to need replacing every couple years, which is getting expensive. But I'm also worried about compatibility issues with my older Terra's charging system. Would really appreciate some guidance on whether this upgrade is worth it for someone with my usage pattern and RV age! …more

Already flipped every switch and tried starting my 2005 Monaco Cayman after complete electrical power loss yesterday and absolutely nothing responds. Just getting back into camping season after winter storage, and while merging onto the interstate last week, my entire RV just died - engine shut off, all electrical went dark, no warning lights or alarms beforehand. Managed to coast to the shoulder safely, and after sitting about 5 minutes, everything mysteriously came back online and I could start up normally. It's like someone flipped both my house and chassis battery disconnect switches simultaneously. This exact same thing happened about two years back. My local shop couldn't reproduce the problem or find any stored codes. I'm thinking it's some kind of relay or solenoid that's overheating, but I need help tracking down which one. Anyone experienced this total power failure before? …more