Lithium starting Batteries

[Java230]

Anyone run one?

I currently have a good quality agm, but it's tired. I run my fridge from the main battery, and it's been sucked dead many times now. Overnight I get slow cranks (luckily it still puts out enough juice to start).

Fridge is on "med" battery cut off. But I think that's ~11.5 volts. Have a 100w solar panel hooked up, but it doesn't keep up. And I generally am parked in the shade on the weekends.

Was thinking about lithium. But it's cold at the cabin in the winter. But not usually less than - 15.. And fridge doesn't draw anything when it's cold....

Pros to lithium, more capacity for same size. Cons, cold weather. But cold really should only effect charging. May have to change the solar controller.

 

[Will Scarlet]

You might want to research more with the effects of cold weather and lithium-ion batteries more as charging isn't the only issue. And another issue with them is if they catch on fire, there's no putting it out. It's a metal and once lit, you have to wait for it to burn out.

Honestly, stick with the AGM. If you're worried about capacity, run two.

 

[Provience]

They can store without issue to negative 15, but they don't recommend charge or draw below 32

That is, unless they have heaters for them. Heated ones are nice, but then you've got another draw going against your battery.

If you can't get you solar panels into a decent spot, are you against a smaller enclosed generator? A small quiet one would give you a bunch of juice for an hour in the evening

 

[crisbee1]

Lithium battery less internal resistance than a lead acid.
Alternator runs wide open.

 

[Java230]

They can store without issue to negative 15, but they don't recommend charge or draw below 32

That is, unless they have heaters for them. Heated ones are nice, but then you've got another draw going against your battery.

If you can't get you solar panels into a decent spot, are you against a smaller enclosed generator? A small quiet one would give you a bunch of juice for an hour in the evening

Solar is on the canopy to the truck. Permanently there.

Lithium battery less internal resistance than a lead acid.
Alternator runs wide open.

I have heard this, but doesn't internal bms handle it?

 

[Provience]

Solar is on the canopy to the truck. Permanently there.

I have heard this, but doesn't internal bms handle it?

Depends on the battery

 

[blakes]

I've been offgrid on solar for years. I'm running LFP for the cabin and LOVE them.

LFP does not experience thermal runaway like Li-ion.

I know people get away with it, but personally I would NOT run any type of LFP/Li-ion battery in a mobile application. Too many electronics in them.

Nothing whatsoever wrong with AGM.

 

[NorCalJalopy]

I’ve started to see them in a few semi trucks. They have 3 posts on the ones I’ve seen, a common ground and one positive post dedicated for the starter and the other for the rest of the truck. Has a button for reserve power if the voltage drops. I haven’t heard if they’ll do well in the cold yet or how long they’re lasting.

 

[Diablo169]

What type of Battery are you looking at? Most the RV style group 24's 100AH type, are all mostly limited to 200amp output, then the internal BMS shuts them off. Also, I've seen them say "not recommended for starting".

LFP's aren't as scary as you would think. There was a thread on her where someone working at a UPS center or something similar, and he said the worst fires came from LA batteries.

 

[bgaidan]

I've been doing a bit more research on LFPs lately. I just threw a pair of 10Ah ones in to a UPS I have on my network gear at my house. The OEM ones took a **** and a decent replacement set of 8Ah SLAs was at least $50. I found the LFPs on Amazon for a little over $60. They dropped right in and the UPS doesn't seem to notice the difference. The internal BMS should keep them from over charging or discharging. Haven't had an outage yet to see how long they last compared to the SLAs, but it should be a decent big longer.

I also have one on order for my old JNC 660 jump box. I have two and both have aftermarket batteries in them that are completely dead. I found a LFP on amazon that says it's a direct replacement. Again, a little more than some of the cheaper aftermarket replacements Should be here later this week and I'll see how it performers.

I'm also looking at building a bigger external pack with a pair of 100Ah ones for a bigger rack mounted UPS. It just has an Anderson connector for the stock pack so it shouldn't care if it gets 24v from an external pack through the same plug.


Eventually I plan to build out the cargo area of my wheeling rig with a cooler and will probably stick a battery back there along with a couple panels on the roof to keep it topped off. I'm kind of thinking I'll want it to be easily removeable since that rig tends to sit unused for months at a time and probably stays at 150 degrees during the days in the summer here.

 

[Java230]

What type of Battery are you looking at? Most the RV style group 24's 100AH type, are all mostly limited to 200amp output, then the internal BMS shuts them off. Also, I've seen them say "not recommended for starting".

LFP's aren't as scary as you would think. There was a thread on her where someone working at a UPS center or something similar, and he said the worst fires came from LA batteries.

XS Power has one, as does antigravity.

Or lots of Amazon special ones.....