An RVer with four GC2 batteries in series-parallel, 450 watts of solar, a DUVAC 160 amp alternator, and a Xantrex Freedom 3000SW asked what technical issues to expect when converting to lithium. Members said the Xantrex may already support lithium charging, modern LiFePO4 batteries with built-in monitoring apps and BMS features are common, and alternator protection may require watching charge behavior or adding a DC-DC charger.
The original poster later leaned toward AGM to avoid watering...
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An RVer with four GC2 batteries in series-parallel, 450 watts of solar, a DUVAC 160 amp alternator, and a Xantrex Freedom 3000SW asked what technical issues to expect when converting to lithium. Members said the Xantrex may already support lithium charging, modern LiFePO4 batteries with built-in monitoring apps and BMS features are common, and alternator protection may require watching charge behavior or adding a DC-DC charger.
The original poster later leaned toward AGM to avoid watering and acid residue, but members pointed out that AGM is still lead-acid and can sulfate, though it is lower maintenance than flooded batteries. Several members also corrected capacity assumptions, noting that four GC2 batteries typically provide about 420 to 460 amp-hours at 12 volts, and that changing battery configuration does not automatically increase total watt-hours unless the replacement batteries have greater capacity. Cold-temperature lithium charging protection, possible self-heating batteries, and relocating batteries to a warmer RV space were also mentioned, while the overall choice between lithium and AGM remained unresolved.
