Assistance with Lithionics batteries

[ChrisRiley]

We bought a new FLX, 2024. Did a lot of research and we found that factory settings for the Xantrax and the factory supplied solar controller were both set up for the wrong batteries. You gotta into the settings for both and make sure you have the parameters set for the Lithionics battery. Otherwise you'll not get what you should from this very sophisticated power source.

 

[Goldenhour]

So you have one for the EKKO?

 

[Steph-WO]

So, I am in the final stages of adding a second 320Ah battery to my FLX. I may replace replace the Lithionics battery or I may leave the Lithionics and add a second non-Lithionics battery with the same specs. I have questions about the big 250Ah main breaker in the current set-up. I have looked at all the docs and nothing I found addresses the questions. I have also spent time with Winnebago service support, and they are pretty bad. So here are the questions:

1. The accessory wiring controls the on-off switch. Does it control anything else? If I change out the Lithionics then that will go away. What Impact?

2. All of the positive wires are connected to the bottom of the Airpax 250Ah breaker. Is there are reason for this? or does Winnebago just not want to use Bus Bars.

3. Adding a second battery would require changing the current fusing. You would need a fuse for battery 1, a fuse for battery 2, and then a fuse for the total load. At least that is my understanding. If I keep the current Lithionics and add Bus Bars, it would seem I would need in increase the current main breaker to 500Ah since would be controlling 2 320 Ah batteries. I have looked online and can find very little for the Airpax breaker now being used. It would be great if they had a 500Ah in the same form factor.

4. If I elect to go with a second non-Lithionics battery I will be connecting everything to Bus Bars and then adding a Victron Smart Shunt for Battery monitoring. My understanding connecting the batteries to the Bus Bars by-passe the BMS of the batteries.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[parshal]

@Steph-WO Did you manage to successfully add a second battery?

 

[creativepart]

I have a 2026 Winnebago View that also has a 320ah Lithionics battery. I'm researching added a second battery to my system as well.

If member "electric" is still monitoring these threads we'd love to hear some comments from him on this kind of upgrade.

 

[Downytide]

I'm not "electric" but I did learn alot from my experience fixing and upgrading my FLX.

I initially did do the add-a-battery upgrade, it was simple, eventually I added a 3rd one, so I had 960AH of capacity.

Honestly, it was pretty easy, I've since sold the FLX and bought a Voyage and built the electrical from ground up, this time I follow some of Lithionic's suggestion and used pretty much all Victron components, and what an amazing difference compare to Xantrex.

 

[parshal]

That's a whole lot of battery!!!

 

[creativepart]

I follow some of Lithionic's suggestion and used pretty much all Victron components, and what an amazing difference compare to Xantrex.

One thing about the new Winnebago motorhomes with Winnebago Connect - you are locked into their choices. Everything is operated via the Connect system and pre-programmed by Winnebago for their OEM gear.

I knew this going in, and I do find Connect pretty helpful. I'm sure over time there will be work arounds that will let you make changes in brands. My View came with a 2000w Xantrex inverter and I've already upgraded that to a 3000w model. It works great but my Connect screens don't recognize this change.

My thinking is if I upgrade to another 320ah of Lithionics that it will turn out the same way. At least that's my hope.

I believe that Lithionics is good gear, but the pricing is pretty ridiculous. I'll have to wait and see how to best proceed.

 

[electric]

I have a 2026 Winnebago View that also has a 320ah Lithionics battery. I'm researching added a second battery to my system as well.

If member "electric" is still monitoring these threads we'd love to hear some comments from him on this kind of upgrade.

I'm not employed by Lithionics anymore, but could answer specific questions if needed. I support what @Downytide has said and done, Victron stuff integrates best with Lithionics, but Xantrex works well too if you already have it. Adding parallel batteries for more capacity (not for more power as power is limited by inverter and the 250A DC breaker) is a matter of simple parallel wiring to the first battery. Just watch for risks associated with stacking lugs, bolt length, torque, good and clean contact surfaces, symmetrical wire length, etc. When done, run system at high power and use DC clamp to measure current distirubution across all batteries, they should be contributing somewhat equal amounts of current, not exact, but close enough.

 

[Downytide]

One thing about the new Winnebago motorhomes with Winnebago Connect - you are locked into their choices. Everything is operated via the Connect system and pre-programmed by Winnebago for their OEM gear.

I knew this going in, and I do find Connect pretty helpful. I'm sure over time there will be work arounds that will let you make changes in brands. My View came with a 2000w Xantrex inverter and I've already upgraded that to a 3000w model. It works great but my Connect screens don't recognize this change.

My thinking is if I upgrade to another 320ah of Lithionics that it will turn out the same way. At least that's my hope.

I believe that Lithionics is good gear, but the pricing is pretty ridiculous. I'll have to wait and see how to best proceed.

I assume the Connect there must be a developer mode that you can change perimeters, I assume since it's a motorhome, the Lithionics do not run the 12v? and did they finally install a battery kill switch this time? For the FLX, the Lithionics ran all the 12v system and there was no kill switch, nor the Xantrex has charge mode, that was biggest issue I had with how Xantrex works.

I stuck with Lithionics cause it worked and I've had no issue so far, and you are right, it's not the cheapest, I've bought 100ah "dumb" LifePo4 for $100 each and they've worked well too.

I'm not employed by Lithionics anymore, but could answer specific questions if needed. I support what @Downytide has said and done, Victron stuff integrates best with Lithionics, but Xantrex works well too if you already have it. Adding parallel batteries for more capacity (not for more power as power is limited by inverter and the 250A DC breaker) is a matter of simple parallel wiring to the first battery. Just watch for risks associated with stacking lugs, bolt length, torque, good and clean contact surfaces, symmetrical wire length, etc. When done, run system at high power and use DC clamp to measure current distirubution across all batteries, they should be contributing somewhat equal amounts of current, not exact, but close enough.

Welcome back man!

I read a lot of technical info and built this into the new trailer, the main batteries are the same, 3x 320GTX, then I ran 2x 100ah Wattcycle trailer battery that only powers the 12v, the Victron set up is truly amazing, if I had the FLX still I would've swapped the Xantrex inverter for the Victron.

 

[creativepart]

I assume the Connect there must be a developer mode that you can change perimeters, I assume since it's a motorhome, the Lithionics do not run the 12v? and did they finally install a battery kill switch this time? For the FLX, the Lithionics ran all the 12v system and there was no kill switch, nor the Xantrex has charge mode, that was biggest issue I had with how Xantrex works.

The Lithionics battery does run all 12vdc loads on the RV. And there is both a inverter disconnect rotary cutoff (salesman switch) and a master 12v disconnect.

I, too, assume there’s a programmer mode for Connect but have not found it yet. And Winnebago isn’t sharing that info. I keep looking though.

 

[Downytide]

I found out that Winnebago Connect was developed by Kore Wireless & Ericsson, may be you can try your luck by reaching out to them and see if they can provide any help.

 

[creativepart]

I found out that Winnebago Connect was developed by Kore Wireless & Ericsson, may be you can try your luck by reaching out to them and see if they can provide any help.

That helped! Thanks.
Further research from that info seems that Kore and Ericsson helped them source and configure the Cradlepoint cellular routers (S700 4g model), but a company called Robo did the system integration and UI development.

Not sure how that will help me, but it’s a start.

 

[Downytide]

if there's a will, there's a way lol.