John Ford upgrades his older caravan with the iTechworld iTECH240X PRO lithium battery, boosting off-grid power, efficiency and reliability on the road.
Regular Caravan World readers will know we travel extensively in our van, a 2012 Trakmaster Tanami. We value its toughness, thanks to upgrades to the suspension and its solid build quality. The chassis is super solid, and the composite walls —which were innovative in their day — are still among the best for insulation and weather protection.
That’s not to say everything meets modern standards, though. While the electrical system was probably advanced in 2012, with a pair of 110W AGM batteries, a solar panel and a 30A charger, electrical systems have improved exponentially since then. We originally had a gas three-way/absorption fridge, but it died on the Gibb River Road last year. Our replacement 190L Bushman 12V compressor fridge is efficient, but the system wasn’t coping too well in cloudy weather.
Then, too, is the rise of high-power appliances like induction cooktops, coffee machines and off-grid air-conditioners. Our system has been pretty basic, and we have lived without a lot of modern equipment. But sometimes being able to run the air-conditioner on a very hot day or use an induction cooktop seems like a good thing.
The original AGM batteries
Time for an electrical upgrade
Being able to reliably run the compressor fridge was the key reason for ditching the AGM batteries and moving on to lithium. Traditional lead-acid or AGM batteries are well known for being inefficient, heavy, short-lived and can only be safely discharged to 50 per cent of their capacity.
We decided on the iTechworld iTECH240X PRO Deep Cycle Lithium Battery because it completely changes the calculation. A single 240Ah iTechworld lithium battery weighs about 25kg — a remarkable contrast to the 140kg needed for the same usable energy in an AGM unit.
Besides a higher power rating, iTechworld’s prismatic cell technology provides 100 per cent usable capacity, and the batteries are rated for more than 10,000 charging cycles, meaning they will probably last longer than the caravan! They also suit our travel needs, being designed for the corrugated tracks of the outback. The PRO series has internal vibration damping to safeguard the delicate prismatic cells.
Installing the new system
iTechworld advises that much of its electronics package is a ‘drop-in’ DIY job, and I was eager to install as much of the new system as I could — not only to save some dollars, but also to learn about the process and know where everything was and how to look after it.
The first job was installing the battery, which was surprisingly straightforward. The sealed battery compartment is external and meets current regulations, even if, as an older van, we don’t have to worry about that aspect. There was a room for a pair of 240Ah iTECH240X batteries, and it was surprising that these LiFeP4 units were lighter than the 110W AGMs that we removed. So, the new units are only marginally bigger but significantly lighter.
The new iTechworld iTECH240X PRO batteries are a bit bigger but a lot lighter
The next step was installing a new solar charger — the compact 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller — which we mounted on a panel just inside the entry door. It replaced the old Morningstar 30A unit, which was incompatible with lithium batteries. We added an iTECHBM500 battery monitor beside the charger, featuring a 500A shunt, which I installed across the battery terminals via new 300A Bus Bars in the battery compartment to enable monitoring of all the appliances.
The MPPT Solar Charge Controller mounted by the entry door
Moving forward, our plans include adding an AC/DC charger, a DC/DC charger and a 3000W inverter. I felt confident installing the AC/DC unit, but I need help with the others.
The AC/DC iTECHBC40 Intelligent Battery Charger suited the lithium units, and it was a quick swap from the old CTEK 25 unit, which didn’t match the new system.
The AC/DC iTECHBC40 Intelligent Battery Charger
Living with the new iTechworld system
So far, so good — or so I thought. While monitoring the solar a couple of days later, I realised a branch had fallen on one of the two panels, and we were only getting minimal charge. So, while travelling, we’ll have to manage with what we have for now.
I’ve found that we can extend battery life in cloudy weather to six days before needing to plug into a 240V recharge. The AC/DC charger tops up the batteries in about eight hours, so the loss of solar power hasn’t been an issue.
What’s next?
Our next move is the 3000W inverter — a job for a pro when we stay in one place long enough — and the DC/DC supply from the LandCruiser, which needs at least 6AWG cable and a tidy touch to finish the job. We also need more solar panels and upgraded cables to the solar charger, and that’s not a task I’m looking forward to in an older composite-walled van.
We bit the bullet and found a way to power the fridge, lights and recharge all our devices while travelling over the last five months. I am super impressed with the iTechworld batteries and the chargers, because they have worked seamlessly.
iTechworld has a big range of components to upgrade your van, and some of the kits offer great value.
Check them out here.
- ITECh240X PRO Deep Cycle Lithium Battery with Bluetooth LiFePO4 240Ah — RRP $1699
- MPPT Solar Charge Controller — $240
- ITECHBC40 Intelligent Battery Charger — RRP $399
THE NEXT STEP
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Related articles:
iTechworld lithium power stations: Redefining off-grid adventure
Fridge upgrade: Replacing a gas three-way with a 12V Bushman
Upgrading to iTechworld iTECH240X PRO lithium power