Battle Born LiFePo Batteries
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 ...
Forum Discussion
I was really hoping Wayne would make the camping trip this weekend. He lived in his Bigfoot 4 days a week, working out of town, for years. He swears his single 12 volt AGM with 50watt panel was more than enough. This was in foggy San Quentin to boot!
I have a Blue Seas, battery isolator that allows my truck's alternator to charge my camper batteries once the truck batteries are at or above a certain voltage. Also, it allows my camper (meaning solar or AC mains charger) to charge my truck batteries once the camper batteries are at or above a certain voltage. Cool! I installed a digital display in the camper to show me the truck's battery voltage next to the charge controller. I can view both camper and truck battery voltages and actually see the point when they isolate or are joined via the Blue Sea.
I have all the documentation on this stuff in the camper, so we can review it. BigfootFord, AKA Jim, is a electronic mad scientist and can 'splan the technicals in layman terms. I think he's presenting as well during the trip, so there is that!
Regarding batteries and temperatures; I've found that as long as I could keep the batteries from actually freezing, they would function just fine. This was in the microwave repeater stations on mountain tops I maintained in my working career. While I'm sure efficiencies were reduced during such cold weather, it didn't actually harm any or reduce their life. The biggest problem I've ever had with storage batteries is vibration. The cases fatigue and crack, leaking out what little acid a AGM has onto the steel racking and causing smoke, tripping the alarms. This was in hydro electric power houses. Lots of vibration even though they are nearly solid concrete and steel.
Li batteries do not like cold. I proved this with my motorcycle battery while camping. On a very cold morning, around 14 degrees, the motorcycle would not start. However, I ran my headlight for several minutes, the current through the battery warming it up enough that it would then crank. I'll have to check your link again about minimum temperatures to see how they perform in cold weather.
I have a Blue Seas, battery isolator that allows my truck's alternator to charge my camper batteries once the truck batteries are at or above a certain voltage. Also, it allows my camper (meaning solar or AC mains charger) to charge my truck batteries once the camper batteries are at or above a certain voltage. Cool! I installed a digital display in the camper to show me the truck's battery voltage next to the charge controller. I can view both camper and truck battery voltages and actually see the point when they isolate or are joined via the Blue Sea.
I have all the documentation on this stuff in the camper, so we can review it. BigfootFord, AKA Jim, is a electronic mad scientist and can 'splan the technicals in layman terms. I think he's presenting as well during the trip, so there is that!
Regarding batteries and temperatures; I've found that as long as I could keep the batteries from actually freezing, they would function just fine. This was in the microwave repeater stations on mountain tops I maintained in my working career. While I'm sure efficiencies were reduced during such cold weather, it didn't actually harm any or reduce their life. The biggest problem I've ever had with storage batteries is vibration. The cases fatigue and crack, leaking out what little acid a AGM has onto the steel racking and causing smoke, tripping the alarms. This was in hydro electric power houses. Lots of vibration even though they are nearly solid concrete and steel.
Li batteries do not like cold. I proved this with my motorcycle battery while camping. On a very cold morning, around 14 degrees, the motorcycle would not start. However, I ran my headlight for several minutes, the current through the battery warming it up enough that it would then crank. I'll have to check your link again about minimum temperatures to see how they perform in cold weather.
