Lithium ...or not?

[Galway Girl]

Just FYI here's my explanation of our Lithionics Upgrade ...may be useful for those reading this thread.

 

https://4-ever-hitched.com/ggs-blog/f/lithium-battery-upgrade

 

Craig - Hull 505 - Galway Girl

 

[PJYarnall]

My apologies for not responding sooner! 

This is an amazing community and I am overwhelmed by the number of responses!  I am leaning towards committing to the Pro Lithium package as the Oliver, while not our first RV, is likely our last.  Besides better off grid capability I think it may increase its value when it goes on the market someday in the future.

[Galway Girl]

Anyone wondering the difference between the GUTS of Battleborn vs. Lithionics may want  to watch this from the Fit RV.

A teardown that compares the GTX3 Lithionics Battery to the Battleborns.

 

 

[Guest]

Interesting video, thanks for posting the link!

Kirk

[Liana]

On 3/15/2022 at 2:47 PM, ChrisMI said:

Ideally BB will have their BF deal again

BB told me that the batteries go on sale twice a year:  summer and Black Friday.

[carnivore]

So how does one find out when in the summer the BBs are on sale?

[SeaDawg]

I'd say check their website frequently.  

A quick search of our forum showed battleborns on sale August and early September last year. 

They also had a 3 day blem sale last summer, June 25-27.

[Mike and Carol]

Agree with Sherry, check the web site every week or so.  When I got my third Battle Born I had been checking their web site weekly for a couple of months.  Mike

[johnwen]

On 3/17/2022 at 4:39 PM, Galway Girl said:

Just FYI here's my explanation of our Lithionics Upgrade ...may be useful for those reading this thread.

Thanks for your write-up, GG 🙂 Very helpful to me for whenever I upgrade.

[ChrisMI]

I don’t think we’ll see the $675 again during the sale. BB recently increased the price by $75 on the 100 amp versions. My guess is $750 during the blemished sale…

[carnivore]

I'll be checking...thanks

 

[CRM]

5 hours ago, ChrisMI said:

I don’t think we’ll see the $675 again during the sale. BB recently increased the price by $75 on the 100 amp versions. My guess is $750 during the blemished sale…

I hope they find a way to reduce their prices... Good quality Chinese battery prices keep coming down. A friend of mine recently purchased (2) Ampere Time 300ah batteries for just over 1k each.

[SeaDawg]

2 hours ago, CRM said:

I hope they find a way to reduce their prices... Good quality Chinese battery prices keep coming down. A friend of mine recently purchased (2) Ampere Time 300ah batteries for just over 1k each.

I'm not sure that's a fair comparison,  but it's obviously a great price, for those who want an entry level solution. I  think Will Prowse tore those down, and found a few flaws, like no low temp charging sensor in the bms. I'd Google it. Ok if you always camp in warm climates, maybe. With caveats.

Renogy had a series of lifepo4 on sale this week, and I didn't post it, because it was only a 2000 cycle battety. I think older tech. $500 for 100 ah. Solid company. But you have to acknowledge what you're buying.  

Fwiw, I do think battery prices will likely continue to drop. As has solar. It's all a gamble, but if we ever swap to lifepo4, we'll go with a company with a warranty,  like battleborn,  or build our own. 

Just my opinion.  We've certainly been known to take a risk for a price savings, and my opinions are subject to change  with research. 

 

 

[CRM]

18 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

I'm not sure that's a fair comparison,  but it's obviously a great price, for those who want an entry level solution. I  think Will Prowse tore those down, and found a few flaws, like no low temp charging sensor in the bms. I'd Google it. Ok if you always camp in warm climates, maybe. With caveats.

Renogy had a series of lifepo4 on sale this week, and I didn't post it, because it was only a 2000 cycle battety. I think older tech. $500 for 100 ah. Solid company. But you have to acknowledge what you're buying.  

 

 

 

Yeah, he went into it knowing that they had no low temp charge sensor, but he already had battery heat pad and battery temp sensor wired to his charge controller so that wasn't an issue to him. I'll be watching closely how they work out. Have good AGM's right now, but looking to upgrade to LiFePO4 and adding solar in the next year or so.

[routlaw]

I'm having a hard time believing a few mili ohms of resistance is enough to get excited about let alone make a difference in terms of real heat build up. And even it did make a minute amount of difference the price spread is way beyond the ROI IMHO. Of course I'm willing to be proven wrong but the video above did nothing to convince me of spending that much more on a battery. 

Attaching a couple of videos below comparing the Battle Born vs the SOK at about half the price.

 

And here is another review from Will Prowse

 

[GarryandKristi]

On 3/17/2022 at 12:13 PM, topgun2 said:

I believe that your understanding of lack of charge from the 7 pin is correct.  Without a DC/DC charger you would probably burn up your TV alternator if 7 pin charging was allowed.

I also believe that dependent on your actual electricity usage, you will be favorably surprised as to how much you can count on those solar panels to keep up the batteries.

Bill

The resistance of the factory 7-pin small gage wire would limit current draw so shouldn’t damage your alternator.  Don’t know how much the wire would heat up due to line loss. 

[MAX Burner]

We disconnected the 7-pin's black wire (to the TV alternator) and installed a Victron 12/12 DC-DC charger to keep the battery bank close to topped off should we be towing at night or during dark foul-WX days...  The charger's been used now for over 4,500 miles without incident, FYI.

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

We disconnected the 7-pin's black wire (to the TV alternator) ...

I disconnected ours too, without a DC-to-DC charger. I can't see any reason for it but causing heat (12GA wire) and battery drain issues on either side. I believe the reason for the black wire on the 7-pin connector was to allow a small amount of power for trailer use of the TV battery. For example, it allows for a cargo trailer to run 1-2 interior lights (better remember to turn them off or your truck will not start the next day). There is NO reason for this wire when the trailer is a travel trailer with its own power source(s). And I don't want a live 12V hot on my trailer plug.

You desire charging any viable AH capacity of trailer batteries while driving, you need to install a DC-to-DC charger.

[Geronimo John]

On 1/1/2024 at 11:02 AM, GarryandKristi said:

The resistance of the factory 7-pin small gage wire would limit current draw so shouldn’t damage your alternator.  Don’t know how much the wire would heat up due to line loss. 

I do know that for my 2019 F-150 with heavy duty tow package, it was enough to corrode the 7 Pin connection on the trailer end.  Replaced the connection with one that has LED power indicators and removed the fuse on the truck end.  

[MAX Burner]

On 1/4/2024 at 8:11 PM, jd1923 said:

You desire charging any viable AH capacity of trailer batteries while driving, you need to install a DC-to-DC charger.

Concur 100%.  After receiving "DC/DC Charger - 101" from @Geronimo John last summer, it was a "no-brainer".  One nice key feature with the "smart" DC/DC Chargers is that there's an option to select an "engine-off" sensor.  When selected, the charger senses that there's no alternator generating current and will secure itself thus not draining the TV starter battery when parked w/engine off.  

Not true when that 7-pin black 12AWG wire is connected.  We've known of those who didn't disconnect the 7-pin after landing in a nice boondocking area and woke up the next morning to a dead TV battery.