Solar and/or generator and/or batteries

[SternWake]

Yes... so... I've been reading up about those LiFePO4 batteries and they sound like less stress for those of us who are not so mechanically inclined. I know they're more expensive, but price aside, would they be smarter for me??

I am not  familiar with Lifepo4 on a personal level.  A member here, Blars is.  He can give you pricing and options and their proper treatment if's and' buts, recommendations, Ect.

They are awesome batteries when used and recharged properly, within the voltage 'knees'. 

However one overcharge or overdepletion,  might kill them in an very costly mistake.  
 
 Lead Acid batteries are much more forgiving in that area, especially for a newbie.
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There is a carbon foam infused Lead acid AGM battery that is relatively new, and supposedly resistant to The Partial State Of Charge cycling which is so hard on Lead acid batteries.

One member here has one.  But not long enough to give a report on yet.

They are not proven yet in actual use, as we would use them, as far as I know.  The jury is still out.  I am interested.

These still require a proper charge to be restored to full capacity after a bunch(30, perhaps more?) of partial state of charge cycling.  The same proper recharge a regular AGM requires every 5 to 7 deeper cycles to retain capacity.  This proper recharge  is about achieving absorption voltage at a fairly good initial amperage rate, and holding it for as long as is required. Sounds simple, but harder in practice.

They only have one size, a 12v group 31 at 110 Ah capacity for 482$
http://www.bruceschwab.com/advanced-energy-storage-systems/firefly-energys-oasis-group-31/
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A top quality regular 12 AGM group 31 is ~330 to 400$ for 100 to 125Ah capacity. 
 These batteries can support both high loads and extended low loads very well. They can also be recharged at very high rates, and should be, regularly, for best performance.  
  They do not like low and slow solar only recharges. Do not make a good 'Solar only' battery especially when depleted regularly to the 50% range.  They need other charging sources to meet that high amp requirement.  thcikly cabled Alternator in early morning  drives, and Solar rest fo the day can make them Happy.  Midday drives with solar, less so.

https://www.amazon.com/Lifeline-Marine-AGM-Battery-GPL-31T/dp/B0055LKPX6
Lifeline also offers a GPL-31XT which has 20 more AH capacity than the 30-T model.

http://buy.northstarbattery.com/p/nsb-agm-31-battery
https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/marine-and-boat/deep-cycle/bci-group-31m/sli31agmdpm

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/batteries/pc2150_series.htm
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Medium Quality  group31 AGM, about 280$  These are recommended to charge at a rate of no more than 33 amps per 100AH of capacity, cannot support high loads as well as the top tier AGM.

https://www.amazon.com/Vmaxtanks-Vm...UTF8&qid=1484549081&sr=8-1&keywords=Vmaxtanks

A bargain group 31 AGM can go as low as 160$. Same charging restrictions as to  initial amperage limitations.  Made in china, could be old when purchased.  Batteries have a shelf life, get  capacity compromised after self disacharging too much.  Could perhaps perform well, vould perhap perform poorly.

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Po...=UTF8&qid=1484549115&sr=8-2&keywords=ub121000

This one is a budget AGM group31, made in USA:
http://www.remybattery.com/intimidator-9a31-battery.html

The Deka intimidator is relabelled by autoparts stores, and Sams Slub and Costco and perhaps elsewhere and for less than the link above.  A OK to perhaps good House battery, Better as a starting battery that sees the rare deeper cycle.

As far as Flooded lead acid batteries go, They Offgass when properly recharged.  There needs to be adequate ventilation for them in their final few hours of proper recharging.  Huge volatile subject with its own thread and chest thumping tarzan screaming opinions on both sides.
Personal opinion, I hate the smell of a charging flooded battery, and can easily smell it.


Now that that hurdle is overcome,

6v flooded golf cart batteries wired in series for 12v are the best bang for the buck.

They are actual Deep cycle batteries. One can get a minimum of 208AH capacity for as low as 170$, and top quality trojan T105RE for as high as 400$ depending on location. They are very tolerant to Newbie abuse, but not immune to it.

12v flooded batteries are at best a dual purpose battery.  Depleted same % and recharged  just as well  as the 6v GC batteries( GC-2)  will last half as many total cycles.

The Best Dual Purpose 12v group 31 Battery is a trojan scs 225
If treated the same as Walmart group 29/31, they will last about 25 to manybe 40% longer in the same usage, but cost nearly 50% more

There is one true deep cycle 12v battery, Called a scrubber battery, meant for the floor scrubbers
Trojan calls theirs the T-1275, and it has 150Ah of capacity.

https://deepcyclebatterystore.com/t1275/

If i ever get a 12v flooded Deep cycle battery again, it will be that one.

But IF I were feeling Rich, and actually were, I would get this battery Instead, as it is the same size as the Venerable T-1275.  But, it is but an AGM which Can easily gobble everything my thickly cabled alternator can make, without protest.

https://www.batterystuff.com/batteries/rv-marine/agm/111-and-up-amp-hour/gpl-30ht.html

I've not searched out the best prices in any link.  They are examples/ tiers/ options, not personal recommendations.  

If you purchase through Amazon, Find and buy them through Bob's link somewhere above.

Any Lead acid battery you buy simply needs to be recharged pretty good most of the time, and once every so many Pretty good recharges, required an extremely good recharge to receive an A grade.

The equipment required for that extremely good recharge, well that's where variables lay.  Will Spendy stuff pay off? Or is it better to just replace batteries more often, possibly not have enough power.

 Is it worth it to buy the spendy initially, or go more budget and hope for the best and it is what it is?  Is Budget the only option?
Upgrade later, or Add later?
All options.  
Your choice.

My current personal strategy is A  Single High$ AGM, (group27 northstar) for both engine starting and powering house loads overnight.
My Alternator can feed it with as much as 106 amps
My solar can feed it with as much as 13 amps at noon on june 21
My plug in charging source can feed it 40 amps.

All 3 of these chrging sources can have their Absorption Voltages manipulated for fastest and full recharging.


My loads are:
 a 12vDC Compressor fridge that averages 0.6 Ah per hour in winter, 0.95Ah per hour in Summer
LED lights, Computer fans, 12v TV( 13.3inch) laptop(upto 90 watts)
Optional house loads are a ~45 watt 12v heating pad.
The Phone recharge is also a load.

How much laptop I use can make or break my ability to keep the battery happy.  Much easier in Summer, and easier the more I drive.  Plugging in to achieve Full charge at 40 amps, is an important factor in my ability to keep this battery happy too.

Last time I depleted this battery 65AH from its total, when new 90AH capacity, it easily started my Engine too.
It is My ONLY battery, currently. 
 I could carry two more of them, but see no need, currently, Pun intended.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Last time I depleted this battery 65AH from its total, when new 90AH capacity, it easily started my Engine too.
It is My ONLY battery, currently. 
 I could carry two more of them, but see no need, currently, Pun intended.

I think I'm getting the picture here (finally LOL)! Before I asked the question to begin with, I was looking at 200W solar and 2 golf cart batteries to equal the 12V. The generator talk really messed up my little brain, though! In reality, I could move whenever I couldn't properly recharge my batteries with solar anymore and needed the engine to do it. I am not set in my mind as to staying a certain amount of time in any place!! So I've come full circle and think my original idea was good enough! Now I have to decide whether I want the suitcase (will I be able to lift it) or the moveable mount to angle the panels (pricey).

Thanks to you and everyone for your input. As I said in another post, the exchange of ideas on this forum is just amazing!!

 

[blars]

Per usable power, LiFePO4 are comparable to high-end AGM systems in price. See my blog link. They do need charged differently.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Per usable power, LiFePO4 are comparable to high-end AGM systems in price.  See my blog link.  They do need charged differently.

Very cool comparison! I like the idea of lighter and less volume as well as longer life... This may still be in the running, thank you!!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Yes... so... I've been reading up about those LiFePO4 batteries and they sound like less stress for those of us who are not so mechanically inclined. I know they're more expensive, but price aside, would they be smarter for me??

Best info I've seen on LiFePO4 batteries is the series Technomadia did on their converted bus install:

http://www.technomadia.com/lithium/

 

[jimindenver]

One thing to consider is some batteries have temperature limitations. That took some of the types out of the running when I was looking due to the extreme temperatures I deal with in Colorado.

 

[John61CT]

Yes, LiFePO4 are murdered if you try to charge at very cold temps. Pulling from them also much less effective, but not damaging.

So warm locations, or House-only inside heated space.