Considering Lithium Batteries - Especially Drop In Type - Read This Article

[BlowingOldBoots]

Lithium batteries are arguably a good idea on a yacht and drop in lithium batteries are available i.e. they replace the existing AGM / Wet Cell Batteries. This is because the lithium battery cells are assembled into traditional battery cases, hence drop in.

However, Lithium batteries do require very careful consideration as most boats charging systems, battery monitoring systems and DC powered equipment will damage the batteries and increase the risk of burning the boat down. Drop in suggests direct like for like replacement, but it does not mean that. Many boats will required upgrades of the charging system and battery monitoring systems.

A good article from Marine How To, which generally has excellent articles on many aspects of boat maintenance and upgrades.

https://marinehowto.com/drop-in-lifepo4 ... -consumer/

[Gardenshed]

is it really worth the huge price difference?

[Burst Boiler]

The argument is that e.g over a 20 year period, you might be on to your third or fourth set of lead acids or still be on the original lithiums. But as has just been pointed out, if you don't also upgrade the charging system, you can quickly wreck the lithiums too. When I last changed the house bank, I stayed with lead acid. More capacity would have been good, but its mostly used by the fridge or autopilot, neither of which I consider essentials.

[marisca]

For most on here a 20 year amortisation period is being a tad hopeful. Even solar panels were outside my expectations but the energy price rises are making them look more attractive.

[Gardenshed]

20 years, 3rd or 4th set of lead acid batteries: so 5-6 year life for a lead acid battery? seems on the low side from my experience.
think I'll wait for now and see what happens with pricing, performance and improvements to charing management systems.

related to this, I priced up an ocean volt system for my boat. Stopped at £40k
that and a 40 mile range (which would be less in a headwind and chop) seems to be excessive. on a week of high-pressure summer weather and light winds who needs "range anxiety"?

[Burst Boiler]

20 years, 3rd or 4th set of lead acid batteries: so 5-6 year life for a lead acid battery? seems on the low side from my experience.
[\quote]
If you are onto your third set at year 20, the first two sets lasted 10 years each. I reckon I get about 7 years out of a set, but at that point they are far from knackered, just don't seem to take as full a charge anymore.