Quote:
Originally Posted by downunder
Yes. I expect you ask a leading question one can always get a lead reply.
Lloyd, i can understand your caution at present as you have to stand by your work but there seems to be an accelerating positive body of evidence accumulating.
We have had a couple of marina fires in Australia and Lithium batteries were certainly not involved.
I agree your electrical system is one of the key vessel systems and must be done well without shortcuts. As a non electrician I have not yet seen any evidence that done properly LIFeO4 is inherently more dangerous than LA batteries. There are advantages. But I am open to any real evidence against.
Cheers
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A
boat is a huge responsibility.... to the owner... to the
insurance company...to the technicians that work on them, and to the
environment.
We all make risk based decisions to play a part in the
Marine Business. So when I caution about
insurance issues it's wise to make sure you are covered...bc it's not just the loss of your own
boat that you are at risk for.
I am all for new technology. Right now Li-Ion is experimental on land. It's experimental in the air, as well as on the
water. Boeing was shut down bc...ya just can't park the plane while in air...and evacuate...neither can you do that with a boat that is off-shore, or even for that matter when near shore in some cases.
The risk with LFP to me currently, is it's only about 2-3 years old aboard a yacht. It has been implemented by various of DIY'rs that all start from different starting points. With different results and recommendations.
The weak points ala the risk points I see are
Charging Regulation as we have not had anytime for the industry to mature to a real
marine solution.
Also I have a risk aversion to the
current state of
battery design that uses dissimilar metals in the internal and external post construction. This is the potential fire hazard that I see. As the resistance builds that heat potential increases the risk of fire.
I have not seen one system that I would leave my
family aboard sleeping while the
battery bank is connected.
Sure the auto market has implemented this technology, and there is a growing community of DIY'ers with success stories. but
It wasn't long ago the the Marine/Yacht industry adopted the auto technology. With many early failures. You just can't take auto engines and install em to a boat without marinization.
So it's going to take manufactures in the marine industry to start adopting, and building well thought out and tested systems for this to become mainstream. It's going to cost more, but then the risk we all assume will be less.
Then we will be able to put
family and friends aboard with some assurance to their
safety...As
captain of the ship you are responcible to every sole on-board, to your neighbors in the marina. Even to the
environment.
Lloyd