Is it time for Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries?

[Big Shasta]

With K2 Energy winning the 81Million dollar contract for batteries to power the next generation of rail gun technology, it got me looking closer at LiFePO4 batteries. I didn't realize their benefits and that they were available at a reasonable cost now.

There are a bunch of guy on here smarter than me, anyone smart on this technology? Seems like it can put out a lot of power, recharge super fast, it's light, much safer than standard lithium, cleaner,. There are some downfalls in energy density but it doesn't seem horrible. Looks like it does require a battery management system but they don't look too bad.

https://www.valence.com/solutions/marine/

Maybe some of the super audio system guys would know about them. With the high discharge rates, seems like the need for giant capacitors would be reduced.

https://www.valence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/product_range.png

This was a cool comparison. It's a few years old and the prices are for crazy big marine systems but cool pros and cons. http://www.bruceschwab.com/uploads/li-vs-la.pdf

What do you think....overkill for our boats?

 

[Big Shasta]

Scratch that....I saw a motorcycle version for a couple hundred bucks but the serious marine versions are a couple thousand bucks...YIKES...Not yet I guess. Still pretty cool technol0gy though.

 

[KXCam22]

Their true advantage is weight. I cant say that I would bother on a boat. On my dirtbike, however, the shorei battery saved 8lbs. On a bike thats big. Cam.

 

[Bruce]

If you wanted to build a light weight battery you could use 18650 or other lithium rechargeable cells. For example this 10 Pack on Amazon is $1.80 per battery. Those batteries are likely over rated, I would guess that 3Ah is more likely than the 5 that they claim. They weigh approximately 1.7 ounces each and are 2.75" x .75". Using 144 of them you could build four banks of 36 batteries then place them in series. The 144 batteries would weigh less than 16 pounds plus the wiring and casing. They could be assembled into a 3' by 3" by 4" assembly. Combined they would provide 108 Ah of 14.8 volts. The batteries would cost $270 plus the time and materials to assemble them. I believe this is very similar to how Tesla builds their battery packs. These batteries are often used in laptop batteries. Many have over charge protection built in.

If I did not already have two 100Ah AGM batteries in our boat I would consider building a couple of battery packs.

 

[Evil Sports]

Im just gonna hold out for some Dilithium Crystals

 

[David Analog]

I wouldn't hold my breath. Dilithium Crystals can only be mined from a few planets, such as Remus, Halkan, Dozaria and Troyius.

 

[Big Shasta]

If you wanted to build a light weight battery you could use 18650 or other lithium rechargeable cells. For example this 10 Pack on Amazon is $1.80 per battery. Those batteries are likely over rated, I would guess that 3Ah is more likely than the 5 that they claim. They weigh approximately 1.7 ounces each and are 2.75" x .75". Using 144 of them you could build four banks of 36 batteries then place them in series. The 144 batteries would weigh less than 16 pounds plus the wiring and casing. They could be assembled into a 3' by 3" by 4" assembly. Combined they would provide 108 Ah of 14.8 volts. The batteries would cost $270 plus the time and materials to assemble them. I believe this is very similar to how Tesla builds their battery packs. These batteries are often used in laptop batteries. Many have over charge protection built in.

If I did not already have two 100Ah AGM batteries in our boat I would consider building a couple of battery packs.

Standard lithium too scary for me in my boat. The Lithium Iron are much safer.