Lithium battery case legal requirement?
Discussion
Saw a builder today and was informed that he wouldn't complete a build with a lithium battery unless it had its own case as it's apparently a legal requirement. Is this true? I wasn't aware of it and looking at the hundreds of van build videos it seems that nobody else is aware either! I've only ever seen a few which have been in a metal box, which seems quite sensible given that the larger lithy batts are typically located under your bed, but this builder said it's not for fire but to protect from lithium leakage and 'only' needs to be a plastic case.
Anyone have info on these alleged legal requirement please?
Anyone have info on these alleged legal requirement please?
That’s a new one for me - the likes of Roamer etc have underseat batteries (transporter/crafter) that wouldn’t allow an additional case.
It sounds like something he has heard and repeated… maybe ask to see the documentation/legal info he has on it.
As with all batteries, they need to be in a well ventilated area, dry and not too hot or cold (lifepo4 shouldn’t be charged below 0c), the BMS should control this.
It sounds like something he has heard and repeated… maybe ask to see the documentation/legal info he has on it.
As with all batteries, they need to be in a well ventilated area, dry and not too hot or cold (lifepo4 shouldn’t be charged below 0c), the BMS should control this.
Nonsense AFAIK.
I have an under-seat 230ah lifepo4 battery which was installed by a reputable company, and has since been checked over by another (as I was adding a higher capacity dc-dc under there).
No issues.
As stated, these batteries (and there are several brands on the same footprint - mine's an Ecotree in a Ducato) are designed specifically to fit the space under the seat, and there is no way any additional boxing/shielding could be added, or indeed be required.
I suggest you contact another van builder.
I have an under-seat 230ah lifepo4 battery which was installed by a reputable company, and has since been checked over by another (as I was adding a higher capacity dc-dc under there).
No issues.
As stated, these batteries (and there are several brands on the same footprint - mine's an Ecotree in a Ducato) are designed specifically to fit the space under the seat, and there is no way any additional boxing/shielding could be added, or indeed be required.
I suggest you contact another van builder.
Weird asf. I spoke to Fogstar, Ecotree and Roamer today. None of them knew anything about it and they don't do any cases for them either. If a lithium battery manufacturer (or supplier) doesn't know anything about it (x3) then it's pretty safe to say it's b
ks, imho.
The builder had some other weird ideas too, which annoyed me after saying that he prided himself on doing builds exactly as the customer wants. One such example was saying that I didn't need a Truma boiler for hot water if I was having a diesel heater, as the diesel heaters (notably the Webasto and Eberspacher) can heat water too with some of the models. I said I wanted both gas and a diesel heater for built-in redundancy, given that the gas bottles became unobtainium in peak covaids. "Oh no no, you don't want that. That's stupid. The diesel heater is far simpler and you're not having to mess around with gas then". Knowing already that you don't get instant hot water with a diesel "boiler" and they only have small tanks, I said how's that going to work when I want a shower ot instant hot water for something. "Well you have to switch it on 20-30 mins beforehand". That's neither use nor ornament!
This guy is not new to van builds either. He has a FB history of builds going back nearly a decade. One would think if hot water is required then the Truma combi would be the default install, as pretty much every proper camper and motorhome in the land has one. They can obviously do blown air heating too (gas) so it makes no sense why he'd be pushing for a far inferior diesel heated water system. It seemed to completely blow his mind that someone would want 2 heatiing systems.
ks, imho.The builder had some other weird ideas too, which annoyed me after saying that he prided himself on doing builds exactly as the customer wants. One such example was saying that I didn't need a Truma boiler for hot water if I was having a diesel heater, as the diesel heaters (notably the Webasto and Eberspacher) can heat water too with some of the models. I said I wanted both gas and a diesel heater for built-in redundancy, given that the gas bottles became unobtainium in peak covaids. "Oh no no, you don't want that. That's stupid. The diesel heater is far simpler and you're not having to mess around with gas then". Knowing already that you don't get instant hot water with a diesel "boiler" and they only have small tanks, I said how's that going to work when I want a shower ot instant hot water for something. "Well you have to switch it on 20-30 mins beforehand". That's neither use nor ornament!
This guy is not new to van builds either. He has a FB history of builds going back nearly a decade. One would think if hot water is required then the Truma combi would be the default install, as pretty much every proper camper and motorhome in the land has one. They can obviously do blown air heating too (gas) so it makes no sense why he'd be pushing for a far inferior diesel heated water system. It seemed to completely blow his mind that someone would want 2 heatiing systems.
Edited by r3g on Saturday 17th February 14:02
You're absolutely right with the redundancy thing.
We have a Truma combi, and a Chinese diesel heater. Near instant hot water from one if required, and near instant heating from the other. I also have lpg (refillable) for the three-way fridge. Cooking is done on an induction hob and/or a small air fryer or slow cooker - or in the case of dire emergency a tiny backpacking stove and a few gas canisters come into play (although we've never used it yet). No fixed oven though; I ripped it out due to us literally never using it. We have a far more useful cupboard in its place now.
I'm all for having all bases well covered.
You definitely need to seek another builder
We have a Truma combi, and a Chinese diesel heater. Near instant hot water from one if required, and near instant heating from the other. I also have lpg (refillable) for the three-way fridge. Cooking is done on an induction hob and/or a small air fryer or slow cooker - or in the case of dire emergency a tiny backpacking stove and a few gas canisters come into play (although we've never used it yet). No fixed oven though; I ripped it out due to us literally never using it. We have a far more useful cupboard in its place now.
I'm all for having all bases well covered.
You definitely need to seek another builder
Steve Kimberley said:
You're absolutely right with the redundancy thing.
We have a Truma combi, and a Chinese diesel heater. Near instant hot water from one if required, and near instant heating from the other. I also have lpg (refillable) for the three-way fridge. Cooking is done on an induction hob and/or a small air fryer or slow cooker - or in the case of dire emergency a tiny backpacking stove and a few gas canisters come into play (although we've never used it yet). No fixed oven though; I ripped it out due to us literally never using it. We have a far more useful cupboard in its place now.
I'm all for having all bases well covered.
You definitely need to seek another builder
The problem I've discovered with these camper van builders is despite what they tell you about doing custom builds to your requirements, the truth is that they only want to do their own design which they've done tens or hundreds of times before, so know exactly what's required and how long it will take then charge you £20-25k for it. I don't begrudge them that - from a business perspective it makes perfect sense, but don't advertise that you do custom work when you don't want it.We have a Truma combi, and a Chinese diesel heater. Near instant hot water from one if required, and near instant heating from the other. I also have lpg (refillable) for the three-way fridge. Cooking is done on an induction hob and/or a small air fryer or slow cooker - or in the case of dire emergency a tiny backpacking stove and a few gas canisters come into play (although we've never used it yet). No fixed oven though; I ripped it out due to us literally never using it. We have a far more useful cupboard in its place now.
I'm all for having all bases well covered.
You definitely need to seek another builder
Also, most of these van builders seem to s
t a brick when you tell them you want something more meaty than the usual 120W roof panel and £100 LA/AGM leisure battery. More than 1 panel has them running for the hills because they either have no clue what to do with 24V and/or have no clue how to wire for the higher amperage.Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff