LiFePO4 instead of wind generator?

[DumnMad]

My boat needs more solar and will one day need new batteries.(Presently relies on running the motor when 2hrs/day when off grid). 600 AH golf cart batts.

If I upgrade I'm thinking of putting the money into LiFePO4 batteries instead of wind generator. Can run same AH batteries 2 or 3 times longer without sun.
At this stage it seems changing to LifePO4 only economic if you save yourself a wind gen. because I think wind gen and Li batteries will cost similar.

Whaddaya think?

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by DumnMad

My boat needs more solar and will one day need new batteries.(Presently relies on running the motor when 2hrs/day when off grid). 600 AH golf cart batts.

If I upgrade I'm thinking of putting the money into LiFePO4 batteries instead of wind generator. Can run same AH batteries 2 or 3 times longer without sun.
At this stage it seems changing to LifePO4 only economic if you save yourself a wind gen. because I think wind gen and Li batteries will cost similar.

Whaddaya think?

What you take out still has to go back in, at some point.

Batteries store energy, they don't create it. If you run a creation of energy deficit not much will change with LiFeP04...

[DumnMad]

Thanks Main Sail. Of course thats a given, but the reason people get wind generators is to keep their batteries up when there is no sunshine on their solar bank. They are scared to go below 50% discharge.
I understand LiFePO4 can be fully discharged while at anchor with no significant damage to batteries and, hey presto, when the sun comes out you recharge without anxiety. Furthermore any worries about being not able to start the motor because of not enough volts is immediately cured by a bout of sunshine.

[witzgall]

Not fully discharged, but safe to 80%. If you have good charging sources, then LIFEPO4 can make sense. Before you go that route, how much solar do you have, and is the charge controller MPPT or PVM?

Chris