Lithium Batteries

Old Fulica

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
223
Location
Abbotsford
Last edited:
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Get a couple of these and one might not need solar power. Of course they start at $700 ...

No experience - yet. And looking at the provided web site, the equivalent to my current batteries will cost me about 2600 USD. So I'll wait until they are down to about 300. :)

Oh, and regardless of the chemistry, they will need recharging (solar, or whatever).

--
Alan
 
In 6 or 7 years when the 2 six volt batteries on my 2017 trailer go bad I'll look into the Lithium Ion batteries. Way too expensive right now although I have a big one on my 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. It sits where the non existent spare tire would have been.
Perhaps in the future someone will look into 36 or 48 volt RV Trailer systems with regenerative braking and anti sway wheels. :treehug:
 
I think that as lithium batteries become more common, demand increases, and production gets ramped up, we will see lots of competition and prices drop. Much like we have seen with solar panels over the last 10 years. Power storage is a weak link in solar collection now.
 
Saw this on NPR a year or so ago.

"A few years back, China got into the panel business in a big way - subsidized loans, lots of new factories. In fact, too many factories. When they all came online, there was this massive glut in solar panels. Prices collapsed, and they've stayed low."

If we get lucky they'll subsidize Lithium battery production too.

For now it's too much $ for me, I'll go with AGM's when the originals need replacing.
 
I bought 400ah lithium batteries to support 4 100w solar panels I had AM Solar(Springfield, OR) install for me on my 2014 5.0TA and so far they are living up to my expectations. Basically zero maintinence free, way lighter to carry and don't take a lot of space under u-shaped dinette. I had them installed when AM Solar was just getting into the lithium battery systems. I basically didn't want to mess with the wet cell batteries and I wanted to be able to camp wherever my travels took me. Like I said it's a great way to go if you can.
 
Saw this on NPR a year or so ago.

"A few years back, China got into the panel business in a big way - subsidized loans, lots of new factories. In fact, too many factories. When they all came online, there was this massive glut in solar panels. Prices collapsed, and they've stayed low."

If we get lucky they'll subsidize Lithium battery production too.
In the case of lithium batteries, the Tesla Gigafactory is the subsidized operation, although only a small fraction has been constructed and it doesn't actually make batteries yet.
 
Get a couple of these and one might not need solar power.
...
Oh, and regardless of the chemistry, they will need recharging (solar, or whatever).
More capacity can eliminate the need for recharging during the trip, if the capacity is high enough and the trip (or unserviced portions of the trip) is short enough. This is highly dependent on how you use your trailer.
 
Have to hope Tesla and Samsung will have solved the spontaneous combustion issue.
Tesla doesn't actually know much about building batteries - they only use them. Their "partner" (supplier) for batteries is Panasonic.

Lithium batteries suitable for RV use are the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) type; the spontaneously self-destructing batteries (such as those used by Samsung, and in essentially every other mobile electronic device) are of different chemistries.
 
I bought 400ah lithium batteries to support 4 100w solar panels I had AM Solar(Springfield, OR) install for me on my 2014 5.0TA and so far they are living up to my expectations. Basically zero maintinence free, way lighter to carry and don't take a lot of space under u-shaped dinette. I had them installed when AM Solar was just getting into the lithium battery systems. I basically didn't want to mess with the wet cell batteries and I wanted to be able to camp wherever my travels took me. Like I said it's a great way to go if you can.
Good to know. Thanks Jack. Looking at some prices and the 400ah costs about $4000. Is that right? How many did you buy?
 
I hope everybody who's looking at those lithium batteries are paying attention to the problems they have . . . Galaxy Note 7, hover boards, airplanes, etc. I for one wouldn't want my Escape to burn up because of a lithium battery. Pay attention, and do your research. Certainly an exciting technology, but one that needs qualification.

Chuck
 
I hope everybody who's looking at those lithium batteries are paying attention to the problems they have . . . Galaxy Note 7, hover boards, airplanes, etc. I for one wouldn't want my Escape to burn up because of a lithium battery. Pay attention, and do your research. Certainly an exciting technology, but one that needs qualification.
It's not one technology; the batteries which are burning up are not much like the ones in RVs...
Lithium batteries suitable for RV use are the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) type; the spontaneously self-destructing batteries (such as those used by Samsung, and in essentially every other mobile electronic device) are of different chemistries.
 
Hope the guy who built the web site had nothing to do with the batteries they sell. :eek:

That's just a retailer; I would assume that they know nothing, and they certainly don't have anything to do with making the batteries.

The manufactuer (or perhaps just a distributor with a house brand) appears to be:
Lithionics
 
I emailed the company in North Van, and he gave me a lot of info. He suggested 2 particular units;

Option 1 - Minimal lithium-ion battery option
Lithionics Battery Model Number: Standard Series 12V110A-G30H-CTRL-200
Battery Voltage: 12 Volts
Battery Amp hour capacity: 110 Amp hours -104.5 Ahr usable (5% reserve capacity)
Battery dimensions: 15" x 8" x 14.04" overall height
Battery weight: 32 pounds
Battery price with 200 Amp BMS: $2,281.26 USD

Option 2 - Extra capacity lithium-ion battery option
Lithionics Battery Model Number: Standard Series 12V195A-G30H-CTRL-400
Battery Voltage: 12 Volts
Battery Amp hour capacity: 195 Amp hours -185 Ahr usable (5% reserve capacity)
Battery dimensions: 15" x 8" x 14.04" overall height
Battery weight: 57 pounds
Battery price with 400 Amp BMS: $3,797.90 USD

It is very tempting but at these prices I will wait for them to come down in price. I would think that this is the same technology use in the Prius, Tesla, etc. not the technology used in hoverboards and Samsungs.
 

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