Kelpie
Well-known member
Thanks to a tip from someone on this forum, I have stumbled upon some very low priced LiFePO batteries:
https://www.ev-power.eu/LiFeYPO4-ba...Battery-12V-90Ah-WB-LP12V90AH.html?cur=1#tab1
That's a 90Ah 12v battery for around £420 (inc VAT, but plus delivery). So that's about £4.67 per Ah if you are able to use the whole capacity.
The usual choice for marine batteries is the Trojan T105. A pair of these will give you 12v and 225Ah, at a cost of £300. But being lead-acid you can't use anywhere close to the full capacity. Figures vary, but let's say 50% discharge, so that gives 112Ah, or £2.67/Ah.
But what swings things back towards the lithium battery is the life cycle costs. Trojan suggest 1200 cycles, whereas most lithium batteries are good for 3000 if not more. So the lithium batteries should last two and a half times longer than the Trojans, which more than wipes out the cost difference.
It's not a simple swap, of course. In favour of lithium is that the weight/volume of the batteries is about one eighth that of traditional batteries, and that charging efficiencies are far higher. In favour of lead-acid is that few or no changes will be needed to the charging regime, and that it is tried and trusted technology.
Has anybody on here made the jump to lithium yet? We're looking at installing a new battery bank in a couple of years time, by which time I expect that lithium will be looking even more compelling as prices continue to fall.
https://www.ev-power.eu/LiFeYPO4-ba...Battery-12V-90Ah-WB-LP12V90AH.html?cur=1#tab1
That's a 90Ah 12v battery for around £420 (inc VAT, but plus delivery). So that's about £4.67 per Ah if you are able to use the whole capacity.
The usual choice for marine batteries is the Trojan T105. A pair of these will give you 12v and 225Ah, at a cost of £300. But being lead-acid you can't use anywhere close to the full capacity. Figures vary, but let's say 50% discharge, so that gives 112Ah, or £2.67/Ah.
But what swings things back towards the lithium battery is the life cycle costs. Trojan suggest 1200 cycles, whereas most lithium batteries are good for 3000 if not more. So the lithium batteries should last two and a half times longer than the Trojans, which more than wipes out the cost difference.
It's not a simple swap, of course. In favour of lithium is that the weight/volume of the batteries is about one eighth that of traditional batteries, and that charging efficiencies are far higher. In favour of lead-acid is that few or no changes will be needed to the charging regime, and that it is tried and trusted technology.
Has anybody on here made the jump to lithium yet? We're looking at installing a new battery bank in a couple of years time, by which time I expect that lithium will be looking even more compelling as prices continue to fall.