Hi Everyone, I am a newbie so please be gentle. I have asked a number of people including Jayco, who did not reply, the following question. I have recently purchased a 2000 model Jayco Freedom Poptop. It does not have a Battery and the only power I have is 240 volt shore power which is connected to a Centurion SC 2000 / 3000 converter. The question is, if I purchase a Lithium battery can I wire it into the converter and will the converter automatically know if it is running of 12 volt or 240 volt and work accordingly. Your feedback is greatly appreciated
Mickwil
Possum3 said
07:52 AM Jul 12, 2023
Welcome to the forum Mickwil.
The question to be answered is; has any modifications been done previously, what and by whom? In the last 23 years it is probable that there has been repairs, modifications and amendments to the van's electricals.
It would be advisable to have an Electrician remap and check your system - then utilise an auto electrician to build a system that is suitable for your needs. You are going to need some power source (solar?) to recharge your battery, just adding a battery will do almost nothing.
Whenarewethere said
08:52 AM Jul 12, 2023
As said above.
There is a lot more than just connecting a battery, even if that is feasible with current setup.
As pointed out, a battery by itself needs to be charged one way or another. Preferably multiple ways. Solar & by the car when driving. Maybe a generator.
Depending on how long you stay in one location will also dictate the design of the set-up.
Also all the loads that you will be running off the batteries. It's one thing been plugged into 240v. A lot more challenging on 12v if you have not thought out the entire set-up.
Do you have the payload for all the hardware. Your caravan could be at its limit now, or even over it! First thing will be to go over a weighbridge before you start doing anything. Also weight carefully everything you add & hopefully remove. Weight adds up frighteningly quickly, even from all those tiny little seemingly trivial things, kitchen scales are handy.
Then you will know how much spare payload you have for all the battery & solar hardware.
TimTim said
09:00 AM Jul 12, 2023
Welcome to the forum.
I have a Centurion in my old Jayco Hawk which I think is the 2000 Model. I have the instruction manual somewhere but Im away from home at the moment. Yes you can wire your battery into the converter but I cant recall what the charger is like. As Possum stated check out that the previous owners havent converted anything so look for additional switches etc. If there is no sign of a previous battery installation then they probably havent. The first question is what size LiFePO4 battery are you thinking of and will it only be to run lights, water pump and small 12v items. Running an inverter for 240v appliance is a different story depending on what appliances you wish to use.
So look at size of battery, and then means of recharging when off grid which you will get plenty of help here for.
Good luck
Tim
Mickwil said
09:18 AM Jul 12, 2023
Previous owner has not altered electrics. My plan is to connect 150ah agm or lithium battery and charge it via a 240 volt charger. Most of the time I will be in caravan parks it's only for the odd 1 or 2 nights I might free camp
Whenarewethere said
04:29 PM Jul 12, 2023
As said above. If running minor things that will be ok. Even a compressor esky of 40L run as a fridge at 5°C will be ok, about 20AH per 24 hours. You will in effect in the long run have about 75AH, but if you drain it more occasionally, that is fine.
A 150AH AGM battery is about 40kg, plus a kg for ancillary parts & wiring.
A 120 to 160 watt folding solar panel will be about 12 to 15 kg (avoid a solar blanket like the plague). Another 2kg for solar controller & extension leads (be generous in length due to tree shadowing extent!)
A DC-DC charger, the wiring will weigh more. Let's say 3kg all up. A worthwhile investment so you can charge while driving.
TimTim said
04:54 PM Jul 12, 2023
Ok well just connect your battery to the Centurion.
My preference would be for a LiFePO4 battery and a 100Ah will provide you more power than a 150Ah AGM and is much lighter. I wont go into the arguments about storing them fully charged but easy enough to put a disconnect switch and charge it fully before you go off grid.
I tried finding the manual and this link has some basic information that may be helpful.
Hi Everyone, I am a newbie so please be gentle. I have asked a number of people including Jayco, who did not reply, the following question. I have recently purchased a 2000 model Jayco Freedom Poptop. It does not have a Battery and the only power I have is 240 volt shore power which is connected to a Centurion SC 2000 / 3000 converter. The question is, if I purchase a Lithium battery can I wire it into the converter and will the converter automatically know if it is running of 12 volt or 240 volt and work accordingly. Your feedback is greatly appreciated
Mickwil
The question to be answered is; has any modifications been done previously, what and by whom? In the last 23 years it is probable that there has been repairs, modifications and amendments to the van's electricals.
It would be advisable to have an Electrician remap and check your system - then utilise an auto electrician to build a system that is suitable for your needs. You are going to need some power source (solar?) to recharge your battery, just adding a battery will do almost nothing.
As said above.
There is a lot more than just connecting a battery, even if that is feasible with current setup.
As pointed out, a battery by itself needs to be charged one way or another. Preferably multiple ways. Solar & by the car when driving. Maybe a generator.
Depending on how long you stay in one location will also dictate the design of the set-up.
Also all the loads that you will be running off the batteries. It's one thing been plugged into 240v. A lot more challenging on 12v if you have not thought out the entire set-up.
Do you have the payload for all the hardware. Your caravan could be at its limit now, or even over it! First thing will be to go over a weighbridge before you start doing anything. Also weight carefully everything you add & hopefully remove. Weight adds up frighteningly quickly, even from all those tiny little seemingly trivial things, kitchen scales are handy.
Then you will know how much spare payload you have for all the battery & solar hardware.
Welcome to the forum.
I have a Centurion in my old Jayco Hawk which I think is the 2000 Model. I have the instruction manual somewhere but Im away from home at the moment. Yes you can wire your battery into the converter but I cant recall what the charger is like. As Possum stated check out that the previous owners havent converted anything so look for additional switches etc. If there is no sign of a previous battery installation then they probably havent. The first question is what size LiFePO4 battery are you thinking of and will it only be to run lights, water pump and small 12v items. Running an inverter for 240v appliance is a different story depending on what appliances you wish to use.
So look at size of battery, and then means of recharging when off grid which you will get plenty of help here for.
Good luck
Tim
As said above. If running minor things that will be ok. Even a compressor esky of 40L run as a fridge at 5°C will be ok, about 20AH per 24 hours. You will in effect in the long run have about 75AH, but if you drain it more occasionally, that is fine.
A 150AH AGM battery is about 40kg, plus a kg for ancillary parts & wiring.
https://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-150ah-agm-deep-cycle-battery/p/SB1684
A 120 to 160 watt folding solar panel will be about 12 to 15 kg (avoid a solar blanket like the plague). Another 2kg for solar controller & extension leads (be generous in length due to tree shadowing extent!)
A DC-DC charger, the wiring will weigh more. Let's say 3kg all up. A worthwhile investment so you can charge while driving.
Ok well just connect your battery to the Centurion.
My preference would be for a LiFePO4 battery and a 100Ah will provide you more power than a 150Ah AGM and is much lighter. I wont go into the arguments about storing them fully charged but easy enough to put a disconnect switch and charge it fully before you go off grid.
I tried finding the manual and this link has some basic information that may be helpful.
https://www.exploroz.com/forum/140062/connecting-a-battery-to-a-centurion-3000
Hope that helps
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Wednesday 12th of July 2023 04:56:43 PM