Best Rv batteries

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
200 amp rated lithium battery with BMS

What is the maximum allowable charge rate for such a setup. Charge rate in amperes?

Each manufacturer have their own recommendations. Lifeblue is 120a recommended, 150a @ 75f.

My GBS batteries are max charging current 3C (300a), discharge max 3C continuous/ 10c pulse.

Almot wrote:
Gdetrailer, few minor corrections if I may.
There are (many) Li batteries that come with BMS inside. Called "drop-in 12V battery replacement". You just drop it in place of an old battery.

Li have high initial cost, this doesn't make them more expensive because they have much longer cycle life than FLA - again, with proper care.

They are unforgiving to overcharging (95-99% is NOT recommended), over-discharging (avoid discharging below 30%), temps below freezing, temps over 100F, or too high current at the beginning of charging.

Recycling is a big point for those environmentally concerned. Li are so often toted as a part of "green" technology, promoters never mention the fact that Li can not be really recycled.

"Drop ins" typically DO have BMS built in which may make the transition easy, but at the same time BMS can and DOES fail. Typically when the electronics of the BMS fails it renders the battery 100% unusable instantly, this typically happens without any warning. You might simply have completed recharging and the next use the battery no longer has ANY voltage.

I HAVE had this happen, dealt with it in a custom designed device that my former company sold and it was my groups job to not only setup the device for the customers but to SERVICE the device in house.

Between Lithium battery failures, touch screen failures, WiFi radio card failures the product was sunsetted and withdrawn from the field after only 4 yrs (typical product cycle in that company was 10 yrs min from initial design to mature product and an additional 10 yrs to sunsetting.

Even had multiple customers experience battery meltdowns, damaging the unit and a couple of customers getting burned.

I have a DEEP respect for what high capacity batteries can do when mistreated OR when all the proper precautions (BMS) have been implemented and Mr Murphy puts a wrench into ones design and it malfunctions.

Most folks have NEVER, EVER seen the results that I have with Lithium technology when it FAILS, if they did they would not walk but run from them or at least treat these devices with some respect. They are not toys and in the wrong hands a fire cracker..

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
200 amp rated lithium battery with BMS

What is the maximum allowable charge rate for such a setup. Charge rate in amperes?

I believe most will charge/discharge at the full rated amps. Last 5% might be at half speed but I don't know.

Both of Renogy's 170ah and 100ah have Maximum Charge Current:50A
neither are recommended to be in series.

200 amp rated lithium battery with BMS

What is the maximum allowable charge rate for such a setup. Charge rate in amperes?

Almot wrote:
(Li)..They are unforgiving to overcharging (95-99% is NOT recommended), over-discharging (avoid discharging below 30%), temps below freezing, temps over 100F, or too high current at the beginning of charging.

The only caution I've heard of is the charging below freezing.

As for the others, the BMS should take care of that. I once drained my pack to below 20%. It shut itself down, as per spec.

There are always pioneers and rebels pushing the envelope, but at this point, I'd be surprised to discover that the majority of people who realize that RV/Marine batteries aren't the best way to go don't end up with the 6 volt GCs. Not all of us can afford bleeding edge technology. As much as some of us might like to.

Almot wrote:
... Surplus telecom are working well for Mr Wiz and some other long-standing fulltimers here, ...

If they are "surplus" the availability is not going to be good. Weight/size may or may not be an issue.

Optimistic Paranoid, - at least one person already mentioned thicker plates of 6V GC, no? :)...

And - sorry, not every savvy full-time RV-er replaces cheesy OEM battery with 6V GC. Surplus telecom are working well for Mr Wiz and some other long-standing fulltimers here, its charging profile is different from regular AGM and this should be considered.
Good new AGM will do nicely with proper treatment too, but at this point we need to re-define the meaning of "savvy".

Adequate charging and use is the key. We don't know whether the OP has it adequate.

There are always limitations/constraints to "the best". Some of the limitation in any RV may be cost, installation space available and weight.

Best durability/life is probably nickel-iron (NiFe). VERY HEAVY. Requires a lot of spaces. Not cheap. These will out last even LiFePO4.

LiFePO4 are probably the most expensive, but lighter weight and long life.

Lead acid (including AGM). If you want reasonable life, you must use REAL deep cycle batteries. The most commonly available, and "best bang for the buck" are GC2 golf cart batteries. As OptPara mentioned, there are very FEW 12 volt deep cycle batteries. They are expensive and you will like have to special order them. If you really hate "flooded" lead acid batteries, there are AGM GC2 batteries available. Much less common and more expensive.


For LiFePO4, Battle Born is one of the better brands.

For Lead acid, either Trojan or Rolls.