I made the plunge into the Lithium Iron Battery. On my bus, I'm using 2-8D Lifeline batteries of 255 amp/hr each. They weigh 156lbs each and are a bugger to move. My first set lasted 7 years with no maintenance on the batteries. But on my truck I wanted to get away from these beasts.
I was looking at the Lifeline GPL-6CT 6V batteries that are 300AH apiece (like tall golf cart batteries). They weigh in at 90lbs a piece-so much easier to handle. I was going to use 4 for 600AH, or 300AH usable at 50% discharge. The cheapest I found was $330 apiece for a total of $1,320 and 360lbs and have a 2 year replacement, 5 year warranty. I was going to mount them in a side box with ventilation.
Then I started investigation Lithium Iron batteries and found Battle Born Batteries out of Sparks, Nv (I like dealing with west coast manufacturers since I'm in SoCal). They make a size 27 battery that is 100AH and weighs 30lbs! Granted they are $899 ea for a total of $2,697 for 3 since Lithium Iron batteries can be used to 100% discharge without hurting. Also Lithium Iron Batteries maintain their power right up to the end, whereas lead acid batteries diminish as they discharge. Battle Born gives 10 year warranty. I mounted the batteries inside in my basement without worry. It was really easy handling 30lbl batteries for a total of 90lbs. In the next couple of years, if I need more power, I can just add onto the batteries without much worry. We'll see how they work! Good Luck, TomC
Lithium Ion would be more accurate.>>>D ( And probably much lighter)
Did your existing charger/inverter need to be upgraded to work with your new lithium batteries? Anything else that you needed to upgrade to complete the lithium upgrade?
I'm very interested in upgrading to lithium iron phosphate batteries, but a battery upgrade is probably after an inverter upgrade for me.
I'm not sure how much cold weather you encounter, but you may have to be mindful of the cold when trying to charge them. I watched an interesting video yesterday concerning a new lithium install. The whole video is interesting, but at one point they wrapped the batteries in the same kind of heat pads that you might find on water tanks to keep them from freezing: Keep Your Daydream (https://youtu.be/MIY6hAeRMLQ?t=766)
From the company's website:
Battle Born LiFePO4
Deep Cycle Batteries
The highest quality lithium iron phosphate technology,
the fairest price on the market.
Iron or ion?
Just had to adjust my Magnum 2800 Pure Sine to 13.3v float, 14.4 charge, no equalization, 10.5 volt shut off. Otherwise, it works just fine. Good Luck, TomC
Tom, is this in your bus, or your truck conversion?
In my truck conversion. I still have the 2-8D Lifeline AGM batteries in my bus.
Nice thing about the Battle Born batteries is that they are pretty much made as drop-in-replacements for a lead acid. The BMS inside them protect them pretty well.
Only real downside is low temp cut off, they won't charge below freezing.
$899 is a good deal, I remember when they were $999, I'm hoping they hit $599 or so I might get some. Could be a few years.
If Battle Born are Elon's batteries, as he has a factory in Sparks, by the time you need to buy replacement batteries, they will probably be half of the cost. A 10 year warranty is nice, I believe he offers the same deal on his car batteries. A friend of mine is driving his Tesla across the country so it will be interesting to see how that goes. Maybe if you buy Elons batteries, you can use his free charging stations. ;)
They are not Elon's 18650 cells. Inside is something like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-8-pcs-3-2v-86Ah-90Ah-LiFePO4-prismatic-Lithium-Li-ion-battery/183750490947?hash=item2ac861fb43:g:GzcAAOSw3LZcm3cC along with a BMS.
You may have to upgrade your fire extinguisher(s). Not saying they are more hazardous, probably less likely to start a fire, just once a fire is well under way a little tough to extinguish.
The Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries don't burn like the 18650 cells in a Tesla.