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Bob P., Norwalk, Connecticut
$30 Lithium Battery Winter Charging Solution
2003 Ford F-250
2006 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer
I upgraded my 50Ah lead acid Group 24 battery to an 80Ah lithium LiFeP04. By design, this battery does not charge below 32 degrees.
I own a 2006 Northstar Adventurer 8.5 camper. Over the years, I’ve updated to LED lights, a water tank access port, a quieter water pump, a toilet water pump, a Dometic circuit board, and a Fridge Defend. I also switched my Group 24 lead acid house battery to Group 24 80 Ah Lithium LiFeP04 and upgraded my WFCO inverter charger to a lithium-capable WFCO WF-8735-AD. It was an easy swap; plug and play.
By design, the lithium battery does not charge below 32 degrees. In the winter, it’s cold here in Connecticut.
When on shore power, I use a simple solution. I wrapped the battery in a Burpee 15-watt seedling heating mat that was $10 (on sale) at Walmart. Then I added an inline $8 Feekoon Cold Weather Thermostatically Controlled Outlet. If I have shore power, the Burpee heating mat keeps the lithium batteries above freezing.
I checked the simple setup at 20 degrees Fahrenheit and the battery has charged nicely.
It took me three minutes to complete this modification and cost me $30.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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