Victron MP2 with (2) Epoch 460ah batteries. DAY #1 Removal, rewiring, mounts, routing wires

[johnwen]

25 minutes ago, johnwen said:

JD, not that it matters much but my unit is a 2000w pro.  I will retest now.

JD,

After changing the setting I disconnected shore power and this time all worked fine.  Last (and only) time the inverter came on for a few seconds and shut off.  Maybe  something else was going on...but for now it's ok.  Will check again at the "Q".

Thanks for the help :)

John

[johnwen]

On 1/14/2025 at 6:36 PM, rich.dev said:

I can do that with my Xantrex 3000. Go into the Xantrex app, scroll down to Charger, click on "Charger Ignition Control", swipe up to change "off" to "Auto-on" then click "apply". 

Thanks, rich.dev

I think problem may be solved :)

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 4/24/2024 at 9:10 AM, Ty J said:

Beutiful Install, Im Jealous you have double the power with my Battleborns. I love the Victron in last two rigs I had , power assist makes all difference in world, I never blow a basic breaker on anywhere I plug into. The only issues I did notice is the victron when charging or running and getting hot vibrates and is noisy against the wall. I placed a piece of bubble foil behind the victron on my install for sound dampening and should have painted the surface with Lizard skin or some sound dampening material.

How noisy is your unit when running? 

Just curious Thanks Ty 

I have ordered the new victron 12v to 12volt charger to charge my Battleborn batteries as the efficiency is 95 percent or more on the unit. I am going to charge those

batteries with a Pecron all in one unit with two 300 packs attached. I like your install with bigger batteries and watch a lot of Will Prowse videos also. 

GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!

Have you installed your Victron 12v charger? I have Hull 292 with the 4045CVS board upgrade to give what I think is ramped lithium charging. Not sure if it is the best option for my 2 280ah Lithium batteries. 

Thanks for any input.

Gary

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 5/31/2024 at 9:22 PM, jd1923 said:

Keep in mind, when running AC, at 70 MPH down a highway, as tight as the Oliver hull is, you're POURING BTUs in the wake behind you! Sitting at a campsite would be say 1.5 less SOC loss and if sitting in the shade, 2x LESS.

Hey @rideadeuce, Buc-ee's is a Texas on-the-road tradition (though I do agree with your sentiment)! When we lived in Georgetown TX, Chris' daughter and grandchild in Houston, we would meet at the Buc-ee's in Giddings TX, for the hand-off, so our grandson could spend a couple days with us! He loved the place. Giddings a great east TX town, great Mexican food and a Super Mercado to stock up the fridge! Ahh, great memories...

Anita and I do love our Buc-ee’s adventure. Mad house, YES! And it drives me CRAZY when people get gas, leave their car for 20 minutes to go in and shop. OK, Rant over. 

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 7/11/2024 at 8:20 AM, rideadeuce said:

Sitting outside at Taughannock Falls, NY in a primitive campsite with 25% battery life left (920aH bank). I have been running the AC off and ON for 2 days. First time I have had to put to use all of my battery backups (GZ4K, etc). And yes most of the AC run time has been for the 2 knuckleheads we enjoy so much. Mimi is expecting again!

And, I agree, It just depends how much boon-docking you plan on doing. I wish I had 2000AH!

Best,

Mike

Side note: Starlink is working great!

 

Wow! The picture with the falls is beautiful.  Need to put that spot on our bucket list when we hit the East Coast trip. Our Standard Poodle is Ranger. Got the Oliver because he has separation anxiety when we are gone for a week or two. Now we travel with him. Named the Ollie, “The Range Rover.” We too Love our Knucklehead. 

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 6/29/2024 at 2:59 AM, jd1923 said:

First time I "quoted" my own post! It took 11 days to get an answer...

I sent an inquiry through Epoch's Contact Us page and received no answer. I emailed support@epochbatteries.com with the same question and nothing... Three days later I called their support phone number and got a young guy on the phone. He did not know, but said they had one in the shop, and he could measure. After looking 5 minutes for a tape measure without success, he said he would find one and call me back soon. He never did.

The article re LI batteries suggested buying from an American (Las Vegas, NV) reseller for US support. I emailed them today and they replied, same day and corrected their website page same day, the same mistake that Epoch.com has on their page and will likely be there for some time. Here it is now corrected, and it appears the better reseller: 12V 460Ah - Heated & Bluetooth - LiFePO4 Battery - Epoch Essentials ~ Current Connected

The Epoch Essentials 12460ES battery is only 8.6" wide (as the User Manual stated, but the web page had width and height numbers reversed). This means two (2) of them can fit side-by-side in the Oliver battery bay with the sliding tray removed (I'm removing mine regardless to lose weight and gain height in the bay to get my arms in there for service). Great deal to get 920AH of LiFePO4 batteries for $2,798 total. The reviewer was correct in suggesting an US-based company to provide good local customer service. For many 460AH is quite enough and at $1,399 is an amazing deal! One of these does fit in the OEM sliding battery tray. Heck with the tray, I want two! Looking for Epoch to offer an additional 15% off like they offered for their Black Friday sale last year (coming soon)!

John, I just ordered 2 Lithiums for 560Ah. Will need to also take out the battery tray. Would love to hear what you went through to get yours out. 

Thanks

Gary

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 7/12/2024 at 7:31 AM, Ronbrink said:

You may want to consider replacing the stock alternator with a high output unit. I started running into trouble when I swapped out the Renogy 20A DC-DC for a 40A, same brand. At idle, the Renogy was only providing around 25 amps and the TV battery was not being properly maintained. When using the A/C via inverter during brief stops, I generally keep the TV running so the DC-DC can augment the power consumption of the A/C; this has proven to be detrimental to the vehicles charging system! Also, I have issue in stop and go traffic when transiting cities. When running at speed, I get full charger output, but the alternator struggles to keep the TV’s battery appropriately charged. I recently purchased a 320A alternator (at high rpm) to replace the stock 165A, which produces 200 amps at idle; awaiting delivery of supplies needed for the install.

Ron, I have a Nissan Armada, known for Alternator/Battery issues. How is your new 320A alternator working out for you? If it is, please send me the info on it and I’ll see if they have one for my Armada. 

Thanks

Gary

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 7/12/2024 at 5:12 PM, Ronbrink said:

 

Ron, Sorry, I asked about the Alternator before I scrolled down. 

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 7/14/2024 at 3:20 PM, rideadeuce said:

My first OEM plug under dinette is a GFCI. 

As is mine in 2017 Hull 292. 

Gary

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 1/14/2025 at 7:27 PM, johnwen said:

Thanks, JD...all makes sense.  I think I may stay with my Xanrex 2000w unit for the time being.  I'm planning to get 2x300 ah Epoch essentials and install at Quartzsite. I want to also remove my battery tray (it is shot) and clean up the wiring. And also explore dc to dc from my alternator.  I am hoping for much input from fellow campers at the "Q".  It is great to know I can switch charging off at night on the Victron...can't do that with my Xantrex.

John

I plan on taking my Battery Try out, when I install my new lithiums. Odds are I will never go back to it. If yours is shot, will you want mine? I’ll be at the April Ollie Rally if you are interested. 

Gary

[Ronbrink]

2 hours ago, Teaney Hull 292 said:

Ron, I have a Nissan Armada, known for Alternator/Battery issues. How is your new 320A alternator working out for you? If it is, please send me the info on it and I’ll see if they have one for my Armada. 

Thanks

Gary

Unfortunately, Mechman does not offer an alternator for your Nissan. If you are having issue with your stock alternator, a direct replacement may be all needed. However, in my situation where a 40A DC-DC charger was installed and my stock alternator was aged, the high output replacement was a great solution for my inherent battery charging system problems. If you plan or already installed a DC-DC charger, then definitely consider an upgrade. If you cannot find an aftermarket high output alternator for your specific vehicle, then check if Nissan offers an alternator with a higher amp rating. In my application, the 320A alternator required a ‘Big 3’ cable upgrade, which would even benefit a stock alternator. 

Edited Tuesday at 11:13 AM by Ronbrink

[jd1923]

7 hours ago, Teaney Hull 292 said:

John, I just ordered 2 Lithiums for 560Ah. Will need to also take out the battery tray. Would love to hear what you went through to get yours out. Thanks Gary

Gary, an early thought I had was to remove the tray as Mike did who started this upgrade post. A couple weeks later I decided to go with 2x 300AH Epoch Essentials that fit nicely in the tray sideways. Several other members have made this same battery choice. I believe only @rideadeuce has removed the tray. Mike could chime in, but how to removed the tray should become obvious. Once you empty the tray of batteries, slide it all the way out and you should se the mounting bolts. If I ever decide to add a 3rd Epoch 300A, three would fit in the bay only with the tray removed. Maybe someday.

Which batteries did you order?

[Teaney Hull 292]

19 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Gary, an early thought I had was to remove the tray as Mike did who started this upgrade post. A couple weeks later I decided to go with 2x 300AH Epoch Essentials that fit nicely in the tray sideways. Several other members have made this same battery choice. I believe only @rideadeuce has removed the tray. Mike could chime in, but how to removed the tray should become obvious. Once you empty the tray of batteries, slide it all the way out and you should se the mounting bolts. If I ever decide to add a 3rd Epoch 300A, three would fit in the bay only with the tray removed. Maybe someday.

Which batteries did you order?

I too have been watching Will Prowse and he said good things about the Watt Cycle. I got 2 300 amp hour ones they arrive on the 14th of this month and plan is to have them on before we leave for the Rally. Hope to see you there. 

[Teaney Hull 292]

On 4/1/2025 at 6:41 AM, Ronbrink said:

Unfortunately, Mechman does not offer an alternator for your Nissan. If you are having issue with your stock alternator, a direct replacement may be all needed. However, in my situation where a 40A DC-DC charger was installed and my stock alternator was aged, the high output replacement was a great solution for my inherent battery charging system problems. If you plan or already installed a DC-DC charger, then definitely consider an upgrade. If you cannot find an aftermarket high output alternator for your specific vehicle, then check if Nissan offers an alternator with a higher amp rating. In my application, the 320A alternator required a ‘Big 3’ cable upgrade, which would even benefit a stock alternator. 

Good advice. Thanks