Super-B Lithium

[Camperfamily]

Has anyone here installed a Super-B lithium pack in their Cali?

VW Campercentrum in Amersfoort supply these. I also noticed that Super-B’s website claims that its VW certified and that the VW warranty is retained.

Lithium off-grid package (LiFePO4) for Volkswagen California

Super B lithium off-grid packages for your Volkswagen California

www.super-b.com

 

[Corradobrit]

Crikey. 5000 Euro for 2x100Ah Li batteries installed. Wonder how much the kickback is for VW.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Crikey. 5000 Euro for 2x100Ah Li batteries installed. Wonder how much the kickback is for VW.

Yeah but it’ll keep you off grid for about 3 weeks.
Unlike the porta potti that’ll need emptying every 3 days…

 

[Corradobrit]

Yeah but it’ll keep you off grid for about 3 weeks.
Unlike the porta potti that’ll need emptying every 3 days…

Eat less roughage.

Doubt you'd get 3 weeks, 2 weeks maybe if not a heavy user. But you're still restricted by the 300W onboard inverter. I'd rather have a EF powerbank, charge using the alternator charger and put the 4000 Euro saving elsewhere.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

5000 Euros can buy a mighty good generator!

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Eat less roughage.

Doubt you'd get 3 weeks, 2 weeks maybe if not a heavy user. But you're still restricted by the 300W onboard inverter. I'd rather have a EF powerbank, charge using the alternator charger and put the 4000 Euro saving elsewhere.

This is precisely how we do it. The new EF alternator charger of upto 800w per hour of driving is a game changer! It massively reduces the reliance on solar and the inverter on our Bluetti is rated to 2200 watts.

 

[Corradobrit]

This is precisely how we do it. The new EF alternator charger of upto 800w per hour of driving is a game changer! It massively reduces the reliance on solar and the inverter on our Bluetti is rated to 2200 watts.

Where did you connect your alternator charger? If the engine bay battery to take advantage of the full alternator output who did you feed the chunky connector into the cabin? This is the only thing I have yet to figure out.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Where did you connect your alternator charger? If the engine bay battery to take advantage of the full alternator output who did you feed the chunky connector into the cabin? This is the only thing I have yet to figure out.

Budget restrictions mean that we don't have the Eco Flow (yet), we're still charging our Bluetti AC200 max on a 12V socket (around 100w) and 200w solar when we go camping.

However our friends have the new EF alternator charger and Delta Pro on their van between the passenger seats, and from what I gather, the cable that attaches to the starter battery goes through a grommet in the firewall between passenger cabin and engine bay. They still have solar for extended periods off-grid when not starting the motor at all, and demonstrated how if the van battery gets low they can even reverse-charge it from the EF Delta pro, using the app.

It's on my Christmas wish list as 600-800w (depending on battery loads) is enough to charge a 2kWh power bank fully in just a couple of hours driving!

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Budget restrictions mean that we don't have the Eco Flow (yet), we're still charging our Bluetti AC200 max on a 12V socket (around 100w) and 200w solar when we go camping.

However our friends have the new EF alternator charger and Delta Pro on their van between the passenger seats, and from what I gather, the cable that attaches to the starter battery goes through a grommet in the firewall between passenger cabin and engine bay. They still have solar for extended periods off-grid when not starting the motor at all, and demonstrated how if the van battery gets low they can even reverse-charge it from the EF Delta pro, using the app.

It's on my Christmas wish list as 600-800w (depending on battery loads) is enough to charge a 2kWh power bank fully in just a couple of hours driving!

The Delta Pro actually fits between the front seats in a Cali??? I thought only the Delta 2 and Delta 2 Max do. And now EcoFlow is announcing the Delta 3.


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[Wannabecamperman]

The Delta Pro actually fits between the front seats in a Cali??? I thought only the Delta 2 and Delta 2 Max do. And now EcoFlow is announcing the Delta 3.


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It's an Auto Campers Transit hi-top, not a Cali they have - apologies for any confusion.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

The main advantage of the SuperB batteries is the fact that they can put out 300A per 100Ah battery continuous. The majority of chinese made LiPo's are in the 100-200A range. So unless you install a massive inverter it's a bit overkill. And if you install 2 in parallel that doubles to 600A continuous with proper cabling and bus bars.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

What are people using all this power for?

I’m still charging our phones and Kindles on the 12v ciggie socket. We go for a drive every 5 days.

Is it all about ‘bugging out’? Listening to Elon too much, and watching ‘Civil War’?

 

[Corradobrit]

What are people using all this power for?

I’m still charging our phones and Kindles on the 12v ciggie socket. We go for a drive every 5 days.

Is it all about ‘bugging out’? Listening to Elon too much, and watching ‘Civil War’?

My 725W electric kettle takes about 7% of the EF power to boil 375ml of water. Charging the laptop is also about 5-7%. Running electric fans, a 100W projector, router, mossie zapper etc all take power. The fridge is a power sponge in the heat so I would prefer to reserve the 2 leisure batteries for powering that.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

My 725W electric kettle takes about 7% of the EF power to boil 375ml of water. Charging the laptop is also about 5-7%. Running electric fans, a 100W projector, router, mossie zapper etc all take power. The fridge is a power sponge in the heat so I would prefer to reserve the 2 leisure batteries for powering that.

So it’s kettles, hair straighteners and home/office etc not off grid/The Walking Dead etc.

 

[Corradobrit]

So it’s kettles, hair straighteners and home/office etc not off grid/The Walking Dead etc.

Defo off grid applications. The longer I can stay away the money grabbing campsites the better.
The extra power is more than enough to secure the perimeter against zombies and chavs.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...2ahUKEwjRy4fliPKHAxUvjv0HHXa5MRgQMygFegQIARAz

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

So it’s kettles, hair straighteners and home/office etc not off grid/The Walking Dead etc.

Air fryer is really nice to have. So much you can cook easily! I have an 850 watt air fryer which is small and compact.


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[wildslammer22]

I’ve just purchased 2 Xplorer Polarmax 100ah batteries for £700. Adding in a Victron Orion 50a DC-DC charger and some cabling and I’m at around £1,000. The batteries are heated and have a 10 year guarantee. A competent DIY electrician could do the install themselves (that’s not me!) but paying a reputable installer to do the job and I get to £1500-1750. £6k for an inverter (and possibly higher spec batteries although I can’t see what they are using) and VW approval certainly seems excessive!

My AGM batteries are at end of life and replacing with the Varta LA80’s would cost £350-400 plus install. So I figured now is the right time to convert to LifePO4. I don’t use high voltage appliances, I just want to be able to run the fridge, lights and charge phones/iPads and stay off grid for as long as I like, I have a Bivvy loo and a spade! I already have a 100w solar panel on the roof so I’m hoping this investment will meet my power needs for the life of the van. The £4,000 saving over this option buys a lot of diesel for adventures to come!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I suppose with my 2008 LA80s I’m the archetypal on grid camper. Our last pitch called “double classique avec pergola” was so big my son and I managed to play a set of tennis on it with the 4m net I had brought with me. A pleasant surprise.
€5000 buys a lot of double classique avec pergola pitches (avec electricité et toilettes).

 

[wildslammer22]

I suppose with my 2008 LA80s I’m the archetypal on grid camper. Our last pitch called “double classique avec pergola” was so big my son and I managed to play a set of tennis on it with the 4m net I had brought with me. A pleasant surprise.
€5000 buys a lot of double classique pitches.

16 years on the original batteries is very good going! Mine have given up the ghost after 6 years. I’ve always been very careful to not let them drop below 50% but I can’t vouch for the original owner. Last summer I was able to power the fridge etc almost indefinitely with the solar panel. Now I can’t get past 2 days so the decline in performance has been rapid.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Buy a titanium folding log burner and be truly off grid!
You are not off grid, you are just making your own grids wherever you are!

 

[wildslammer22]

Buy a titanium folding log burner and be truly off grid!
You are not off grid, you are just making your own grids wherever you are!

How do you power the fridge with a log burner? ;-)

I spend as much time as possible outside the van, have a fire pit, axe and saw for processing wood. I love to cook on a fire too and have become quite handy with a Dutch oven. I do like a cold beer, fresh meat and vegetables and milk for a brew though so keeping the fridge running - often in +30°c heat - is a priority

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

How do you power the fridge with a log burner? ;-)

I spend as much time as possible outside the van, have a fire pit, axe and saw for processing wood. I love to cook on a fire too and have become quite handy with a Dutch oven. I do like a cold beer, fresh meat and vegetables and milk for a brew though so keeping the fridge running - often in +30°c heat - is a priority

Ah well, the fridge works on temperature differential, which is why the back is hot, so it is possible.....the same way it works on gas or if it is a piezo electric cooler then the same piezo transducer but with one side connected to the hot surface of the burner and the other side cooled with water will generate electricity. Off grid living would mean warm beer, salted or dried meat and a cow for fresh milk

 

[wildslammer22]

Ah well, the fridge works on temperature differential, which is why the back is hot, so it is possible.....the same way it works on gas or if it is a piezo electric cooler then the same piezo transducer but with one side connected to the hot surface of the burner and the other side cooled with water will generate electricity. Off grid living would mean warm beer, salted or dried meat and a cow for fresh milk

I’m going to need a trailer for the cow


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[yossarian]

2 in parallel that doubles to 600A continuous with proper cabling and bus bars.

That's pretty obscene and if you're looking at this route you might well consider building a 48V system.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

That's pretty obscene and if you're looking at this route you might well consider building a 48V system.

Fully agree and wasn't making any suggestion to go forward with them. Just stating the facts.