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Everything posted by alistair1537
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New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
With a generator I don't put any load on my engine, and I live inside my boat, not on the tow path...also, I run the generator at respectful times. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
Engines are expensive to run and maintain - Generators are cheap as chips. If all I'm doing is moored-up charging, the load isn't there, the noise still is. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
Yeah, I charge via a generator in winter - bank-side - Also, I'm not going to do much cruising in winter, so alternator is out too. But, due to LiFePO4 ability to suck up charge at incredible rates, I only need 1 - 2 hours running the generator. My point is, that my solar is more than adequate in Summer, which is also when I plan to do my cruising, so the alternator won't be necessary. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I wonder if your cruising time and regime is in any way influenced by the need to charge the batteries? I mean, have you ever thought about stopping in an attractive looking mooring, but had to pass it up because your batteries needed a few more hours? Does that make sense? Or, am I being too much of a pedantic? -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
At this stage, Peter, I'm more than supplied with charging capacity via Solar - I don't imagine that will change much even when cruising - there is no such thing as free power, and if I'm banging out charge via an additional alternator then it is costing me in diesel. On the other hand, free heating water is available to heat a calorifier so that is another no-brainer...Thanks for the offer, I'll certainly take you up on it if I change my mind. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead–acid_battery Here's a copy of wiki pages for interest...look at top right hand insert - it is a great comparative between the two chemistries. Lithium iron phosphate battery Specific energy 90–160 Wh/kg (320–580 J/g or kJ/kg)[1] Energy density 325 Wh/L (1200 kJ/L)[1] Specific power around 200 W/kg[2] Energy/consumer-price 3.0–24 Wh/US$[3] Time durability > 10 years Cycle durability 2,000-12000[4] cycles Nominal cell voltage 3.2 V Lead–acid battery Lead–acid car battery Specific energy 35–40 Wh/kg[1] Energy density 80–90 Wh/L[1] Specific power 180 W/kg[2] Charge/discharge efficiency 50–95%[3] Energy/consumer-price 7 (sld) to 18 (fld) Wh/US$[4] Self-discharge rate 3–20%/month[5] Cycle durability <350 cycles[6] Nominal cell voltage 2.1 V[7] Charge temperature interval Min. −35 °C, max. 45 °C -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
You probably commented on my idea of piping in outside air to my multi-fuel...it's working a treat, btw. I'm not re-inventing anything - just using modern practises to enhance existing technologies. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I'd be interested to hear your estimate costs of running those as off-grid - I'm impressed that you managed 2000 cycles - would you factor charge times into your costs? How about noise levels and additional fag to fully charge - does that constitute a factor? -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I was going add, like Alan and yourself, but I thought I'd better not... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
They're selling them to old gits? -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
Ah, come on, mate. The only free thing you've got is 30 years of L.A. power... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I haven't started my cruising phase yet - I only got the boat in 2020 and lock-down and the build and, and...also, I am a bit worried about reports that LiFePO4 don't get along with Alternators? Or is it the other way round? In any case, very few alternators are built with LiFePO4 in mind. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
Okey dokey...I guess thinking too hard is tiring for you...In the good old days you didn't have to learn anything new... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I find it amusing that people are so cavalier when it comes to mains consumption - hooked to shore power; yet insist on running Multi-fuel stoves...lol. You'll be defending the niceties of the smokey fire and extolling the wonders of cheap power from your shoreline...I don't know how you do it. You do have a smokey fire lit? -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
How many hours cruising do you get per charge? As I ask this, I'm sure you've posted the answer somewhere before? -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
Eight hours or so of shore line charging isn't free either. I am totally off grid - My engine alternator only charges the start battery as well - I don't charge from alternator to the LiFePO4, only solar and generator. The added benefit of LiFePO4 is that if I only get to 50% charge via solar today - I can use it back down to 10% without any risk of damage to the batteries - L.A. don't like that. To treat L.A. properly, you need to charge them fully... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
the composting bog wasnt a dig, if you have one it tells me a lot Are you a vegan also? That you ask the questions also tells me a lot... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I have not ever lived on a boat until this year. So you have years of experience with L.A. Good for you. You also have zero experience with LiFePO4. I have loads of experience with L.A. batteries as relates to cars and also with deep cycle batteries in Camper vans. I have at least one year of LiFePO4 experience under the belt so far...In all honesty, I would not change back...I have plenty of other barges around me with L.A. I hear daily of their woes... I approach everything I do with care and consideration. I am fitting out this widebeam as my retirement plan. I had to make a decision as to what power supply and battery systems I could employ to make my retirement more comfortable. It is simply a no-brainer to use modern technology. I don't care to charge a battery for 5 hours a day to get it to 90% and then another 4 hours to float it to 100% and then only get to use 50% of the capacity...The basic cost of a L.A. system still requires Solar panels, charge controller, inverter, battery charger and so on. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I gather all the power systems you've had on the boats in 32 years came free? Nice! And no composting toilet - shame, it must be hard, dreaming up little digs all the time... -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I am not selling my boat. I spent around 3k on my LiFePO4 system - batteries 24V 100A/h - 4 x 275W solar panels - 50A Solar charge controller - 100A BMS - 25A Battery Charger - 1600W generator and 3000W Inverter. I charge my batteries between 1 and 2 hours per day in winter - and never in Summer - I am not hooked to any shore power. Let me know your costs for your system and we'll compare charging times etc. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
The cost of L.A. v LiFePo4 is not in dispute. The economics are. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
No. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I'd check your enthusiasm...LiFePO4 prices are comparable to L.A. now. The benefits of shorter charge times; greater depth of discharge - or user capacity; and superior charge cycle life, plus maintaining charge levels virtually indefinitely, is not to be dismissed. -
New Solid state batteries on the horizon.
alistair1537 replied to alistair1537's topic in Boat Building & Maintenance
I'll take a wild shot here...you're still a proud owner of L.A. batteries? -
Welcome. Widebeams are great. So much space. Just be careful around the narrow people. Living in a pipe makes them less generous...