Lithium Batties

[jpf091959]

Well it was time to replace my Optima batteries.
I don't know about you, but I seem to get four years out them. I store my boat indoors put them on a trickle charger a few times over the winter, but they seem to get weak.

I decided to upgrade to LFP, Lithium batteries. These are 800 CCA with 1500 peak cranking amps.

The beauty of it is they have an order of magnitude more cycles, which I hope translates to longer life. The LFP's only weigh 6 lbs each.

I saved over 100 lbs replacing three Optima's with three Lithium batteries. I also saved probably 20-30 lbs of 2 gauge cable running from upfront under the dash to back in the bilge. I was using the Otpima's as counter weights since I have two 300xs hanging off the back. I mounted the Lithium Batteries back in the bilge.

I was apprehensive about the real power of the Lithium's they were so light how could they produce that much power. I wired them and the cranked the motors and they fired right up.

I am using one of the Lithium's for my stereo. I don't have a big stereo setup, just 800 watt amp, 1 - JBL sub, 2 - eight inch and 2 - 6 inch. I ran it for over an hour in my shop and tested the drop in voltage. I started with 12.8 volts and after an hour powering the stereo the voltage only dropped to 11.9 volts. Now I have to admit I wasn't cranking on the stereo, but I was still impressed.

Time to clean up the bilge and get to the river. I will let you know what I think after a few days of run time.

[hydroo]

I have wanted to try these for years.
My interstate rep scared me with the fear of fire.
Interested how they work.
Good luck

[CNC_Guy]

Lithium Ion cannot be extinguished Lithium IRON (LFP) can .
Dave

[Michael J Giesler]

Look up tesla fire on YouTube scary

[patchesII]

12.8 sounds low for lithium. Check the manufacturers recommended charge. It more than lead/acid. Usually around 14.0. My lithium batteries would be dead as a hammer at 12.8. I charge them to 14.0-14.1. They quickly settle in at 13.3 and hold there

[jpf091959]

Patches you are right, when I pulled the trickle charger the voltage was above 14, but by the time I finished hooking the stereo up, I had used some of the charge. I was a little surprised to see the peak voltage above 13 volts, since the battery consists of 4 - 3.2 volt cells. In my book 4 x 3.2 is 12.8, but I am not an electrical engineer.

I went with Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) because I had reservations about the Lithium ION fire and over charging hazard. If you do the math, the Lithium ION batteries have higher power density, but it is only fractional.

When you compare the power density of LFP's with AGM Lead Acid batteries, the LFP's are in a whole another league.

[patchesII]

Lithium batteries are mind blowing. I can start my motor that has almost obscene compression 40 times on a battery that weighs 4.4 lbs. My old trim batteries weighed 15 oz each. It's crazy

[powerabout]

which brand are they, where to buy?

[Boss]

Well it was time to replace my Optima batteries.
I don't know about you, but I seem to get four years out them. I store my boat indoors put them on a trickle charger a few times over the winter, but they seem to get weak.

I decided to upgrade to LFP, Lithium batteries. These are 800 CCA with 1500 peak cranking amps.

The beauty of it is they have an order of magnitude more cycles, which I hope translates to longer life. The LFP's only weigh 6 lbs each.

I saved over 100 lbs replacing three Optima's with three Lithium batteries. I also saved probably 20-30 lbs of 2 gauge cable running from upfront under the dash to back in the bilge. I was using the Otpima's as counter weights since I have two 300xs hanging off the back. I mounted the Lithium Batteries back in the bilge.

I was apprehensive about the real power of the Lithium's they were so light how could they produce that much power. I wired them and the cranked the motors and they fired right up.

I am using one of the Lithium's for my stereo. I don't have a big stereo setup, just 800 watt amp, 1 - JBL sub, 2 - eight inch and 2 - 6 inch. I ran it for over an hour in my shop and tested the drop in voltage. I started with 12.8 volts and after an hour powering the stereo the voltage only dropped to 11.9 volts. Now I have to admit I wasn't cranking on the stereo, but I was still impressed.

Time to clean up the bilge and get to the river. I will let you know what I think after a few days of run time.

Can you share a link for these batteries? Thanks

[jpf091959]

which brand are they, where to buy?

I shopped around and really wanted to buy American made batteries but ended up buying batteries made in England and sold out of Australia.The US Dollar is very strong right now, so you get a lot over sea's.

I made them an offer and we negotiated a little back an forth. I wanted the battery box and shipping. I modified the battery boxes slightly. Shipping could not have been easier. it took 7 days from Australia to my door.

The distributor and I communicated via text a few times and even though he was at the race track with his car, he took time to answer my questions.

Here is a link.

They now have a 850 amp, I would have purchased them, but wasn't available at the time. The 800 CCA are doig the job.

http://www.lithiumax.com.au/support

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231513264619...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


I also purchased some battery post 6mm thread and quick connectors. I like the setup and so far very pleased.

[Boss]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at replacing my two batteries with 4 or 5 of these so please report back in a month or two as to how you like yours.

http://sepbatteries.com/battery-tend...FUsXHwodw5AAdg

[Davidlake]

Check out StarkPower Ultra Start SP-12V36-US5 $389 plus a free charger.

[johnmiffco]

im very interested in how the batteries test on the stereo side on a day of usage
lithium batteries have big cranking amps
but have a shorted reserve/deep cycle than a agm battery
as the lithium gets hot from a large load is when they have the reputation to burst
I have been using lithiums on our drag motors for over 6 yrs at the strips on numerous builds
and found crank amps great
but with all the electronics draw from ignitions,vacuum pumps,fuel pumps,nitrous solenoids,and rest of electronics
a pass load is around 80+ amps in the short period motors is loaded
and the batteries were dropping to and below 11.8 volts
and that's where an ecu shuts off
so still use amg batteries on main power and lithium for starting only
just as in ur 1 hr stereo test at low volume control fell to 11.9 amps
its the heat the batteries make under a prolong load that makes voltage fall quick 1nce they get hot
keep informed on how they do
optima and oddessey batteries are still high on the battery line for boats
all others from auto parts,walmart including interstate are all made by the same manufacturer just with different labels
so now a days hoping to get 2+ yrs on a standard battery is common
as plates are made thinner to get more amp power
by having more contact to the alcalyne solition
this shorting the life of the battery

[Davidlake]

John, Won't the alternators continuously keep the batteries topped off when the motors are running?

[johnmiffco]

I have never tried the lithiums in a boat,,,,
as why courious on the draw from the stereo through the day
the alternator charging creates heat also,,,,,
just what I have found on my builds and others at drag strips is the deep cycle side
of lithium does not last as long as a good deep cycle battery

lots of the lithiums are stacked batteries to create the voltage
and take a special charger that reads the individual cells
so not to overcharge 1cell to get too hot and burst
on an alternator its charge is prolong/hard/full ,,,thus more heat
I went from stacked batteries to
12v lithiums from shoria made to be a replacement for oem on cars/motorcycles
to be used specifically on an alternator
still the battery would not keep up on the voltage drop from the amp draw
and through time the draw/heat kills a cell
these batteries have made great progress from stacked single cells
to these new oem replacements
cost me lees to stay what works for me
agm on deep cycle,,lithium for start
I don't know all ,,,
just what ive found in my R&D on builds for me/customers through the yrs
on high load applications