*Related Links* SFK Review Playlist - th-cam.com/video/qPf2_l8CQcM/w-d-xo.html 300Ah Battery Link - www.sunfunkits.com/product/51/sfk-300hp-12v-300ah-40kw-self-heating-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery?aid=090224230245B&cid=0902242302A9F Coupon code LoveYourRV will take $45.00 off the order for model 300HP or the 275EX. SFK-HP300 Battery Capacity Test - www.sunfunkits.com/app/ViewBenchmarkDetails?id=899253985686 Truck Tool Box Power Station Videos - www.loveyourrv.com/diy-truck-tool-box-off-grid-power-system/
This is a great company who makes great batteries. We've been using them in our mobile installations for the last two+ years. I'm glad SFK sent you one to review!
This is a nice looking battery, and it's nice to see another company with US support and sales. I really liked the review you did on the SOK battery, but I'm thinking that local support and the fact that they seem really receptive to their customers ideas, SFK may be the better deal. It's somewhat intriguing to be able to assemble your own battery and save a few bucks too for people so inclined also. They should send you one of their kits and let you do a video on assembling it to see if it's really as easy as they seem to make it.
Although I have never bought a battery from this company, I have bought other items from them in the past. Always quality stuff, prompt shipment, and help there if you need it. Saving my pennies to buy a battery.
Great video. Very thorough. You do a good job of explaining what you are doing and seeing. I admit that sometimes it is over my level of knowledge. But at the end of the day, I am much better informed. Thanks Ray.
Thanks for this, thinking that this is the year to upgrade to Lithium. The hard part is choosing (and getting shipping to northern Canada)... still three more months of snow for 'research'. Cheers
Nice review. Amazing to me the changes (price) in LIPO4 batteries in the last few years. I'm sure glad I waited 6 years; just not quite long enough though. Seven would have been better. I'm surprised that BB can still command the premium pricing. I went to the website. Good info there. I like the "kits" that are offered. May have to give one a whirl.
Looks like they are prismatic. Here is what the DIY kits they sell look like and various options www.sunfunkits.com/product/54/sfk-v4-premium-heated-w200amp-bms-wbluetooth-ready-to-build
This battery makes me think two things. It reminds me of an Epoch battery in looks and build. I now have to go look up what you can control with the app. Curious to see if you can limit amps and eliminate the DC to DC charger. Wouldn't that be great and really why can't BMS units do that? The second thing I had a hard time with was thinking it was the same company as SKF the tool and hardware manufacturers. Maybe it is another division I am sure you will let us know. Ok I am off the go look up what is what with the malleable parameters. Great video as always Ray. I am getting ready to install a lithium system soon so this looks really good to me. A little easier to manoeuvre than the 95 pound 460 AH Epoch. Need to check prices.
hmmm... I never thought of that. I still think I'd use a DC-DC charger as it can boost voltage to overcome long wire runs, isolate the battery banks, and regulate the charging voltage. I imagine the name SFK just is a shortened version of Sun Fun Kits. That's a good move on their part, and I think Sun Fun Kits sounds much less professional. But I guess the business grew and now sort of stuck with the legacy name.
I have looked at these and they look good. I don't like the manual heater on them. I prefer the SOK way of heating the battery with solar input; that way I don't have to be there to push the switch to heat the battery. A lot of TH-cam reviews on these SFK batteries. Battle Born has manual heater batteries and I wonder if it has to do with series connecting. I know the SOK heated batteries can't be put in a series configuration.
Watch this video about the auto heating function with the newer generation switch pack using a temp probe th-cam.com/video/HE3mbJHM32c/w-d-xo.html Looks like it has auto or manual or off modes The SOK 280Ah heated battery can be series wired up to 4 batteries and parallel wired up to 10 batteries have a look in the manual www.us.sokbattery.com/file-share/fa0d6298-cfcc-4c6c-a2bf-0ef2ed8fab35 Cheers, Ray
I'm not sure so far, the OEM are still working well. There is a company in Canada that has asked me to try out their new Mixtech batteries. Sounds kind of interesting. th-cam.com/video/vdfWhR-FJvo/w-d-xo.html
@@LoveYourRV What a coincidence. I have been using a Discovery Lithium Blue 200ah for almost 3 years in my Cougar 24 RDS. We use it sometimes to run the 12 volt fridge, slide outs, lights etc. but we only boon dock once in a while and usually just one night. It has been a good experience so far. We have 400 watts of solar but mainly use park power to keep it up to snuff, my only worry is our on board charger is not geared for Lithium and don't want to spend the big bucks to replace it when its only 3 years old.
Cool! If you have 400 watts of solar and don't boondock much, you should be OK with the existing onboard charger since the solar charger likely can be set to charge lithium. The only compelling reason to upgrade the onboard charger for lithium would be if you are boondocking a lot, not getting much sun, and want to maximize charging via a generator.
Here is the manual www.sunfunkits.com/MediaStorage/Product/Documents/Document/51_20231225173742986.pdf Here is an info video for Victron hookup www.sunfunkits.com/content/3081/victron-cerbo-gx-driver
Thanks for asking them about it. Hopefully more battery manufactures start to do this. Understanding the battery install is as important to prevent a catastrophic failure it would great to know the cells, BMS, and overall battery construction meet some minimum safety standards.
Do you ever run into wierdo's or sketchy situations when out in the boonies? If so, I would like you to tell us about it and what you did. Congrats on you and Anne getting married. You are a lovely couple for sure.
No, I never have had a problem out in the boonies, all the weirdo encounters and sketchy situations seem to happen where there are lots of humans around, like in or near cities. :) Most of the people I meet out in the boonies are pretty nice.
*Related Links*
SFK Review Playlist - th-cam.com/video/qPf2_l8CQcM/w-d-xo.html 300Ah Battery Link - www.sunfunkits.com/product/51/sfk-300hp-12v-300ah-40kw-self-heating-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery?aid=090224230245B&cid=0902242302A9F
Coupon code LoveYourRV will take $45.00 off the order for model 300HP or the 275EX.
SFK-HP300 Battery Capacity Test - www.sunfunkits.com/app/ViewBenchmarkDetails?id=899253985686
Truck Tool Box Power Station Videos - www.loveyourrv.com/diy-truck-tool-box-off-grid-power-system/
This is a great company who makes great batteries. We've been using them in our mobile installations for the last two+ years. I'm glad SFK sent you one to review!
This is a nice looking battery, and it's nice to see another company with US support and sales. I really liked the review you did on the SOK battery, but I'm thinking that local support and the fact that they seem really receptive to their customers ideas, SFK may be the better deal. It's somewhat intriguing to be able to assemble your own battery and save a few bucks too for people so inclined also. They should send you one of their kits and let you do a video on assembling it to see if it's really as easy as they seem to make it.
Although I have never bought a battery from this company, I have bought other items from them in the past. Always quality stuff, prompt shipment, and help there if you need it. Saving my pennies to buy a battery.
Great video. Very thorough. You do a good job of explaining what you are doing and seeing. I admit that sometimes it is over my level of knowledge. But at the end of the day, I am much better informed. Thanks Ray.
Glad it was helpful!
Great to see more options.
A lot of power in a decently small package! - Basically equal to 6 100AH lead acid deep cycle batteries - That's pretty impressive. - Cheers Ray!
Thanks Ray! Appreciate your reviews. The made in USA is attractive. Would probably make me choose the SFK over the SOK.
Thanks for this, thinking that this is the year to upgrade to Lithium. The hard part is choosing (and getting shipping to northern Canada)... still three more months of snow for 'research'.
Cheers
You're welcome. :)
Nice review. Amazing to me the changes (price) in LIPO4 batteries in the last few years. I'm sure glad I waited 6 years; just not quite long enough though. Seven would have been better. I'm surprised that BB can still command the premium pricing. I went to the website. Good info there. I like the "kits" that are offered. May have to give one a whirl.
Looks like they are prismatic. Here is what the DIY kits they sell look like and various options www.sunfunkits.com/product/54/sfk-v4-premium-heated-w200amp-bms-wbluetooth-ready-to-build
Looks like a good one.
I used to work right by where SFK is located, sort of. This was before they started but still, small world.
This battery makes me think two things. It reminds me of an Epoch battery in looks and build. I now have to go look up what you can control with the app. Curious to see if you can limit amps and eliminate the DC to DC charger. Wouldn't that be great and really why can't BMS units do that? The second thing I had a hard time with was thinking it was the same company as SKF the tool and hardware manufacturers. Maybe it is another division I am sure you will let us know. Ok I am off the go look up what is what with the malleable parameters. Great video as always Ray. I am getting ready to install a lithium system soon so this looks really good to me. A little easier to manoeuvre than the 95 pound 460 AH Epoch. Need to check prices.
hmmm... I never thought of that. I still think I'd use a DC-DC charger as it can boost voltage to overcome long wire runs, isolate the battery banks, and regulate the charging voltage.
I imagine the name SFK just is a shortened version of Sun Fun Kits. That's a good move on their part, and I think Sun Fun Kits sounds much less professional. But I guess the business grew and now sort of stuck with the legacy name.
I have looked at these and they look good. I don't like the manual heater on them. I prefer the SOK way of heating the battery with solar input; that way I don't have to be there to push the switch to heat the battery. A lot of TH-cam reviews on these SFK batteries. Battle Born has manual heater batteries and I wonder if it has to do with series connecting. I know the SOK heated batteries can't be put in a series configuration.
Watch this video about the auto heating function with the newer generation switch pack using a temp probe th-cam.com/video/HE3mbJHM32c/w-d-xo.html Looks like it has auto or manual or off modes
The SOK 280Ah heated battery can be series wired up to 4 batteries and parallel wired up to 10 batteries have a look in the manual www.us.sokbattery.com/file-share/fa0d6298-cfcc-4c6c-a2bf-0ef2ed8fab35 Cheers, Ray
Just wondering Ray if your truck is still running the original batteries and if they go would you replace them with AGM ?
I'm not sure so far, the OEM are still working well. There is a company in Canada that has asked me to try out their new Mixtech batteries. Sounds kind of interesting. th-cam.com/video/vdfWhR-FJvo/w-d-xo.html
@@LoveYourRV What a coincidence. I have been using a Discovery Lithium Blue 200ah for almost 3 years in my Cougar 24 RDS. We use it sometimes to run the 12 volt fridge, slide outs, lights etc. but we only boon dock once in a while and usually just one night. It has been a good experience so far. We have 400 watts of solar but mainly use park power to keep it up to snuff, my only worry is our on board charger is not geared for Lithium and don't want to spend the big bucks to replace it when its only 3 years old.
Cool! If you have 400 watts of solar and don't boondock much, you should be OK with the existing onboard charger since the solar charger likely can be set to charge lithium. The only compelling reason to upgrade the onboard charger for lithium would be if you are boondocking a lot, not getting much sun, and want to maximize charging via a generator.
LOL...your going to have batteries and panels covering your RV and truck soon!
Don't forget the boat!
@@LoveYourRV LOL yes, you could use 2 x solar awnings to charge them up!
Does the manual give you the settings for inverters/Victron Inverter?
Here is the manual www.sunfunkits.com/MediaStorage/Product/Documents/Document/51_20231225173742986.pdf
Here is an info video for Victron hookup www.sunfunkits.com/content/3081/victron-cerbo-gx-driver
So no UL Certification? Appears very few battery manufactures will step up and let an independent lab test their products to safety standards.
I'm not sure; I can't find any mention of it. I've enquired with the manufacturer about it.
Thanks for asking them about it. Hopefully more battery manufactures start to do this. Understanding the battery install is as important to prevent a catastrophic failure it would great to know the cells, BMS, and overall battery construction meet some minimum safety standards.
Do you ever run into wierdo's or sketchy situations when out in the boonies? If so, I would like you to tell us about it and what you did. Congrats on you and Anne getting married. You are a lovely couple for sure.
No, I never have had a problem out in the boonies, all the weirdo encounters and sketchy situations seem to happen where there are lots of humans around, like in or near cities. :) Most of the people I meet out in the boonies are pretty nice.
@@LoveYourRV Thanks Ray. Good to know.
I feel like a disassemby is just around the corner. Iwould do it for you but there would be parts left over......🫥