Winnebago Ekko – 12V Lithium Battery Bank & Solar Upgrade

by

Complete repair guide for the Winnebago Ekko – 12V Lithium Battery Bank & Solar Upgrade. Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue yourself.

Parts & Tools You’ll Need

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Step-by-Step Repair Guide

Step 1: Diagnose Existing System & Safety

Before beginning any work, you’ll need to disconnect the negative terminal of your existing battery and wait 15 minutes to allow residual power to dissipate from the vehicle’s electrical systems. Take photographs of your current battery setup, wiring configuration, and fuse locations so you have a reference guide for the new lithium system installation.

Step 2: Install ANL Fuse & Battery Cable

You’ll run your 4/0 AWG welding cable from the positive terminal of your new LiFePO4 battery to the ANL fuse holder, positioning the fuse holder within 18 inches of the battery as close as possible. Crimp heavy-duty battery terminals onto both ends of the cable and tighten them securely, ensuring the connection is corrosion-free and mechanically sound before proceeding.

Step 3: Mount Lithium Battery & Monitor

You should secure your 100Ah LiFePO4 battery in the same location as your original battery using a custom or universal battery box with proper ventilation and vibration dampening. Install the Victron BMV-712 battery monitor in an easily accessible location inside your van where you can view the display, running the small gauge sense wires directly to the positive and negative battery terminals.

Step 4: Wire Battery-to-Battery Charger Circuit

You’ll connect your 40A DC-DC battery-to-battery charger between the vehicle’s alternator circuit and your lithium battery bank, allowing engine charging while protecting the lithium cells from incompatible charging profiles. Route the remote sense wire to detect when the engine is running, and install appropriate fusing on both the input and output sides per the manufacturer’s specifications.

Step 5: Connect Solar Panel & MPPT Controller

You’ll mount your 200W flexible solar panel to the roof of your Ekko using adhesive or mechanical fasteners, then run the panel leads down through a conduit to your Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller. Connect the positive and negative solar leads to the appropriate terminals on the controller, ensuring you use proper gauge wiring and include an inline fuse within three feet of the panel array.

Step 6: Establish Central Power Distribution Bus

You need to install a power distribution bus bar or terminal block that connects your fused battery cable, DC-DC charger output, MPPT controller output, and BMV-712 sense wires in a clean, organized manner. This central hub simplifies troubleshooting and future modifications while keeping all positive connections in one accessible location with proper labeling for each circuit.

Step 7: Test System Under Various Load Conditions

You should reconnect your negative battery terminal and use the Victron BMV-712 monitor to verify that your battery is charging correctly from both solar and engine sources, watching the display for proper voltage and current values. Run your vehicle for 20 minutes, then operate your onboard loads (lights, water pump, refrigerator) while monitoring the battery voltage to confirm it holds steady above 13V and properly discharges during use.

Recommended Parts

PartLink
100Ah LiFePO4 drop-in lithium batteryView on Amazon
Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controllerView on Amazon
Victron BMV-712 battery monitorView on Amazon
40A DC-DC battery-to-battery chargerView on Amazon
200W flexible solar panelView on Amazon
ANL fuse holder + 200A fuseView on Amazon
4/0 AWG welding cable (battery interconnect)View on Amazon
Bus bar / power distribution terminal blockView on Amazon