I am probably being overly cautious about the spilled electrolyte. But when exposed to water, it can create a small amount of hydrogen fluoride. Look up what that stuff does to a human. I am deathly scared of it, and the electrolyte spills always leave a nasty residue that I can never remove. I know it takes some take for it to react to the moisture in the area, and the amount of hf formed is small, but I don't want a single molecule of that stuff in my blood. Call me crazy for replacing my desk, but look up the images of people exposed to that stuff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Does off-grid solar confuse you? Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com Join our DIY solar community! #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com Check out my best-selling, beginner-friendly 12V off-grid solar book (affiliate link): amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Solar. Low prices and great warranty, and they can take your entire house offgrid with their new Powerwalls: ts.la/william57509 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My solar equipment recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first): 12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar and Coupon Codes: -Current Connected: SOK, Victron and High Quality Components. Best prices and warranty around: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp -Signature Solar: Cheap Server Rack Batteries and Large Solar Panels: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Ecoflow Delta Official Site: My favorite plug-n-play solar generator: us.ecoflow.com/?aff=7 -AmpereTime: Cheapest 12V batteries around: amperetime.com/products/ampere-time-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Rich Solar: Mega site and cheaper prices than renogy! Check them out: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out: shopsolarkits.com/?ref=will-p -Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 10% off code: diysolar -Watts 24/7: Best deals on all-in-one solar power systems, with customer support and distribution here in the USA: watts247.com/?wpam_id=3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Contact Information: I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers: Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
As a related thought, the "new and improved" AC refrigerant mandated by the EPA in 2018 is called r1234yf. It's flammable, and when burned it decomposes into hydrogen fluoride as well. Yikes!
That's a very good base instinct. Back in the 90's I worked as a machine developer for the printing industry, and some components (activators) in the chemicals used for/in electroplating Cu with Cr had a high content of hydrofluoric acid. In Sweden we had only had one serious incident with it, but showing images of the medical results of it to new workers sure made them think twice about how they handled chrome plating primers. Nasty stuff!
Will reading comments man. Please for the love of god, you have a concept of reality and the power of the internet. You do know that you could pick a state and literally start your own society with logic common sense and sustainable behaviors. We would gladly pump resources into you and people like you. RUclips has that power right now. You can plan a date, do some vetting and buy 10-100acres. I’m in construction and I’m sure there are 50 other guys who can build whatever your dream place would be. Seriously, we are young enough (30s) that even 5 years of planning for this we can knock it out the park. So much tech and resources.. sure you could pick the best company and run with a sponsorship .. content ect. Take a minute if you see what the USA has on our plate and think about it. Decent weather, not too hot or cold. Good soil .. and the rest is easy BYOB - bring your own batteries! Blessings to you my guy
I have LiitoKala batteries for about 3 years now. The batteries are 18650 and it is declared 3500mah but in fact it has 3000mah. I was very skeptical about these batteries but now they have proven to me that they are actually good quality and durable. After several years of use and charging up to 4.2V, (for e-cigarettes) their capacity dropped from 3000 to 2800, which is actually great.
I know right….this guy is basically building my solar system, and it’s because he’s not a dickhead. He’s candid, and seems to be honest and genuine. 👍😁
Wow so coincidentally I bought 2 of that battery 1 month ago so they aren't here yet but I got them for $235 each. I suspected when buying them thru reading the comments on their ad that they would be B grade. But for $470 for both it was a great deal. I'm old already so I don't need a battery to last "decades". Haha Good review Will
I like the silicone mats, I use them for my workbench where my resin 3d printer is, and so far nothing sticks to it, and no matter how sticky of a mess gets on it, a wipe-off usually gets it and if that fails you can hit it with a paper towel and some water and nothing remains. Best of all they aren't terribly expensive, 30"x24" is about $25 on Amazon and come in many colors if you need that for high-visibility and contrast
I know the RC industry has some battery chargers that will do cycle testing. It can't be that hard to find some way to adapt their technology to the larger cells.
I have a plastic tub that I use to set suspicious lead-acid batteries from automobiles in when charging them. I was thinking you should get a shallow plastic tray for charging and disassembly of cheap batteries.
For the price, this still beats a lot of 100AH batteries. So if you ignore the 120AH label and just consider it a 100AH battery I could justify this. (note that it almost never gets below freezing in my area so cold temp sensor isn't that big a deal for me).
this company also markets a 100AH. bet it only tests around 85-90 😂 it's like TrustFire got into the lifeso4 business with ever exaggerated capacities. maybe they're really 120AH cells but they cut off charging early to extend cycle life, but decided to advertise the nominal capacity? I doubt it.
There is the matter of integrity. People come to this channel because of the honest reviews. The acceptance of lies as good practice diminishes both us and honest manufacturers.
You are not crazy! DO NOT risk your contribution to humanity much less your life for a vid. You are the man and one of few who will attempt to save this planet
You are so brave breaking these things down indoors... I have to do mine out on the slab due to my wife watching me burn a spot on out hardwood kitchen floor...
Well done Will a true service to your followers. Comments absolutely spot on. I find Joe Public still puts faith in a black box (like you can mostly with a LAB). Dodgy suppliers dont like you asking questions like "whats in the box Barny?"
The solvents used in the newer LiFePO4 cells are not as hazardous as the solvents that used to be used. Heck brake parts cleaner is worse for you than the solvents that are used now and people use brake parts cleaner all the time without issue as long as good ventilation is provided. You still want to minimize or eliminate the breathing and bare skin handling of the solvents but as long as you treat it like a spill of just about any flammable solvent you will be fine. You don't need to replace your desk as the solvent will evaporate so just air out the room and wipe the desk down with soap and water and it will be fine. Treat it just like if you broke a fluorescent bulb, it's not a big deal, you just follow basic safety and cleanup procedures. It doesn't require extreme hazardous waste disposal just drain the power of the damaged cell or cells and store it in a vented container until you have enough cells to justify a battery recycling pickup and then place the leaking cell in a couple sealed bags and mark it as leaking cell and handoff to the recycler. The only time you need to deal with the cell being hazardous waste is if you need to ship it back for a warranty or something.
Lead acid batteries have battery acid, but the LiFeSO4 have other nasty chemicals. Some people are used to battery acid and have awareness of those risks, but there's probably not enough warning stickers on the lithiums. I've never seen a leaking battery that was good news, but I didn't realize how nasty lithiums were.
Tip for the next time when handling these batteries might be to do the cutting etc in a basin, that way you won't spoil your table. Or your table covered in plastic. Thanks for sharing.
I have a battery operated B&D cmm1200 mower that came with 2 12v 18AH lead acid batteries. Worked well at first, but then the next season the batteries really degraded. Long story short, I finally bought two 12v 20AH Ecoworthy LifePo4 batteries from amazon, and they are so much better!
I just bought one of these for my dad to use together with an UPS. I was looking for something cheap and not lead-acid. There was no review at the time so I just went with it. Mine was $240 with shipping so I have no regrets. I was only curious to see the build quality and I think it's decent for the price and OK if the capacity is at least 100 Ah and it will last some hundreds if not 1000 cycles it's more than OK for an UPS. Overall I'm quite happy with the purchase.
I'm not sure it would be useful. Usually when he finds a good one it goes out of stock not long after he posts the video. And considering how shady some of these companies might be, it wouldn't surprise me if they cut corners while rushing to restock supplies. Thus, he would probably have to do completely new reviews on them before recommending them again... just a guess.
I'm surprised nobody said anything about the dimensions on these. Two of them fit perfect in a single milk crate. Bummer on the capacity, but they are what I wanted for my portable generator/trolling motor. This review came out a month after I ordered them. Thanks again for what you do Will its much appreciated. P.S. they are down to $230 now
Hey Will, I own a fleet of ICE cars and I have converted all of them over to LiFePO4 with Headway 38120HP cells and will never go back to lead acid. I have a 25kg light commercial truck/van battery in my garage that I tested to fully empty and it held just 20Ah whereas the 16AH pack in my bigger-engined cars weighs just 2.8kg and starts the engines better. In short, lead acid isn't even good for that! :-D
Thanks for the content, I would say LitoKala is a nice brand for the price point if you can't afford the best, but still need this for something, 100A is not to bad and this can be replaced easily if it last for at least few years as LiIon cells might behave.
You need to protect your work table whenever you open these things - so you limit the leakage to something you can quickly dispose of. Tyvek might be a good choice, and house wrap is sold in the home improvement stores.
Polyethylene drop cloth would probably be a better bet. Tyvek is slightly porous as a trade-off for the breathability so stuff would eventually soak through.
Decided to try one out and purchased a 150ah. Arrived yesterday, checked the voltage which was 13.2v so i charged it before doing a capacity test. Sadly only pulled 120ah and I had to stop the test as the voltage had dropped to 9v. It was always a gamble purchase.
I still use 12v Lead acid for my garden solar lights (100ah battery x 2 100watt panels). Just because it works no matter the weather/temps, -20 to 20 degrees. We do not all live in a sunny climate area all year round! 😁 👍
@@t.c.3027 - the batteries were used for my house we lived in full time. I don't know the number of cycles. They never ran low on water and rarely went below 50% DOD
On 7 years on lead acid interstate batteries they run my house. I am getting new ones as though as the house I'm currently living in was my uncle's house and let's just say he had it set up oddly. Running a whole bunch of 12 volt appliances and lighting off 2 of the batteries instead of using step down converters or just switching to 24 volt lights and such.
@@gregb1714 I know that but if you're on a 24 volt system and you use 2 of the batteries for 12 volt appliances and lighting those 2 batteries are used at a different rate than the 2 that aren't thus making them cycle much more than they should . Also more money wouldn't have mattered my uncle had enough to do whatever he wanted he instead would just buy new batteries every 2 years no matter what I said about it . He spent 7k in ten years on batteries alone because he didn't understand why they didn't last and wouldn't listen or look anything up to try to figure it out.
Would this be good for occasional camping use? Planning to use it for LED lights, charging my phone, camping fridge and a small fan. Will not be using it for anything with high current. Will most likely be charged between 2A (car cig lighter socket) to 30A (small solar).
Might pay to have a plastic low-walled container to do your deconstruction in from now on? Save your desk at least. Love the analysis and review, you are very fair minded, respectful and thorough af. Great content. Thank you.
Alternately, a tray with a substantial lip. I found a bottom tray for a portable dog kennel that fits the bill. They are fairly inexpensive, and come in various sizes. Search for "crate pan" on Amazon for examples. The smaller 18 x 12 one I purchased was around $10.
I have a question: those LiFePo4 Batteries all have a BMS right? Is it possible to directly charge them with a solar panel without a charge controller? And if yes, will it damage the BMS or the battery in long terms if you do so?
If you look on the LiitoKala Official Flagship Store, rather than the LiitoKala Official Store you may notice that is says 120Ah (10A). I doubt it will make that much difference though. Interestingly, the 100Ah version is in a larger case and weighs 10Kg compared to the 120Ah version's 11Kg so on paper it sounds like it might be a better choice.
As a chemist i worked with Hydrofluoric acid for years. Very bad stuff, eats glass. But after working with it for a few years you start to forget about how bad of a chemical it is, and you just stop worrying, lol. (when hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water, it may be called hydrofluoric acid). This was a long time ago and the way they use to make sure the lab was clean was by just blowing new air in, and the old air out (the good old 1970's and their great safety measures). So i am sure i breathed a ton of it.
"It hasn't caught on fire yet!" - Ha! I checked Aliexpress and they show the "nominal capacity" as 100Ah it's just the model number is 12V120Ah. Misleading? Absolutely. Unexpected? No.
As Always....Great review! I wanted to say that a good lead acid battery will cost around 200 bucks now days. With that being said this battery still has more bang for the buck considering its physical size and ah. I guess the real test would be to see how long it would last and how many cycles. Thanks Will
Hey Will, love the videos, my question is this...Today you mentioned how hazardous the materials are, and with good cells they can last 10 years or more. What can be done to recycle used lithium ion batteries? Thanks again for all you do and keep the reviews coming.
Don't soak 'em in water :O Somebody in China will probably start a lithium battery recycling business and do a good job while making a little money. Then 10 copycats will start up a similar business, but throw them all in a ditch somewhere to make more money. US government won't care because it's happening over there and not here. Am I being sarcastic and/or cynical? Some days I'm not sure.
Tight packing is defiantly a big no no. Even if you don't plan on rebuilding a premade lithium iron phosphate battery if say the BMS dies. (Which is strong possibility in a cheap battery) You could still sell/gift the dead battery to someone who's willing to open it up and repair it. So please either build your own or invest in a battery that can be opened if something goes wrong.
Lead has one major advantage. Cold survivability. Outdoor cabinet with a low current draw (half amp 24/7, occasional sort periods of 15 amps). Winter temp is never above freezing, can easily hit -10, and lower isn't uncommon. Really didn't enjoy carrying them a quarter mile, but they work. From what I understand, lithium absolutely would not. Correct me if I'm wrong?
We’d like to see reviews of silicate salt batteries, and how they compare to lifepo2 batteries, for applications such as off grid homes where you charge and discharge daily. Thanks and keep up the great work, please!
I'm in the process of building a small system for my vehicle. Space is very limited, so I'm considering an SOK 12/100 battery due to its small footprint as well as its quality. Its a bit pricey, but like you said you get what you pay for.
Excellent advise and info, as usual!! Thanks and keep up the good work! I’d love to see you test and compare some very small systems, like 40 or 50 watt panels with a controller/ charger built in that can be used as a trickle charger/maintainer and maybe a light in a shed with no power.
this is a good battery. firstly you charged and dischargeed the battery at current well above the designed level, it is still safe and worked fine and only 15% below labeled capacity. secondly, you penetrated the protection cover it didn't burn or smoke. you should try renogy to see if it performs battery than this one. you are biased.
Just in case anyone is considering buying one of these still, mine arrived a few weeks ago and it is only 50ah capacity not 120ah. I would avoid them, too hit and miss it seems. Noticed another reviewer on aliexpress said they received one that was 50ah as well so it isn't just me.
That’s why people like me won’t take apart batteries, not to mention I try to buy only quality well known lithium batteries. I’m not experienced enough to deal with problems like shown, and I don’t wish too. I did build my own system, but with Battle Born Batteries.
I'm looking for some portable electrical outboard motor battery. Would be cool to see you try some of the portable solutions out to see how they hold up!
Maybe make a sacrificial cover for your bench that you only use for dissecting batteries like this. Perhaps getting a piece of seconds of solid surface material (e.g. Corian), or maybe a sheet of stainless steel.
I currently use lead acid but they are just car batteries that dropped enough CCA and would no longer start my wife's SUV consistently or batteries donated that still work pretty well. I will be switching to lithium as soon as I actually start buying batteries for my set up. lol
Hi thank you for saving us time and money! Can you make a video with wind turbines of grid systems?i know you are doing solar and rv-boat systems all this time, but that would be great,cus you are good explaining everything and you are trustworthy 👍
Whats up man. You should check out the CERNSS 12v 100ah batt on aliexpress. $300. It looks legit. Stainless steel housing and some other good features Id like to see a review on that one
Thank you so much for your videos they are very helpful. I'm getting ready to purchase a 200 amp hour plus 400 w solar system for my bus. Do you have any RV kits or companies you would suggest buying the solar panels controller and lithium batteries from? Thank you
Don't suppose you would ever order a Volthium lithium battery? I'm planning to buy a 24 volt 200 amp from them in February. Your opinion and break down would be epic. But thier expensive. Thanks for the new video.
Will, rather than use that Milwaukee cordless, get a grinder with a small cutoff wheel for better control. Even a small cordless router with an adjustable fence would work better - can precisely set the depth of cut. Slicing and dicing with that multitool is a recipe for further spills.
A cordless "RotoZip" type tool can be set for case depth and is easily controlled as it'll ride flat on the case. Think of a mini router. There are bits for plastics, ceramics, cement board, etc. Home Depot or Lowe's will have them. There's also a great attachment for cutting perfect circles in things.
I am probably being overly cautious about the spilled electrolyte. But when exposed to water, it can create a small amount of hydrogen fluoride. Look up what that stuff does to a human. I am deathly scared of it, and the electrolyte spills always leave a nasty residue that I can never remove. I know it takes some take for it to react to the moisture in the area, and the amount of hf formed is small, but I don't want a single molecule of that stuff in my blood. Call me crazy for replacing my desk, but look up the images of people exposed to that stuff.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does off-grid solar confuse you? Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com
Join our DIY solar community! #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com
Check out my best-selling, beginner-friendly 12V off-grid solar book (affiliate link):
amzn.to/2Aj4dX4
If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Solar. Low prices and great warranty, and they can take your entire house offgrid with their new Powerwalls: ts.la/william57509
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My solar equipment recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):
12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html
Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html
Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html
Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html
DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html
Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar and Coupon Codes:
-Current Connected: SOK, Victron and High Quality Components. Best prices and warranty around: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp
-Signature Solar: Cheap Server Rack Batteries and Large Solar Panels:
www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
-Ecoflow Delta Official Site: My favorite plug-n-play solar generator:
us.ecoflow.com/?aff=7
-AmpereTime: Cheapest 12V batteries around:
amperetime.com/products/ampere-time-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
-Rich Solar: Mega site and cheaper prices than renogy! Check them out:
richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
-Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out:
shopsolarkits.com/?ref=will-p
-Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals
bit.ly/2mIxSqt
10% off code: diysolar
-Watts 24/7: Best deals on all-in-one solar power systems, with customer support and distribution here in the USA:
watts247.com/?wpam_id=3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Information:
I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com
Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar
FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:
Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :)
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
As a related thought, the "new and improved" AC refrigerant mandated by the EPA in 2018 is called r1234yf. It's flammable, and when burned it decomposes into hydrogen fluoride as well. Yikes!
That's a very good base instinct. Back in the 90's I worked as a machine developer for the printing industry, and some components (activators) in the chemicals used for/in electroplating Cu with Cr had a high content of hydrofluoric acid. In Sweden we had only had one serious incident with it, but showing images of the medical results of it to new workers sure made them think twice about how they handled chrome plating primers. Nasty stuff!
We have rail tanker loads of that stuff at refineries. You can just drive past them with no physical barriers. Wild.
@@elitearbor That's promoted by tax reductions over here too :/
Same situation as when I find a spider in my house. Just burn the place down and start new somewhere else. It's gonna be a no from me, dawg.
I like how you still show when things go wrong... it's genuine to do that.. keep it up.
I think they glue it like that to try to prevent Will from taking their battery apart and doing a review on it. lol
There is probably a manufacturing document that circulates Shenzhen with Will's name and/or face on it...
@@seanyoung7184 it just has a big picture of him with the words... BAD MAN
Y'all are cracking me up.
Will reading comments man. Please for the love of god, you have a concept of reality and the power of the internet. You do know that you could pick a state and literally start your own society with logic common sense and sustainable behaviors. We would gladly pump resources into you and people like you. RUclips has that power right now. You can plan a date, do some vetting and buy 10-100acres. I’m in construction and I’m sure there are 50 other guys who can build whatever your dream place would be. Seriously, we are young enough (30s) that even 5 years of planning for this we can knock it out the park. So much tech and resources.. sure you could pick the best company and run with a sponsorship .. content ect. Take a minute if you see what the USA has on our plate and think about it. Decent weather, not too hot or cold. Good soil .. and the rest is easy BYOB - bring your own batteries! Blessings to you my guy
well that and anyone else from doing the same
I have LiitoKala batteries for about 3 years now. The batteries are 18650 and it is declared 3500mah but in fact it has 3000mah. I was very skeptical about these batteries but now they have proven to me that they are actually good quality and durable. After several years of use and charging up to 4.2V, (for e-cigarettes) their capacity dropped from 3000 to 2800, which is actually great.
I used my heat gun to soften the glue joint around the battery case. Came apart easily and was able to put back together.
Ohh smart idea
I'm smelling Jerryrigeverything here lol. But yes good idea
I will argue that it takes a decent kind of person to admit when theyve made a mistake. I dig it Will
I know right….this guy is basically building my solar system, and it’s because he’s not a dickhead. He’s candid, and seems to be honest and genuine. 👍😁
Wow so coincidentally I bought 2 of that battery 1 month ago so they aren't here yet but I got them for $235 each. I suspected when buying them thru reading the comments on their ad that they would be B grade. But for $470 for both it was a great deal. I'm old already so I don't need a battery to last "decades". Haha Good review Will
If they sold them honestly at $280 for 100Ah, it would still be a good deal. They don't need to lie on the capacity.
The website ad says "100Ah 120Ah"... which is the company's way of saying: "You will get one of these ratings, guess which one, sucker?"
Their lying is impulsive.
Honest Chinese advertising, hmmm?
I bought a Will approved SOK even though it is Chinese. The tear down and testing showed me it is a good battery 🔋 replacing 3 aging lead acid.
@@r.b.seiple5913 Also the capacity can increase over the first 10 or so charge/discharge cycles as long as these cycles are within limits.
Also you should probably get a rubber mat for your tables. Just thinking...
@@Foxfried why not?
A rubber mat would probably absorb all of the inertia of his hammering and make it harder to penetrate the case
I like the silicone mats, I use them for my workbench where my resin 3d printer is, and so far nothing sticks to it, and no matter how sticky of a mess gets on it, a wipe-off usually gets it and if that fails you can hit it with a paper towel and some water and nothing remains.
Best of all they aren't terribly expensive, 30"x24" is about $25 on Amazon and come in many colors if you need that for high-visibility and contrast
Marines not supposed to think lol
It would be interesting to see a 20 or more cycle test on those cheaper batteries to see how they compare to others.
I agree I’d like to see how the hold up.
yeah, need a robo charge/discharge machine. it would take a lot of time but would give more confidence in the cells
I know the RC industry has some battery chargers that will do cycle testing. It can't be that hard to find some way to adapt their technology to the larger cells.
I have a plastic tub that I use to set suspicious lead-acid batteries from automobiles in when charging them. I was thinking you should get a shallow plastic tray for charging and disassembly of cheap batteries.
That’s a great idea!
For the price, this still beats a lot of 100AH batteries. So if you ignore the 120AH label and just consider it a 100AH battery I could justify this. (note that it almost never gets below freezing in my area so cold temp sensor isn't that big a deal for me).
Am I crazy (not to big into this) could just fashion a cut off in cold temps another way (for the entire system) no matter the battery?
@Rob Hunter 2000 cycles? Doesn't the drop-off slow down a touch?
this company also markets a 100AH. bet it only tests around 85-90 😂 it's like TrustFire got into the lifeso4 business with ever exaggerated capacities. maybe they're really 120AH cells but they cut off charging early to extend cycle life, but decided to advertise the nominal capacity? I doubt it.
There is the matter of integrity. People come to this channel because of the honest reviews. The acceptance of lies as good practice diminishes both us and honest manufacturers.
Brutal honesty... such a rare commodity these days. Thanks for keeping that promise, Will.
You are not crazy! DO NOT risk your contribution to humanity much less your life for a vid. You are the man and one of few who will attempt to save this planet
You are so brave breaking these things down indoors... I have to do mine out on the slab due to my wife watching me burn a spot on out hardwood kitchen floor...
And this is the smallest 100ah battery in size on the market.
So glad to find your channel. I am learning SO much.
You are "The Solar☀️ Whisperer!"
Thank you Will.😊🙏☀️🌎
Well done Will a true service to your followers. Comments absolutely spot on. I find Joe Public still puts faith in a black box (like you can mostly with a LAB). Dodgy suppliers dont like you asking questions like "whats in the box Barny?"
The solvents used in the newer LiFePO4 cells are not as hazardous as the solvents that used to be used. Heck brake parts cleaner is worse for you than the solvents that are used now and people use brake parts cleaner all the time without issue as long as good ventilation is provided. You still want to minimize or eliminate the breathing and bare skin handling of the solvents but as long as you treat it like a spill of just about any flammable solvent you will be fine. You don't need to replace your desk as the solvent will evaporate so just air out the room and wipe the desk down with soap and water and it will be fine. Treat it just like if you broke a fluorescent bulb, it's not a big deal, you just follow basic safety and cleanup procedures. It doesn't require extreme hazardous waste disposal just drain the power of the damaged cell or cells and store it in a vented container until you have enough cells to justify a battery recycling pickup and then place the leaking cell in a couple sealed bags and mark it as leaking cell and handoff to the recycler.
The only time you need to deal with the cell being hazardous waste is if you need to ship it back for a warranty or something.
Good to know. The old safety sheets make me cringe. I'll have to look more into this.
@@WillProwse I was sprayed with the electrolyte of lifepo4 cell in my eyes one week ago .Fortunatelly I washed my eyes in less than 5 sec.It's Ok now.
@@ΘωμαήΚαραγιάννη So,how's the third eye in your forehead working out for you?😋
@@engleblerthumferlumpadinck6536 In case it happens
to you ,stay with the electrolyte in your eyes, and tell us the result.
Loving your battery test videos! Keep up the great work Will!
The battery market is pretty interesting. It's scary how many of these things are in houses of people who don't know how dangerous they can be.
Can you believe people live and work in buildings with lightning flowing through the walls nowadays? Do they think they're Zeus? Madness.
The LiFePO4's are pretty safe, no thermal run aways.
Lead acid batteries have battery acid, but the LiFeSO4 have other nasty chemicals. Some people are used to battery acid and have awareness of those risks, but there's probably not enough warning stickers on the lithiums. I've never seen a leaking battery that was good news, but I didn't realize how nasty lithiums were.
It's not like they're lithium ion, like the Tesla Powerwall, which would make a fire that couldn't be put out if it's cells were punctured.
I have almost bought from this company lifepo4 cells. Thanks for stop me to do it
Tip for the next time when handling these batteries might be to do the cutting etc in a basin, that way you won't spoil your table. Or your table covered in plastic. Thanks for sharing.
I have a battery operated B&D cmm1200 mower that came with 2 12v 18AH lead acid batteries. Worked well at first, but then the next season the batteries really degraded. Long story short, I finally bought two 12v 20AH Ecoworthy LifePo4 batteries from amazon, and they are so much better!
You should look into getting yourself a bridgeport type milling machine. Then you could use a slitting saw to more precisely cut open battery cases.
I just bought one of these for my dad to use together with an UPS. I was looking for something cheap and not lead-acid. There was no review at the time so I just went with it. Mine was $240 with shipping so I have no regrets.
I was only curious to see the build quality and I think it's decent for the price and OK if the capacity is at least 100 Ah and it will last some hundreds if not 1000 cycles it's more than OK for an UPS.
Overall I'm quite happy with the purchase.
Compared to $950 for a 100ah BattleBorn, this is a pretty sweet deal… just wonder how many cycles it’ll last!
You need to do a run down of your top LiFePo batteries by the price point. You've done so many it's hard to keep track of them all!
I'm not sure it would be useful. Usually when he finds a good one it goes out of stock not long after he posts the video. And considering how shady some of these companies might be, it wouldn't surprise me if they cut corners while rushing to restock supplies. Thus, he would probably have to do completely new reviews on them before recommending them again... just a guess.
How about a Safety Video on how to deal with electrolyte spills and cleanup and other safety issues one may encounter, Cheers
Good thing that wasn't Li-on... Wow! Great video. Thanks!
I gotta ask... isn’t $280 for a 100 amp hour battery still really good?
Maybe, but not if they're used cells on the way out.
Yup, they look to be new but grade b cells that didn't meet manufacturing capacity.
Even though it only hit 100ah that is a hell of a price at even that capacity
I'm surprised nobody said anything about the dimensions on these. Two of them fit perfect in a single milk crate.
Bummer on the capacity, but they are what I wanted for my portable generator/trolling motor. This review came out a month after I ordered them.
Thanks again for what you do Will its much appreciated. P.S. they are down to $230 now
Hey Will, I own a fleet of ICE cars and I have converted all of them over to LiFePO4 with Headway 38120HP cells and will never go back to lead acid. I have a 25kg light commercial truck/van battery in my garage that I tested to fully empty and it held just 20Ah whereas the 16AH pack in my bigger-engined cars weighs just 2.8kg and starts the engines better. In short, lead acid isn't even good for that! :-D
You can use wire (guitar string) to get down the side where you have glue.
Good video. Atraight content, no fluff and bs. Great.
Great review Will! Stay safe!
Thanks for the content, I would say LitoKala is a nice brand for the price point if you can't afford the best, but still need this for something, 100A is not to bad and this can be replaced easily if it last for at least few years as LiIon cells might behave.
Great job I'm so glad you did not get hurt
is it a decent value for a 100ah battery which is what it really is.
Liitokala is Finnish for Flying fish (Exocoetidae). A rather unusual branding for a Chinese company.
You need to protect your work table whenever you open these things - so you limit the leakage to something you can quickly dispose of. Tyvek might be a good choice, and house wrap is sold in the home improvement stores.
Polyethylene drop cloth would probably be a better bet. Tyvek is slightly porous as a trade-off for the breathability so stuff would eventually soak through.
You do great reviews! I’m glad your ok after that!
Thank you for your sacrifice. I'm going to see what you recommend for a boat set up.
Decided to try one out and purchased a 150ah. Arrived yesterday, checked the voltage which was 13.2v so i charged it before doing a capacity test. Sadly only pulled 120ah and I had to stop the test as the voltage had dropped to 9v.
It was always a gamble purchase.
I still use 12v Lead acid for my garden solar lights (100ah battery x 2 100watt panels). Just because it works no matter the weather/temps, -20 to 20 degrees. We do not all live in a sunny climate area all year round! 😁 👍
Can you test how long the lithium fire lasts. Could double as a good fire starter.
Always fun when surprises happen!
I’d like to see you do a review on the guy making caseless lithium batteries on amazon. “Lynx 100ah lithium”.
They definitely look like a decent option on paper.
I got 14 years, 8 months from my Rolls Surrettes SA530 lead acid batteries. Off-grid.
Wow!, Did U not use it until the last couple of yrs. of...just being sarcastic, but what was it used for & how many cycles did U get outta of it??
@@t.c.3027 - the batteries were used for my house we lived in full time. I don't know the number of cycles. They never ran low on water and rarely went below 50% DOD
On 7 years on lead acid interstate batteries they run my house. I am getting new ones as though as the house I'm currently living in was my uncle's house and let's just say he had it set up oddly. Running a whole bunch of 12 volt appliances and lighting off 2 of the batteries instead of using step down converters or just switching to 24 volt lights and such.
@@bishbosh7728 12V appliances are cheaper and more readily available than other dc voltages because of rv usage.
@@gregb1714 I know that but if you're on a 24 volt system and you use 2 of the batteries for 12 volt appliances and lighting those 2 batteries are used at a different rate than the 2 that aren't thus making them cycle much more than they should . Also more money wouldn't have mattered my uncle had enough to do whatever he wanted he instead would just buy new batteries every 2 years no matter what I said about it . He spent 7k in ten years on batteries alone because he didn't understand why they didn't last and wouldn't listen or look anything up to try to figure it out.
Dude you're awesome I love these videos!
When cutting the battery open, try using the 180 degree blade. It is much easier to control. Thanks for teaching this old dog new tricks. lol
I love these teardowns!
They make great 18650 chargers!
Would this be good for occasional camping use? Planning to use it for LED lights, charging my phone, camping fridge and a small fan. Will not be using it for anything with high current. Will most likely be charged between 2A (car cig lighter socket) to 30A (small solar).
Thanks for that, very informative as allways.
The lowest temp where I live is 18⁰C hence low temp charging is not an issue. I want batteries with max capacity and low cost. Thanks for the review.
Might pay to have a plastic low-walled container to do your deconstruction in from now on? Save your desk at least.
Love the analysis and review, you are very fair minded, respectful and thorough af. Great content. Thank you.
Alternately, a tray with a substantial lip. I found a bottom tray for a portable dog kennel that fits the bill. They are fairly inexpensive, and come in various sizes. Search for "crate pan" on Amazon for examples. The smaller 18 x 12 one I purchased was around $10.
always impressed with your knowledge thank you for sharing :)
I have a question: those LiFePo4 Batteries all have a BMS right? Is it possible to directly charge them with a solar panel without a charge controller? And if yes, will it damage the BMS or the battery in long terms if you do so?
If you look on the LiitoKala Official Flagship Store, rather than the LiitoKala Official Store you may notice that is says 120Ah (10A). I doubt it will make that much difference though. Interestingly, the 100Ah version is in a larger case and weighs 10Kg compared to the 120Ah version's 11Kg so on paper it sounds like it might be a better choice.
Just love this channel!👍😀
Hey Will. Maybe it is time to start using some nitrile gloves when doing the dismantlings.
Thanks
As a chemist i worked with Hydrofluoric acid for years. Very bad stuff, eats glass. But after working with it for a few years you start to forget about how bad of a chemical it is, and you just stop worrying, lol. (when hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water, it may be called hydrofluoric acid). This was a long time ago and the way they use to make sure the lab was clean was by just blowing new air in, and the old air out (the good old 1970's and their great safety measures). So i am sure i breathed a ton of it.
"It hasn't caught on fire yet!" - Ha! I checked Aliexpress and they show the "nominal capacity" as 100Ah it's just the model number is 12V120Ah. Misleading? Absolutely. Unexpected? No.
As Always....Great review! I wanted to say that a good lead acid battery will cost around 200 bucks now days. With that being said this battery still has more bang for the buck considering its physical size and ah. I guess the real test would be to see how long it would last and how many cycles. Thanks Will
Hey Will, love the videos, my question is this...Today you mentioned how hazardous the materials are, and with good cells they can last 10 years or more. What can be done to recycle used lithium ion batteries? Thanks again for all you do and keep the reviews coming.
Don't soak 'em in water :O Somebody in China will probably start a lithium battery recycling business and do a good job while making a little money. Then 10 copycats will start up a similar business, but throw them all in a ditch somewhere to make more money. US government won't care because it's happening over there and not here. Am I being sarcastic and/or cynical? Some days I'm not sure.
Great video, thanks
Hi
Many thanks for all your work on this channel.
Will you soon evaluate the last 420Ah battery from AliExpress ?
Hey brother I'm glad you do this s*** because I'm learning a lot from you
Tight packing is defiantly a big no no. Even if you don't plan on rebuilding a premade lithium iron phosphate battery if say the BMS dies. (Which is strong possibility in a cheap battery) You could still sell/gift the dead battery to someone who's willing to open it up and repair it. So please either build your own or invest in a battery that can be opened if something goes wrong.
Now the price is lower. only around $240
Another informative video thanks for sharing and saving everyone from buying junk batteries
😲 WOW thank you for this review!!
Would it be okay to consider them as 100ah vs 120. For the money is it worth it?
Thanks Will.
My Renogy Smart batteries are worth every penny.
Lead has one major advantage. Cold survivability. Outdoor cabinet with a low current draw (half amp 24/7, occasional sort periods of 15 amps). Winter temp is never above freezing, can easily hit -10, and lower isn't uncommon. Really didn't enjoy carrying them a quarter mile, but they work. From what I understand, lithium absolutely would not. Correct me if I'm wrong?
Not anymore, use a cold rated lifepo4. Lead acid is awful in the cold.
We’d like to see reviews of silicate salt batteries, and how they compare to lifepo2 batteries, for applications such as off grid homes where you charge and discharge daily. Thanks and keep up the great work, please!
I'm in the process of building a small system for my vehicle. Space is very limited, so I'm considering an SOK 12/100 battery due to its small footprint as well as its quality. Its a bit pricey, but like you said you get what you pay for.
Excellent advise and info, as usual!! Thanks and keep up the good work! I’d love to see you test and compare some very small systems, like 40 or 50 watt panels with a controller/ charger built in that can be used as a trickle charger/maintainer and maybe a light in a shed with no power.
this is a good battery. firstly you charged and dischargeed the battery at current well above the designed level, it is still safe and worked fine and only 15% below labeled capacity. secondly, you penetrated the protection cover it didn't burn or smoke. you should try renogy to see if it performs battery than this one. you are biased.
Hi there, maybe a strange question. How safe is it to use this battery inside a campervan? Is there a big risk for fire or explosion? Thanks!
Just in case anyone is considering buying one of these still, mine arrived a few weeks ago and it is only 50ah capacity not 120ah. I would avoid them, too hit and miss it seems. Noticed another reviewer on aliexpress said they received one that was 50ah as well so it isn't just me.
That’s why people like me won’t take apart batteries, not to mention I try to buy only quality well known lithium batteries. I’m not experienced enough to deal with problems like shown, and I don’t wish too.
I did build my own system, but with Battle Born Batteries.
Well hey 100ah for that price.. 🤷🏼♂️
Yes Akb LiFePo4 👍 🔋 ⚡
What is one of the cells swells and does not hold the same charge as the others? Can you still use it? Will they ever explode?
Even at 100 amp hours that's still a great price point.
Only hesitation would be is this one 100 Ah, and would the one I buy end up being under that.
I'm looking for some portable electrical outboard motor battery. Would be cool to see you try some of the portable solutions out to see how they hold up!
The KiloVault Cold temp batteries in your description are discontinued, any other recommendations for winter campers?
Well it's cheap for 100ah battery?
What BMS did this unit use, and can it be wired in series with others to make a 48v/52v set?
I would like to see you test a chins 100ah battery I got one works great
Maybe make a sacrificial cover for your bench that you only use for dissecting batteries like this. Perhaps getting a piece of seconds of solid surface material (e.g. Corian), or maybe a sheet of stainless steel.
I currently use lead acid but they are just car batteries that dropped enough CCA and would no longer start my wife's SUV consistently or batteries donated that still work pretty well. I will be switching to lithium as soon as I actually start buying batteries for my set up. lol
Hi thank you for saving us time and money!
Can you make a video with wind turbines of grid systems?i know you are doing solar and rv-boat systems all this time, but that would be great,cus you are good explaining everything and you are trustworthy 👍
Whats up man. You should check out the CERNSS 12v 100ah batt on aliexpress. $300. It looks legit. Stainless steel housing and some other good features Id like to see a review on that one
Thank you so much for your videos they are very helpful. I'm getting ready to purchase a 200 amp hour plus 400 w solar system for my bus. Do you have any RV kits or companies you would suggest buying the solar panels controller and lithium batteries from? Thank you
Don't suppose you would ever order a Volthium lithium battery? I'm planning to buy a 24 volt 200 amp from them in February. Your opinion and break down would be epic. But thier expensive. Thanks for the new video.
Will, rather than use that Milwaukee cordless, get a grinder with a small cutoff wheel for better control. Even a small cordless router with an adjustable fence would work better - can precisely set the depth of cut. Slicing and dicing with that multitool is a recipe for further spills.
Gentle orbital action vs 10000 RPM are are are more power
Binford for the win.😁
@@alfredhatch3719 Benford 6000 with turbo boost
Dremmel type tools!
A cordless "RotoZip" type tool can be set for case depth and is easily controlled as it'll ride flat on the case. Think of a mini router. There are bits for plastics, ceramics, cement board, etc. Home Depot or Lowe's will have them. There's also a great attachment for cutting perfect circles in things.