The search for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries for your RV or off-grid home can be daunting. There are a whole number of choices out there. Making this search even more difficult is the myriad of companies who purchase LiFePo4 cells from overseas and then assemble and brand them as their own. In some cases you may pay double for the same exact cells. That said, there are inherent risks with lithium batteries, especially in RVs where you are sleeping and traveling for potentially long periods of time. What I have discovered is that I cannot trust the reviews on the battery websites. Troublesome reviews such as “battery cells caught on fire” are often buried deep within the site or removed after the vendor has reached out to “Remedy” the situation with the customer…..wait….REMEDY!? If my battery pack catches on fire, or even comes close, sending me a new battery or two will not remedy the situation.
To build out the best resource for high performance, high capacity (> 3kwh) lithium power packs at varying price points, we want to hear from you! I have started to compile the manufacturers and battery builders I have identified. Over time, as more are explored I will return to update this post. Please leave comments on batteries that you have tried, the good, bad and ugly.
Let’s get started:
Battleborn (Dragonfly Energy) – Battleborn is a long-leader in the premium lithium space for off-grid/boondocking RVers. Their battery packs are highly rated, often come with a 10-year warranty and are assembled in the US. Battleborn typically pairs their batteries with high quality Victron components. The unknown — are these cells any different than any of the other options? Is the premium which can be upwards of 2x the price for other similar batteries worth it?
Large Power Packs Options:
Battleborn Game Changer 3.0 (Heated & Unheated)
Estimated Cost: $2,499 (retail)
Capacity: 12v 270ah (3,240wh). Only comes in a 12v option.
Cycles: 3,000 – 5,000
Warranty: 10 years
Depth of Discharge: 100% Note: going to 100% DoD is a risky proposition but it essentially means you have a 20%+ increased capacity over most of the competitors for like-for-like battery packs.
BMS: Fully integrated Battleborn BMS which protects the battery from low-voltage and low-temperature. Also balances charging across the cells. No capability to directly connect the BMS across batteries for intelligent load balancing as is available on some other brands.
Heating: Comes in both heated and unheated version. The heated versions cost about $100 more than the unheated
Design: Can be installed in any direction including both vertical and laying down. Comes with feet to mount securely standing up on edge. Most versatile form factor I have seen.
Design Comments: The GC3 is a high capacity battery in an innovative package. Battleborn went vertical with the GC3 to make it easy to stand several of these power packs next to each other for an incredible density without sacrificing safety. If you have enough height where you plan to install your pack, you could potentially fit 4x GC3s in the space of two standard 8Ds. This would be an incredible 12kwh of storage in a few square feet.
Disclosure: I have installed a Battleborn GC3 with Victron inverter and solar MTTP charger in my Wildwood 20ft 20BHHL HyperLite Travel Trailer.
Battleborn 8D (Heated and Unheated)
Estimated Cost: $2,399 (unheated) and $2,540 (heated)
Capacity: 12v 270ah (3,240wh). Only comes in a 12v option.
Cycles: 3,000 – 5,000
Warranty: 10 years
Depth of Discharge: 100% Note: going to 100% DoD is a risky proposition but it essentially means you have a 20%+ increased capacity over most of the competitors for like-for-like battery packs.
BMS: Fully integrated Battleborn BMS which protects the battery from low-voltage and low-temperature. Also balances charging across the cells. No capability to directly connect the BMS across batteries for intelligent load balancing as is available on some other brands.
Heating: Comes in both heated and unheated version. The heated versions cost about $100 more than the unheated
Description: The Battleborn 8D uses the same cells as the GC3 or vice-versa but is in a different form factor. The 8D is designed to fit in a more standard area for battery packs but with extremely high power density. Personally, I like the terminal layout of the GC3 better where the terminals are much more accessible from the front and do not risk someone accidentally putting something on the terminals across the top; but if your batteries would be accessed from the top down, not the front, then the 8D might be a better choice. The 8D costs roughly $100 less than the GC3 for an identical pack.
Note: Battleborn has incredible Black Friday sales where the price of their flagship batteries such as the GC3 (Game Changer 3.0) are available for upwards of 25% off. I didn’t buy one this past Black Friday and I’m kicking myself!
Renogy
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