Anything new in batteries for solar

2oldman wrote:

N8GS wrote:
polinovel.en.alibaba.com

300ah at 80lb. Not bad.

Did some more poking around and found this one: 400Ah

About the same physical size, about the same price, offered in quantity of 1, ...

time2roll wrote:
So get a battery warmer.

I wonder why the LiIon companies building these batteries for uses where they could face cold temps don't do the same thing they do for military applications. There they build in warmers and the micro controller in the battery determines when to apply heat and modifies the charge rate accordingly.

time2roll wrote:
So get a battery warmer.

That is the solution.

As these batts are usually installed in the warmed part of an RV anyway, it shouldn't be much of an issue when boondocking and propane heat is available.

It's when travelling in sub-zero weather that had me wondering. N8GS's solution sounds right: insulated battery box with 12V heater run off the truck's alternator or something similar.

And when putting the trailer in cold storage with no heat, just isolate the batts from any charging source, or loads.

It does make things more complicated ...

IMO lithium wins hands down in ALL categories except up front cash.

Still going to be lower cost in the full life cycle. Even then they can rest at any voltage so if it degrades to half capacity in 6,000 cycles (15 years?) you just add a second in parallel. They will not fight each other.

It would take a "hydrogen" battery to allow me to lift those L-16's. Getting old and feeble is no picnic bobbalouie.
Remember that post of mine years ago, about the couple who traveled to Central America. She marked his stuff with a red X. He marked hers with a black 0.

Twenty dollar "fine" for each untouched end-of-trip packed item (didn't count for 1st aid stuff and spares like filters).

I forgot the exact numbers for the end of the trip but it was a riot.

He posted the following year - "I believe we left for Canada this year over a thousand pounds lighter".

Battery types are like vehicle brands, or tools, or appliances, or just about anything else...they have strong points and they have weak points. But like two mechanics arguing over which brand is "better" Mac or Snap-On, passionate arguments for and against seem to get swallowed up in the roar of reality.

But laying the claims on, a bit too thick either pro or con, does the curious spectator little good. Yeah. Projects. Youngsters have to learn how to keep bar floors from rearing up and smacking them in the face.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
When I want less weight I pitch never used stuff. When the batteries dscharge I recharge them. Is an extra 20-30% going to make or break a camping trip? Seems like many of these responses "have a lot of English on them".

Sort of like saying "Nuclear Winter Would Solve Both Global Warming And Overpopulation"

I think North Korea is working on that global warming thing.

I had to build a custom hoist to get the old Trojan batteries in and out of the fifth wheel. The new batteries went in easily by hand. I have to watch what goes where to keep from overloading the truck tires. I know, get a bigger truck. I don't want a new truck that uses that DEF stuff. I'll stick with my 2009 Duramax. Besides, I like to experiment with things, us old guys have gotta have a project or two to keep us out of the bars.

When I want less weight I pitch never used stuff. When the batteries dscharge I recharge them. Is an extra 20-30% going to make or break a camping trip? Seems like many of these responses "have a lot of English on them".

Sort of like saying "Nuclear Winter Would Solve Both Global Warming And Overpopulation"

It may be that other companies are saying 32 deg F to allow some cushion because their BMS systems do not prevent the battery from taking a charge at low temperature. The Battle Born BMS prevents the battery from taking a charge if below 25 deg F.
For extended traveling in cold weather I do have a heating system installed in my insulated battery box. I can keep my batteries above 30 deg F when the outside temperature is as low as -25 deg F. The heating system is powered by the truck.

So get a battery warmer.

N8GS wrote:
Just got more info from Battle Born. There batteries are designed for and the BMS permits charging down to 25 deg F.
...

This makes them quite different from other LiFePO4 cells out there.

For example Lithionics Battery, a big company, says "Lithium batteries are not designed for use in sub-freezing temperatures" and specifies no charging below freezing (32F).