Major Battery Sale, Battleborn Batteries

[justjim]

Can we talk about the utility value of a heat pad at an extra $100 per, when the batteries will be in a winter climate that is never below 32F when sufficient solar power is available to charge.

The lowest temp while dispersed this year to date was 37.9F, and if I hadn't been traveling to the southern border for dental work, I wouldn't have been there.

I don't winter in the RV that I want to upgrade. Charging during that time period would be only be to maintain the batteries, maybe LiFePo4 don't care about that when not under a load?

Maybe I should just go cheap for my first LiFePo4 bank, and find out the different ways that they can be not fit for purpose and/or ruined. Worked out with Lead Acid.

The AGMs are doing okay, but I need more AH on warmer days when the fridge cycles more. The bank  area's footprint is what keeps me from adding another 100AH AGM, no room at the inn for the third AGM to lay its head down, and that would only gain 50AH. That is the reason for the sudden push towards LiFePo4.

Life Blue is temporarily sold out on all batteries.

The problem is that Lithium can't be charged when the battery is at freezing or below. You can discharge them at a lower temperature, just not charge them. There is a low temperature cut off for discharge but you need to refer to your battery. So if you are not going to be in the rig, charge them up and turn off the solar.

For those that are going to be in colder climates or just want to be prepared for the possibility the easiest way to deal with it is with batteries that have their own heat pads. I have also added heat pads controlled by a thermocube if it doesn't have its own thermostat.

Having the batteries inside when you are keeping yourself warm works too as long as you make sure that the warm air can get to the batteries. I do it with a small vent fan on a thermocube.

As Will said in one of his videos you can get away without the low temperature cut off in the BMS as long as you are using a controller like Victron with the temperature and voltage sensor that will stop charging if the batteries are too cold. I use it as a fail safe even with lithium batteries with a low temp BMS.