Battle Born LiFePo Batteries

adamis wrote:
I'm wondering if it is possible to eliminate the generator entirely and charge straight from truck?

If the wire is big enough and you don't have to run 5000rpm.

I run a 100ah 48v Li steel-case battery. It's wonderful.

This poster has them.

Maybe someday. I like the technology, but for now I have 4 x 12v 140AH AGM batteries for $60 more. (no generator)

Heck, thanks to this forum I bought inverter generator for $140.
How many of those batteries I can buy for the price?

Wow, on sale at $949 per 10AH 12V battery. Cool, I guess.

jimh425 wrote:
Wow, on sale at $949 per 10AH 12V battery. Cool, I guess.

It is 100AH, but heck, full 3 years warranty.

adamis wrote:
About every six months I check to see what is out there for batteries as I really want to replace my 2 80AH Lifeline 6v in series that are wired up in the bed of the truck. Recently just noticed this as one possible option and the price isn't that far off.

https://battlebornbatteries.com/shop/12v-lifepo4-deep-cycle-battery/

Seeing as how these batteries are able to take a charge so much faster, I'm wondering if it is possible to eliminate the generator entirely and charge straight from truck? I already have an after market 80 amp alternator installed from the previous owner. Taking out my genset and batteries could free up 300 to 400 lbs I'm thinking.

Anyone else looking at these?

"Price isn't that far off."
WHAT??!! Nearly a grand for one (1) 100Ah battery. That 10 times what I pay for one at Costco.

"I have an aftermarket 80 amp alternator"
That is not a hefty alternator. Mine is factory optioned with 220 amps plus there's an option for a second alternator for 440 amps total. (I didn't go with that) The standard alternator is 180 amps I think. I didn't think they even made alternators as tiny as 80 amps any more. Not aftermarket anyways and not for a truck.

Unless there is a really compelling reason to loose 160 pounds (2 batteries at 60lbs each and a 1000 watt genny at 40 pounds) an replace it with 2 batteries at 30 pounds each and a REAL alternator at 20 pounds (total of 80 pounds) net weight lost of 80 pounds, I think it's a waste of money to go with Li batteries.

Net difference in weight 80 pounds. Equivalent to 10 gallons of water. Can you just not fill your fresh water to full before departing and fill once on site?

****EDIT****
Oh, HEY!
You are my host this weekend! Geez! Here I am smack talking ya about batteries and alternators and realize we'll all be together soon. I'll smack talk ya some more over a beer and around a campfire Friday night. Ha! See ya soon!

My landed price for LiFePO4 batteries was $550/100AH

More info on how.

LFP batteries have been a game changer for how we use power off the grid. The speed at which they charge and the fact they don't need regular full charging make them ideal for rv use. We have been using ours now for almost 4 months on the road and huge thumbs up to LFP battery technology.

Battle born batteries are a drop in battery with a built in BMS that shunts cell voltages when charging to the top to avoid damaging a cell, and ruining the battery. I did look into them when I did my build but didn't like the price and didn't like that I couldn't monitor individual cell voltages. Lifeblue has some drop ins that are similar in and have a bluetooth app that gives you better info. They also have some different sized units so you could go to a single larger battery.

Lifeblue website

Finally I doubt your alternator charging will be effective. At a minimum find out what the alternator delivers voltage wise and contact the battery manufacturer and ask. Typically you see very low amperage and voltage at the discharge end of the pigtail.

Drops like Battleborn with built in BMS have some protections to use some solar charges using AGM charging curves and stock rv convert chargers which are not ideal but will work with reduced efficiency.

You would be FAR better off putting some solar on the roof to charge any battery vs. alternator.

skipro3 wrote:
****EDIT****
Oh, HEY!
You are my host this weekend! Geez! Here I am smack talking ya about batteries and alternators and realize we'll all be together soon. I'll smack talk ya some more over a beer and around a campfire Friday night. Ha! See ya soon!

This could be discussed even sooner at margarita night Thursday. I'll bring jumper cables just in case.

skipro3 wrote:
I think it's a waste of money to go with Li batteries.

Over the long term, maybe not, but if your wallet isn't too fat, I can see why you'd say that. It's nice to be able to run them down to 20% soc and not worry about damage. Or water. Or corrosion.

$949 each.