While I love seeing more and more people talk about these batteries. They aren't a drop in replacement and that needs to be stressed more in these videos. Everyone.... Make sure you have a lithium battery capable charger in your trailer. If not, you can do damage to it and/or the battery. Also note that this battery at 2x the weight actually has about 8x the usable capacity and will last at least 3x longer than a lead acid battery. They are amazing upgrades.
I put in 2 of the Vatrer 300ah Bluetooth and Self Heating batteries in my Fifth Wheel Trailer....very very happy. I went with two in case of a BMS failure I still have one functioning battery. Vatrer are well built batteries with quality components. I've got 600ah with self heating for about 120 lbs. of weight with redundance for about $200 more.
I am looking at the Epoch 460ah battery. Your review is right on time as now there's another competitor in the same space. I cannot wait to see what the approximate price is.
I bought 2 of their 100ah batteries to replace my LA batteries. I have 2 solar panels and the same Victron unit. They are incredible batteries and the price/quality is well worth it. Enjoy.
@BTBRVReviews not sure i would worry too much about the weight. Im sure they probably offer a 2 battery system in your model of RV which would have two lead acids in the same area. on my DRV they put a 4 6v battery system in the same area on a heavy slide out tray. When i swapped mine for 4 SOK 206ah batteries i lost ~90lbs in that area after removing the 4 60lb batteries and the 50lb tray. My SOK's weight 50lbs a pop and FWIW they are also in a steel box.
Another one for me to consider. The only concern is having a heater for cold weather charging. I will look to see if they have that option. I live in the northeast.
There is a note on their website. “Not to be used as a starter battery.” I can read that to mean that it shouldn’t be used to power the starter on your generator. Can you ask the manufacturer if they can be used for the generator starter?
you should add a fuse right on the battery terminal, there is a tremendous amount of energy stored in the battery which could cause some real damage if something went wrong.
Nice! How will this battery affect the starting circuit of your generator? I have a pair of 310ah XZnY batteries. Very basic units, only Low Temp Protection, would have loved Bluetooth connectivity like this one. So far they passed capacity testing. I went this route because of cost. Thank you for everything you do JD. 💪👍
That should fire the generator easily. My Onan 5500 pulls ~85A when its starting. I start mine off two Victon Orion 24-12 converters since im on a 24v system and it fires up with gusto.
If one of these replaces 4 batteries, can one piggyback multiple of these as well for even more battery usage? Can one have too much battery? This is one heck of a battery. Could one use this as a marine deep cycle battery as well for a trolling motor?
All battery cell chemistries have some sort of self discharge, even Alkaline. Lithium has a relatively low to moderate self discharge rate. About 4-5%/month. However, lithium battery chargers vary widely in capability and quality of charge & particularly quality of the float profile. Some cheaper chargers may charge just fine, but they do a terrible job with regards to float and tend to cook off your battery attempting to rigidly maintain a set full charge voltage level. This is where high quality smart chargers like the Victron charger shines as it's processor controlled float profile allows a more flexible float voltage. If you're using a cheaper charger or even a lead acid charger, I would completely disconnect the LiPo for 2 to 3 months at a time, turning on the charger briefly to top the battery back to 100% before disconnecting again. I'm an Electrical Engineer by trade with over 30 years circuit design experience with many Lithium charger designs under my belt for everything from smart phones to aerospace systems.
That is a very nice battery. I have a question though. If that coach is like my Redwood and most other fifth wheels there is no heat in that front compartment. During winter storage or use in cold climates how would you overcome the battery getting too cold and freezing? Is there a heated option for this battery?
Unfortunately, I don't think they make a heated version of this exact battery. I think they make lower capacity models that are heated though. You may want to consider a small heating element for the battery compartment. A tank heater or something similar would probably work well.
I’ve got the biggest class C gulfstream makes and if I wanted solar and lithium batteries I would lose a lot of storage space underneath, plus extra weight. As we stay in full hookup parks I would be wasting my time and expense
While I love seeing more and more people talk about these batteries. They aren't a drop in replacement and that needs to be stressed more in these videos.
Everyone.... Make sure you have a lithium battery capable charger in your trailer. If not, you can do damage to it and/or the battery.
Also note that this battery at 2x the weight actually has about 8x the usable capacity and will last at least 3x longer than a lead acid battery. They are amazing upgrades.
I'll have a few more videos on this exact topic my friend
I put in 2 of the Vatrer 300ah Bluetooth and Self Heating batteries in my Fifth Wheel Trailer....very very happy. I went with two in case of a BMS failure I still have one functioning battery. Vatrer are well built batteries with quality components. I've got 600ah with self heating for about 120 lbs. of weight with redundance for about $200 more.
@@alanb.4660 I agree with your approach… the redundancy in the BMS is well worth the additional cost plus the 150 AH is a nice bonus.
I am looking at the Epoch 460ah battery. Your review is right on time as now there's another competitor in the same space. I cannot wait to see what the approximate price is.
I think the Epoch is the best in this class, especially the latest version. Self heating and Victron comms FTW. Also nice they are a US based company.
I bought 2 of their 100ah batteries to replace my LA batteries. I have 2 solar panels and the same Victron unit. They are incredible batteries and the price/quality is well worth it. Enjoy.
has excellent reviews / cool product
@BTBRVReviews not sure i would worry too much about the weight. Im sure they probably offer a 2 battery system in your model of RV which would have two lead acids in the same area.
on my DRV they put a 4 6v battery system in the same area on a heavy slide out tray. When i swapped mine for 4 SOK 206ah batteries i lost ~90lbs in that area after removing the 4 60lb batteries and the 50lb tray. My SOK's weight 50lbs a pop and FWIW they are also in a steel box.
AZ Expert added one of these to his Beaver DP.
Great video JD.
Love the idea on this and any batteries that have apps monitor the battery.
Another one for me to consider. The only concern is having a heater for cold weather charging. I will look to see if they have that option. I live in the northeast.
Looks expensive for the capacity but the quality looks awesome very well built!
There is a note on their website. “Not to be used as a starter battery.” I can read that to mean that it shouldn’t be used to power the starter on your generator. Can you ask the manufacturer if they can be used for the generator starter?
Yes it can be used to start an Onan. It should not be used to start a car or truck
On my Chaparral fifthwheel I moved the lithium battery under the stairs to the bedroom and moved my inverter to the same place.
you should add a fuse right on the battery terminal, there is a tremendous amount of energy stored in the battery which could cause some real damage if something went wrong.
I use a 206 amp power SOK battery with heat Bluetooth auto balance and it is in a metal case so that one is not the only company that is doing that
They make a 230 aH and a 300 aH heated as well.
Nice! How will this battery affect the starting circuit of your generator? I have a pair of 310ah XZnY batteries. Very basic units, only Low Temp Protection, would have loved Bluetooth connectivity like this one. So far they passed capacity testing. I went this route because of cost. Thank you for everything you do JD. 💪👍
That should fire the generator easily. My Onan 5500 pulls ~85A when its starting. I start mine off two Victon Orion 24-12 converters since im on a 24v system and it fires up with gusto.
If one of these replaces 4 batteries, can one piggyback multiple of these as well for even more battery usage? Can one have too much battery? This is one heck of a battery. Could one use this as a marine deep cycle battery as well for a trolling motor?
Isn't that amazing, 5 years ago, you could get a 100 amp battery for the same price.
All battery cell chemistries have some sort of self discharge, even Alkaline. Lithium has a relatively low to moderate self discharge rate. About 4-5%/month. However, lithium battery chargers vary widely in capability and quality of charge & particularly quality of the float profile. Some cheaper chargers may charge just fine, but they do a terrible job with regards to float and tend to cook off your battery attempting to rigidly maintain a set full charge voltage level. This is where high quality smart chargers like the Victron charger shines as it's processor controlled float profile allows a more flexible float voltage. If you're using a cheaper charger or even a lead acid charger, I would completely disconnect the LiPo for 2 to 3 months at a time, turning on the charger briefly to top the battery back to 100% before disconnecting again. I'm an Electrical Engineer by trade with over 30 years circuit design experience with many Lithium charger designs under my belt for everything from smart phones to aerospace systems.
Can you upgrade the generator?
That is a very nice battery. I have a question though. If that coach is like my Redwood and most other fifth wheels there is no heat in that front compartment. During winter storage or use in cold climates how would you overcome the battery getting too cold and freezing? Is there a heated option for this battery?
Unfortunately, I don't think they make a heated version of this exact battery. I think they make lower capacity models that are heated though. You may want to consider a small heating element for the battery compartment. A tank heater or something similar would probably work well.
Is this capable of running my 12v fridge and 13,500btu AC overnight at places like a harvest host that do not have electric hookups?
Lifpo4 only needs protection from charging when cold, not discharging, I wish the YT community would be more specific with that detail.
Then we can get into the models that can pre heat to allow charging at those lower ambient temperatures.
Basically if it's about 4 batteries it replaces, that's only like $275 per "battery" in 1 battery
You got goats?
is that a 12volt or 48volt
its 12, says so right on the side of the battery.
12.8 to be exact.
No CANBus communication.
I’ve got the biggest class C gulfstream makes and if I wanted solar and lithium batteries I would lose a lot of storage space underneath, plus extra weight. As we stay in full hookup parks I would be wasting my time and expense