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Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Winnebago AUX/house battery, solar thread.

« on: June 27, 2016, 11:28:23 am »

I took a look at Stark Power and Smart Battery, and I'm not sure if they have a real system to balance cells either... Based on the pictures available on their websites it looks more like overvoltage/undervoltage/termal protection? Looks like they are building their batteries using many small cells, so if their battery comprises a few dozen of small cells (some connected in series, other connected in parallel), how much would the cost of complicated system to individually balance and maintain them?
-albertr

Albert -  on the Stark site they say:

"StarkPower “DEEP CYCLE” Models have a Battery Management System (BMS.) BMS monitors the key operational parameters during charging and discharging such as voltages, currents and internal temperatures.

There are three main objectives common to all Battery Management Systems (BMS):

Protect the cells in the battery from damage through overcharging or discharging too low.
Prolong the life of the battery with cell balancing.
Maintain the battery in a safe operating state."

This "BMS" or "no BMS" is an interesting discussion.  On other RV forums I follow, it is always "must have BMS".  Have never seen/read/heard the "no BMS" topic before.  This discussion seems particular to forums/blogs on electric vehicles.  Just wonder if the type of use/power demand for electric vehicles has anything to do with it.  RV use is for lights, fans, fridge, run an inverter for some 120V appliance, etc.

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Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Winnebago AUX/house battery, solar thread.

« on: June 26, 2016, 07:26:26 pm »

Did you do the "bottom balancing"?  how did that go?

3

Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Winnebago AUX/house battery, solar thread.

« on: June 25, 2016, 08:27:04 pm »

Albert,

Not sure, but I think the Zamp works connected to a single 12V battery bank (even if made up of several 12v batteries in parallel) - a BMS (or EMS as sometimes referred to) is necessary to balance the individual cells.  The Zamp does not balance the LiFEPO4 cells, it just provides a chargin profile suitable for LiFEPO4 batteries.   On some other forums, people have been connecting it to banks made up of 12V LiFePO4 units, each with integral BMS.  Other than Technomadia, who made their 12v units up from individual 3.2 v cells,  most have been buying 12V units from places like Stark. 

4

Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Winnebago AUX/house battery, solar thread.

« on: June 25, 2016, 05:02:32 pm »

I will be interested in how your lithiums do with no BMS.  Every article/blog I read (including some of your referenced ones) talks of BMS as a "must-have".  Most 12V lithiums come with a BMS built in.  Keep us posted. 

The zamp kit from GoWesty seems great, but as far as I know the controller is for Lead acid batteries.  Zamp now has a new controller just for lithiums - http://www.zampsolar.com/product/lithium-ready-dual-battery-charging-30-amp-solar-charge-controller/

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Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Winnebago AUX/house battery, solar thread.

« on: June 25, 2016, 09:45:16 am »

What are you doing/using for a Battery Management System (BMS) for the Lithiums cells?

6

Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: March 08, 2016, 12:24:17 pm »

Beautiful!  Did you do the restoration?  Interior photos?

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Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: March 08, 2016, 10:31:49 am »

Wow!  Very nice! Like the low profile pop-top.   Matching blue stripe is a nice touch, too.

Which Transporter is that? Looks later than T4 and I did not think any T5s or T6s made it over (at least thru dealerships)

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Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: March 06, 2016, 09:55:51 am »

So where?  See Colorado plates on it.  Did someone import that into US?

9

VR6 Engine tech / Re: Ignition Wire replacement?

« on: November 26, 2015, 03:11:56 pm »

Went with the Bremi set. Came in a box marked "Karlyn / STI made in USA", but wires are stamped "made in Germany". Mechanics had no problems using them.  Everything running fine now; will see when next big trip (2016) rolls around.

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Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: November 01, 2015, 09:03:14 am »

Took this photo on Friday, while in Chestertown, MD for the annual Downrigging event.  Wasn't in my EVC, but this sticker was on a very well-used (and well-loved) Vanagon.  Just had to take photo and post. 

11

VR6 Engine tech / Re: Ignition Wire replacement?

« on: October 20, 2015, 03:43:10 pm »

Oops.   Did some more research on Bremi - yes an Audi/VW OEM.  Karlyn is the distributor in US for them. 

Will wait to see if any others weigh in, but will probably go with the Bremi from Europarts; I think I  have ordered from them before.

Thank you.

12

VR6 Engine tech / Re: Ignition Wire replacement?

« on: October 20, 2015, 12:59:15 pm »

Farther,

Thanks for link, but I am not having any difficulty in finding a vendor, but with price range of vendors from $70 to $400, I am pretty sure the products are not all equal. 

13

VR6 Engine tech / Ignition Wire replacement?

« on: October 20, 2015, 10:54:54 am »

My ’99 VW EVC has been getting “misfire” codes - #2 and #4 cylinders.  Has happened twice and seems to happen when I “punch it” i.e. accelerate very rapidly.  Took it to the dealer again and it seems I will need new wires, plugs and coil.  The PO replaced all of that before I bought it, but looking at the invoice, the parts were very inexpensive 3rd party so, that is probably the cause.  If I was a DIY engine guy, maybe I would replace piece by piece, but I am not, so it just makes sense to just do it all at once.

So here is my quandary - VW still offers all the parts except for ignition wire for cylinder #5. My dealer did find 2 dealers in the PNW that had original #5 wires, but would not sell them (holding them in reserve - go figure). I prefer to stay with VW parts.  So my options are:

USE VW Wires - the #6 wire is the longest and should/may work for the #5, so my dealer would order the #1,2,3,4 wires and (2) # 6 wires.  If that does not work, he can return the wires.  But if he does that, then I/we will need to find a 3rd party set.

JUST USE 3rd party set - the question is which brand?  Online I can find prices ranging from about $70 to $400+.  Brand names include Denso, Standard, Beck/Arnley, Karlyn, Bosch, and NGK.

Does anyone have experience with any of the 3rd party brands and can make a recommendation?

14

Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: October 17, 2015, 11:47:48 am »

Just got back from a couple of days at Assateague NP.  One of the oceanside loops closed due to Nor'easter/Joaquin damage; might be open again by next week.

EVC ran great until CEL came on a drive home.  Again, the P0304 code - Cylinder #4 misfire.  Will have dealer check it again on Tuesday.  At some point, will do the "replace wires and plugs" and see if that stops it.  Triggered when I accelerated hard to pass car on the C&D Bridge.

15

Winnebago "Full Campers" / Re: Replacing popup top seal

« on: September 24, 2015, 03:24:20 pm »

Kamprknut,

Can you post link to the one you bought on Amazon, so we know exactly which one/which size?  Would be great for future reference.