Shawn your DIY projects are so well executed. Your explanations are clear and detailed - awesome job. I have been following BattleBorn in the RV community for years. I glad to see that they are growing their product line with these large format batteries. We'll need a followup for the battery performance please!
Shawn’s technical knowledge and expertise are impressive. Elizabeth showed how much less expensive the recent haul-out was because Shawn did so much of the work. Imagine how much more expensive this work would be if you paid others to do it.
While I love all Freedom videos, I especially enjoy the maintenance/upkeep/navigation videos. My wife , on the other hand, enjoys the exploration videos most. I can’t overstate how much we enjoy your videos!! You guys seem like a really cool couple. A bit of a loaner couple, similar to my wife and I. Just get everything you need from eachother. To the negative comments, its straight up envy. There really is nothing controversial here.
IF your alternator craps out suggest look at an HP Alternator. These are rated at a case temp of at least 200F. One can full field them and they will take it for a long time. Most alternators burn up after 20-30 mins. Ample Power (RIP) used to supply them. May have to increase the fan belts though. Fun stuff!
BattleBorn is a great product. 10 Year warranty at 100k birth to death cycles. With your old 4 8D, you had 980 amp/hr, with only 1/2 of that being usable. ( 490 Amp/hrs) With the 4 Lithium, you know have 1080 usable amp hours. More than doubled Capacity.
‘I’m super efficient when you’re not around’ has to be the funniest line ever. Love the wit… my wife didn’t think it was funny when I showed her. Keep up the great content!
Great video. I installed 2 Battleborn GC3’s into my trailer replacing lead acid batteries. The process was much more involved on the boat with your alternator. Your mechanical, electrical and computer skills are at a professional level. If you need a side gig when you begin your journey, you have it!
Love your episodes like this. Your excursion videos show the fun part of traveling w/ Freedom, but you don’t hide the day-to-day needs for boat maintenance and upkeep. Keeps us all from getting a skewed vision of what making that transition to the water might be like. Glad you are back doing videos more regularly.
I really enjoyed this video as you covered all the steps of replacing the batteries and the getting everything programmed. Shawn your so meticulous in every step you take on every project. I also note you never take any "shortcuts" and everything is done the proper way with proper materials. You really do your research for every project you tackle and it shows as things usually run pretty smooth. Bravo !! Happy the new batteries are installed and that's one more thing off the check list for easier trips in the future. You guys are a great team and a pleasure to watch. Have a great Sunday and enjoy !
Removing those batteries and work you had to do was amazing effort and knowledgeable - enjoyed watching and Elizabeth treated you to a snack was a loving reward 👍😊
Well done Shawn you are the man, I am afraid I would have got myself lost with all the wiring and programming. It pays to have a methodical mind, as you most certainly have.
Why no solar? The live aboard profile seems perfect. You could install a big alternator to charge the batteries and eliminate the generator. You will need to get more batteries. Good thing you have an engineer on board.
Nice job Shawn!! Good explanations of charging systems and regulators. When you introduce a battery technology that was never even considered when your alternator was designed requires being addressed. I like the external regulator solution. Nice upgrade!! Enjoy.
Hey Shawn…..You are way more than a DYI’er! Your explanation and execution was perfect!!!!! Great Job! Hats off to your video editor I assume is your Co-Captain, Great wife and Mom to Mr. Sully and Miss Martha….Happy Mother’s Day Elizabeth!
You are so smart, it seems you can repair anything, a man of my own calibur. If you want it done right, do it yourself, don't pay a mechanic, so dishonest and take advantage of whomever don't know what they're doing, you guys are awesome, girl don't hurt yr back.
Good grief, Shawn you need a MSEE to understand this stuff. I am a total dullard when it comes to electrical issues, but I can tell from working around engineers you have an engineering mind with the mechanical sense to tackle these problems. You and Elizabeth are the right kind of persons to have a live-aboard lifestyle. Me? I would need a crew or a very large checkbook. The Mrs. and I enjoy watching your adventures, keep up the fun.
I love watching you guys, such endearing personalities and I love your attitudes! Can’t wait for more great content! Best wishes on all your adventures from Pennsylvania
Nice upgrade. We've been using LiFePO4's in our RV's since 2016 and after doing or participating in a bunch of installations, I built DIY lithium batteries for our trawler last year. They're a game changer: lighter, faster charging, more efficient. Enjoy!
Holy crap....and I'm proud of myself for changing the oil or a random fuel filter change. That was G-d tier level DIY stuff right there. Not believing that E. struggled to lift those batteries though...it's pretty evident she does not skip squat day. Strong work guys. Given the expense, I would appreciate a future episode in which you discuss your experience with a lithium stack....what were the performance changes, are they of practical worth, would you do it again, etc? Hope it works for you and proves to be of value. Pro level production values on these video BTW. Very impressive.
Really enjoy you guys. The explanation of the configuration was way over my head but I’ll watch it again after I study up and break down what was said. Love your channel! Thank you.
I'm looking forward to your calculations for cost per amp hour and how that would compare to an 8 battery AGM bank. Depth of discharge sure is a great advantage of the lithiums.
Awsome guys! I just bought 3 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiPO4) 120 Amp Hour battery's for our Roberts Wave Runner 36 Cruiser. We are getting them installed soon! We live aboard to, down here in the island state of Tasmania in Australia.
I was looking forward to the move. When you said you were budgeting I was thinking they aren't that pricey...apparently they are...I estimate this was close to $10k for the swap. Hopefully you sold your agm's for a little help. I'm going to swap but do a series with 100 ah batteries. Thanks Freedom. Good job hoisting those old batteries. You made 168 lbs look like 200 lbs Shaun.
Shawn, you have got to get a split loom wire insertion tool! They are very cheap and make that job far easier. You will never do it without one again, once you have it. It will save you sore hands too. I wish I knew about them a long time ago.
Had to stop @ 25sec and comment at, “so this means more inflatables”…. I pictured the whole cast of Rudolph on the bow of the boat next Christmas! 🎅🏻 🎄 🦖❄️
Nice upgrade, there is a DC to DC converter that is used on this type of conversion. Did you check into that? From what I read it is plug and play. Have a wonderful week. God Bless. P.S. I would keep a upgraded alternator around just in case.
48volt system. I know I also did a 12 volt system with AGM in my RV. 2 years later I have to remove it all and do 48 volt lithium with a new alternator. The new system will change everything for being off grid. Ill have to change a lot. I know you did it as easy as possible which is great. My alternator will produce 3 times the amps at same rpm and it is made so if batteries are full it will stop putting out.
Thank you very much. I expect I’ll be doing the exact exchange you did in this video in the --distant future-- I hope. So far my three year old Lifeline AGMs seem to be ok.
Now get shawn to produce technical summary videos. His explanation of the conversion was concise, accurate and clear. Maybe cut that out as a separate video....It will (potentially) help the technically inept.... The whole save the boat floor but not the feet is a bit funny.
Spent the winter upgrading batteries with 6 100 ah battle horn batteries can’t wait for summer cruising. Uno game still on the books if your ever in Bremerton. Big fans good job 👍
By regulation, lithium batteries are shipped with 50% charge. When you receive them, they should be individually charged to 100%. Then check that they are within .1v of each other before they are paralleled.
I know running a trawler is not for the faint hearted but those babies or not cheap are they. The H&S nerd in me was hoping you might be wearing toe-tecs as well because that would have done some damage if dropped on your feet.
Shawn is a regular McGyver type! Seems like he knows how to do anything, including making a custom computer program and new BMS with only a paper clip and foil from a stick of gum.
great video. did you keep one lead acid battery in situ to deal with all the lithium batteries going off line - kind of like an electrical heat synch? i recall sv delos kept one battery for this purpose to save the alternator
Interesting vid. Very surprised the terminal posts of the batteries don't have plastic covers to prevent accidental shorting during installation. I'd have taped them up at least.
I've enjoyed watching your channel for some time now and I don't mind that I share the same name as your inflatable Christmas decoration. Keep up with the great contend..... Deno :)
Interesting Project Shawn! Have the same exercise coming up in a year or two so will refer back to your project when that time comes around! Thanks For Sharing!!
Hi Shawn, awesome video! What about the starting battery? I’m assuming it’s still lead acid with a different charging profile? Or was it an AGM and the profile was close enough to lithium? We chose a dc to dc battery charge for our RV instead of the route you took. Thanks for the video.
Great job Shawn! I love the recent upgrades of the lithium batteries and the FLIR! Have you ever figured out how much you save by doing so much work yourself?
I knew that the batteries are expensive, but 10K for those four … OMG. But they also deliver more Ah, right? So what would be the calculated increase vs. the real life increase in battery power? Would be a great follow up. Thanks for all the great videos!
battleborns have a 10 year warranty, but that doesn't mean they will last only 10 years. predicted usable live of a battleborn battery is 20+ years with 10% degradation, meaning that after 20+ years, amp-hour capacity of 4 8d battelborns will reduce from 1080 to 972. even after 20+ years, the battleborns will still have more usable capacity than a set of new agm's that will only last 5 years or so. so, compare the cost of 3 sets of agm's to one set of battleborns and you will realize that the battleborns are really the more economical choice.
Shawn your DIY projects are so well executed. Your explanations are clear and detailed - awesome job. I have been following BattleBorn in the RV community for years. I glad to see that they are growing their product line with these large format batteries. We'll need a followup for the battery performance please!
Shawn’s technical knowledge and expertise are impressive.
Elizabeth showed how much less expensive the recent haul-out was because Shawn did so much of the work.
Imagine how much more expensive this work would be if you paid others to do it.
While I love all Freedom videos, I especially enjoy the maintenance/upkeep/navigation videos. My wife , on the other hand, enjoys the exploration videos most. I can’t overstate how much we enjoy your videos!! You guys seem like a really cool couple. A bit of a loaner couple, similar to my wife and I. Just get everything you need from eachother. To the negative comments, its straight up envy. There really is nothing controversial here.
“I’m super efficient when you’re not around… insert long awkward smile here..😂. Love it
IF your alternator craps out suggest look at an HP Alternator. These are rated at a case temp of at least 200F. One can full field them and they will take it for a long time. Most alternators burn up after 20-30 mins. Ample Power (RIP) used to supply them. May have to increase the fan belts though. Fun stuff!
Hey Shawn, for those batteries, maybe invest in one or two dollys to push and pull! A lot easier on your back, don't you think?
Shawn explained the configuration quite well and how each component works. Simple and understandable 🤙🏼
BattleBorn is a great product. 10 Year warranty at 100k birth to death cycles. With your old 4 8D, you had 980 amp/hr, with only 1/2 of that being usable. ( 490 Amp/hrs) With the 4 Lithium, you know have 1080 usable amp hours. More than doubled Capacity.
‘I’m super efficient when you’re not around’ has to be the funniest line ever. Love the wit… my wife didn’t think it was funny when I showed her. Keep up the great content!
You know your stuff! Good research, self-training and completion of the install!
Great video. I installed 2 Battleborn GC3’s into my trailer replacing lead acid batteries. The process was much more involved on the boat with your alternator. Your mechanical, electrical and computer skills are at a professional level. If you need a side gig when you begin your journey, you have it!
Shawn’s day job comes in handy!
"Does that mean more inflatables?😍" "uh oh no no no" 😂😂😂
Love your episodes like this. Your excursion videos show the fun part of traveling w/ Freedom, but you don’t hide the day-to-day needs for boat maintenance and upkeep. Keeps us all from getting a skewed vision of what making that transition to the water might be like. Glad you are back doing videos more regularly.
Obviously having deep engineering skills is a plus …. like writing a program to re-program the firmware … impressive!
Love it when Shawn gets technical, keeps my inner geek happy. As always a brilliant vid, thank you.
Ditto: as a retired mechanic it is all spot on.
I really enjoyed this video as you covered all the steps of replacing the batteries and the getting everything programmed. Shawn your so meticulous in every step you take on every project. I also note you never take any "shortcuts" and everything is done the proper way with proper materials. You really do your research for every project you tackle and it shows as things usually run pretty smooth. Bravo !! Happy the new batteries are installed and that's one more thing off the check list for easier trips in the future. You guys are a great team and a pleasure to watch. Have a great Sunday and enjoy !
The men of culture also find you entertaining Elizabeth !
Removing those batteries and work you had to do was amazing effort and knowledgeable - enjoyed watching and Elizabeth treated you to a snack was a loving reward 👍😊
Sean is “The Man” !💪💪💪💪👍
Absolutely no idea what you are saying, Shawn, but have supreme confidence in your acumen. Well done, you two.
Hey Shawn. Another Seattle local here. Great video!
Your technical install videos are great. Please do more. I would have loved to see the FLIR being installed.
Interesting, would have loved to see you setting up the inverter, I assume it's an inverter charger.
I only watch for Mr Sully & Ms Martha, the Canines of Freedom ! Thanks for the video, be Safe, Be Happy !
Well done Shawn you are the man, I am afraid I would have got myself lost with all the wiring and programming. It pays to have a methodical mind, as you most certainly have.
Why no solar? The live aboard profile seems perfect. You could install a big alternator to charge the batteries and eliminate the generator. You will need to get more batteries. Good thing you have an engineer on board.
I can respect Shawn's strength I've seen to guys do this and sweat
I swear, Shawn is such a boat geek... he's in his glory when he can clean Freedom, or do some maintenance, and some repair/replace.
Nice job Shawn!! Good explanations of charging systems and regulators. When you introduce a battery technology that was never even considered when your alternator was designed requires being addressed. I like the external regulator solution. Nice upgrade!! Enjoy.
Hey Shawn…..You are way more than a DYI’er! Your explanation and execution was perfect!!!!! Great Job! Hats off to your video editor I assume is your Co-Captain, Great wife and Mom to Mr. Sully and Miss Martha….Happy Mother’s Day Elizabeth!
Thank you!
You are so smart, it seems you can repair anything, a man of my own calibur. If you want it done right, do it yourself, don't pay a mechanic, so dishonest and take advantage of whomever don't know what they're doing, you guys are awesome, girl don't hurt yr back.
I know our upgrade to the Battle Born's
in our RV was a game changer, and loved the weight difference.
That sound she made after hearing how long it could power Deno was outrageous. It needs to be my new ring tone. 👂😳😁
Good grief, Shawn you need a MSEE to understand this stuff. I am a total dullard when it comes to electrical issues, but I can tell from working around engineers you have an engineering mind with the mechanical sense to tackle these problems. You and Elizabeth are the right kind of persons to have a live-aboard lifestyle. Me? I would need a crew or a very large checkbook. The Mrs. and I enjoy watching your adventures, keep up the fun.
I love watching you guys, such endearing personalities and I love your attitudes! Can’t wait for more great content! Best wishes on all your adventures from Pennsylvania
Nice upgrade. We've been using LiFePO4's in our RV's since 2016 and after doing or participating in a bunch of installations, I built DIY lithium batteries for our trawler last year. They're a game changer: lighter, faster charging, more efficient.
Enjoy!
Holy crap....and I'm proud of myself for changing the oil or a random fuel filter change. That was G-d tier level DIY stuff right there. Not believing that E. struggled to lift those batteries though...it's pretty evident she does not skip squat day. Strong work guys. Given the expense, I would appreciate a future episode in which you discuss your experience with a lithium stack....what were the performance changes, are they of practical worth, would you do it again, etc? Hope it works for you and proves to be of value. Pro level production values on these video BTW. Very impressive.
Nice work! Thanks for the shout out to us boat mechanics!
Really enjoy you guys. The explanation of the configuration was way over my head but I’ll watch it again after I study up and break down what was said. Love your channel! Thank you.
love the "Happy Dance" Shawn, a job well done you are a talented bloke even if your jokes suck.. lol
I'm looking forward to your calculations for cost per amp hour and how that would compare to an 8 battery AGM bank. Depth of discharge sure is a great advantage of the lithiums.
Awsome guys! I just bought 3 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiPO4) 120 Amp Hour battery's for our Roberts Wave Runner 36 Cruiser. We are getting them installed soon!
We live aboard to, down here in the island state of Tasmania in Australia.
I was looking forward to the move. When you said you were budgeting I was thinking they aren't that pricey...apparently they are...I estimate this was close to $10k for the swap. Hopefully you sold your agm's for a little help. I'm going to swap but do a series with 100 ah batteries. Thanks Freedom. Good job hoisting those old batteries. You made 168 lbs look like 200 lbs Shaun.
Shawn reminds me of my dad who was a brilliant electronic engineer
Incredibly informative .... especially for the geek-inclined, like myself! Nice work!
This was one of my most favorite videos. Yes, a closet nerd!
Great video. Few people know how their boat really works and is configured. Keep the great content coming.
Nice work guys. Great feeling when your hard work literally pays off!
Whoooooah, Look at the big brain on Shawn!
This is one of the best sessions. Shawn is amazing. I loved his explanations and had to watch this twice because I enjoyed it so much.
Love your work team!
Shawn, you have got to get a split loom wire insertion tool! They are very cheap and make that job far easier. You will never do it without one again, once you have it. It will save you sore hands too. I wish I knew about them a long time ago.
Had to stop @ 25sec and comment at, “so this means more inflatables”…. I pictured the whole cast of Rudolph on the bow of the boat next Christmas! 🎅🏻 🎄 🦖❄️
Shawn =Pretty damn smart! Very impressive.
Nice upgrade, there is a DC to DC converter that is used on this type of conversion. Did you check into that? From what I read it is plug and play. Have a wonderful week. God Bless. P.S. I would keep a upgraded alternator around just in case.
DINO IS the leg lamp to this couple lol live you guys
Haha although he’s not “fragile” if you know what I mean 😉
You Two are awesome to do this for everybody .. answer so many questions and provide tons of information. Excellent video .. thank you so much.
48volt system. I know I also did a 12 volt system with AGM in my RV. 2 years later I have to remove it all and do 48 volt lithium with a new alternator. The new system will change everything for being off grid. Ill have to change a lot. I know you did it as easy as possible which is great. My alternator will produce 3 times the amps at same rpm and it is made so if batteries are full it will stop putting out.
A GREAT EPISODE AND VERY INFORMATIVE THANK YOU FOR SHARING !! =)
Great video. Super impressed. You make it sound easy, but you have serious skills!
Great video!
Shawn, I am curious about why you chose Battle Born. Was It matching size, price, or performance? I am sure you analyzed all aspects. Great job!
Love the teck talk... Thank you guys... Stay safe...
Love Shawn’s shirt! Really nice job with the battery swap and attention to detail dressing the cables
Thank you very much. I expect I’ll be doing the exact exchange you did in this video in the --distant future-- I hope. So far my three year old Lifeline AGMs seem to be ok.
Nice set up. Don't know if I would be doing that kind of work in bare feet though!! OUCH!
With my back, there's not a chance I could lift those old AGM batteries. It's a two man job, IMO. Steel toe shoes are in order.
Shawn gives a master class on the installation of lithium batteries. "So this means more inflatables?" Elizabeth asks hopefully.
Very impressive Shawn!
Awesome channel....keep it up. We need to get you guys more subscribers!
That a good list and last part of list is a must
Thank you guys...
Now get shawn to produce technical summary videos. His explanation of the conversion was concise, accurate and clear. Maybe cut that out as a separate video....It will (potentially) help the technically inept....
The whole save the boat floor but not the feet is a bit funny.
Holy electrical engineer to install lithium 😮
love your channel!
Spent the winter upgrading batteries with 6 100 ah battle horn batteries can’t wait for summer cruising. Uno game still on the books if your ever in Bremerton. Big fans good job 👍
I'm amazed how interested I am in watching this stuff. Thanks. -- BAK --
Very nice job
By regulation, lithium batteries are shipped with 50% charge. When you receive them, they should be individually charged to 100%. Then check that they are within .1v of each other before they are paralleled.
If you connect them in parallel the voltage will equalize by itself. Much more of an issue to match the voltage when connecting in series.
Brilliant video. Thank you for continuing to share
Another GREAT video! Thanks!
You made that look easy
I know running a trawler is not for the faint hearted but those babies or not cheap are they. The H&S nerd in me was hoping you might be wearing toe-tecs as well because that would have done some damage if dropped on your feet.
Shawn is a regular McGyver type! Seems like he knows how to do anything, including making a custom computer program and new BMS with only a paper clip and foil from a stick of gum.
Well done !
great video. did you keep one lead acid battery in situ to deal with all the lithium batteries going off line - kind of like an electrical heat synch? i recall sv delos kept one battery for this purpose to save the alternator
Interesting vid. Very surprised the terminal posts of the batteries don't have plastic covers to prevent accidental shorting during installation. I'd have taped them up at least.
8:48 Don't hurt yourself - and with increasing anxiety - more importantly, don't drop it they're kinda expensive.
I've enjoyed watching your channel for some time now and I don't mind that I share the same name as your inflatable Christmas decoration. Keep up with the great contend..... Deno :)
Congratulations well done!
I enjoy (Shawn's) work... I can supervise for hours! PS 'like' button is not accepting my 'click' N.B. 'dislike' and 'share', do.
Wow! Great Job!
Another excellent boat yoga episode.
Interesting Project Shawn! Have the same exercise coming up in a year or two so will refer back to your project when that time comes around! Thanks For Sharing!!
Well done guys 👌
You really are a smart dude. Great job 👍🇦🇺
Hi Shawn, awesome video! What about the starting battery? I’m assuming it’s still lead acid with a different charging profile? Or was it an AGM and the profile was close enough to lithium? We chose a dc to dc battery charge for our RV instead of the route you took. Thanks for the video.
Thank you once again
Great job Shawn! I love the recent upgrades of the lithium batteries and the FLIR! Have you ever figured out how much you save by doing so much work yourself?
Quite the gun show for the both of you!
Great Job !
I knew that the batteries are expensive, but 10K for those four … OMG. But they also deliver more Ah, right? So what would be the calculated increase vs. the real life increase in battery power? Would be a great follow up. Thanks for all the great videos!
Yes check out next week’s video for the cost/benefit analysis!
@@mvfreedom Awesome, thank you!
battleborns have a 10 year warranty, but that doesn't mean they will last only 10 years. predicted usable live of a battleborn battery is 20+ years with 10% degradation, meaning that after 20+ years, amp-hour capacity of 4 8d battelborns will reduce from 1080 to 972. even after 20+ years, the battleborns will still have more usable capacity than a set of new agm's that will only last 5 years or so. so, compare the cost of 3 sets of agm's to one set of battleborns and you will realize that the battleborns are really the more economical choice.