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Old 02-16-2019, 11:21 PM   #1
gjennings
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Lithium Batteries

I know there has been so many threads on here about batteries but I now have ran into an issue. I thought I had replacement batteries all picked and then I went to the RV Show here in SLC UT and my world flipped upside down. Lol

I saw these lithium batteries there and wanting to know if anyone here has heard about them. All the dealers are starting to carry them here as well. They are 12V 150AH (even tho literature says 100) battery weighs 20lbs (very light to pick up)

I am seriously concerdering these while show price is 729.00 each I have attached pictures of their flyer. At least I hope I did it right.
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Old 02-17-2019, 04:12 AM   #2
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found another resaler for $799 http://discountpreparedness.com/prod...ri-ut-battery/

What I find a little concerning is the number of hits when you google them. Not many. Could be good an they are new at it.
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Old 02-17-2019, 09:55 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by jeffba View Post
found another resaler for $799 http://discountpreparedness.com/prod...ri-ut-battery/

What I find a little concerning is the number of hits when you google them. Not many. Could be good an they are new at it.

Yes They are new to the game and google them as well and didn’t find much that is why I came I love the knowledge base on here. They are a local company here and they have a lifetime warranty. Now I know lifetime is only as good as the company.
Once all this snow melts away I have a Victron charge controller that I will be installing along with solar panels.
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Old 02-17-2019, 10:33 AM   #4
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The Victron is a good choice for the solar charger. If you go to Progressive Dynamics website they have a section on upgrading your power center to support lithium battery charging. IMHO if you are already going with a Victron solar charger go ahead and installa Victron inverter/charger. Both good products from a leading force in the marine and RV industries.
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Old 02-17-2019, 11:05 AM   #5
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Yes They are new to the game and google them as well and didn’t find much that is why I came I love the knowledge base on here. They are a local company here and they have a lifetime warranty. Now I know lifetime is only as good as the company.
Once all this snow melts away I have a Victron charge controller that I will be installing along with solar panels.
You might want to see who the actual manufacturer is. I am sure the do not make them. They just stick a label on them. You might find out they are the same as some other established brand.
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Old 02-17-2019, 05:45 AM   #6
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I would be concerned because a lithium battery that size will get hot.Not sure how hot but Tesla uses a lithium battery and they have a cooling system just for the battery.

Not sure why you would want to buy a battery like that. $700 is a lot of scratch.

I think you have to have a special charger for that type of battery.
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Old 02-17-2019, 05:46 AM   #7
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I suspect they will be great but if I got 2 batteries...ummmmm $1500

that's a lot of beer
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Old 02-17-2019, 06:16 AM   #8
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Lithium batteries still frighten me even though we own things with them! Too many fires. A grand daughter's boyfriend is currently in a hospital with 3rd degree burns when one caught fire.



An AGM at 2-300 bucks each will give very good long lasting service. I still am occasionally using an OPTIMA that I bought in 2000 as a jumper battery for my diesel tractor that hates cold weather (wont own one of their current post 2001 since bought by Johnson Controls)
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Old 02-17-2019, 07:01 AM   #9
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Please remember that all lithium batteries are not the same. Lithium ion batteries are offered in many differing formulas and those formulas have differing characteristics. A previous poster mentioned Tesla batteries, Teslo uses a cobalt or nicket ion formula. In the RV verticle Lithium iron phosphate has been the predominate formula marketed and installed. One other key feature besides the lithium chemical formula to consider is the battery management system. It is what controls all aspects of the battery including when it can charge, discharge, reduce rates of charging and discharing as well as temperature compensation and prevention of charging below freezing. There are a couple of very informative videos on Youtube regarding just how inexpensively a BMS can be DIY produced. I mention this to make the point you get what you pay for. A seat belt is probably less than 1% of the price of a new truck but not where you want to cut corners. Do your research and compare their specs to some of the leaders in drop-in LiFePO4 offerings such as BB and Relion, etc.. You will find the choice that is right for you.




Oh by the way if you already have a smart phone, macbook laptop or an e-cigarette/vap stick you already live with using a far more volitile lithium formula than the LiFePO4 found in RV lithium offerings.
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Old 02-24-2019, 03:40 PM   #10
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The biggest danger with Li ion batteries is the requirement for a special charger. The standard converter in your unit may not be compatable with these needs.

"When lithium batteries first appeared, it was discovered that letting them float at 4.2V for a long time would eventually cause some of them to fail. When they do fail, they may vent gas violently, catch on fire, and even cause injury or property damage. The standard way to charge a Lion battery is CC (constant current) followed by CV (constant voltage) with current monitoring. Once the charge current drops to some low level, charge should be terminated. If charge current does not drop after a few hours terminate anyway. And in this case the battery may be bad."
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Old 02-17-2019, 08:05 AM   #11
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Thanks lithium will be my next RV battery.
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Old 02-17-2019, 09:18 AM   #12
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Unless something has changed recently, your converter probably won't charge them.
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Old 02-24-2019, 04:49 PM   #13
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You can buy a lot of Centennial deep cycle lead acid batteries for the price of one lithium battery. I keep my Monty on shore power when stored at home. I rarely dry camp (once in 12 years). I got seven years of service our of the pair of Centennial batteries that came with my Monty. The Centennial is a maintenance free battery. Was disappointed that I could not get Centennial again when they failed and had to settle for Interstate. Now I have to check electrolyte levels every 2-3 months. Make sure your converter will change a lithium battery. Last I knew, it took a special converter so that adds to your cost.
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Old 02-24-2019, 06:09 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by laverdur View Post
You can buy a lot of Centennial deep cycle lead acid batteries for the price of one lithium battery. I keep my Monty on shore power when stored at home. I rarely dry camp (once in 12 years). I got seven years of service our of the pair of Centennial batteries that came with my Monty. The Centennial is a maintenance free battery. Was disappointed that I could not get Centennial again when they failed and had to settle for Interstate. Now I have to check electrolyte levels every 2-3 months. Make sure your converter will change a lithium battery. Last I knew, it took a special converter so that adds to your cost.
The advantages of Lithium generally apply to those that want 400-500 ah of battery along with solar to support boondocking. Those that spend most of their time hooked up in a campground are not as likely to jump on the Lithium bandwagon.
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Old 02-24-2019, 08:10 PM   #15
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You can buy a lot of Centennial deep cycle lead acid batteries for the price of one lithium battery. I keep my Monty on shore power when stored at home. I rarely dry camp (once in 12 years). I got seven years of service our of the pair of Centennial batteries that came with my Monty. The Centennial is a maintenance free battery. Was disappointed that I could not get Centennial again when they failed and had to settle for Interstate. Now I have to check electrolyte levels every 2-3 months. Make sure your converter will change a lithium battery. Last I knew, it took a special converter so that adds to your cost.
There is a big difference between us, you don’t dry camp and that is the only kind of camping I do. I may hit a camp ground one weekend during the summer if we take the grand kids out otherwise I never connect to shore power.
And yes my batteries have a BMS in them and work with my charge controller but even if it doesn’t I am installing solar and already have my charge controller connect to my 5er with 1 panel drip charging the interstates the dealer installed.
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Old 02-17-2019, 12:37 PM   #16
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Glade,

How do you camp? Lithium is great for someone that is going to boondock quite a bit offering some great advantages. If you primarily camp with hookups the advantages are diminished and you may be better off with conventional batteries.
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Old 02-17-2019, 01:49 PM   #17
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Glade,

How do you camp? Lithium is great for someone that is going to boondock quite a bit offering some great advantages. If you primarily camp with hookups the advantages are diminished and you may be better off with conventional batteries.
99% of our camping is boondocking. Hardly ever have hookups unless at home packing 5th wheel up to leave. That’s also the reason to do the solar panel.
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Old 02-17-2019, 02:34 PM   #18
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99% of our camping is boondocking. Hardly ever have hookups unless at home packing 5th wheel up to leave. That’s also the reason to do the solar panel.

That is my kind of camping. I don’t like to stay in an RV Park. I’m a country boy and that is too much like the city.
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Old 02-17-2019, 02:11 PM   #19
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sorry if I repeat myself
two words for Lithium Batteries: Weight and Maintanancefree
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Old 02-17-2019, 02:24 PM   #20
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sorry if I repeat myself
two words for Lithium Batteries: Weight and Maintanancefree
That is diffenently a great selling point for sure.
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