Any information on this battery?

[kyonu]

I'm looking at these batteries here:

http://www.balqon.com/store-2/#!/~/category/id=2736691&offset=10&sort=priceAsc

It appears they are extremely underpriced for LiFePO4 batteries, which are the better, newer Lithium Ion batteries.

Any idea why they are so cheap? They have no technical documentation from what I can see, and they look flat generic without markings. I've seen a couple people say they are good on other forums, but I am extremely skeptical. At that price I'd drop the $1100 easy on that 1.2K ah battery.

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(Since Edit isn't available..) Just found the information actually:

http://www.balqon.com/1000-ahr-lithium-battery/

Looks like they discharge at about 4 volts, so you'd need 3 for an efficient system.

Anyone test these batteries before?

 

[Reducto]

Actually their nominal voltage is 3.2 so you'd need 4. I'd love to get more information on how Li batteries work with charging systems (alternator, solar, shore) designed for lead batteries. I haven't seen a whole lot besides "it seems to work fine" or "it should work"

 

[akrvbob]

I have friend who switched his RV house batteries LiPo and it is an incredibly complex subject. Way over my head!

I'm not trying to discourage you from switching, but be sure you are up to the extreme learning curve. Don't put down any money until you have thoroughly researched the details.
Bob

 

[kyonu]

I have friend who switched his RV house batteries LiPo and it is an incredibly complex subject. Way over my head!

I'm not trying to discourage you from switching, but be sure you are up to the extreme learning curve. Don't put down any money until you have thoroughly researched the details.
Bob

Definitely intend on it!

I plan on LiFePO4 being my first set of batteries, that way I have the complexity as my norm. I have a lot of electrically savvy folks in my family, and I am personally electronic savvy (just not with wires or car parts), so I will definitely read up on it.

Worst comes to worst, I budget in an electrician to make it happen the way I want.

But, 4 batteries at $440 is pretty cheap for something that lasts over 3000 cycles, or even gives steady volts until it is almost dead, which works perfectly for a electronic device nut like myself.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

You might want to follow some of the boating forums. Those guys are adapting the LiFePO4 battery packs for sailing. The thread I have been following:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...or-those-using-them-as-house-banks-65069.html
is 244 pages long! Lots of good information, but lots of disagreements also.

Also, Technomadia ( www.technomadia.com ) have a working LiFePO4 battery pack in their bus.

The conclusion for me: They offer some great advantages, but the constant babysitting you have to do with your battery pack and the lack of agreement on how to maintain them was a deal breaker. - Spiff

 

[kyonu]

I thought the idea of these batteries was that they were maintenance free? Like AGM Deepcycle batteries, they draw until they are drained without adding water or worrying of explosions (with proper equipment, of course.)

I plan on having a 400 or 500ah 12v system, and I'd like something that's steady flowing. I will have several power obtaining options, just need the packs to hold it all!

 

[blars]

I've got a LiFePO4 setup in my class A. They are not realy more complex than lead-acid, just different without as much ready to drop in setups available. Check out my blog postings in http://techno-viking.com/

 

[kyonu]

Interesting Write up, blars. Same batteries in question, too--do you like them? Dependable and long lasting as intended? I'm mostly interested in them because of the amount of weight they will drop compared to AGM, yet longer lasting power output.

 

[Zil]

You may also want to look at the dimensions and weight. Remembering you need 4 to make a "12 volt" battery. Do you have the capacity to recharge 1000 amp hour?, or even 500 AH? The cruiser forum linked above is a good place to start. Also here http://store.evtv.me/products.php?cat=10

 

[Reducto]

I thought the idea of these batteries was that they were maintenance free?

They are maintenance free in the sense that you don't need to add water. I read as far as I could into the big thread mentioned above and there seems to be two issues:

1) The batteries you buy may not come matched very well, especially if you're getting individual 3.2v cells and combining them. This might cause problems at full charge or full discharge. Or it might not. People have come up with ways to balance the cells but you kind of have to know what you're doing. Buying assembled 12v units from a good manufacturer should minimize this issue.

2) These batteries like to be charged at a lower voltage than alternators and chargers typically put out. Again, this might or might not reduce the life of the batteries. Some chargers can be adjusted so it wouldn't be a problem.

I'll be in the market for some new batteries in a year or two, hopefully things will settle a bit in that time.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'll be in the market for some new batteries in a year or two, hopefully things will settle a bit in that time.

That is my idea too. Since I am just starting out, I plan on getting a 'learner battery' (as Bob mentioned in another post), hoping that the Li battery market matures enough when I need to replace it.

 

[SternWake]

There are a couple 12v nominal Lithium batteries packaged to be drop in replacements for motorcycles and I believe they require no modifications to the charging system. Not sure about that. Do not take that statement to the bank.

Obviously a 12 to 14 A/H equivalent wont be enough for most applications for users on this forum:

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...bs_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0K6Z43NQVDAD9J45EBEA


But I do not believe they have any low voltage cutoff. And If they are like 18650 cells, overdischarging them and then recharging them is when they are at their most dangerous.

I cannot find enough info about the linked batteries. but sometimes need a portable 12vDC source and was considering such a battery, but I can get an AGM for 1/5 the price for the same capacity.

I'm very interested in Lithium batteries, but for Now I'm sitting on the fence waiting for prices to drop and the bugs to be worked out and trying to learn more about them before introducing them into my van as house or starter batteries.

Besides. my batteries are only a few months old now. One is an AGM, a NorthStar, and so far, I am very impressed with it, both in terms of the speed at which it cranks my engine, and the voltages it holds when deeply cycled.

Thanks for the boater's/ Sailors world links.

 

[blars]

I'm very happy with them. What their life will be like is yet to be determined, since I've only been using them six months and the expected life is at least a decade. Once you do a pre-install ballence, they seem not to need again in practice for house battery use.

 

[highdesertranger]

well I hope you guys have good luck with them. from what I have seen in the cordless tool use of li batts they are not very reliable. when they first started hitting the market about 10 years ago I know a bunch of guys went with them. they are very light weight and powerful. however everybody that I know that bought them have had at least 1 batt fail and they are expensive to replace, you need at least 2 batts to make cordless work, so you can keep working while one is charging. I'll take nicads any day, for the price of 1 li you can buy 2 nicads. just my 2 cents. highdesertranger

 

[kyonu]

Well 10 years ago Lithium was a different composition, and much less stable. The new lithium batteries (LiFePO4) is much more stable and has the least failure rate of any batteries ever. I have a new lithium drill also and its amazing.

 

[johnny b]

Well 10 years ago Lithium was a different composition, and much less stable. The new lithium batteries (LiFePO4) is much more stable and has the least failure rate of any batteries ever. I have a new lithium drill also and its amazing.

I think you are confused. Just because the first word is 'lithium' does not mean that LiFePo4 is the 'new' lithium ion battery.
Just like NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) was not the 'new' NiCad (Nickel Cadmium).
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo) is a totally different animal than Lithium Ion.

What drill do you have that is using LiFePo batteries??

 

[kyonu]

It's a new Black and Decker one. I'll grab some info on it once I get home.

Also, I didn't mean to say LiFePO4 was Ion... Mah bad!

 

[ccbreder]

they are all lithium ion cells. The chemicals combined with the lithium makes the difference. The newest lithium batteries are based on iron phosphate with some other rare earth minerals added.