Drop in Lithium Batteries - the basics?

[Neeves]

If you want 400Ah usable capacity of batteries, with the ability to fast charge from the engine, and with appropriate wiring and fuse upgrades to make that work safely, then whichever type of battery you buy, you're embarking upon a large and expensive project. I doubt you'd actually save much money by choosing lead acid in that scenario, and given the far shorter cycle life, it would be a strange choice.

I thought to provide another platform for the child amongst us to play.

We only currently have 1 x 200amp Lithium. We had one bi fold (ie 2 panels) 250 watts and have increased that to 500 watts, with an identical bi-fold panel. The draw is only a 65l esky that can be used as a freezer. We currently have it set at 4 degrees and when it cycles it draws about 6.5 amps. I have not actually worked how many amps it uses in total. The second folding panel we bought yesterday.

Today its over cast and raining. The panels are only just increasing the current yield or the current capacity of the battery. If we had other appliances - we would need either more battery capacity (and my thinking is another 200amp battery) and many more solar.

The solars are contributing day time, over cast sky about 1.5 amps, total.

Tomorrow is forecast to be similar to today - and then it should brighten up.

Yes - both solar panels are on the roof and no the house does not swing like a yacht - but then yachts do not have 100' trees shadowing their panels from about 2pm

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

My inverter wasn't too expensive - can't remember just what. Maybe £300? It was on offer.

The cost I see is the device between alternator and house. Sterling says £600 and to get a decent use of my 120a (not 140a as I previously thought) Victron would need 2 * £200. Add lithium batteries and I suppose well over £1k?

Lead acid would be £400 or £500, though I haven't priced them yet. But they really would be "drop in" to the purists.

I think we are certainly on the cusp of change. I may get another year of lead acid and things may be different then. And the Babet damage to the other boat will be sorted and behind me.

Sorry to hear about the other boat.

Just to give your a rough idea of my own costs:
Batteries- £450 for 271Ah
Inverter- £850 for 3kva (ouch!)
DC-DC- £140 for 18A Victron (could have got a 30A for not much more money).

MPPTs and panels on top of that, I spent about £500 to get 1150w although some of the panels were secondhand. They've fallen in price a lot since then though.

I suppose in your situation you want to be able to run the watermaker whilst replenishing the batteries from the engine. And you have a reasonably big alternator with which to do that. So a tiddly little DC-DC like mine isn't going to cut it. And I suppose you don't want to have to rely on solar to make water.

It just shows that we all have different needs and will have different solutions.

I thought I'd add based on current Oz pricing. I cannot believe there will be much difference between the UK and Oz - factoring in the differences in sales tax. The Victron kit might be more expensive here - Oz is a long way from Europe. The prices I quote I have left the sales tax included (its 10%) but applied a currency conversion of a convenient 2:1. These are mostly all on special.

40amp DC DC 12v charger Stg 125
25amp DC DC 12v charger Stg 80
3000 watt Pure sine wave Inverter Stg150
3000 watt Inverter charger Stg390
Victron 3000w inverter charger Stg1,150 OUCH!, from a caravan retail outlet.
200amp LiFePO4 battery Stg350 - internal management
80l Fridge/Freezer, Front Opening Stg250.
110l Fridge/Freezer Front Opening Stg325
MPPT, Lithium with supplied 8m cable Stg60
180 watt Fixed solar panel Stg47
250 watt Bi Fold panel Stg90. (that's 2 fixed panels hinged along their length and cables spliced together.)
Lithium shunt meter 350amp Stg45, big price drop from 1 or 2 weeks ago.
Victron 350 amp Lithium shunt and meter Stg150

Most kit with cables comes with an Anderson plug, described as weather proof - for marine solar you can have waterproof Andersons.

Most of this equipment comes from China (I don't know the origin of Victron kit) and is ex retail store in most Australian cities. The prices are valid, yesterday. I cannot comment on quality.

Jonathan

 

[andsarkit]

Would this give the insurer's point of view on lithium installations?

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