"Smart" brand lithium battery - drop in replacement (?)

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Does anyone have any experience with THIS brand of battery?
Yes, I know they are EXPENSIVE, but the numbers (they present) look like they pencil out very well in the long run....well, that is the claim.
These are presented as "drop-in" replacements to lead/acid batteries since they have "Smart" protection circuits/chips to keep them from overcharging etc. plus smart enough to bypass dead cells down the road.
Interesting presentation and technology, if nothing else. I see it as at least worth researching (obviously).

http://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/index.php

Opinion responses are welcome, but really looking for EXPERIENCE with THIS battery....
 
I hope someone gives these a try before I need new batteries. Would be great to have a battery last 10 years.

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Their chart is off on cost as I know no one who gets less than a year on a battery. I would feel 3 years would be an average. So cost would be close to a push. Light weight and battery life would be great for me.
 
Bill, I agree that comparison is greatly skewed. Is there other information or assumptions made by Smart Battery that factors in?

Depending on application and care, I get between 3 and 5 years out of lead acid batteries.

$340 is one very expensive lead acid battery, as well.
 
I don't have any experience with this specific battery but I do have a Lithium LiFePo installed in my Hawk and it runs very well. I replaced two Exide 75Ah (110#) with a single Lithium 100Ah (28#s) battery. This is not a drop in replacement as advertised by this Smart Battery. The drop in replacement idea sounds easy but in reality, the charge management of a Lithium is completely different from a AGM/Lead Acid battery. The charge cycle is not the same and a Lithium does not require a equalization or float stage. It charges up and disconnects. Thats it. You then use and discharge till it reaches a set point (usually 12v) then the charger reconnects and starts charging again. The Lithium also doesn't mind being stored in a partial charged state.

Some of the claims made in the Smart Battery website is unwise. You can't discharge the battery to 8v. That would destroy the battery. It is true that you can discharge the Lithium much more than an AGM, as much as down to 20% vs a lead acid 50%. Charging a Lithium is also much more efficient. The internal resistance of a Lithium is much less than a AGM and thus will charge up much quicker with less lost to heat. Your solar panels will like that. The combined higher discharge % and more efficient charging allows a lower capacity Lithium replacement for a much larger capacity Lead Acid.

If your up to the challenge, this is a great way to go. For me, the most complicated part was figuring out the charge controller to use and setting it up. Anyone wanting to try this, I would gladly share whatever information I have.
 
Might the only one year life span of the LA battery be based on the very high number of charge/discharge cycles?
I don't think there are too many folk who exercise their batteries that much, but I can see their wanting to exploit the large difference of cycles available in their advertising.....if it is real...?
I don't have any answers.... This stuff is new to me.
But life has taught me that "Anything too good to be true....likely isn't".
So I'm attempting due diligence here by tapping this forum's member knowledge.

Thanks for sharing....
 
These batteries have tremendous potential. Lighter weight, deeper discharge potential and faster charging are all welcome changes. Once this is realized our solar panels or our trucks will easily charge our camper batteries just like our cellphones. It is a linear relationship of charging, very different from charging a lead acid battery.

The problem is that our panels and controllers and trucks don't yet play well with them like plugging in a usb to charge your phone. And they cost way too much now.

In 10 years (or less) we are likely to see several trucks and campers with this type of setup.
 
DrJ said:
Please share!
I love this topic.
Click to expand...
I do not know a great deal, but someone in the academic world is talking incredible improvements. Can we imagine a day when we are all off the grid?
 
I'm excited to see this technology in the future.

: )

But the data on that chart above doesn't apply to our campers. The price point is still too far off for my liking.

You can do the same thing, have the same amount of power, for about $200 - $400 using a lead acid battery, or a sealed AGM battery in small pop-up campers like we all use.

Worst case our customers might spend $500 on good batteries every 5 years (and that is usually on the high end).



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I'm not sold yet, or should say not buying yet. If I've read correctly there's a 4 to 6 times cost differential but not an equivalent increase in battery life. If the lead acid batteries are lasting 5 years, then any lithium battery I purchase should be the last one I ever purchase in my life time at the rip young age of 59.
 
There are a couple reasons I am considering this (or similar) battery.
The 1998 Northern Lite TC I bought recently has space in its battery compartment for only one group 27 battery. I would like to maximize the amount of electrical power coming out of that limited space. The head to head numbers appear to me to say lithium wins that comparison by a significant amount.
The second reason is that the lithium batteries charge both more efficiently and more rapidly, meaning solar panels are more effective/efficient at producing usable (later) power. Also if I must sometime charge this battery with a generator, it will do so faster, therefore, less noise and stink time.

Another point that does not enter MY decision is there is no "off-gassing" of hazardous vapors. This likely would (should?) matter to someone who will have their battery within their passenger or living space. The NL has a vented outside dedicated battery compartment.
But I still consider that a small "feather in its cap".
Another "small feather" is the weight difference.

I appreciate the feedback. Thanks. Please continue....
 
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