SiO2 Batteries

Do a search..BFL13 has a SIO2 battery or batteries and has run it through the test on the tech forum..Very impressive IMHO..

Price is my only concern. Hopefully soon.

What is your intended use?

Exactly the right question, FWC.

You can wade through the 12 page thread from last fall and get all confused maybe, or specify here why you are looking at these instead of regular AGMs, or whatever you would get instead. The SiO2 is very good, but you might not really need one, and they cost extra.

I got mine for the high draw ability on one battery to run a MW. Had a space and arrangement problem in the TC for getting the inverter and battery close enough together. Would not apply to all TCs. Does that high draw down to 20% SOC and voltage held up so inverter did not alarm off.

Day running to dog training place, did not need more AH. Did need MW for lunch and supper then go home. However, 100AH is not enough to go camping with. So then (of course :) ) DW wanted to go camping with the TC instead of the Class C. Drat! So now have two in the TC for 200AH. Was not the plan!

With one 100AH, charging limit is 27-30 amps so I used the Vector 35/20/10/2 charger set to 20 amps to charge it. Now with two, I can use the 55 amp converter.

Yes, happy with the SiO2 doing what it is supposed to do. I would not swap the four 6s in the Class C to use SiO2 or LFP though, since the four FLA 6s are doing the job just fine.

You need a good reason to spend a lot more for batts than usual, so FWC asks the right question.

Geewizard wrote:
I'd like to hear from people who use the SiO2 batteries.

Are you happy with them?
Charging methods?
What kind of current loads do you have?

The owner of sanidump uses them and is happy.

https://www.sanidumps.com/product-testing-rv-batteries.php

FWC wrote:
What is your intended use?

Boondocking. I have 220W of solar with a MPPT charger. No AC appliances. I have two 100AH deep-cycle AGM batteries now.

I am attracted by the LiFePo4 batteries for their reducted weight and current capability but not their need for a special charger. The SiO2 evidently can use a standard charger.

pianotuna wrote:

Geewizard wrote:
I'd like to hear from people who use the SiO2 batteries.

Are you happy with them?
Charging methods?
What kind of current loads do you have?

The owner of sanidump uses them and is happy.

https://www.sanidumps.com/product-testing-rv-batteries.php

Good review, thanks.

Geewizard wrote:

FWC wrote:
What is your intended use?

Boondocking. I have 220W of solar with a MPPT charger. No AC appliances. I have two 100AH deep-cycle AGM batteries now.

I am attracted by the LiFePo4 batteries for their reducted weight and current capability but not their need for a special charger. The SiO2 eeidently can use a standard charger.

If your charger is programmable, the settings for LiFePo4 are not complicated. I'm a little puzzled though - if you're going to invest significant $ in batteries, a small investment in a new charger (if needed) is a problem?

No, the cost of a charger is not an issue.

I'm just investigating different battery types. I was unaware of the SiO2 batteries.

I'll likely go with LiFePO4 batteries because of their reduced weight compared to others.

My 3 Battleborn LiFePO4's are very happy being charged by my Freedom inverter/charger built in 1999. I do have the advanced monitor panel so can tweak the settings a bit. You can also trick your charger by selecting a different battery type and temperature setting. So you may not need a lithium charger, just study your manual.