They were at this price with Bunning last week before jumping in price. There have been some good reviews and tear downs of these batteries otherwise I would not post about them. I generally build my own but have bought one to do some testing and then hand it over to my son. Im positive when it arrives my wife is going to say Not another battery .
Good luck Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 6th of September 2024 03:31:59 PM
Dick0 said
10:59 AM Sep 7, 2024
TimTim wrote:
If anyone is looking to buy an inexpensive battery then these are back on sale through Woolworths.
They were at this price with Bunning last week before jumping in price. There have been some good reviews and tear downs of these batteries otherwise I would not post about them. I generally build my own but have bought one to do some testing and then hand it over to my son. Im positive when it arrives my wife is going to say Not another battery .
Good luck Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 6th of September 2024 03:31:59 PM
Yes Tim, I have the previous family member, VOLTAX, when they were sold by Outbax on Ebay for under $500.00 with 3 year warranty. My three 135Ah (405Ah) LiFePO4 have performed admirably for several years and I use them with a 3kv/6kv Inverter for all my 240V needs.
At that time not all batteries were suitable for either Parallel or Serial connection so it was important to consider that issue. I think all BMS's allow this now?
Voltax & Voltx teardowns and reviews are on Youtube.
At that price I would get four for free off grid camping if I were starting again.
-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 7th of September 2024 11:07:12 AM
TimTim said
01:59 PM Sep 7, 2024
Whenever there is a mention of VoltX batteries Dick0 (Richard) always pops his head up with a great big grin.
To be honest Richard I think they are a company looking to grow. Whilst at first they were providing cheap batteries their prices have increased but with the exception of the specials that come along they now seem in the mid range pricing. I see they have a range of other products now.
But thank you for keeping us updated on how they are going.
Good luck
Tim
Warren-Pat_01 said
07:39 AM Sep 8, 2024
Hi Tim, Richard,
I assume I could replace my AGM (a bit dodgy) with one of these batteries with no risk of fire (the battery is under my bed, I don't want to be the bbq meat). We're heading for Canberra at the end of next week so I'd have it sent there & do the changes to the Jayco SETEC charging arrangements when we come home in late November. I have a solar controller (Renogy Rover 20A) that can be set to lithium.
I"ll probably be in touch with both of you when it comes time to do the conversion. Having been guiding my son through his problems with the Jayco BMPro system, I don't want to go along that quite expensive system.
TimTim said
08:32 AM Sep 8, 2024
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hi Tim, Richard, I assume I could replace my AGM (a bit dodgy) with one of these batteries with no risk of fire (the battery is under my bed, I don't want to be the bbq meat). We're heading for Canberra at the end of next week so I'd have it sent there & do the changes to the Jayco SETEC charging arrangements when we come home in late November. I have a solar controller (Renogy Rover 20A) that can be set to lithium.
I"ll probably be in touch with both of you when it comes time to do the conversion. Having been guiding my son through his problems with the Jayco BMPro system, I don't want to go along that quite expensive system.
Hi Warren,
Lets get this very clear. LiFePO4 are not the lithium batteries at you hear and read about on the news. They are a different chemistry and do not just catch fire even if overcharged. They are considered safer than your AGMs. To overcharge them you would require a failure of your charger, be it a DC/DC, solar or 240V, plus a failure of the BMS inside the battery. I would not have installed 2 x 280Ah internally and 2 x100Ah externally LiFePO4 batteries in my van if thought that there was any risk of them catching fire.
By the sound of it a Jayco BMPro would be overkill for you and most caravaners can get away using a basic system.
I more than happy to help you and Im sure plenty of others are too.
Good luck
Tim
Dick0 said
10:30 AM Sep 8, 2024
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hi Tim, Richard, I assume I could replace my AGM (a bit dodgy) with one of these batteries with no risk of fire (the battery is under my bed, I don't want to be the bbq meat). We're heading for Canberra at the end of next week so I'd have it sent there & do the changes to the Jayco SETEC charging arrangements when we come home in late November. I have a solar controller (Renogy Rover 20A) that can be set to lithium.
I"ll probably be in touch with both of you when it comes time to do the conversion. Having been guiding my son through his problems with the Jayco BMPro system, I don't want to go along that quite expensive system.
Hi Warren,
As Tim stated there is no risk of fire from LiFePO4 batteries. If under the bed it has been recommended to vent that area. A 40mm hole in the floor covered with flyscreen. I never vented.
Use your current Renogy solar controller, set to Lithium as your principal battery charging, and all should be ok.
TimTim said
11:45 AM Sep 8, 2024
Overcharged cells equivalent to 19.2V for a 12.8V battery.
Whilst the prismatic cells do have a pressure relief vent the battery cases do not. So even if the pressure relief valve were to operate on one or more cells it can only vent into the sealed battery case.
Tim
Warren-Pat_01 said
04:34 PM Sep 9, 2024
Thanks Tim & Richard,
As we use the van mostly on power - free camping is a minimum these days, are you suggesting that I don't have to change or modify the SETEC charger (I think it is a ST35) if I change to from AGM to Lithium?
That being said I modified the wiring to the house battery to be charged only from the solar - not the car & I use the house battery to power our 12v accessories, lights - not from the power (SETEC system). With the amount of sun that we get up here in NQ, I thought it was the best way to go. The car provides the 12v to the 3-way fridge.
I know the charging pattern is different between both types of batteries - will that make a difference?
Over to you - if I need to make a change, what do you suggest?
Cheers
Dick0 said
07:50 PM Sep 9, 2024
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Thanks Tim & Richard, As we use the van mostly on power - free camping is a minimum these days, are you suggesting that I don't have to change or modify the SETEC charger (I think it is a ST35) if I change to from AGM to Lithium?
That being said I modified the wiring to the house battery to be charged only from the solar - not the car & I use the house battery to power our 12v accessories, lights - not from the power (SETEC system). With the amount of sun that we get up here in NQ, I thought it was the best way to go. The car provides the 12v to the 3-way fridge.
I know the charging pattern is different between both types of batteries - will that make a difference?
Over to you - if I need to make a change, what do you suggest?
Cheers
Hi Warren,
I too charge my house batteries mostly by solar and MPPT solar charger. If I want to charge the house batteries from a 240V>12V charger then I use a dedicated LiFePO4 charger and disconnect the solar charger by an isolation switch.
When on the move I can also charge the house batteries, from the tug, by dedicated LiFePO4 DC>DC 12V charger, however, solar charging is normally more than satisfactory between destinations. My AES 3way fridge is also powered by 12V from the tug when on the move.
With this setup I have no fear of the batteries, situated under the bed, being subjected to "fire" as all charging is LiFePO4 specific.
I changed all of my charging system from AGM to LiFePO4 specific.
watsea said
09:56 PM Sep 9, 2024
oops, post deleted
-- Edited by watsea on Monday 9th of September 2024 09:58:59 PM
TimTim said
09:46 AM Sep 10, 2024
From what you have stated all you have to do is swap the battery over and then set your Renogy solar charger on the lithium profile and away you go. Remember the order of connection. Disconnect loads, disconnect solar and then disconnect solar controller from battery.
Connect solar controller to battery so that it determines battery voltage, connect solar and connect loads.
If you did connect your Setec up to the battery it will not fully charge as the Setec voltage is only 13.65V whereas you require 14.6V for LiFePO4. It may get to about 80% charge but when my battery arrives I will do a test taking the battery to 13.65V, seeing what voltage it settles at, and see what capacity it has at that voltage.
Only your can determine whether you need to connect to the Setec for some charging, whether you need a 240V charger or whether you can get by without either. Or even if you have any need for a DC/DC charger like Dick0 has. Your power use and style of of camping will determine that.
Good luck
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 10th of September 2024 09:50:13 AM
-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 10th of September 2024 09:55:31 AM
TimTim said
01:51 PM Sep 10, 2024
Battery has arrived. Ordered Thursday about 10.00 am and arrived Tuesday 1.30pm.
Battery was well packaged and Im impressed with the quality.
Voltage on arrival was 13.19V So at approximately 70%.
Now on charge to 14.6V to do some testing although it implies the BMS will stop the charging at 14.4V. Will then do a capacity test.
No longer a great bargain buy. Price is now $649.00.
TimTim said
01:04 PM Sep 11, 2024
Yep knew that would happen. Bunnings had them on special last week so u have to keep checking.
Corndoggy said
03:08 PM Sep 11, 2024
One has to ask the question.
If this battery can be sold at that special price and I have to doubt they lost money on that price, just how much money are they making on the $649.00 price?
Dick0 said
06:46 PM Sep 11, 2024
Corndoggy wrote:
One has to ask the question. If this battery can be sold at that special price and I have to doubt they lost money on that price, just how much money are they making on the $649.00 price?
Probably the same percentage as Coles, Woolies & Coles when they sell items at 50% discounted weekly.
That is what I see now as well. It was definitely $599 but down to $449 with 25% coupon when I looked this morning.
TimTim said
12:31 AM Sep 13, 2024
Are We Lost wrote:
There is a coupon code to bring it down to $449.
That was correct and I saw it too but has rapidly been changed.
I forgot that my Victron 240V charger could be set as a power supply so I set that up to charge my Voltx up to 14.6V.
I put the capacity tester on the battery and set it up to draw 20A only to find that I blew my tester up after I had drawn 85Ah from the battery. You know what those Chinese instructions are like and hidden away was a note that the power should be less than 150W . Anyway, a new one on order along with a Victron 300A shunt that was on sale reduced to $79.65 with coupon.
I continued discharging the battery with some LED light down to 10.6V and with the time it took and having considered the battery voltage and amps being drawn I was almost certain i have drawn over 100Ah from it. When my new capacity tester arrives I will test it again.
In the mean time I charged it up from 10.6V to 14.6V and my Victron charger indicates that that the capacity is 107AH.
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 13th of September 2024 12:39:02 AM
I had a look at that Victron shunt. I have the 500a version in the car. Didn't know there was a 300a version. I don't need 500a or 300a but you got to take what they give so I cracked and purchased one. Sooner or later I will be upgrading my batteries and would be buying one anyway. Can complain about the price or the product. Saved me money.
Thanks.
TimTim said
11:00 AM Sep 13, 2024
My pleasure .
Arrived in two days with a Victron catalogue and a Victron pen. Not that I need anymore pens lol.
Excellent service from the seller.
Warren-Pat_01 said
11:41 PM Sep 15, 2024
I have been told by the sender that my 100Ah battery is on its way to my son's place in Canberra so we'll pick it up next week.
Thanks Tim
TimTim said
08:37 PM Sep 16, 2024
Great to hear that you managed to get one Warren.
I have just completed two full discharge and charge tests between 10.6V and 14.6V and they all confirmed that the battery has 107Ah capacity. Will do a test next week taking it up to 13.65V, the same as the Setec and see how many Ahs I can get out of it taking it down to 10.6V.
Tim
67HR said
10:01 PM Sep 16, 2024
TimTim wrote:
Great to hear that you managed to get one Warren.
I have just completed two full discharge and charge tests between 10.6V and 14.6V and they all confirmed that the battery has 107Ah capacity. Will do a test next week taking it up to 13.65V, the same as the Setec and see how many Ahs I can get out of it taking it down to 10.6V.
Tim
Tim, do you use something like a 150w 20a 4 wire capacity tester or something else.
Just bought a new one as I blew mine up. But I also have a couple of Victron shunts plus a 240V charger so have been able to use those to test the capacity.
Tim
TimTim said
08:31 AM Sep 17, 2024
VoltX Pro 200Ah on sale at Woolworths for $599 closing today.
If anyone is looking to buy an inexpensive battery then these are back on sale through Woolworths.
.
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/pro ... a6KQowHDHA
They were at this price with Bunning last week before jumping in price. There have been some good reviews and tear downs of these batteries otherwise I would not post about them. I generally build my own but have bought one to do some testing and then hand it over to my son. Im positive when it arrives my wife is going to say Not another battery
Good luck
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 6th of September 2024 03:31:59 PM
Yes Tim, I have the previous family member, VOLTAX, when they were sold by Outbax on Ebay for under $500.00 with 3 year warranty. My three 135Ah (405Ah) LiFePO4 have performed admirably for several years and I use them with a 3kv/6kv Inverter for all my 240V needs.
At that time not all batteries were suitable for either Parallel or Serial connection so it was important to consider that issue. I think all BMS's allow this now?
Voltax & Voltx teardowns and reviews are on Youtube.
At that price I would get four for free off grid camping if I were starting again.
-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 7th of September 2024 11:07:12 AM
Whenever there is a mention of VoltX batteries Dick0 (Richard) always pops his head up with a great big grin.
To be honest Richard I think they are a company looking to grow. Whilst at first they were providing cheap batteries their prices have increased but with the exception of the specials that come along they now seem in the mid range pricing. I see they have a range of other products now.
But thank you for keeping us updated on how they are going.
Good luck
Tim
I assume I could replace my AGM (a bit dodgy) with one of these batteries with no risk of fire (the battery is under my bed, I don't want to be the bbq meat). We're heading for Canberra at the end of next week so I'd have it sent there & do the changes to the Jayco SETEC charging arrangements when we come home in late November. I have a solar controller (Renogy Rover 20A) that can be set to lithium.
I"ll probably be in touch with both of you when it comes time to do the conversion. Having been guiding my son through his problems with the Jayco BMPro system, I don't want to go along that quite expensive system.
Hi Warren,
Lets get this very clear. LiFePO4 are not the lithium batteries at you hear and read about on the news. They are a different chemistry and do not just catch fire even if overcharged. They are considered safer than your AGMs. To overcharge them you would require a failure of your charger, be it a DC/DC, solar or 240V, plus a failure of the BMS inside the battery. I would not have installed 2 x 280Ah internally and 2 x100Ah externally LiFePO4 batteries in my van if thought that there was any risk of them catching fire.
By the sound of it a Jayco BMPro would be overkill for you and most caravaners can get away using a basic system.
I more than happy to help you and Im sure plenty of others are too.
Good luck
Tim
Hi Warren,
As Tim stated there is no risk of fire from LiFePO4 batteries. If under the bed it has been recommended to vent that area. A 40mm hole in the floor covered with flyscreen. I never vented.
Use your current Renogy solar controller, set to Lithium as your principal battery charging, and all should be ok.
Overcharged cells equivalent to 19.2V for a 12.8V battery.
https://gwl-power.tumblr.com/post/65416024643/lfp-cells-will-bloat-if-overcharged-the-photo
Whilst the prismatic cells do have a pressure relief vent the battery cases do not. So even if the pressure relief valve were to operate on one or more cells it can only vent into the sealed battery case.
Tim
As we use the van mostly on power - free camping is a minimum these days, are you suggesting that I don't have to change or modify the SETEC charger (I think it is a ST35) if I change to from AGM to Lithium?
That being said I modified the wiring to the house battery to be charged only from the solar - not the car & I use the house battery to power our 12v accessories, lights - not from the power (SETEC system). With the amount of sun that we get up here in NQ, I thought it was the best way to go. The car provides the 12v to the 3-way fridge.
I know the charging pattern is different between both types of batteries - will that make a difference?
Over to you - if I need to make a change, what do you suggest?
Cheers
Hi Warren,
I too charge my house batteries mostly by solar and MPPT solar charger. If I want to charge the house batteries from a 240V>12V charger then I use a dedicated LiFePO4 charger and disconnect the solar charger by an isolation switch.
When on the move I can also charge the house batteries, from the tug, by dedicated LiFePO4 DC>DC 12V charger, however, solar charging is normally more than satisfactory between destinations. My AES 3way fridge is also powered by 12V from the tug when on the move.
With this setup I have no fear of the batteries, situated under the bed, being subjected to "fire" as all charging is LiFePO4 specific.
I changed all of my charging system from AGM to LiFePO4 specific.
oops, post deleted
-- Edited by watsea on Monday 9th of September 2024 09:58:59 PM
From what you have stated all you have to do is swap the battery over and then set your Renogy solar charger on the lithium profile and away you go. Remember the order of connection. Disconnect loads, disconnect solar and then disconnect solar controller from battery.
Connect solar controller to battery so that it determines battery voltage, connect solar and connect loads.
If you did connect your Setec up to the battery it will not fully charge as the Setec voltage is only 13.65V whereas you require 14.6V for LiFePO4. It may get to about 80% charge but when my battery arrives I will do a test taking the battery to 13.65V, seeing what voltage it settles at, and see what capacity it has at that voltage.
Here is your manual in case you do not have one.
https://www.setec.com.au/pdf/ST-Series-User-Manual.pdf
Only your can determine whether you need to connect to the Setec for some charging, whether you need a 240V charger or whether you can get by without either. Or even if you have any need for a DC/DC charger like Dick0 has. Your power use and style of of camping will determine that.
Good luck
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 10th of September 2024 09:50:13 AM
-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 10th of September 2024 09:55:31 AM
Battery has arrived. Ordered Thursday about 10.00 am and arrived Tuesday 1.30pm.
Battery was well packaged and Im impressed with the quality.
Voltage on arrival was 13.19V So at approximately 70%.
Now on charge to 14.6V to do some testing although it implies the BMS will stop the charging at 14.4V. Will then do a capacity test.
Tim
Yep knew that would happen. Bunnings had them on special last week so u have to keep checking.
If this battery can be sold at that special price and I have to doubt they lost money on that price, just how much money are they making on the $649.00 price?
Probably the same percentage as Coles, Woolies & Coles when they sell items at 50% discounted weekly.
200AH Voltx on Ebay for $599.00.
VoltX 12V 200Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Premium Prismatic Cells Camping | eBay
Even better, there is a 25% discount coupon, bringiing it down to $449.
Even better, there is a 25% discount coupon, bringiing it down to $449.
Looks like $899 to me.
That was correct and I saw it too but has rapidly been changed.
I forgot that my Victron 240V charger could be set as a power supply so I set that up to charge my Voltx up to 14.6V.
I put the capacity tester on the battery and set it up to draw 20A only to find that I blew my tester up after I had drawn 85Ah from the battery. You know what those Chinese instructions are like and hidden away was a note that the power should be less than 150W
. Anyway, a new one on order along with a Victron 300A shunt that was on sale reduced to $79.65 with coupon.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/286035998526
I continued discharging the battery with some LED light down to 10.6V and with the time it took and having considered the battery voltage and amps being drawn I was almost certain i have drawn over 100Ah from it. When my new capacity tester arrives I will test it again.
In the mean time I charged it up from 10.6V to 14.6V and my Victron charger indicates that that the capacity is 107AH.
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 13th of September 2024 12:39:02 AM
Thanks.
My pleasure
.
Arrived in two days with a Victron catalogue and a Victron pen. Not that I need anymore pens lol.
Excellent service from the seller.
Thanks Tim
Great to hear that you managed to get one Warren.
I have just completed two full discharge and charge tests between 10.6V and 14.6V and they all confirmed that the battery has 107Ah capacity. Will do a test next week taking it up to 13.65V, the same as the Setec and see how many Ahs I can get out of it taking it down to 10.6V.
Tim
Tim, do you use something like a 150w 20a 4 wire capacity tester or something else.
Trev.
Yes Trev,
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005690292845.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.4.1ceff19cKpdTel
Just bought a new one as I blew mine up. But I also have a couple of Victron shunts plus a 240V charger so have been able to use those to test the capacity.
Tim
VoltX Pro 200Ah on sale at Woolworths for $599 closing today.
https://www.bigw.com.au/product/voltx-12v-200ah-pro-lithium-battery-lifepo4-200a-bms-deep-cycle-rv-camping/p/9900113549?
Tim