Looking at upgrading to Battleborn Lithium batteries with charger/inverter for superior boondocking. Tired of running generator/engine to recharge the 2-Optima blue AGM batteries in use now. According to Battleborn, this will be far superior than what I'm used to seeing in terms of consumption and the daily charging cycle. I use a Dish satellite for TV, lights, furnace, frig, toaster, coffee maker, etc. With their system, I could also run the microwave without using the generator.Anyone out there have first-hand experience with Lithium?

I am thinking of going the same route when my AGM's are done. I do use my rv all year round and that includes cold temps below 32F. 0-32F I'm on the fence as of now. If you are interested , there is a good comparison on YouTube for cold temp camping. "AGM vs Lithium Batteries for Sub-Freezing Solar Powered Camping"

Plenty here do. I've been using 6 of them since last year, very happy with the setup, but you will need solar if you want to avoid generator - you can safely draw down the batteries to 90% (I don't go beyond 80%), but they need feeding. For the microwave, you will need a solid inverter and beefy wiring.I started a separate thread on cold weather charging of LifePO4 batteries. I built an insulated box (R10 styrofoam), with a waste tank heating pad and aluminum plate under the batteries to keep them warm. I also added a Victron temperature sensor to my equipment so that the MPPTs will not attempt to charge below 5C. Discharging is not the issue, they cannot be charged below 0C or you will damage them.

There are some top end manufacturers/retailers that offer models that can be charged down to -4F/-20C without damage, by borrowing some of the charging current, and self heating the batteries. Both Relion and LifeBlue make such a battery. There may be others.I have 2 X 100 Ah Relion RB100-LT batteries (charged by 3 X 100W ZAMP panels off grid) and so far so good. We don't worry about running out of power any more.

I'd recommend looking at SiO2 jars instead. They can be discharged to stone bone dead 620 times without dying. They are about 1/2 the price of LI. They can be used and charged at -40. They can be draw on at a rate of 9C. They do not need to be recharged to 100%.The only negative is weight. The "best buy" is currently the 100 amp-hour battery.For USA pricing go here:https://azimuthsolarproducts.com/product-category/batteries/sio2/

We have two Battle Born 100 AH batteries with 300 watts solar, automatic transfer switch and a 2,000 watt inverter. Our main intent (and the reason we don't have more batteries and solar) was to run the residential refrigerator on long travel days. The system has done very well at doing that and more. I put the thermostatically controlled heating pads on the batteries for cold weather (batteries are mounted in the enclosed but unheated front compartment/tool/battery/generator area of a fifth wheel). We have been extremely happy with the setup. I'm glad to be rid of battery maintenance and not worry about discharging the batteries all the way.Rob

Anyone using Lithium batteries? Comments? | Good Sam Community

MDKMDK
Explorer
Sep 29, 2020
There are some top end manufacturers/retailers that offer models that can be charged down to -4F/-20C without damage, by borrowing some of the charging current, and self heating the batteries. Both Relion and LifeBlue make such a battery. There may be others.
I have 2 X 100 Ah Relion RB100-LT batteries (charged by 3 X 100W ZAMP panels off grid) and so far so good. We don't worry about running out of power any more.
phemens
Explorer
Sep 29, 2020
Plenty here do. I've been using 6 of them since last year, very happy with the setup, but you will need solar if you want to avoid generator - you can safely draw down the batteries to 90% (I don't go beyond 80%), but they need feeding. For the microwave, you will need a solid inverter and beefy wiring.
I started a separate thread on cold weather charging of LifePO4 batteries. I built an insulated box (R10 styrofoam), with a waste tank heating pad and aluminum plate under the batteries to keep them warm. I also added a Victron temperature sensor to my equipment so that the MPPTs will not attempt to charge below 5C. Discharging is not the issue, they cannot be charged below 0C or you will damage them.
bobndot
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2020
I am thinking of going the same route when my AGM's are done. I do use my rv all year round and that includes cold temps below 32F. 0-32F I'm on the fence as of now.
If you are interested , there is a good comparison on YouTube for cold temp camping.
"AGM vs Lithium Batteries for Sub-Freezing Solar Powered Camping"

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