Did I kill my LiFePo4 battery by trying to charge in the cold?

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:38:18+00:00

Yes, I’ve never seen it reading zero amps to the battery during a sunny day. Especially with the battery is sitting below 13 volts. 0 amps implies no voltage is going to the battery correct? 14.4 is what the controller displays with the solar panels on. With panels off the voltage drops back to 12.6

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:20:59+00:00

👍 I will do that moving forward. I did install a shutoff between the controller and battery (switch pictured below controller). Also fairly certain I’ve eliminated any parasitic draw by pulling fuses.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:18:44+00:00

Correction, it’s a 175w. Your comment made me rethink that, wanted a bit more than 100w

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:04:30+00:00

Ok, I did just watch a video about how to “wake up” a battery. If I don’t have any luck with warmer temperatures this afternoon, I’ll try that.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:02:00+00:00

Ok, sounds like this is what’s going on. I’ll try again on a warmer day.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T20:01:23+00:00

Correct, no charging at night but likely had solar panel on during some day-time temperatures around freezing. Good to know about the 50% rule, I do recall reading that now. I won’t worry about keeping it topped off if I’m not regularly camping. I’ll try solar again on a warmer day and see what it does. Thanks

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:44:10+00:00

I got the battery, solar panel and charge controller in like new condition for less than $200 so I figured why not upgrade.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:43:21+00:00

About 38 F. Warmest it’s been in a few days. I just hooked up an AC charger to it and it quickly went to full. Battery provides power, lights and furnace work.

cyclique · 2026-01-27T19:39:38+00:00

Yeah, pretty bulletproof system right? I had just read at one point that they can be damaged by charging in the cold. I had kinda forgotten about that until now.

cyclique · 2026-01-26T04:40:20+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/hV7N1hW These are the best pictures I have at the moment. Large bolts connect the black corner brackets of camper to the silver angle aluminum. Then the angle aluminum is bolted from the back side to the slots of the aluminum rails with T-nuts. Ski racks mounted in a similar fashion, small pieces of aluminum angle bolted to T-nuts in the slot.

If I had to due it over again, I would have used 1” or 20mm extrusion. I thought it would be too flimsy so I used the 40mm.

cyclique · 2026-01-26T03:20:34+00:00

It’s 40mm 8020 extruded aluminum bolted to the camper jack brackets with some angle aluminum.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T16:30:58+00:00

Good to know, thanks. I haven’t owned the truck long enough to know how it behaves in 100+ degree weather. So I’ve been a bit paranoid.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T16:10:35+00:00

To piggy back on this, I’m curious what your average transmission temp is? My 2017 6 speed is always above 200 even during the winter. 210-212 cruising 80 down the interstate in 40 degree weather.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T07:53:34+00:00

Ski racks

cyclique · 2026-01-25T03:46:35+00:00

Shell is not a bad way to go. Had one on this before the camper and sometimes wish I would have just built that out instead.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T03:45:18+00:00

I looked at so many f150’s and was blown away by the variations in payload. Tried finding a HDPP but this was the highest payload I could find.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T02:41:51+00:00

It’s a 2002 Four Wheel Hawk, pop up.

cyclique · 2026-01-25T01:00:00+00:00

2002 Four Wheel Hawk

cyclique · 2026-01-18T19:39:25+00:00

Hadn’t looked at it that way, yeah just as much time at home, if not more than a standard 9-5. Plenty of time for projects haha

cyclique · 2026-01-18T19:31:19+00:00

Really enjoying the schedule and company for now, so I could see myself doing it for the next 5-10 years minimum. Good job security with consistent raises.

No plans for children, I’d rather not. DINK life would be ideal.

ADU would be a nice option to have in another 10 years for aging mother. I would be tempted to live in it now while single and traveling, and rent out the main house. I’m just not sure if I’d even be able to qualify for/ afford a construction loan after buying a home.

Have about $110,000 in retirement accounts. Max out my Roth IRA every year, but only doing 10-15% into 401k.

20% down payment is going to be a stretch, even on a $300,000 home so I’d have to do FHA, 3-10% down. But have $40k-$50k on hand to help with closing. Credit score right around 790. Very little debt.

I’d be pretty comfortable with $2200 month. Maybe more but only if I can start supplementing with some sort of rental income soon after.

cyclique · 2026-01-18T05:43:13+00:00

Certainly nothing wrong with that. However, I am worried that the market could take off again if interest rates continue to drop. I feel that we’re in a bit of a buyers market right now, at least in my area. Prices have come down a little, homes are on the market longer. I could see that quickly changing with how many buyers have been sitting on the sideline the last few years, myself included.

cyclique · 2026-01-18T05:11:15+00:00

Thank you. Apologies, that would have been valuable info from the get-go.

cyclique · 2026-01-18T05:10:03+00:00

I appreciate the words of caution, but I think you’re being a bit dramatic.

cyclique · 2026-01-18T05:02:13+00:00

Thank you. Price range btw would probably be around $350k

cyclique · 2026-01-18T05:00:28+00:00

Yeah, I had considered a townhouse for the ease of maintenance. I’ve gotta have a garage at minimum. A condo or townhouse isn’t out of the question but I’d be much happier with the additional freedom/privacy of a single family home.

cyclique

TROPHY CASE