custom lifepo4 solar rv system in Canada

[wcn00]

I just bought a 2012 Unity motor coach. It has a lead acid system that I expect to upgrade soon as I can. However I live in Canada where the temperature routinely stays at -20 for much of the winter. If I spend 3G on batteries and the first time my battery heater fails or some other problem occurs my battery investment is lost. Are they really that sensitive? Are there ways to mitigate the risks?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Wcn

 

[Dzl]

They are quite sensitive to charging in the cold. Its not quite as simple as immediately using your investment the first time they get charged in the cold, but its serious enough you may as well treat it that way.

There are a number of ways you can mitigate the risk:

1. Get a BMS that has low temp disconnect (like
2. Get a Solar Charge Controller that is temperature aware and will cutoff or reduce charging at freezing temps
3. Use a thermostatically controlled heating element to warm your batteries
4. Keep the batteries in the living space where temps won't get that cold
5. Creatively use thermal mass to equalize high and low temps throughout the day (i.e if your water tanks never freeze place your battery bank on top of it)
6. Insulate your battery box (only helps if you have a heat source too)

If it were me I would probably combine at least a few of these methods and possibly elements of all of them.