Julian, that's a very slick setup! Had I not already purchased a 100 amp hour battery a few weeks ago, I would buy this one. The features alone make it worth the slight difference in price (on sale). 73, Brett K5WXP
Thanks for sharing. The BT is a very nice feature for this battery. It make it very convenient to check the battery status. Definitively a nice battery for radio operation.
This is awesome. If I had seen this review prior to my purchase of the standard version of this battery I would have purchased the bluetooth version. This bluetooth option is a great tool for Ham Radio Ops. 73 W5KAL
RR. I didn't realize what I had waiting for review until after putting the work in on the Victron Cerbo GX. I may put all that in the shack and use this BT battery in the camper. 73 Julian oh8stn
If you go to either Amazon or their web page they don't go into enough detail about that app about it actually being able to measure current in current out which is phenomenally better than some of the other batteries with applications.
When you select “cells” it should display a bar graph depicting the individual cells so you get a visual representation of the cell balance. Well balanced doesn’t mean diddly to me. My initial impression of the app is it is clunky and could use a more visually dynamic presentation. Apps should be designed for a complete newbie but with selected functions displaying more “engineering” grade data.
Interesting question. I don't know the answer, but I do know keeping them in the narrow range to prevent them from fully cycling won't add cycles to the packs cyclic life. One would deduce the battery would last indefinitely. I believe treating the pack so gently would extend the lifespan of the pack. The question is how much? I don't believe any manufacturer would want to answer this, but it's a great question. 73 Julian oh8stn
Julian, is it as straightforward to parallel these "smart" BMS enabled batteries as it is to parallel their "dumb" counterparts that you've used in the off-grid hamshack?
Do you know if there's a wired option for the controller? It's probably a Bluetooth serial device so I bet there's a header on the PCB for debugging if nothing else.
Hi julian, Thanks for sharing. You see that the battery's for off grid you getting better and better with all modern gadgets in it. Bluetooth monitoring and all that stuff. One other components extra tn buy. Thanks again for sharing Ron, Pd3ron
How can you get a reliable state of charge reading, even with a Victron SOC meter if the voltages remains at near 100% indicated until the battery is nearly fully discharged before you are alerted of the imminent depletion? So the indicated SOC on these meters is reliable?
The washer under the terminal is not the best way. You really want that terminal to have full contact with the battery. Having the washer there gives a place for more resistance. Resistance equals heat.
OK!, give me a clue!!!! This battery is for emergency comms so.. What's to stop someone else bluetooth connecting to your battery and being malaevolent and turning the battery off..... If I want power for a comms system I want simple full control of the power. Don't put steel washers in the power path, I knew of a touring coach (bus) that couldn't start the engine to get off a ferry boat because a steel washer had become hot in the current path and burned. The engine alternator supported all the TV's etc while driving but after turning off on the boat the engine would not restart because of one cooked steel washer.
Not broken. It's measuring ghe load in real-time. When my gear isn't drawing any load (because they have their own internal batteries), the shunt shows the battery in stand-by since no device is pulling current.
@@OH8STN It appears the load has to be at least 1A to register as discharging vs standby as well. Not a big deal at all, but it had me worried for a moment when the first device I connected happened to be a small fan running at ~900mA and the app would only 'blip' that it was discharging for a moment since the inrush current is about 1.2A. My only concern so far is that the app demands precise location permission vs generalized or none. It's a neat feature, but anymore I appreciate having more discretion in what amount of personal data is shared vs all or nothing.
Julian, that's a very slick setup! Had I not already purchased a 100 amp hour battery a few weeks ago, I would buy this one. The features alone make it worth the slight difference in price (on sale).
73,
Brett K5WXP
Julian! Thank you so much for what you do, I remember when you just started on your channel here on TH-cam. Thanks again. 73’s
KC5DZH Rod Whitfield.
Thanks for sharing. The BT is a very nice feature for this battery. It make it very convenient to check the battery status. Definitively a nice battery for radio operation.
Great presentation as always Julian. Power Queen more and more seems to win the quality/price matrix among the many options out there.
This is awesome. If I had seen this review prior to my purchase of the standard version of this battery I would have purchased the bluetooth version.
This bluetooth option is a great tool for Ham Radio Ops.
73
W5KAL
RR. I didn't realize what I had waiting for review until after putting the work in on the Victron Cerbo GX. I may put all that in the shack and use this BT battery in the camper.
73
Julian oh8stn
If you go to either Amazon or their web page they don't go into enough detail about that app about it actually being able to measure current in current out which is phenomenally better than some of the other batteries with applications.
Agreed. It's totally under-sold.
What do you use to charge your USB-C laptop from 12V ? Do you have a DC to DC converter, if so does it produce any RFI ?
I wonder if you had multiple batteries in Parallel if the BT would read them all or not
When you select “cells” it should display a bar graph depicting the individual cells so you get a visual representation of the cell balance. Well balanced doesn’t mean diddly to me.
My initial impression of the app is it is clunky and could use a more visually dynamic presentation. Apps should be designed for a complete newbie but with selected functions displaying more “engineering” grade data.
Well said. I'll forward the feedback. 👍
The slight price increase for low temp protection & Bluetooth def seems worth it.
Nice battery!
This battery is to cool.
Indeed. not bad at all.
73
Julian oh8stn
@OH8STN but oh wow, are they ever expensive
What is the shelf life of these if stored at room temperature and 50/80% charged and zero charge- discharge cycles?
73’s Karl AF5LQ
Interesting question.
I don't know the answer, but I do know keeping them in the narrow range to prevent them from fully cycling won't add cycles to the packs cyclic life. One would deduce the battery would last indefinitely. I believe treating the pack so gently would extend the lifespan of the pack. The question is how much? I don't believe any manufacturer would want to answer this, but it's a great question.
73
Julian oh8stn
Julian, is it as straightforward to parallel these "smart" BMS enabled batteries as it is to parallel their "dumb" counterparts that you've used in the off-grid hamshack?
It is! The site says 4x4. 4 parallel and 4 in series max.
Do you know if there's a wired option for the controller? It's probably a Bluetooth serial device so I bet there's a header on the PCB for debugging if nothing else.
Great question.
I haven't opened the battery pack to find out yet but seems like something we should do.
Hi julian,
Thanks for sharing.
You see that the battery's for off grid you getting better and better with all modern gadgets in it. Bluetooth monitoring and all that stuff.
One other components extra tn buy.
Thanks again for sharing
Ron, Pd3ron
Once again Home Run!
How can you get a reliable state of charge reading, even with a Victron SOC meter if the voltages remains at near 100% indicated until the battery is nearly fully discharged before you are alerted of the imminent depletion? So the indicated SOC on these meters is reliable?
Watch this part 20:25
Model of radio in the thumbnail???
th-cam.com/video/FEtYClfVz9I/w-d-xo.html
Nice solution but when i wanted to order one it say's,..."no delivery possible in Belgium"
Oh wow. I'll tell them right away.
73
Julian oh8stn
PQ says you chose the tax free link. That only works in Austria and Germany. Choose the normal (with vat) version of the battery.
73
Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN OK, thanks
My battery is on it’s way!
O-H-I-O
The washer under the terminal is not the best way. You really want that terminal to have full contact with the battery. Having the washer there gives a place for more resistance. Resistance equals heat.
FB OM
OK!, give me a clue!!!! This battery is for emergency comms so.. What's to stop someone else bluetooth connecting to your battery and being malaevolent and turning the battery off.....
If I want power for a comms system I want simple full control of the power.
Don't put steel washers in the power path, I knew of a touring coach (bus) that couldn't start the engine to get off a ferry boat because a steel washer had become hot in the current path and burned. The engine alternator supported all the TV's etc while driving but after turning off on the boat the engine would not restart because of one cooked steel washer.
Change the BT password in battery settings.
That app looks broken - it cycles through standby and showing the values.
Not broken. It's measuring ghe load in real-time. When my gear isn't drawing any load (because they have their own internal batteries), the shunt shows the battery in stand-by since no device is pulling current.
@@OH8STN It appears the load has to be at least 1A to register as discharging vs standby as well. Not a big deal at all, but it had me worried for a moment when the first device I connected happened to be a small fan running at ~900mA and the app would only 'blip' that it was discharging for a moment since the inrush current is about 1.2A.
My only concern so far is that the app demands precise location permission vs generalized or none. It's a neat feature, but anymore I appreciate having more discretion in what amount of personal data is shared vs all or nothing.