11-17-2025, 06:35 AM
Lithium Battery Considerations for #586
My house batteries are on their way out. Currently they are 6 AGM batteries. I want to go with lithium and have read all of the posts here I could find.
I have 2 Magnum 3012 inverter chargers. One is currently used only for the 2nd Subzero refrigerator. The other powers the 1st Subzero refrigerator, the 120v compressor, and everything else a single inverter usually powers in a coach. I use ME-RC remote controls for each inverter.
Here are some points I’ve read about and figured out by reading my manuals and these forum posts.
1. I’ll have to use custom settings because the ME-RC does not have a preconfigured Lithium battery choice. The ME-ARC does but I’m not going to upgrade to those controllers.
2. I don’t plan on adding solar.
3. I expect we will boondock more since we are snowbirds and spend more time in cooler climates. We don’t need to run the air conditioning all the time like we did in Florida.
4. I have the big oil cooled alternator. I’m interested in NOT creating issues with this because of the low charging resistance in Lithium batteries.
5. I have the big blue isolator in the rear electrical cabinet. Alternator in post, a post for house batteries and a post for engine batteries.
6. The smartest guy I know said he went through alternators when he would boondock and just drive away the next morning letting the engine alternator charge the batteries. When he changed his MO to running the generator as well, his alternator issues were reduced (or eliminated). I don’t recall if this was on their first Newell and has been overcome when/if his second had the big oil cooled alternator.
7. If I remove the house batteries from the isolator and install a DC-DC charger (engine to house direction, 30 or 40 AMP) will this be a viable option instead of running the generator?
8. Should I set up my system to only charge the batteries from the 2nd inverter/charger because it would be more straight forward to monitor and control? As I ask this it sounds easier to manage this way but splitting the charging duties might keep heat down in each inverter/charger and battery cables.
9. My generator starts from the house batteries.
10. I don’t set the merge switch when hooked up to shore power. With Lithium when this is needed for starting the engine I should leave it merged for 20 minutes or so before attempting an engine start.
11. I’ll have to reconfigure my automatic generator start for the Lithium profile. I may upgrade to the Magnum AGS for this. I haven’t determined the original AGS settings capabilities yet.
Anything else I need to consider?
What has worked for you guys?
My house batteries are on their way out. Currently they are 6 AGM batteries. I want to go with lithium and have read all of the posts here I could find.
I have 2 Magnum 3012 inverter chargers. One is currently used only for the 2nd Subzero refrigerator. The other powers the 1st Subzero refrigerator, the 120v compressor, and everything else a single inverter usually powers in a coach. I use ME-RC remote controls for each inverter.
Here are some points I’ve read about and figured out by reading my manuals and these forum posts.
1. I’ll have to use custom settings because the ME-RC does not have a preconfigured Lithium battery choice. The ME-ARC does but I’m not going to upgrade to those controllers.
2. I don’t plan on adding solar.
3. I expect we will boondock more since we are snowbirds and spend more time in cooler climates. We don’t need to run the air conditioning all the time like we did in Florida.
4. I have the big oil cooled alternator. I’m interested in NOT creating issues with this because of the low charging resistance in Lithium batteries.
5. I have the big blue isolator in the rear electrical cabinet. Alternator in post, a post for house batteries and a post for engine batteries.
6. The smartest guy I know said he went through alternators when he would boondock and just drive away the next morning letting the engine alternator charge the batteries. When he changed his MO to running the generator as well, his alternator issues were reduced (or eliminated). I don’t recall if this was on their first Newell and has been overcome when/if his second had the big oil cooled alternator.
7. If I remove the house batteries from the isolator and install a DC-DC charger (engine to house direction, 30 or 40 AMP) will this be a viable option instead of running the generator?
8. Should I set up my system to only charge the batteries from the 2nd inverter/charger because it would be more straight forward to monitor and control? As I ask this it sounds easier to manage this way but splitting the charging duties might keep heat down in each inverter/charger and battery cables.
9. My generator starts from the house batteries.
10. I don’t set the merge switch when hooked up to shore power. With Lithium when this is needed for starting the engine I should leave it merged for 20 minutes or so before attempting an engine start.
11. I’ll have to reconfigure my automatic generator start for the Lithium profile. I may upgrade to the Magnum AGS for this. I haven’t determined the original AGS settings capabilities yet.
Anything else I need to consider?
What has worked for you guys?
Hank & Natalie Bensley
2001 Double Slide #586.
2021 Cherokee Trailhawk Toad
Finally Retired and Snowbirds for the summers in Endwell, NY
