RV FEATURE
OTHER BENEFITS
Let ’ s think about the weight of the DCX battery . The 14.3kWh system weighs 125kg while the 7.1kWh system weighs 72kg . That sounds like a lot , and it is , but it ’ s important to consider it in context . First , the system is chassismounted , usually at the axle line where any affect on ball weight will be minimal . It is also resistant to stones / debris that you might encounter on your travel .
Second , the 7.1kWh system is equal in capacity to three 200Ah LiFePo4 batteries weighing about 25kg each , making it 3kg lighter .
Both NCE and OzXCorp discourage customers from buying a DC-DC charger to charge the battery from the tow vehicle . Instead , they say the light-weight commercial-grade solar panels that are available for the system are so efficient that even in overcast weather , they will still be putting power into the battery . If you want to spend money to enhance power input , put it into solar , they say .
The system is mounted underneath the van .
Naturally , the battery can be charged from any domestic 10A supply , or a 15A supply at a caravan park . But it has a built-in ‘ power rejection ’ system , so if there is a problem with the electrical input , it will refuse to accept it . It is also smart enough to disconnect from the grid supply if you exceed 15A , avoiding those unwanted nuisance tripping situations .
Further , there ’ s the potential to ‘ share ’ your excess power with other caravanners . Or , with the appropriate wiring and sign-off by an electrician , you could theoretically connect this battery to your house to power various domestic appliances .
All of this comes at a price , of course . Expect to pay about $ 15,812 for the 7.1kWh and $ 21,830 for the 14.3kWh system installed . Having said that , it ’ s probably going to be the last RV battery you ever need to buy .
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