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Topic: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager (Read 1105 times) previous topic - next topic

Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

I am curious if any other forum members have used this BIM to protect their engine alternator for charging lifepo4 batteries,  and what has been their results.

LiFePO4 Battery Isolation Manager - Battle Born Batteries
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Jack L –
I am curious if any other forum members have used this BIM to protect their engine alternator for charging lifepo4 batteries,  and what has been their results.

LiFePO4 Battery Isolation Manager - Battle Born Batteries
I had it and removed and did what roger did with his.. It works.. If Interested in one Id sell mine

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #2 –
I also looked closely at this and chose the Sterling Battery to Battery Charger.  The 60 am size is a good choice here even if you have  6 - 100 amp hr batteries.  The device from BB is on or off.  What ever your alternator puts out. 

The 60 amp B2B charger will put up to a 60 amp load on the alternator, adjust the output voltage and current to a multi-step lithium friendly charge profile and charge the batteries while driving in the most efficient, fastest and safest way for your batteries. It is an isolator as well. Some adjustments are appropriate with a LN alternator that has output voltage jacked up for a conventional diode isolator.

If you use an ignition source to turn it on and off it works well to add a time delay so that it does not come on until the engine is running especially if solar is keeping your start batteries fully charged.

Even if you have AGM or GEL batteries this will work. There are charge profiles for those as well.

This is the 60 amp waterproof version,  There is a 120 amp waterproof version and several sizes of the non-waterproof one as well.
Sterling Battery-to-Battery Charger - 12V-12V 60 Amp Waterproof
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #3 –
We have Briter Lithium batteries.
They installed them for me for a premium price.
However they installed their bim incorrectly.
I didn't realize it but the alternator was not charging the engine batteries or the lithium batteries.
I was traveling down the interstate. I got off at my exit. Pulled into a KMart parking lot and it went into safe mode.
Here the engine batteries were so low they wouldn't run the intricacies of the transmission and whatever else that is needed.
So I charged up the batteries and drove it to a Cummins Shop who figured out the wiring of the bim.
With that being said we are happy with our batteries. They stay up for a while and it only take a hour or so to fully charge them.
And you can't run them down since they will automatically shut down when the voltage gets too low.
So this bim when the coach is running will charge the lithium batteries for 20 min then off 15 min. While charging the engine batteries at a constant rate.
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #4 –
Have Lithium pros batteries,have a 160 amp delco remy alternator,charging at 13.8,is charging these with no problem, was told by
the company owner it would work fine.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #5 –
We have decided not to use the alternator for anything more than chassis.  We have been running lithium for three years and have had 800w upgraded to 1180w.  I have a marine switch installed instead of using an isolator.  In the three years since I installed them, I have never opened the circuit to the house batteries.  Just a note.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #6 –
All depends on the planned use and where you go on your journey. I run the A/C on the batteries when I drive so I like the alternator to help out while that is happening during the drive.. Any other time we do not have it on to help and its just charging the start batteries.

Nice to have when needed but in your setup you might not need  ^.^d

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #7 –
Quote from: DavidS –
I run the A/C on the batteries when I drive so I like the alternator to help out while that is happening during the drive.. Any other time we do not have it on to help and its just charging the start batteries.

What size alternator do you have?
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #8 –
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
What size alternator do you have?

160a but I have 1200w solar and mostly drive during the day.. if At night I usually plug in when we arrive at our spot or depending on how low we get on the battery bank I run the genny.. 1200 AH of lithium makes most of this possible without to much fret ...

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #9 –
I can only dream of 1200 amps of lithium at this time.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #10 –
David..  will your 1200 watts of solar charge up the 1200 Ah of lithium batteries if they are, let's say at 20% in the am.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #11 –
I have 700 amps of LiFePo4 from Battle Born... and I'm jealous! Jim
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Battle Born BIM, battery isolation manager

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
David..  will your 1200 watts of solar charge up the 1200 Ah of lithium batteries if they are, let's say at 20% in the am.

No but I am adding more..