Lithium ion batteries.

[Sail power sail]

I am considering replacing my existing AGM batteries with lithium ion batteries on my shinning wilderness 1480. I've seen some good cost benefit analysis. What I haven't seen is how safe or unsafe lithium batteries are these days.

I found some boat US articles from 2014 concluding they are unsafe for marine use. I know since then many manufacturers, including outremer offer them as options on new boats.

Does anyone have a good safety analysis on lithium batteries?

[Sail power sail]

Shionning not shinning in my question above

[Emerald Sea]

I would suggest you go thru the LiFePO4 threads in this forum. The topic has been discussed to great length.

[Sail power sail]

Thanks emerald sea. Will do. The direction is Much appreciated.

[Gordon]

Why don't you contact Shionning direct and ask this question, as they have just overseen such an installation on their latest 60' Kato 2...

[Glenn C]

When checking for insurance the battery technology made no difference to premiums

[BigBeakie]

Unsafe in what way? Are you referring to fire risk? LFP is a much more stable chemistry than some of the others, but you still don't want to grossly overcharge them. One boat I heard about left a trickle charger on ( for a long time ie days) after a bank was fully charged and they overheated dangerously. So don't trickle charge them. Learn how to treat them well, and LFP will do the same for you.

Also not a bad idea to sit them on stiff foam pad inside containment strong box to absorb impact shocks if you bash to windward.

They are great in many ways. Lead is truly dead.


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[Pete7]

Originally Posted by BigBeakie

Lead is truly dead.
Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Why is that then?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Sail power sail

Shionning not shinning in my question above

Schionning?

[downunder]

Sail Power Sail,

There are at least 4 australian providers of engineered Lithium systems for boat applications.

Lightwave have now 5 such installs using the Outback Marine system. According to the independent electrician who does the install for Lightwave there have been no issues whatsoever.

1. Outback Marine Energy Storage Lithium Battery Systems

2. Enerdrive The Lithium Battery - The Ultimate Energy Storage System

3. EV power EV Power - Australian Electric Vehicle Specialists — EV Power - Australian Electric Vehicles sells Electric Bikes and car conversions, Electric Bicycles, Electric Vehicles, Conversion Kits. Sail/surf/roam has one of these systems and also IMPI has just installed an 800AH system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnnagyUNuhM

4. EVO Lithium https://www.evolithium.com.au/

I would also be interested in any feedback by and of the experts here on CF on the relative merits of these systems.

[tuskie]

Make sure that you understand the difference between types of "lithium " battery. They are not all the same. LiFePO4 are safer than most other lithium technologies.

[Lance Reynolds]

I confer with Tuskie LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE Li Fe PO4 are the dry cell batteries used for large installations usually banked together as 4 x 3.2 volt cells .
Lithium Ion can be used as an umbrella term for many Lithium batteries but can be misleading thus the danger comments .
I purchase through Rod at EV Power West Australia mentioned by Down Under.
Rod supplies and recommends a Battery Management System (black box) to monitor the individual cells and this has a cut off if any irregularities occur.
I also fit in the circuit a single Li Fe PO4 twelve volt cell as an independent start battery monitored thru a Xantrex Duo Charger.
I have installed Li Fe PO4 into two of my Cats now and to date all systems have worked without a fail .The increased available Capacity alone is enough of an economic equaliser vs the dead lead.
The weight saving is also substantial.
Why buy old technology which you throw out in 3 to 5 years ?

[Sail power sail]

Bigbeakie. Thanks for the info. Very helpful

[Sail power sail]

Thanks Lance. I buy slow. But it appears I am buying lithium ion batteries to replace my lifeline agms

[TheThunderbird]

Pricing is still a factor.

It can be justified by electric propulsion. For service bank, it is just an option.