Cheap Batteries are Coming, Cheap Batteries are Coming, Cheap Lithium Batteries ...

[SolarPoweredRV]

When it comes to replacing your Lead Acid Batteries with Lithium Batteries, Battle Born is the "Gold Standard" brand to install, unfortunately, the brand also carries a premium price. Lithium batteries (LiFePo4 chemistry) have been around for quite some time and it is about time prices start to become more reasonable. Have you ever said to yourself; I would love to have Lithium batteries in my RV, but, the price is just too steep, I'll wait till the price comes down.

Well...

For those who are more price conscious (frugal) the prices have come down for Lithium Batteries (LiFePo4 Batteries). To be specific, you can now power your RV for ~ 70% less than the price of installing Battle Born Batteries.

I spent the day researching LiFePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries and I have found batteries as low as $271 for a 100ah (equivalent) Lithium Battery. Compared to a Battle Born Battery at $949 that is quite a deal !!!!!

Now these batteries are not covered by a 10 warranty, nor are they supported by a dealer network, but they are cheap and they cost less than AGM Batteries.

I realize not everyone is willing to go with the cheapest battery on the market, but I have also created a Spreadsheet with several options priced between these two extremes.

I will attach the Spreadsheet below.

The lowest price is based on a 12v, 200ah, LiFePo4 battery sourced from AliBaba in China and shipped direct. The pricing is based on ordering a single battery and paying shipping charges from China, if you were to order more than a single battery, the pricing might be lower due to lower shipping charges per battery.

I realize that not everyone is adventurous enough to order your LiFePo4 Batteries direct from China (where most LiFePo4 batteries are made), but for those who are daring enough, your wallet will thank you (to be honest, if this were an option available to me a few years ago, I would have purchased these batteries direct from China).

If you are considering installing a Robust Solar and Lithium Battery System, I would strongly suggest you consider installing a 24 volt system instead of sticking with a 12 volt system there are many advantages to a 24v system. If you do consider a 24v system, you should search for 24v LiFePo4 batteries (all the batteries on my Spreadsheet are 12 volts).

I have also included several batteries available from Amazon with free shipping (I love those magic words) and some even have Warranties that compare favorably with Battle Born Batteries.

I have sorted my list by $ per Amp Hour to allow for better comparison between the different Amp Hour offerings shown. Additionally, I have included the web link to the page where I found the batteries and pricing. Please note that these links may not be accurate for more than a few days after I post this.

If anybody decides to purchase any of the batteries listed, please post a note about your experience and how you like your new (cheap) battery or batteries.

[droundtree]

Be very very careful with cheap lithium ion batteries. If you buy a cheap lead acid or AGM and it fails your RV goes dark. If a cheap LI fails your coach is a smoldering hulk, maybe with you in it. When I make the move I will spend the money for reputable batteries and will still have a heat sensor with alarm in the battery compartment. You’ve seen the news stories about phones, hoverboards a e-cigs catching fire. Think hard before you risk your coach and your life to save a few bucks.


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[TheLexx]

The ones from Amazon have great reviews. I see no reason to avoid them. $540 with a warranty and free shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...GXN4H62H&psc=1

[SolarPoweredRV]

Be very very careful with cheap lithium ion batteries. If you buy a cheap lead acid or AGM and it fails your RV goes dark. If a cheap LI fails your coach is a smoldering hulk, maybe with you in it. When I make the move I will spend the money for reputable batteries and will still have a heat sensor with alarm in the battery compartment. You’ve seen the news stories about phones, hoverboards a e-cigs catching fire. Think hard before you risk your coach and your life to save a few bucks.


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All the E-cig and Cell Phone and Hoverboard fires were caused by Lithium Ion Batteries, NOT The LiFePo4 batteries mentioned above. LiFePo4 battery chemistry is very safe and does not suffer from "Thermal Runaway" like the Lithium Ion batteries you noted in your post. By-the-way, Battle Born uses the same LiFePo4 battery chemistry as the batteries I mentioned in the first post.

Also, the batteries I listed all have an internal Battery Management System (BMS) to protect the batteries (just like the Battle Born batteries).

[bertschb]

Be very very careful with cheap lithium ion batteries. If you buy a cheap lead acid or AGM and it fails your RV goes dark. If a cheap LI fails your coach is a smoldering hulk, maybe with you in it. When I make the move I will spend the money for reputable batteries and will still have a heat sensor with alarm in the battery compartment. You’ve seen the news stories about phones, hoverboards a e-cigs catching fire. Think hard before you risk your coach and your life to save a few bucks.

LiFePO4 batteries are a different chemistry than the lithium batteries in smart phones and laptops. They do not carry the same fire risk.

[droundtree]

That sounds much better and I agree with you assessment. However I still think heat sensors and alarms are a good choice in the compartment.


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[SolarPoweredRV]

That sounds much better and I agree with you assessment. However I still think heat sensors and alarms are a good choice in the compartment.


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Yes, Sensors and Alarms are always a good idea.

[ajg617]

LiFePO4 batteries are a different chemistry than the lithium batteries in smart phones and laptops. They do not carry the same fire risk.

Have there ever been any studies on safety of LiFePO4? I ask because many years ago, Kyocera brought into the US the first Lithium Ion cell phone. The rep handed me one to try out for several months and then told me to ignore the stories of explosions in Japan as those issues were corrected. Didn't carry that phone on my person.

[SolarPoweredRV]

Have there ever been any studies on safety of LiFePO4? I ask because many years ago, Kyocera brought into the US the first Lithium Ion cell phone. The rep handed me one to try out for several months and then told me to ignore the stories of explosions in Japan as those issues were corrected. Didn't carry that phone on my person.

A search for "LiFePo4 Safety" will show several results, many contrasting the safety records of LiFePo4 batteries and Lithium Ion batteries.

[ajg617]

A search for "LiFePo4 Safety" will show several results, many contrasting the safety records of LiFePo4 batteries and Lithium Ion batteries.

What I see is it is all dependent on the production process or lack thereof. Not unlike what Boeing experienced in the DreamLiner.