Could I use the stock converter on my 2017 trailer to charge LifePo4 batteries?

[jbird526]

Let me ask that in another way: if I follow Will Prowse's blueprint here: https://www.mobile-solarpower.com/the-classic-400-watt-rvs-vans-buses.html, and due to the lack of space in my trailer, I wonder if there's a good all-on-one solution that will cover at least the MPPT controller+Inverter+ATS parts of it, and that are still 12V?

There may also be additional concerns. How much are you willing to spend. This is a list I started just to put together the most basic setup for a trailer/van with an all in one. No wiring is added here yet and you probably don't need an AC/DC distribution panel but you get the idea of how it adds up. I didn't add product links here to save space.

The PIP1012LV-MK can be found here at least AIO

Usage	Item	Price	Quantity	Total
All In One inverter/charger	PIP1012LV-MK – 12V 1kW 120V Inverter , 1kW Solar Charger 60amp shore	$632.00	1	$632.00
Battery	Ampere Time 12V 200Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery * NO LOW TEMP	$659.99	1	$659.99
Battery Monitor	Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor (Grey)	$206.55	1	$206.55
DC panel battery disconnect	Victron Energy Smart Battery Protect 12/24-Volt 65 amp (Bluetooth)	$59.50	1	$59.50
Chassis to house charger	Orion-TR Smart 12/12V-30A Isolated Charger	$220.15	1	$220.15
Solar panels	Newpowa 160W(Watt) Solar Panel Monocrystalline 12V High Efficiency PV Module	$163.90	2	$327.80
AC/DC Distribution panel	Progressive Dynamics PD50K3Q2GP Panel Converter	$75.15	1	$75.15
PV disconnect	DC Disconnect SI32-PEL64R-2	$61.00	1	$61.00
DC breaker for Orion at chassis battery	Blue Sea Systems 7035 187 Series	$45.94	1	$45.94
MRBF fuse holder	Blue Sea Systems MRBF Surface and Terminal Mount Fuse Blocks	$41.78	1	$41.78
Fuse for batt and MPP	MRBF Terminal Fuse 150a	$16.20	2	$32.40
Fuse for Orion	MRBF Terminal Fuse 40a	$15.48	1	$21.09
Negative Bussbar	MaxiBus 250A BusBar - Four 5/16"-18 Studs	$45.00	1	$45.00
				$2,428.35

 

[eric_h]

There may also be additional concerns. How much are you willing to spend. This is a list I started just to put together the most basic setup for a trailer/van with an all in one. No wiring is added here yet and you probably don't need an AC/DC distribution panel but you get the idea of how it adds up. I didn't add product links here to save space.

The PIP1012LV-MK can be found here at least AIO

Usage	Item	Price	Quantity	Total
All In One inverter/charger	PIP1012LV-MK – 12V 1kW 120V Inverter , 1kW Solar Charger 60amp shore	$632.00	1	$632.00
Battery	Ampere Time 12V 200Ah Lithium LiFePO4 Battery * NO LOW TEMP	$659.99	1	$659.99
Battery Monitor	Victron Energy BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor (Grey)	$206.55	1	$206.55
DC panel battery disconnect	Victron Energy Smart Battery Protect 12/24-Volt 65 amp (Bluetooth)	$59.50	1	$59.50
Chassis to house charger	Orion-TR Smart 12/12V-30A Isolated Charger	$220.15	1	$220.15
Solar panels	Newpowa 160W(Watt) Solar Panel Monocrystalline 12V High Efficiency PV Module	$163.90	2	$327.80
AC/DC Distribution panel	Progressive Dynamics PD50K3Q2GP Panel Converter	$75.15	1	$75.15
PV disconnect	DC Disconnect SI32-PEL64R-2	$61.00	1	$61.00
DC breaker for Orion at chassis battery	Blue Sea Systems 7035 187 Series	$45.94	1	$45.94
MRBF fuse holder	Blue Sea Systems MRBF Surface and Terminal Mount Fuse Blocks	$41.78	1	$41.78
Fuse for batt and MPP	MRBF Terminal Fuse 150a	$16.20	2	$32.40
Fuse for Orion	MRBF Terminal Fuse 40a	$15.48	1	$21.09
Negative Bussbar	MaxiBus 250A BusBar - Four 5/16"-18 Studs	$45.00	1	$45.00
				$2,428.35

I created an Excel sheet comparing all-in-one (the cheaper PIP) options with the option of getting everything separate. I did find them to be very close in price, I must say, with the PIP options offering a 1KW inverter, compared to the 2KW one I was considering separately (which makes more sense), and the PIP MPPT charging at 40A with the separate one charging at 50A.
The most cost-effective PIP option included batteries, but I do not trust these batteries and would prefer to choose my own.

Another advantage for using separate devices is that if one element goes bad, you could replace it and not get completely stuck with an entire system being down or that has to be expensively replaced...

That's why I, for now, reverted to the separate devices option, even if I'd have to be creative in finding room for all of these devices.
That's, of course, unless someone here would be able to suggest a cost-effective (that is- not bank-breaking) all-in-one option (thus not Victron, unfortunately).
I couldn't find any.

 

[rickst29]

No detection of charge level. Most likely never see 14.4 volts. Just charge away at 13.6 indefinitely. Possibly drop to float (13.2v) after several days or a week of non use. Nothing "smart" here. Mostly just a timer.

I would stay away from the 8950L2-MBA as it runs at a higher voltage that is unnecessary.

940w is the max power of the converter. Can feed the 120v side with 2kW as the normal input is 3.6kW, unless it is 50 amp then 12kW.

time2roll has just provided about 1/2 of the info you need for this scenario, with one significant error: WFCO WF8955PEC does detect the "battery voltage" via the DC Distribution Panel (fuse board) to which it is attached. The WFCO chargers (the unit is in the bottom of the panel assembly) are notorious for dropping all the way down to "float" 13.6V, and then to even "storage" 13.2V, much too quickly. With low internal resistance, a "12v" LFP battery pack can pull in some current from even a 13.6V source, but charging will take a really long time. You definitely wouldn't want to try charging from a gas-powered generator through that WFCO.

The "Lithium" 8950L2-MBA is a 2-stage charger, but you have no control of when it falls into "float" mode. (Most WFCO units fall into "float mode" far too early in the charging cycle.) For another $200 or so, you could replace the WFCO power converter with a much lower amperage (30A) but otherwise far superior "Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22", supporting bluetooth programming via the cellphone app - already containing a pretty good LFP 2-stage algorithm (14.2 Constant-Voltage "absorb", 13.5 "float", and nothing else). If you programmed, you wouldn't want to change those parameters by more than .0.1 or 0.2 volts. But 30A is only 426 watts, for everything combined (battery charging, running 12v lights and appliances, that may be kind small in comparison to your needs.

For $400, you could buy two of them and run them in parallel, reaching up to 60A. I use a slightly modified PD Converter (inside my own WFCO load center, it was built to fit) which provides 60A. But it isn't programmable, and it doesn't have the high efficiency of the Victron (so it needs fans). My 'Wildkat' Converter provides a really bad "Lithium" setting, exactly like the WFCO 8950L2-MBA (and running 14.6 Volts all the time). I have it set for "Gel" batteries, and use an adjacent, wired PD pushbutton controller "pendant" to force "Boost Mode" and "Absorb Mode" when I want it to charge more quickly. But that's a hand intervention, not automatic. It costs about $250.
- - -
That "940 watts" output power (on the WFCO 8950L2-MBA) is bullshit. It's 50 amps at a maximum of 14.6 volts = 730 watts.