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DirtyKitty's avatar
DirtyKitty
Explorer
Mar 28, 2024

Reasonably priced LiFePO4 Lithium batteries - quality?

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone has tested any of the LiFe P04 batteries that have shown up on the web and Amazon.

Cost for a 100ah is a good third of mainstream retail units. $300 CAD or so.

How reliable can they be for that kind of money. 5 to 10 year warranties to boot.

Ecoworthy and Power Queen are a couple of examples.

If they are legit, one could have 600ah of lithium in their unit for a couple of $K!

Has anyone played with them yet and done a decent load test?

  • There is a guy on you tube who has tested lithium batteries extensively. 

    His name is will prowse, I believe.

    He has scores of videos on the subject.

  • I have bought a couple ecoworthy products (gardening) and after using them and seeing their quality I stay clear away from them, as for powerqueen I don't think Will Prouse has tested and deconstructed that one to see the quality of the insides.  there is another option that I believe he has don't and found it to be just like a Chins which used quality cells and BMS and was wired up nicely internaly and that is  Li Time a bit more expensive by 50 bucks right now.  

  • Do a search on YouTube for Will Prowse. He does extensive testing on batteries and solar. He really likes LiTime batteries. Check Amazon for pricing.

  • Do a search on YouTube for "Will Prowse". He is considered an expert on solar and batteries. He likes Li Time LiFePO4 batteries a lot. They are available on Amazon.

  • Li are fine batteries. Don't use them if you intend camping in the cold. (-20 C). Make sure there is a good battery management system that will shut down charging in cold temperatures. If you want a recommendation for batteries that can do -40 feel free to send me a private message.

    • StirCrazy's avatar
      StirCrazy
      Moderator

      little bit of misinformation, at -20 C you can still discharge most LiFePO4 batteries, Mine can be discharged down to -35C it is only charging you don't want to do if the battery itself is below 0C.   if they have a heat function in their BMS then temprature is no concern at all and if you mount them inside the living space then there is no concern either.  this is what I di, so I can go campin g at -20C and turn on the furncae and then once the interior of the camper is warm my batteries will be warm and I can turn on the solar power for charging.  would I intentionaly go camping at -20C .. no and 99% of the other people wouldnt either.  

      • pianotuna's avatar
        pianotuna
        Nomad III

        If you can only discharge it isn't of much use now is it? Please go obfuscate some where else. The OP is from Canada and we get a LOT colder than -20 C. Lots of us use our RV's year round.

  • There are at least two youtubers whose channels go about testing various solar components, lithium batteries in particular. Will Prowse is my favorite, at https://www.youtube.com/@WillProwse. His findings occasionally turn up well made LiFePO4 economy batteries, as well as stinkers among the low cost batteries. He tests them for output as well as tears them apart to examine components, and test internal thermal sensors. 

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