RT recommendations on Li Batteries

[wa7pug]

2017 RT25SC: Acid batteries do not last forever, and it is always painful to the pocketbook, but eventually new batteries are going to be needed. Does Ranger Tugs have a technical article on converting entire battery bank to Lithium, including charging system requirements, recommendations, etc.? Seems like a good Winter project. I realize it is costly, but so is being caught on the way to SJI and aging batteries start making your cruising decisions for you, especially if She Who Must Be Obeyed is with you!

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

Channel Surfing has a fully documented conversion on YouTube. Check it out!


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[wa7pug]

Kool ... many thx

 

[Submariner]

Here’s where I published my conversion to LFP.

https://www.letsgochannelsurfing.com/boat-upgrades/house-battery-lithium


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[wa7pug]

Impressive work! I was electrician in submarine Navy so I had SWAGed about 10K so I was not far off. I have bookmarked and downloaded everything so I can read through it carefully. Very very grateful for your sharing. Thank you!
I would assume now, for what a new RT costs, they are building with Lithium batteries ... or are they?

 

[watson1987]

I believe a few of the RTs have a factory option to install lithium, but it isn't standard on any of them yet.

 

[glider4]

For the current year RT-27, the NW Edition comes with AGM and the Luxury Edition comes with Lithium batteries. There are other differences between the two models as well so you are not comparing apples to apples.
Base Pricing:
Northwest Edition: $239,937.00
Luxury Edition: $249,937.00

 

[Submariner]

Impressive work! I was electrician in submarine Navy so I had SWAGed about 10K so I was not far off. I have bookmarked and downloaded everything so I can read through it carefully. Very very grateful for your sharing. Thank you!
I would assume now, for what a new RT costs, they are building with Lithium batteries ... or are they?

I was in A-Gang onboard submarines. Permit class and Ohio Class subs. MM1/SS. 🙂

My father was an electrician in the USCG.

RT offers LFP for their luxury editions with air conditioning. I have a NW edition which I prefer. I have a diesel heater instead of an air conditioner. The factory uses Dakota lithium, I went with Lithionics.


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[shontm]

Has anyone considered using this Victron SmartBMS https://www.victronenergy.com/battery-management-systems/smart-bms-12-200 for a lithium install instead of DC to DC chargers? You’d keep the ACR between starter and thruster batteries and isolate the lithium house batteries on the BMS. It seems like it would be a bit simpler and lets you use the full amperage of the alternator to charge your lithium bank instead of being limited to the DC to DC charger. I had a dockside conversation with an electrician who said this is what he has used for lithium upgrades on other boats.

 

[Brian John]

I am presently in the process of rewiring my batteries and setting up my DC system for isolation of the Engine Start and Thruster Batteries from the house battery. Eventually (next fall) I will replace the House AGMs with Lithium.

As part of the upgrade, I installed the Victron Inverter Charger, the Victron MPPT Solar Charger, the Cerbo GX, the Lynx Shunt, and the Lynx distributor. Next fall I will upgrade the solar to hopefully 400 or 500 watts.

I am still debating how to charge all systems while running on generator or alternator, without damaging the different battery types.

As for batteries, I am looking at the Voltgo or the EPOCH Lithium.

I have some experience in AC and DC power systems I was a licensed electrician for 52 years and 38 years in business specializing in battery systems, generators, grounding, and electrical testing.

Ranger Tugs R-31 CB LE.

 

[Wee Venture]

I am presently in the process of rewiring my batteries and setting up my DC system for isolation of the Engine Start and Thruster Batteries from the house battery. Eventually (next fall) I will replace the House AGMs with Lithium.

As part of the upgrade, I installed the Victron Inverter Charger, the Victron MPPT Solar Charger, the Cerbo GX, the Lynx Shunt, and the Lynx distributor. Next fall I will upgrade the solar to hopefully 400 or 500 watts.

I am still debating how to charge all systems while running on generator or alternator, without damaging the different battery types.

As for batteries, I am looking at the Voltgo or the EPOCH Lithium.

I have some experience in AC and DC power systems I was a licensed electrician for 52 years and 38 years in business specializing in battery systems, generators, grounding, and electrical testing.

Ranger Tugs R-31 CB LE.

Brian, I also have an R-31CB and did this conversion about 3-1/2 years ago. Had I known about you and your background then, you might have gotten a "friendly call" from me asking for a consultation.

Here is the thread about my conversion and how I isolated the engine and thruster batteries. There is a block diagram showing connections further down in the thread. The orange colored "to be added if needed" items were not needed as it turns out. The diagram shows the OEM Imtra inverter/charger. That died at about the same time so I installed a 3000W Xantrex inverter/Charger instead, which can deliver a much higher charging current to the LiFePO4 batteries.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16756&start=0

John