12v 100ah Battery Comparison! Budget LiFePO4 VS Battle Born VS Lead Acid
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- Опубликовано: 22 июн 2019
- Lithium batteries I recommend: www.mobile-solarpower.com/lit...
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AmpereTime
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Renogy
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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 :)
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Table of Contents:
Battle Born Capacity Test: 3:58
Ruixi Capacity Test: 5:39
Lithium BatteryTest Results: 6:52
Lead Acid Capacity Test: 7:04
Conclusion: 9:49
For beginners that do not understand why lithium is worth the cost, please watch my older videos that cover this in depth. Lead acid is the most expensive battery around.
LiFePO4 lasts 5-10 times as long as lead acid. Lower weight, better performance and higher coulombic efficiency. Which means less solar panels required. Low internal resistance and less voltage sag mean better performance. You can use lead acid if you wish, but you will be disappointed unless you are building a temporary system. A permanent system requires LiFePO4.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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:
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-Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out:
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-Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals
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-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
People insist on buying lead acid because you can buy 3 for 1 battleborn
The Ruixi did really well, I was surprised.
How much do they cost
as well as we're from Alabama area and then we'd like to check into the store if we have one of the store's here I would like to know where to purchase them bcuz of the fact that we're trying to get completely off of the grid and we've been looking at all of the videos that we're able to find and we've been looking for anything that we can get to help us out with thing's for sure that my husband and I can get to help us out with the support and information about the thing's for sure that will actually be correctly done without any kind of problem with a off the grid build so that we're not going to have any problems with the way that building a new good system for offgrid living?? Anything you'd be willing and able to help out with the information that you may have to build a off the grid build so that we're more educated than we are now and any help would be greatly appreciated.
I need to replace my acid battery on my trailer, what do thing about Lionenergy 12v battery lifep04? Your input is appreciated it.
@@minhlam6205 I have two of them coming
You are KILLING it with your videos man! Nice work! You're always clear, concise, extremely articulate and more than anything else you are fascinatingly intelligent. Thank you for all the amazing content
Ditto!
Hear - Hear..!
Ian M Burke I agree with all of that !
Ditto
Yah love the content and the straight in your face tells it like it is commentary. Have to wonder what his day job is.. must be a good paying job to be able to drop 1000 into a battery that is later destroyed.
man, i have been messing around with a portable solar system i made for camping for 12 years or so now and i have learned more from three of your videos than i ever managed to piece together over all that time. thank you SO much for spending the time to put this knowledge out there!
Will Prowse -The Leader in Mobile Power RUclips info and video testing !!!! Integrity, Honesty.......is priceless and you Will Prowse are building a Huge Bank of that; with your testing videos !
These tests are what we need as consumers thanks for great work.
I'm just getting in to solar power and really don't know very much, your videos are a great help in learning, I just wanted to say Ty.
You do excellent reviews. I appreciate your knowledge and skills.
Warranty's are only good as long as the company is in business.
and change and vanish when serious issues become apparent.
Agreed!!
True but battle Born isnt going anywhere
@@tmz1313 BB has only been around for 4 years and their parent company is Dragonfly Energy which is only a year older.
@@tmz1313 Most battery companies don't last 10 years.
Much love from nigeria. I'm learning alot from you bro
@Fart Zilla 😂😂😂
I love you enthusiasm. Thanks again for great video. Cheers. Greeting from Switzerland.
Just picked up our Australian made camper and popped the cushions off to check out the system. I have tried to follow your solar stuff and I know nothing about electricity, etc. except to flip the switch up or down but you make it easier for people like me because you are thorough and you take the time to explain. I have that marine battery (max) you just talked about and was searching to see if this was a good thing. THANKS for pointing it out the flaws because I had no idea what I had. REALLY appreciate your videos.
I have been trying to get enough information on batteries and solar panels to rather build or buy a system. Your videos are more informitive then some of the companies videos out there. Thank you
This is interesting .and very informative - Thank you for this !
One word: iffy. At the end. Love that word 👌
Thanks to your videos, I just self installed solar on my travel trailer. A friend saw mine and hired me to put the same set up on her van. Thanks. Your knowledge and advice is always right on the mark and appreciated. BTW, I've mentioned your name to several people in discussions about solar, you are well thought of in Washington state!
For sure. I'm in WA state too and Will started me on the lifepo4 battery journey. Excellent teacher and a good person.
Thanks for sharing the digital readout at 4:20 load in hours. That makes this channel awesome 👍🏻
Will , I love your videos and your enthusiasm I have learned so much from watching your videos.
I had bought 2 of Battle Born as of I had hard wired it up in Parallel for double of amperage than single with up to 650 watts proper charger as I have a volt meter until BMS cut off. I use AIMS 2,000 watt pure sine inverter. I had put 2 batteries into my homemade battery box with 4 wheel dolly from Harbor Freight for very easily to move it.
Very nice test brother.
Your videos are outstanding and I'm looking forward to witness more test to come.
Cheers
Thanks a lot dude, I know nothing about electricity so I will follow your instructions on your website to the letter to build my expedition vehicle electric system, great videos.
Thanks Will! Maybe do a comparison of the DIY cells up against the Battleborn? Personally, I plan on building my own battery out of the 3.2v RuiXu DIY cells. It feels like you have more control over the system that way, so long as you understand how everything works.
Really like the vids but would like to see batteries,monitors or regulators that are world wide. Unfortunately here in Australia Lithium is relatively new so knowledge is limited or mis leading.
Keep up the good work
It is fairly new everywhere. And I bet they won't last so long under heavier loads
Last time I looked jcar was selling 100 amp lithium batteries for a decent price.
@@sammyd7857 Not if they are designed for high c-rate discharge. Some of the larger ones have discharge rates of 200-300A or even more. You need cells capable of high c-rate discharge and a BMS that will support it. Most of the 100ah batteries are limited to 100a discharge. I think this is due to the price point they are trying to target, and the fact that most people wouldn't just buy one 100ah battery if they were doing high discharge. It just wouldn't last very long before being drained. If you parallel 2 100ah's together, the discharge rates are additive.... 2 100ah is 200A discharge. 3 100ah is 300A discharge etc.
I like the comparison test. By far I'm a strong believer in Battle Born. I have been installing their batteries for a few years now with nothing but positive feedback and results.
When I need honest battery or solar info I always go to your website. I honestly think why so many people, like myself, still use agm is the cost. Many of us just don't have the bucks to shell out a couple grand at one time for a battery bank. I know in the long run lithium is cheaper per watt hour and life time, but $400-$500 for 2 100ah batteries is doable. I'm a disabled Vet on a fixed income and just can't afford to spend a lot on batteries.
I nearly never comment on videos, but I have a request/critique: after the "shootouts" are done, could you please do a side by side comparison chart, such as the average draw and the beginning to end time frame and the like vs price per unit?
FYI: you're my go to guy for batteries and solar when I have to help someone understand and I don't have the time to sit with them from beginning to end.
Thank You, so much.
$90 100ah EverStart deep cycle rocking 12 of them on a 24v to 240v off grid best bang for buck and zero problems.
Thanks Will, great information 👍
For my 4th of july im going to binge watch you appreciate the knowledge
Walmart 24D deepcell Marine batteries $74.99 By far the best battery. Mine have been in full use 24/7 for 3 years with no problems.
Hay I got 8 of them for the price you paid for 1 of yours:)
I can't understand why anybody would pay over $100 for a battery.
@@gsp49 weight, space, maintenance, lifespan, vibration resistance, mounting options, etc. These are not automotive car starting batteries.
What are your thoughts on Dakota and banshee? Thanks
@@TobyCostaRica Neither is the Walmart 24D Deep Cell Marine Battery. Compare apples to apples please.
How many amp hours does it have?
You rock. I love your passion.
Great test. I would submit that intended use factors in also. In my off-road trailer battery weight is a trade off for redundancy. I carry two deep cycle batteries. I get the same useable power as the Battle born, but I have built in backup in case of a catastrophic failure in one.
You are awesome all your tests are of Engineering Excellents.
Great vid again. One of my fav YT channels.
While 109 F is warm for a human, it is almost negligible for metal terminals.
The BB BMS balances the current and probably has higher copper content on the terminals.
It is a better system. Is it worth the difference? for noobs, definitely. for experienced, probably.
It would be interesting to find out the material makeup of the terminal and the gauge (thickness).
Thank you for the very good explanation
Question: overland is popular , whst would you consider a good setup we are on the move everyday so relying on the alternator for charge. Most of us are running small fridge 50l like s arb and led light , usb charging , not much else when we stop. Please do a video on thise kind of small setup
Really appreciate your videos and channel.
Your vids are great. If you are looking for ideas for more maybe a grid tie with back up as well. Keep up the great work.
I'd love to see more on your Tesla battery setup. I know you had said it wasn't great for beginners, but for the cycle life, and kwh/$ it is still a good portion if you set it up right. I'd love to see you do more tests and explanations with that.
I would go with a Tesla set up before buying any $700-$1000 100 ah batteries.
You are a genius. I've learned so much from watching your vids and I've been doing solar energy for decades. Have you tested LBP batteries?
Agree
Will, Thanks very much for excellent Video series on Solar, Battery tests and set up. Dream shattered: I was going to replace Aux battery with LiFePO4 until I recalled, I took the Van into 12F temperature. The Sprinter Van Started fine with Lead Acid. Now my dream is shattered as the LiFePO4 battery would not charge or discharge in cold temperature lower than 25F. Sometimes it is inevitable that vehicles are left out in 10F or lower temperatures for 10-12 hours. (Sobbing back to AGM with operating temp -4F to 120F)
My first time ever to comment on RUclips and that just to let you know and encourage you.been watching your videos a lot on my tv and it always very informative so thank you and keep up the great work
DIT solar, where did you learn all this stuff. It makes me feel dumb listening to you lol. I appreciate all the info you give, super informative. Thank you.
Great video! I have 2 Costco 6v @ $98 ea in series . I do not use an inverter and do not discharge below 65%. Single 100w Renogy panel will keep them at 90+% as long as I have sun. They’re 3+ years old and running fine. For me it’s not cost effective regardless of longevity of Lithium. Most RV-s will be hooked up to 110 most of the time anyway. I believe like all technology; Li will drop considerably or new tek will evolve... all this to say it’s still good work and worthy of consideration.
Herb a lot of boondockers need to go deeper discharge.
@@donatzerodayslife Agreed. I camp un plugged 90% of the time. Only private parks here in BC, Canada have full hookups. I hate the private sites because you are so packed in and they are over priced. The only time I have hookups is when I go to my cousins property.
That being said I have 2 6Volt Interstate batteries with no solar and I can camp for a week no problem. I will run out of water before I run out of battery. I still would prefer to bring the battery inside under one of the beds and loose some weight off the tongue of the trailer. Can't do that with a flooded battery.
yep, sla still annhiliates lithium for cost. it's so cheap you can buy batteries and throw them away like dirt. longevity of lithium still doesn't offset the massive cost premium.
@@TMS5100 Not really, but you can think that if you please. AGM retailers love your thinking process. Will have done head to head price comparisons. Find them and learn!
@@michaeldoherty2289 already experienced this in actual installations, thanks. thinking has nothing to do with it, the actual expenses did.
Thanks this just really showed the difference
I am currently weighing up which battery to buy. I love Lithium...it just makes sense, but there are so many to choose from. Your videos are very useful to me. Seems the cheaper ones go OK. Thanks for your knowledge and time.
Test two 6 volt agm wired for 12v VS a single 12v lithium
Can you do a capacity test if the Tesla battery?
Would you do 2 Ruixu or 1 Tesla pack?
Don't take into account the difficulty of inputting the failsafe settings. It seems easy enough,
Very Good Review And I Like You Candor About The Battery Manufacturers And Like You Said i Would Go For Battle Borne For The Warranty, The Low Temp Cutoff And The Customer Service! Great Info Thank You!
As always, thank you.
Awesome vid bro! Can you run those cheap lithium battery’s in parallel?
Have you ever tried the new carbon batteries? I'm curious how they work.
Used graphine
Love your channel man. 👍
I agree with others! 2 6v golf cart batteries vs lithium. 2 Duracell SLI6V225S with 250AH each at $199 each seems like a great deal, in comparison. Thanks for the interesting and informative info!!
Will what about Outback Nano Carbon batteries ? Price is good. But for me you can't go wrong with a Tesla. Money and Capacity are very good
Trapping the 4 LiFePo4 cells AND the BMS in a case that I can't open, is a Show Stopper for me.
Great video as always Will! Please test the Firefly carbon foam batteries. Its supposed to perform almost as good as lithium but at half price. Thanks
I like how excited he gets about this stuff
What brand/product are you using to measure the voltage, watt hrs etc?
Just found your channel. Thabk you for the information on solar and lithium batteries.
Have you done a test on any Dakota Lithium batteries? I know nothing about them.
If you have, could you post a link to that video?
Thank you.
Man....youve got me seriously considering lifepo batteries. Im setting up a dc distribution system for my ham shack. Have been converting everything over to DC....fan, lights, radio equipment. Ive got a small 35ah backup battery now, but getting ready to set up a small solar charging system.
Hey Will, love your work. Keep the videos coming. What are your thoughts on a common ground or chassis ground in a 12/24v system?
You should do a test every year to show which batteries are holding up; and which are failing. That way, after ten years you can say for certain which batteries are best.
Lead-acid AGM is the way to go in my situation - because my system is installed on a boat. AGM batteries have a much lower risk of fire than lithium anything, and fire is actually worse than sinking at sea. I even worry about my cellphone and laptop batteries at sea. Besides, two top of the line lifeline group 27 100ah AGMs cost around $650 yielding 200 nominal AHs. Even Downrated by 40% for that absurdly high sustained load and you'll still be getting 20% more capacity than that single 100AH Lithium incendiary device. Form factor appears identical, and weight isn't really an issue on a stationary off-grid system. At sea you just have to plan the installation of the lead mine battery bank properly. Done right, and you increase stability of the boat.
Anyway, thanks for the review!
Lithium iron phosphate is really safe.
Thanks Will
again well done comparison double thumbs up
the real quality test is the long term usage, more than 1000 charges ;)
New technology gets the hype but only time will tell.
Will, I suspect that if you didn’t live in such a warm climate, you would appreciate AGMs more. Also, using the high watts for your test is way above what is realistic in most RV applications and strongly favors the lithium. I really like that you are doing capacity tests. I just started doing my own because I wasn’t finding them on line.
I agree there is still a place for AGM and there are some AGMs that get high cycles but it's a premium cost.
At least Lead Acid batteries can be charged at sub freezing temperatures. Where I am there are potetially 5 months of weather with sub freezing days. LiFePO4 seems useless for these conditions! It is enough trouble to keep my solar panels clear of snow but to also have the batteries warm is not really viable in an unattended locale....
Teddy Crawford I think it is possible to provide a heated solution. But it might be more cost effective to use AGMs
Thanks for noting the concerns if you're in a colder climate, which I am as well.
Thanks Will!
great video man! thanks for doing it!
Love your videos!
Since they each have their own BMS's, it is advisable to mix and match Battleborn with the Ruixi?
I want to know this too!
No you should always match The BMS therefore same batteries should be used.
Wire ferrules is a pretty good option for going into those screw terminals
I dont know if your tool is not good or the wrong size ferrules or what because mine are pretty solid
Ok
This video is amazing.
I also have a 12V30Ah lithium battery
I bought it from Amazon and tested it
It was less than 60% 18Ah. I was deceived.
This is a good video for selecting products.
Thank you very much.
Nice demo. Thank you
I actually bought two of the Ruixu's for net $695 ea off of Amazon about a month ago and am VERY HAPPY now that I saw how well they did. Did you ever measure the temp of the terminals of the BB? Also, I wonder if those big terminal heads putting off that much heat might be a way of the battery dispersing heat? Maybe, a retrofit heat sink mounted to the top of each one to disperse the heat even better? :D
Good point, huge terminal heads for dispersing heat.
Hey Will, I've been using my LiFePo4 batteries for a couple months, but heavy usage the past 2 weeks. This morning my voltage was at 10 with 53 percent battery. What might cause that?
Nice video. I’m currently building a 7s-25p pack. Minimum 2000 mah cells
Nice to have real world test
Lead acid bateriers are excellent for recycling, and work well in cars when deep discharge isn't an issue, but you want a surge of power.
I think I will stick with AGM for now. Yes, in the long term it is cheaper to go with Lithium. However, you are kind of putting all of your eggs in one basket. If you mess up that battery you are out the cost of like 5 AGMs. If I mess up my AGM I'm out the cost of 1. That said, if I was putting it in my house and not my van then I would definitely be looking at lithium since we are talking a much more controlled environment. Plus, I'm also gambling a little on the idea that battery costs will come down significantly in 5 years or so... or at least the technology in them will improve to make the extra cost even more cost effective.
ill stick with my tubular flooded lead acid over 20 year old batteries and still over 80% capacity . All other small devices I have use lithium and the batteries typically last 5-6 years , . Price of the lithium batteries really need to come down.
@@esasaarinen2423 old post snd you are probably aware now but for anyone else, lithium ion (small devices) and life-po4 (large battery banks) are way different, apparently designed to last WAY longer than lithium ion.
The kit battery seems like the way to go. I would be curious what the batteries look like inside of the case. I am considering a 24v setup for a small home. I am trying to size it.
I was going to order the $1.5K 200Ah drop-in then Rachel (RUiXu Amazon) told me the cells in these are prismatic, not cylindrical. For this reason, I just pulled the trigger on the $1.2K 4s cell kit, w/o the BMS. I also ordered the Tenergy 5in1 too and hope it works.
so I'm switching from led and found your video. I'm using a 55lb thrust trolling motor and have to say the warranty is the selling point.
Good job. Keep telling the truth that is so important. Thanks
Good review. I have always stayed away from new technologies when they first hit the market. An example is flat screen TVs. There might be more hype then substance, the price is at its peak, some of the companies will go bankrupt and in a few years the technology will improve. Three years from now a $600 battery will cost $300. I can wait.
This is not new technology. These batteries have been around a long time. As they become more popular, the price will be stable or go up.
Lithium is becoming scarce
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse
This is a Great video thanks for this info and the work you put in making this channel so great Keep up the great work you do...A+A+A+A+A+
Enjoyed this video!
Nice video man, I want to pick your brain on solar systems.
Hey Will have you ever tested a “Dakota” lithium battery. I’ve been watching for sometime and I would like to know your take on them.
I would second this comment. Dakota Lithium seems to be another affordable option, would love to know your thoughts on it
+1 for Dakota comparison.
Google lithium battery and Dakota comes up. So would be good to do a review for sure.
Like the 11 year warranty on Dakota's
I am curious about the Dakota Lithium products. Any possibility of a test forthcoming? Thanks.
Me to
Same
yes please
Me three ... or is it 4 now?
Great video :) thank you so much for making it :)
G'day, thanks for an interesting part comparison. So far, so good, but for use in rv's, trailers etc. the maximum recharge rate, particularly with limited solar exposure hours, can be a critical factor due to accumulative discharge over several days due to possible incomplete charging, and secondly, the maximum rate of discharge which will govern the output of AC inverter output which can be obtained from a battery. As you mentioned, it would be very interesting to see and learn from the manufacturers just what circuitry makes the heat factors you observed and consequent battery life, application or safety implications may arise from those factors. Participation by the manufacturers could encourage positive market response. Thanks again, Gary
Thanks for another great video. The VMax batteries have been the worst purchase that I have ever made in my 20 years of being off grid, a complete waste of money. Customer support? Don't expect much.
Thanks so much for your great advice on so many subjects
What happened to them??
@@WillProwse they never would hold a charge, 2 125ah batteries I seldom use a fraction of that
@@CalicoJackxx I used them for four years and never had that problem. Did they arrive fully charged?
Really, I didn't want to hear that. I just bought 2 for VMax☹
@@rositagarcia805 I love vmax. Great batteries and I used them for ages. That is very strange that he got some bad ones. If you dont keep them charged, they can die. Maybe that was the problem.
How do I get it for $619 derrect?
Excellent video
Nice comparison on batteries. 👍
what if i get 4 sealed lead acid vs 1 battleborn. can you make a video comparison of that? 4 lead acid = $1000+ vs 1 battleborn = $950+. i would love to see that comparison
Yeah am planning on it. And with charge cycle alone, lithium iron phosphate way cheaper. 3000-5000 charge cycles. Lead acid is 500-1000
@@WillProwse it depends if i have 8 sla batteries and only use 20% on each one. the paper says it will last more than a 1000 cycles. will a thousand cycle be enough for 3 years? do i really need to pay more for the 3 years warranty if sla can do 1000 cycle in 3 years? and even if it goes on the 3rd stage which is decline. you can just repair it or revive it, sla dries up too. and i heard its really easy to restore a declining sla. battle born for me is just too expensive. i am planning buying 4 sla then when i get more funds buy another 4 sla.
Oh if your system is only for 3 years then it doesn't matter what you use. Get cheapest piece of junk lead acids possible. That is a disposable system
@@WillProwse hmmm, I'm not that convinced yet, looking forward to your new planned comparison. I got 4 x 12v lead/gel batteries 160A, Rita) in use for over 3 years now living off-grid, south of Chile). I almost never discharge them to less then 50%. The data sheet says with a discharge cycle of 25% they last at least 3000 cycles and up to now they seem to comply. So: how can 4 lead batteries that deliver 640A, which cost new around 1400$ be bet?
ekoms I agree. I have 2 Costco 6v @ $98 ea in series . I do not use an inverter and do not discharge below 65%. Single 100w Renogy panel will keep them at 90+% . They’re 3+ years old and running fine. For me it’s not cost effective regardless of longevity of Lithium. Most RV-s will be hooked up to 110 most of the time anyway.
25% of the cost of a battle born- and 75% the capacity. Cost wise that sealed battery is a great product.
Would appreciate a FullRiver AGM review, please.
Thanks, very good information and useful
Would it be worth putting a ventilation fan in the battery compartment to keep things a bit cooler?
Yes and that applies to all batteries. Whether its lithium or lead acid, keeping them around 75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal
Will, I enjoyed the video and have a general comment and a couple of questions.
I currently have 375ah of Vmax batteries in an off grid cabin that are still working well after three years. But I treat them right and have relatively low discharge requirements, i.e. my inverter is a 600W Exeltech which has a very low standby current draw. I paid about $1200 for the VMax batteries. Just a data point.
Q1: I have a 24V system so also would like more info on Lifepo4 batteries that cannot be connected in series. Why is that and is there a workaround other than just buying 24V batteries?
Q2: Can you point me to your videos that talk about charging when outdoor temps are low? I searched but nothing was obvious from the search results. My temps are below freezing during pretty much the entire month of January, when I also sometime can go 3-5 days with little to no sun, so would need to do the math on any type of resistive battery heating system that was powered by the batteries themselves to see if it would bridge those gaps. I already keep the batteries in a well insulated box. Do you turn off the heater at night when no charging takes place and preheat them before the sun comes up? This seems to be how electric cars handle cold weather.
The cold weather issue is the main problem I don't have a definitive solution for yet. I was considering trying one of those cheap Chinese diesel heaters that are all the rage now.
Another consideration is that it's easy to kill batteries if you screw up just once and it would really hurt to kill $4K worth of batteries vs. $600 worth (my first set, that I killed). It's almost a meme in the off-grid community that you'll kill your first set of batteries so I'd want to be sure that didn't happen when investing in an upgraded technology. There's something to be said for the lower risk of lead acid investment even given its relative ineffenciency.
But I would like my next system to be Lifepo4 if I can work out the details so thanks for the videos and keep it up.
Will, you should review and compare the Dakota Lithium.
Great review videos. I know it’s an expensive one but100s of us kayak guys running 100ah batteries for our trolling motors would love to see a 100-ah dakota lithium review maybe in the future.