Here's a deal on LiFePo4 batteries

[Oaklevel]

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[Oaklevel]

Interesting reading .....
I will stick with my lead acid batteries and learn what the heck a blue tooth even is........

Do they make RVs without all this computer crap any more. or can you take it out and trash it?? Like just on/off switches...........What ever happened to just camping?

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Bluetooth........humphhhh. I saw a fellow the other day who appeared to have a cockroach on the side of his head. He was walking around talking to himself. My my what folks will do.

Bob

 

[GolfingDave]

Had to look it up. Why it is called Bluetooth.

Bluetooth

 

[Aussieguy]

bluetooth on a battery is a quick easy way to see the condition of a battery
you could even watch the amp draw as you turn on stuff ... if the amps are spiking higher could give you an early warning that something could be amiss ... Just like we use to use amp gauges

it's not complicated to look at a battery once in a while

RV's that have touch screens to turn stuff on/off...... they are complicated
they got relays extra wiring etc

But there are times I wished I had a remote to turn off the light or something in the kitchen from the bed
I got a remote from amazon... used it on my boat anchor windlass... Trying to find a good use for it in the travel trailer

BTW... if I wanted to go "camping"... Would of bought a tent
RVing is NOT camping !

EDIT.... additional
For those that don't like progress and computers
stop reading the forum on the computer crap!
and toss your phone for a flip one!

 

[5picker]

bluetooth on a battery is a quick easy way to see the condition of a battery
you could even watch the amp draw as you turn on stuff ... if the amps are spiking higher could give you an early warning that something could be amiss ... Just like we use to use amp gauges

it's not complicated to look at a battery once in a while

RV's that have touch screens to turn stuff on/off...... they are complicated
they got relays extra wiring etc

But there are times I wished I had a remote to turn off the light or something in the kitchen from the bed
I got a remote from amazon... used it on my boat anchor windlass... Trying to find a good use for it in the travel trailer

BTW... if I wanted to go "camping"... Would of bought a tent
RVing is NOT camping !

EDIT.... additional
For those that don't like progress and computers
stop reading the forum on the computer crap!
and toss your phone for a flip one!

LOL... Tell that to the folks who won't look at a LP switch-over indicator once in a while!

Everyone has their priorities and way of doing things. Mine is to not fret daily/hourly like some, over every volt/amp of current going in/out of my battery(ies).

Until technology gets further along, camping and using my FLAs as I have for 50 years works just fine. Maybe, maybe if I lived in a warm climate and always camped where there was plentiful sun, I'd think about something else but where it is months of colder weather and one wants to take a quick weekend trip where the temperatures wouldn't allow charging of LifeP0, FLA is still the winner.

And no, I'm not giving up premium storage space somewhere inside when I have a perfectly good, strategically placed battery compartment that is unheated.

 

[ppine]

Price declines have been very welcome. They can last 10 years. No need to use and toss them.
New battery technologies will start to emerge soon.

 

[Aussieguy]

Until technology gets further along,

how much further along do they need?

1/2 the weight
twice the power capacity
and charge 5 times faster

You could go lithiumION for more power density (if you dare and are crazy )

 

[NMWildcat]

how much further along do they need?

1/2 the weight
twice the power capacity
and charge 5 times faster

You could go lithiumION for more power density (if you dare and are crazy )

So you 'like' his post and then find fault with it?

In my opinion, LifePo4 tech is not a perfect (or even good) fit for use in RVs, and probably will never be (especially for boondocking in winter). For tech to be an actual improvement, it has to make my life simpler and better. Cheaper would be a plus also. I'm not concerned with weight, my FLAs have more than enough capacity to get me through a winter night. FLAs work in any environment I find myself in w/o any heating, constant monitoring, or upgrade of charging equipment.

I will stick to my FLAs recharged by solar and generator until some battery technology comes along that actually makes my life easier in every environment I RV in.

 

[Aussieguy]

So you 'like' his post and then find fault with it?

I think my fat fingers hit the wrong icon
Unliked it ....

 

[Clffhnger]

The company responded to my questions and said that the actual size is Dimension:L385* W190* H245mm which is 15.16 X 7.5 X 9.68

 

[GolfingDave]

In my opinion, LifePo4 tech is not a perfect (or even good) fit for use in RVs, and probably will never be (especially for boondocking in winter). I'm not concerned with weight,

or upgrade of charging equipment.

This is why I went to LifePo4
More AH's for the same weight. Something I was trying to address, a little less tongue weight if possible.
I did add another solar panel so in actuality it eliminates the weight savings but it is not direct on the tongue anymore. Batteries are inside now.

I do not have to run a generator as much boondocking depending on the sun. Sunny days do not really add any charge to my batteries in the winter but it keeps them from discharging during the daylight hours.

No upgrade of charging equipment, same old converter. Solar panels top off the batteries.
Summertime I can go indefinitely without having to run a generator if all I want to use is DC. As long as I don't get a week of no sun but even cloudy overcast days in the summer it will charge a bit.

Good enough fit for me in my camper. No right or wrong but just depends on the individual if it is a good fit.

My AGM batteries were not holding up either so it did not cost me any extra to go LifePo4. Was going to have to spend the money anyway.

 

[TitanMike]

[So you 'like' his post and then find fault with it?

In my opinion, LifePo4 tech is not a perfect (or even good) fit for use in RVs, and probably will never be (especially for boondocking in winter). For tech to be an actual improvement, it has to make my life simpler and better. Cheaper would be a plus also. I'm not concerned with weight, my FLAs have more than enough capacity to get me through a winter night. FLAs work in any environment I find myself in w/o any heating, constant monitoring, or upgrade of charging equipment.

I will stick to my FLAs recharged by solar and generator until some battery technology comes along that actually makes my life easier in every environment I RV in.

In years to come RV's will most likely come with LiFePo4 batteries that meet your requirements from the factories. Proper converters will be OEM.

Most of us today that boondock a lot are either re-vamping our existing units for more power storage for one reason or another. Weight is a consideration along with more power capacity per square or cubic foot (I now have 540 ah capacity under my jack-knife sofa in a footprint less than that of 3-100ah LiFePo4 batteries), and pretty much no maintenance except maybe for dusting. Let's not forget "Voltage Sag" which is inherent in FLA batteries which is a problem for high current devices like Microwaves as the battery bank is depleted.

Also nice to see LiFePo4 batteries fully charged from a long nights use with only a few hours of solar charging and same if generator is needed due to lack of sun.

As for heat in the winter, heated batteries are becomming more the norm except for the Low
End units.

Each user will make their own choices using their own excuses for or against one chemistry or the other. Just like the gas versus diesel, half-ton versus one-ton, etc excuses.

 

[5picker]

In years to come RV's will most likely come with LiFePo4 batteries that meet your requirements from the factories. Proper converters will be OEM.

Most of us today that boondock a lot are either re-vamping our existing units for more power storage for one reason or another. Weight is a consideration along with more power capacity per square or cubic foot (I now have 540 ah capacity under my jack-knife sofa in a footprint less than that of 3-100ah LiFePo4 batteries), and pretty much no maintenance except maybe for dusting. Let's not forget "Voltage Sag" which is inherent in FLA batteries which is a problem for high current devices like Microwaves as the battery bank is depleted.

Also nice to see LiFePo4 batteries fully charged from a long nights use with only a few hours of solar charging and same if generator is needed due to lack of sun.

As for heat in the winter, heated batteries are becomming more the norm except for the Low
End units.

Each user will make their own choices using their own excuses for or against one chemistry or the other. Just like the gas versus diesel, half-ton versus one-ton, etc excuses.

I fully agree Mike and as technology gets further along (as I said earlier) R/Vs likely will come with LiFePo...but... that's just not yet the case. I'm sure everyone is anxious to have more available power, less weight, quicker charge times and any other advantage that comes with them but I'm just not yet willing to give up my spur of the notice, quick trip in sub freezing temperatures for a battery I can't use/charge without some special costs/considerations when what I have, works just fine.

For those preaching it's the only way to go... it simply isn't... for everyone... yet.

 

[Aussieguy]

gas..... can't stand diesel fumes

Each user will make their own choices

well said

 

[PhilFromMaine]

So you 'like' his post and then find fault with it?

In my opinion, LifePo4 tech is not a perfect (or even good) fit for use in RVs, and probably will never be (especially for boondocking in winter). For tech to be an actual improvement, it has to make my life simpler and better. Cheaper would be a plus also. I'm not concerned with weight, my FLAs have more than enough capacity to get me through a winter night. FLAs work in any environment I find myself in w/o any heating, constant monitoring, or upgrade of charging equipment.

I will stick to my FLAs recharged by solar and generator until some battery technology comes along that actually makes my life easier in every environment I RV in.

I don't see the contradiction. Using 5Picker as an example, I find myself disagreeing with him on some opinion posts, but he usually always presents his arguments in a thoughtful and logical manner. I literally like all of his posts for those reasons. His opinions always have merit and deserve a like, but I don't necessarily completely agree.

 

[PhilFromMaine]

I don't see the contradiction. Using 5Picker as an example, I find myself disagreeing with him on some opinion posts, but he usually always presents his arguments in a thoughtful and logical manner. I literally like all of his posts for those reasons. His opinions always have merit and deserve a like, but I don't necessarily completely agree with them.

 

[RobbieH]

The one I have is absolutely a 31, it did not fit in the original Camco box, I went with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSTDNC2F

It's much better built than the Camco I took off.

 

[Aussieguy]

I ditched the battery box and moved batteries to the pass through
so I could add solar controller and possibly a inverter one day

still can use the pass through as it was intended for storage
took about 2 hours to re-rout wiring and add a plywood board to mount the controller and other stuff

batteries more protected from weather
less problems with connections getting wet and corrosion
cost was small < $10

 

[RobbieH]

Interesting reading .....
I will stick with my lead acid batteries and learn what the heck a blue tooth even is........

Do they make RVs without all this computer crap any more. or can you take it out and trash it?? Like just on/off switches...........What ever happened to just camping?

A tent? Now that was just camping. We got tired of it though after 15 years.