Power Plus Lithium Battery Upgrade
Airstream’s New Lithium Battery Upgrade Kit Available.
Airstream trailer power systems are unique in several ways:
- An external battery box limits the size of battery banks or requires the battery bank to be relocated.
- Limited roof space requires narrow solar panels.
- A curved roof requires specialized mounting hardware.
- Solar pre-wires are frequently factored into the design.
The Lithium Power Plus Package below takes you through the myriad of options for developing a Lithium Airstream power system. Available at Colonial Airstream & RV.
Traditional Lead Batteries
Lead-acid batteries need to maintain at least a 50% charged level to deliver any power to your RV.
New Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries can be depleted up to 100% without damaging the batteries or diminishing the available power.
Power Plus Lithium Battery
Package Breakdown
Battle Born GC2H batteries
Battle Born battery model has a Bulk/Absorption rating of 14.2 to 14.6 volts. The Float rating is 13.4 to 13.8 volts. Each battery has a 100 amp hour rating. The battery has a max voltage of 14.7 and will stop charging if this is exceeded and a low voltage shut off of 10 volts, at which point it will stop discharging. The battery has a high temperature rating of 135 degrees and will not charge or discharge above this rating. The battery has a low voltage of 25 degrees and will not charge below this temperature, but does have an internal heater if using in cold conditions.
Victron SmartSolar MPPT
A solar charger gathers energy from your solar panels, and stores it in your batteries. Using the latest, fastest technology, SmartSolar maximises this energy-harvest, driving it intelligently to achieve full charge in the shortest possible time. SmartSolar maintains battery health, extending its life.
The SmartSolar charge controller will even recharge a severely depleted battery. It can operate with a battery voltage as low as 0 Volts, provided the cells are not permanently sulphated or otherwise damaged.
SmartShunt
The SmartShunt is an all in one battery monitor, only without a display. Your phone acts as the display. The SmartShunt connects via Bluetooth to the VictronConnect App on your phone (or tablet) and you can conveniently read out all monitored battery parameters, like state of charge, time to go, historical information and much more.
WFCO Converter chargers
The WFCO WF-8950L2-MBA is an RV power converter replacement main board, optimized to safely charge deep-cycle lithium-ion phosphate batteries, while powering the RV’s lights and appliances. Our WF-8950L2-MBA is a quick, easy replacement part for all WF-8900 Series power centers.
Lithium Battery FAQ
How Long Does It Take For The Heat Function To Work?
The heater will activate when the internal temperature of the battery reaches 35°F. If the battery has been exposed to below freezing temperatures for a long time without the heater enabled, it will take 2 to 4 hours for the internals of the battery to heat up enough for the battery to take a charge.
How Much Power Does The Heat Function Consume?
On average the internal heating function consumes about 1.8 amps/ Our tests show at 0°F with no insulation, the heater function is on about 30% of the time.
How Do I Properly Store my BB10012H Batteries?
We recommend bringing the Battle Born Batteries to 50% state of charge. Then, disconnect the battery from any load by removing the negative cable from one battery. By disconnecting this way, your batteries will lose – 3-5% of stored energy a month. You will also need to deactivate the heater for storage. To deactivate the heater simply disconnect the heat enable jumper wire from the heat enable post.
How Can I Check My Battery's Voltage?
If you do not have a battery monitor, you can purchase a multimeter to monitor the voltage of your batteries. Please reference the voltage vs capacity table.
Is It Necessary To Charge My Batteries Out Of The Box?
Yes, if you are connecting your batteries in series you will need to charge your batteries out of the box. If you are connecting in parallel then you do not need to hare out of the box.
Solar Upgrade Recommendations
90 Watt Long
Roof Mount Panels
Perfect for Airstreams, our 90-Watt “L” Series Kit is specially designed for narrow or curved roofs. This kit’s unique mounting feet were created to accommodate curved roofs, while long, narrow panels make the most of available space. Expand this kit up to 510 watts.
90-Watt Long Expansion Kit Includes:
- 30-Amp, 5-stage PWM charge controller
- Pre-assembled wiring harness
- 3-port roof cap (ready for future expansions!)
- Stainless steel mounting hardware and specialized feet for curved roofs
OBSIDIAN® SERIES
100-Watt Solar Panel Kit
Perfect for small to mid-sized projects or rigs, our OBSIDIAN® SERIES 100-Watt panel works with any type of 12-Volt battery. As thin as a flexible panel and 30% lighter than a traditional panel without compromising efficiency, this American-made panel also features an ultra-aerodynamic profile and a sleek black anodized aluminum frame.
Kit Includes (ZSK1006):
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One 100-watt solar panel
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One 10-foot wire harness
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One set of OBSIDIAN® SERIES universal mounting feet.
Panel Size: 43.6” tall x 20.7” wide x .67” thin
Panel Weight: 10.78 lbs