HubLion Batteries Source

[morfja]

Hello All,

I'm looking to basically double the 200Ah lithium battery pack that is installed in our 17BF2, which we took delivery on new in January. The batteries are nearly new with just a couple partial cycles on them, so option 1 is to match them up with two more of the same (Hub Power HUB-12.8V-100-LFP-24) 100Ah batteries. I'll move them inside under the bed, such that I maintain overall center of gravity and tongue weight. Does anyone know a good retail source for these batteries?

Option 2 is to install a 460Ah Epoch battery (a friend is a dealer and can get me one for his cost) under the bed and sell the two 100Ah HubLion batteries to another Escape owner who is looking to expand their battery pack. Anyone interested in these?

Jeff

 

[DT6]

If it were me, I'd stick with the Hub Power unless you find yourself consistently running out of power in a day or two. Epoch as I recall (hopefully correctly) gets some good mentions in the forum here, so if you really need to bump to 460Ah (which is a lot lot lot of power).

Another option to consider is to install a battery cutoff switch and buy two cheaper LiTime or SOK batteries and connect those two in parallel. Then you would have two sets of two, and when one bank runs out all you have to do is throw the switch to the other set.

The Cost of new Hub Power batteries looks ridiculously expensive to me. I found one listed for $1200 on one site and $760 (us) on one other. That is a premium price these days as you can get a Battleborn for not much more. LiTime or SOK 100Ah batteries are in the $300+ price range, or one 200Ah LiTime is about $500 or similar SOK for about $700. Even if you paid someone to install a cutoff switch it would still be less than buying two new Hub Power batteries.

That's my 2-cents, others will likely have different suggestions. I hope you find one that fits your needs!

 

[morfja]

Thanks for the input. I don't want to have two battery banks that I have to charge separately. Interconnecting different brands of lithium is considered a no-no. We do camp almost exclusively off-grid and thus the desire for more energy storage. A generator would provide the capability for less money but it's another thing to maintain and fuel. There's also the noise and emissions. If I could do it over, I'd have bought the trailer with no batteries or the cheapest ones available, so I wouldn't have to worry as much about what's already there. Unless I can find matching HubLion batteries for what's looking like an unlikely price, I'll probably get that big Epoch from my dealer friend. If that happens, I'll be advertising a screaming deal on a couple almost new HubLion batteries. (-:

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

my 412AH (5260 watt*hours) worth of LFP will let me go a week+ without solar and that includes running a 6.3 cu ft compressor fridge 24/7, and intermittent use of a 2000W inverter to make coffee, dry hair. with even a little solar, I basically can go forever dry camping.

 

[morfja]

Yep. That’s what I’m looking to achieve, John. I’ve got 460Ah (5520 watt hrs) on order now.

 

[RambleOn]

I don't want to have two battery banks that I have to charge separately.

You should do what you are comfortable with for sure. In our recently owned teardrop we had two battery banks and an A/B/Both switch that controlled use and charging. Given our usage, the smaller battery (230ah) served as a backup to the 400ah battery and we used it very little. So, most of the time there was no switching (or thought) involved but it was comforting to know we had the extra power if needed. YMMV

 

[GinoandLinda]

You should do what you are comfortable with for sure. In our recently owned teardrop we had two battery banks and an A/B/Both switch that controlled use and charging. Given our usage, the smaller battery (230ah) served as a backup to the 400ah battery and we used it very little. So, most of the time there was no switching (or thought) involved but it was comforting to know we had the extra power if needed. YMMV

Agreed. I see no benefit to two separate battery banks in a recreational camper, other than to separate differing batteries and to me, the complexity that introduces isn’t worth it. We added two additional HubLion batteries to our existing two when we purchased our camper for a total of 400ah, knowing that the bank will deliver 400ah. Sometimes a 400ah battery will only deliver 100ah. Depends on the battery.

 

[RambleOn]

I guess the main advantage would be that you'd have more power and it would cost very little extra, but if you don't need it then there's no point.

 

[morfja]

The idea of two battery banks, in and of itself, is appealing. I’ve owned several sailboats over the years, and they’ve all had dual battery banks. Those battery banks were made up of lead-acid, deep-cycle batteries. As I understand things, mixing those types of batteries is less of an issue than it is with lithium. When you put the selector in “both” on those boats, you were connecting the banks in parallel, creating one large bank that charges and discharges together. I don’t think it’s a good idea to wire 200Ah of brand a lithium in parallel with 460Ah of brand b lithium. If there were a simple way to keep the HubLion and use them together with the new Epoch, I’d do that.

As it is, I got an extremely good deal on the big 460Ah battery. Now I’ll sell the 200Ah of basically new HubLion batteries to someone who can use them. $400 for the pair plus shipping. Some other 17 owner can double their battery banks affordably, and the net cost of my honkin big battery goes down to around $750. Win-win!

 

[RambleOn]

I agree on the "both" setting, we never used it. I wired them myself so it must not have been to complicated. The basic approach is adding a switch that controls both the WFCO input/output and the solar controller so you can route them to the appropriate battery (bank). Others on the forum could provide more detail, I'm sure. If I lived closer I'd buy yours....

 

[DT6]

The idea of two battery banks, in and of itself, is appealing. I’ve owned several sailboats over the years, and they’ve all had dual battery banks. Those battery banks were made up of lead-acid, deep-cycle batteries. As I understand things, mixing those types of batteries is less of an issue than it is with lithium. When you put the selector in “both” on those boats, you were connecting the banks in parallel, creating one large bank that charges and discharges together. I don’t think it’s a good idea to wire 200Ah of brand a lithium in parallel with 460Ah of brand b lithium. If there were a simple way to keep the HubLion and use them together with the new Epoch, I’d do that.

As it is, I got an extremely good deal on the big 460Ah battery. Now I’ll sell the 200Ah of basically new HubLion batteries to someone who can use them. $400 for the pair plus shipping. Some other 17 owner can double their battery banks affordably, and the net cost of my honkin big battery goes down to around $750. Win-win!

Just to clarify, I was recommending an A Or B OR Off switch, without an A+B connection so I cannot, as they say in Gostbusters, cross the streams which would be bad if I had non-matching batteries !

The reason I did this was because the original set of Lithium batteries I had a bad BMS that would on occasion cause them to rapidly drain, which usually manifested around 2:30AM when I'd wake up to a very cold trailer and no power. As I never want to be in that position again, I opted for the battery disconnect switch I mentioned.

The nice thing about Lithium is that unlike lead-acid, if you don't use it, no problem. It will maintain a state of charge for a long time, so even if I just utilize it once or twice a year, it should be fine.

It sounds like you have found a great solution for your circumstances, and you will likely never even burn through 460Ah unless you are in some very bad weather and stuck for more than a week.

The price you are offering for the batteries is an awesome deal for someone looking a set! I'll be surprised if they are not sold within a day or two - good luck!

 

[Deanr]

The idea of two battery banks, in and of itself, is appealing. I’ve owned several sailboats over the years, and they’ve all had dual battery banks. Those battery banks were made up of lead-acid, deep-cycle batteries. As I understand things, mixing those types of batteries is less of an issue than it is with lithium. When you put the selector in “both” on those boats, you were connecting the banks in parallel, creating one large bank that charges and discharges together. I don’t think it’s a good idea to wire 200Ah of brand a lithium in parallel with 460Ah of brand b lithium. If there were a simple way to keep the HubLion and use them together with the new Epoch, I’d do that.

As it is, I got an extremely good deal on the big 460Ah battery. Now I’ll sell the 200Ah of basically new HubLion batteries to someone who can use them. $400 for the pair plus shipping. Some other 17 owner can double their battery banks affordably, and the net cost of my honkin big battery goes down to around $750. Win-win!

Are the Hublion batteries still for sale?

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Just to clarify, I was recommending an A Or B OR Off switch, without an A+B connection so I cannot, as they say in Gostbusters, cross the streams which would be bad if I had non-matching batteries !
...

The catch 22 of an A or B switch without A+B is, if you switch from A to B there will be a moment of 'none of the above'. Now maybe this isn't a problem, all depends on what you're running and doing. old school, they called these sorts of switches break before make, or make before break.

 

[morfja]

The Hublion batteries are sold.