Lithium- probably the best decision I have made!

Merve replied on 15/06/2019 17:44

Posted on 15/06/2019 17:44

For those who are considering Lithium as an alternative to EHU fees. Well, I think we can all agree that this summer has been a washout so far with a decent day here and there- well, in Wales, that has been the case. It’s been cold too! Most of the time, it’s been leaden skies, overcast and dull. It has, in fact, been an excellent opportunity to test the Lithium Battery I purchased in the very early spring. Now, it has to be admitted that I now have 300w on the roof courtesy of a show offer by Coachman. However, throughout it all, the Lithium has performed so very well. We have, like others, had our heating on in June, been captive in our van through foul weather, making the television or a DVD very attractive  to pass the hours as the rain beat on the roof!. Been able to use the toaster every day, a food blender, clean around with our powerful  240v vacuum etc and the usual lights at night! Charge our phones and toothbrushes etc etc.  The Safefill has taken care of the fridge, the water, the heating etc with the battery supplying the much needed Alde pump. At no time has the Battery been below 87% and to be fair, most of the time not below 95% SoC. Even in very overcast conditions the panels were able to feed an amp or two into the Battery. During a very sunny interval between the clouds the other day I noticed 19.1 amps being fed into the Lithium!! It doesn’t take long at those levels to fill the battery completely and a Lithium can take that level of charge without a problem. 3 hrs of TV reduced it by 2%! Had that been during the day, I wouldn’t have noticed any drop whatsoever- the Panels would have fed more in than I was taking out. There is no doubt that a Lithium Battery has moved the bar higher. All in all, a very worthwhile experience. (Please-  I am not looking for a fight with EHUers! I just want to post my findings for those that are interested!!)

Oneputt replied on 16/06/2019 19:38

Posted on 16/06/2019 19:38

I’ve seen lithium battery’s advertised for under £1k so prices definitely coming down, of course there will always be company’s that are reluctant to narrow their margins. If in a couple of years I need a new battery then I will consider buying lithium.

As long as your happy with your purchase Merve and it works for you it really doesn’t matter what your regular detractors think

replied on 16/06/2019 19:47

Posted on 16/06/2019 18:56 by Merve

Tunnel vision?  Obsessing about the price of something that will save you money in the long run??? Sorry, but that, I don’t understand.  For me, worth every penny. I am already well on my way to recouping the cost in saved fees. No reliance on EHUs but with the convenience of same.  Speculate to accumulate!! Apparently, according to you , you are well ahead of me in the technology  game- We still await details of your amazing power source DD- c’mon, don’t keep it to yourself!  - Is it warp core technology?? 🤣🤣

Posted on 16/06/2019 19:47

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Johnny57 replied on 16/06/2019 19:54

Posted on 16/06/2019 19:54

Thanks Merve for taking the time to share your update on how your lithium battery is performing. With the weather this month your set up seems to be coping admirably. Please do keep educating some of us!

Johnny57 replied on 16/06/2019 20:20

replied on 16/06/2019 20:50

Merve replied on 16/06/2019 21:19

Posted on 16/06/2019 19:47 by

Nerve several posts above you suggested I was exaggerating the price.  I simply posted links to show that I was not.  Please, stop trying to mislead people and post facts.  Anyone can see from the link I posted the batteries are in excess of £1300.  

My Ideal installation is well in excess of £4000.  Taking age into account I very much doubt that I will ever recover that amount.  

I would like to know where you find these sub £10 per night wonderful non EHU sites.  How about 10 factual examples.  

Posted on 16/06/2019 21:19

DD, if you had read my OP you would have seen that I addressed my comments to interested parties. But, as you insist on having a dig at me every time I try to post an innocent and honest blog, which says more about you than me, £4,000?? Are you having a laugh? No wonder you haven’t got ‘your ideal set up’ That would be ludicrous. I can assure you that I spent less than £1500 all in. It’s sometimes down to how you talk to people as to what they will do for you! Try it sometime. As for giving you my retreats which Johnny has proved exist, there are some that I would  share and some I definitely wouldn’t . If you are interested in sub £10 sites you only have to look in the book like I do and not expect everyone else to do the work for you. If you wish to keep trashing my blogs, get on with it. It makes no difference to me. I will keep people informed of my activities  and my progress. Some people are interested in what I am doing believe it or not. At least  I have walked the walk and talked the talk and all you have done is snipe from the sidelines- somethings never change! 

Phishing replied on 16/06/2019 21:54

Posted on 16/06/2019 21:54

Lithium is the way forward. They will become mainstream in vehicles and will get cheaper.

I see the main advantage as the weight saving, should save 15kg per 100ah battery and that's 15kg more payload. 

Solar panels are already available printed to substrate so how long before we don't need a hookup?

Solar caravan body panels, underslung battery slabs underfloor (or indeed in the floor substrate) with enough power to supply all needs. 

Available now, will get cheaper.

viatorem replied on 17/06/2019 07:51

Posted on 17/06/2019 07:51

As with all technology early adopters pay a premium for entry, as volumes increase price falls and performance generally increases.

Each of us considering a similar purchase has to justify it to ourselves and we all have differing thresholds of acceptance, usually, it usually circles around depth of pocket and outright need for that particular step in technology.

A year or so ago I had considered buying kit parts to build a lithium battery as most are constructed of individual cells.I abandoned this on the risk/cost basis an decided to wait to the technology to mature. I suspect that the deep cycle capabilities of lithium will obviate the need for large Ampere Hourages required for lead acid thereby reducing the weight and cost. I can currently survive off grid with 100w panel and 115 Ah lead acid set up . My main objective in a change to lithium would be weight saving.

So be thankful to the early adopters, we will probably all get there eventually!

WK57ABF replied on 20/06/2019 21:26

Posted on 20/06/2019 21:26

We have always changed out the battery charger in every new to us outfit that we have owned with a unit manufactured by Sterling Power Products - on the latest one we installed it has a regime for charging LiFePO4 batteries - now i know what it means.

John

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