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Lithium Ion batteries

4330 Views 30 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  manatee
I have used Lithium Ion batteries on TV cameras for the last 10 years and am totally sold on the technology. They have been absolutely impressive in terms of reliability, longevity and power to weight ratio. Some of our 80WH 12V batteries packs are over 8 years old and still working on the field day to day despite hundreds of charging cycles. We have about 25 units which have traveled all over the world, in all kinds of environmental and weather conditions and never had a single failure. I see 12V Lithium Ion Marine Batteries | Deep Cycle Batteries | Smart Battery has pretty attractive pricing on marine lithium batteries. Has anyone switched to lithiums?
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Paul-
You just need a 1/2" welded titanium battery box, lined with about 4" of fire bricks or fire cement, and a set of explosive charges allowing you to jettison the whole thing to sea, should the battery fire threaten to spread outside the compartment.
A Class K deluge fire extinguishing system is optional but probably a good idea as well.

Kinda like the USN's statements about what they can do if a marine reactor needs to be disciplined for a couple hundred years.(G)

Reactors have a much better safety record and much higher outputs than lithium batteries. And the strontium and plutonium piles last way longer, too. I don't know why sailors want to mess around with obsolete battery technologies. (VBG)
While I may be over stating it, to me there are two issues.

First the batteries that were linked are "drop in" so are not only likely to not live very long, and be at risk of actually having catastrophic failures. Now a setup like Mainsail shows is likely quite safe, but that is not what the OP was talking about doing(and seemed to be looking for support for the idea that it is a good idea).

Second, I see no advantage to the average cruising/day/live-abord/beer can racing sailor at all. Much higher cost, added complications, and potential dangers. Yes, lead acid can explode, or leak if mistreated, but it is far easier to contain acid in a properly designed battery compartment than flaming metals. The lighter weight, well it is weight low down so who really cares? is it worth ten times the price? Sure on a boat that is high end racing, OK but all normal, even on the hook needs, can easily be taken care of by standard batteries. It could be good for a very high end luxury yacht like Mainesail suggested, but for your average sailnutter, no way. I think you need a real reason to even think about using them. Heck how many threads do we see here about people who have ruined battery banks with standard technology, let alone adding in complications.
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It could be good for a very high end luxury yacht like Mainesail suggested.....
The link Maine posted showing the Genasun installation is far removed from the op's suggestion of a drop-in from Smart Battery. The charging and low voltage settings posted by Smart Battery prove they know little about LiFePo4 battery technology.

Genasun would not suggest such specs because they know it will not work.
The link Maine posted showing the Genasun installation is far removed from the op's suggestion of a drop-in from Smart Battery. The charging and low voltage settings posted by Smart Battery prove they know little about LiFePo4 battery technology.

Genasun would not suggest such specs because they know it will not work.
But they are called "smart battery" your not suggesting it is a misleading name are you?

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But they are called "smart battery" your not suggesting it is a misleading name are you?

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
Based on Maine's post and what I know about LiFePo4 care and feeding, yes.

Good marketing though.
But they are called "smart battery" your not suggesting it is a misleading name are you?

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
With a Better Business Bureau grade of "F" I'd say perhaps not so smart.....;)
Boeing went to lithium ion batteries (with poor results) with their 787. I wonder what attracted them to these batteries and what ended up causing them to catch fire. Seems like a cautionary tale to me...

MedSailor
Boeing went to lithium ion batteries (with poor results) with their 787. I wonder what attracted them to these batteries and what ended up causing them to catch fire. Seems like a cautionary tale to me...

MedSailor
Boeing used LiCoO2 or lithium cobalt oxide for its energy density but at a huge risk in terms of its volatility.

LiFePO4 and LiCoO2 are about as different as water and gasoline in terms of propensity to combust.. This is like saying all humans (read all humans = all Lithium batteries) are capable of winning the Tour De France and assuming Rosie O'Donnell can do so because Lance Armstrong did. I mean they are both humans...

The comparisons between the Boeing LiCoO2incident and LifePO4 is laughable yet people who don't understand the technology make these assumptions every day.
The comparisons between the Boeing LiCoO2incident and LifePO4 is laughable yet people who don't understand the technology make these assumptions every day.
Glad my comment was good for a laugh. Don't know much about this stuff and didn't claim to be an expert but am slowly learning more (largely thanks to you). ;)

I'd still like to have a hybrid electric sailboat motor setup some day. Doesn't seem like we're quite there yet from several prospectives but I continue to passively observe the progress in this area with interest.

MedSailor
Glad my comment was good for a laugh. Don't know much about this stuff and didn't claim to be an expert but am slowly learning more (largely thanks to you). ;)

I'd still like to have a hybrid electric sailboat motor setup some day. Doesn't seem like we're quite there yet from several prospectives but I continue to passively observe the progress in this area with interest.

MedSailor
Not your fault or anyone but the media for portraying all Lithium chemistries as the same....

LFP is still not ready for DIY prime time nor "drop in" but factory made systems are readily available, if you want to spend the money....
Not your fault or anyone but the media for portraying all Lithium chemistries as the same....
..
For sure. Don't get me started on the media! With medicine, it seems like 90% of what they say is wrong. ;)

MedSailor
Might these folks' work be worth watching?

Tesla Home-Battery System
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