LiFePO4 storage

The cell data sheet that came with my EVE 304AH cells, show a "cycle life" of equal to or greater than 3500 cycles at 25°C (77°F). So if you look at that from a real world perspective and 365 days a year.....that would work out to 9.58 years. How many folks charge and discharge (One cycle) every single day of the year? Even if you are full timers and actually do discharge/charge every day.....the battery is not really being stressed if you are plugged into shore power (converter keeps the battery topped off). For well over the majority of us, who do not full time and use the camper on an occasional basis......even half of the year, that would theoretically double that 9.58 number to 19 years. If the data is accurate AND there is no premature failure, it's very likely that the battery(s) will outlast the trailer.
Clearly these batteries will not fail from cycling under standard (77F, constant cycling, testing over a short period of time, ...) testing conditions, for just about all users.

Deep cycle LA batteries are unlikely to fail under ideal cycling conditions for typical number of cycles that RVers use them. Testing cycle life could be 1/10th (?) of LFP. Also not having a BMS hurts LA in the real world from abusive conditions. LA do have a lot of premature failures in the real world.
 
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Let's face it, LA batteries are far inferior to LifePo4 batteries in everything but maybe price. There is no way to sugar coat that technology. It was good back then, but not so good right now.

I do agree and I stress to all my clients, batteries prematurely fail because of customer neglect. If my client elects to drive their car once every two months and puts just a couple of miles on the car during that drive, it's not the batteries fault that it failed. LA batteries really do not like to be discharged below 50%. They don't like to be overcharged either.

The longest lasting LA battery I have ever seen was 23 years old. I have seen at least 4 last 16 years before finally not providing enough power to start the engine. In general, I seem to see German factory LA batteries last about 8-10 years. Those that last that long are driven regularly and rarely ever discharged.

Since RV batteries are constantly drained and charged, they just do not last that long and if they do, it's because they are not discharged that low.

That's my take with the 40+ years of working on automobiles. There are plenty of others that my have different experiences.
 
I find it funny, with all this knowledge folks will still spend money on LA or SLA batterys. I consider it a bargain even with the hardware upgrades needed to fully utilize LIFE batterys
 
Yep, I went from two Two Trojan T105s (about 58/59 lbs each) with 230AH total, to a DIY LFP battery that has 302AH and even with building my own heated/insulated battery box and the battery cells and the BMS, it comes in right around 75 lbs and can be discharged down to almost nothing. I don't discharge that low, but the fact still remains that I've got less weight up front, a lot more available AHs, and there are no cells to keep water in. It just makes sense to me.
 
Just a quick question: I seem to remember reading that a single 100 AH Lithium battery will not have enough power to run the hydraulic system. I can't depend on my memory, so asking to be sure. :) TIA
 
Just a quick question: I seem to remember reading that a single 100 AH Lithium battery will not have enough power to run the hydraulic system. I can't depend on my memory, so asking to be sure. :) TIA
It would depend on the battery management system (BMS). Some BMSs limit output to 100 Amps which might not be enough to run the hydraulics.
 
Thank you. Well, it would be close, they seem to pull between 65-75 amps, but would likely work.
I've never seen mine over about 68/69 amps before, so yes it will work....unless the 100AH battery's BMS is set to like 50A or so. Some of them are, so you would have to know that. And I would suggest that you also not have anything else that is 12VDC turned on....Fridge, lights, etc.
 
I've never seen mine over about 68/69 amps before, so yes it will work....unless the 100AH battery's BMS is set to like 50A or so. Some of them are, so you would have to know that. And I would suggest that you also not have anything else that is 12VDC turned on....Fridge, lights, etc.
Thank you for all the information. Not likely to go to Lithium, but who knows. :)
 
Thank you for all the information. Not likely to go to Lithium, but who knows. :)
One of the best mods I've done to the trailer. Getting the Norcold swapped to the JC Refrigeration Twin 12VDC compressors though, remains the best mod so far.
 
One of the best mods I've done to the trailer. Getting the Norcold swapped to the JC Refrigeration Twin 12VDC compressors though, remains the best mod so far.
Hopefully this won't jinx us, :) but our 2118 seems to be working well. Refrigerator right around 32° and freezer at 13°. Of course there are several fans that weren't there from the factory either. :)
 
Hopefully this won't jinx us, :) but our 2118 seems to be working well. Refrigerator right around 32° and freezer at 13°. Of course there are several fans that weren't there from the factory either. :)
Well, mine never did work well, even when brand new. After JC Refrigeration mod, within 3 1/2 hours, the fresh food section was 32 and the freezer was -5 degrees....empty
 

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