Lithium 12 volt battery Is there a clear leader?

When I buy a candy bar it may come with a lifetime warranty. That's what happens when the body passes into the realm of the obsolete, updates cancelled...

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The brick wall I am running up against

Is the warranty

One Year ?!!!!!?

If these batteries are so damned good with thousands of cycles claimed and BMS to insure against mistreatment, 1% loss of charge per year, no need to maintain full charge, yadda k yadda k yadda...

Then why are they warrantied like chew & spit merchandise?

None of these gizmos have enough consumer-time to have gained a reputation.

I think the last quoted paragraph answers your question.

New product, still developing/changing rapidly. Too many important things depend on how honest they are there in China and how educated the consumer is about use and care of Li battery. Decent Li battery will have +2 year warranty. $0.2/WH one will have 3 months warranty.

I know this is an old thread, but Ive been thinking about upgrading from our standard AGM deep cycle to Li. Someone else mentioned Battle Born, which led me to these batteries - can anyone vouch for the Torque Power (since it's cheapest)?

Hi,

I would buy this--except for the cold weather issues:

https://pacificsunsystems.com/catalog/product/12v-400ah-lithium-lifep04-battery/

The BMS System is not the same as a charge controller - in most cases it is designed to balance (or cut-out) individual cells, prevent (via disconnect) a damaging over or under voltage condition, over amperage condition, over temp, and in some cases preventing charging below say, 32dF (some mfgs, slightly less).

I’ve yet to find a charge controller with parameters to my liking, since the charge controller must be matched with a particular Lifepo4 manufacturer’s specs. Progressive Dynamics Li charger remains at maximum voltage even after the battery is fully charged (??), while Iota’s charge voltage is a tenth a volt higher than some BMS will even allow entry...If using an existing charger, the equalization feature must be defeated...Then there’s the solar controllers!

In my mind, the ideal Lifepo4 charger would offer adjustable charge voltage (Like the PowerMax - but with a higher limit), and be a two stage design (though float is not necessary, nor harmful) so that the battery does not sit for an extended period while being held at maximum voltage...

Cheaper Lifepo4’s can be found on Amazon, et al, but the ‘down in the dirt’ specs will vary, particularly the surge amps and duration which can be a limitation on electric motor inrush needs...Some BMS’s are more conservative this way, while a few others are a bit more tolerant. Some batteries of ’like kind’ (i.e. 12v, 100 a/hr) are of cylindrical cell design, some prismatic, while the lower end offerings tend to be of a layered pillow design where cell consistency may not be as uniform...

Warranties vary widely as well... Just my 0.2 cents...

As for cold weather issues I live in extreme weather conditions both hot and cold , normally when it's cold it doesn't get really cold enough inside my van to mess with the lifepo4, on days when the temp really drops like 2 days ago we had negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit with a feels like temp of 35 below zero Fahrenheit I dial my heater to the lowest setting and it trickles heat toward the battery, some people put elect seat heaters with thermostat controls around there lifepo4 battery , no issues.

If you don't know anything about lifepo4 I would buy a single Battleborn 100ah lifepo4 or equivalent and play with that.
Instead of spending a bunch of time trying to figure out how to set up a cheap battery system just suck it up and pay for the one that is complete.
Then you have a system that works and you can tinker in your spare time learning how to build a cheap one , by the time the Battleborn wears out you will know how to build a cheap lifepo4 but for now just buy

@Mexicowanderer
Are you a boondocker?
What do you use to charge?
Alternator?
Solar panels?
Genset and 110 volt charger?

I just put 3 Battleborn 100 Ahr batteries in place of 400 Ahr of AGM.
I have 1050 watts of solar and after much consultation with BB my
converter is fine as is my solar controller, which is programable.
I was impressed with their construction and assembly methods.
I thought about making my own pack, but, could not find an external BMS I would trust. :(
Our experience boondocking with the BB Lithium is fantastic. The voltage stays very constant througout discharge and they provide up to 300 A if needed. Highest I have seen (microwave) is 140 amps to the inverter.

They seem like a solid company and all is assembled in the USA. :B

Housted

Since Trojan batteries are very popular here, I'm surprised I haven't heard more about their Trillium line on the forum. They seem to be great batteries and having a lithium battery with a strong brand name would certainly be a plus.

"In my mind, the ideal Lifepo4 charger would offer adjustable charge voltage (Like the PowerMax - but with a higher limit), and be a two stage design (though float is not necessary, nor harmful) so that the battery does not sit for an extended period while being held at maximum voltage..."

What limit is desired? It goes to 16.5v now.

It is adjustable single voltage (which does two battery "stages", bulk and absorption), but you want a charger end's two-stage.

Not sure how you can have a two-stage (at the charger) adjustable voltage that is automatic as seems to be desired here. You would need an adjustable timer to go with that, but that would need a trigger since you want the battery to get fully charged first and you don't know how long that will take.

The trigger would have to "see" that the battery is full somehow, and voltage can't be the trigger of course. However, it may be ok with Li batts, which start their absorption stages at a high SOC and you don't want them to be all the way full?

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I would buy this--except for the cold weather issues:

https://pacificsunsystems.com/catalog/product/12v-400ah-lithium-lifep04-battery/

Place them inside where it is warm.