If you want to purchase a deep cycle battery, the LiFePO4 battery is The One. Nevertheless, there is another excellent world within these batteries. You will find sizes, voltages, ampere-hour ratings, features, and more. Because of this, you need to be aware of which battery is suitable for you.
With the team at Goldenmate, we created this ultimate guide that will guide you through all the details. We will review the characteristics, a fact to consider that will make your decision easier.
What is LiFePO4 Battery?
We are aware that LiFePO4 are deep-cycle batteries. They are part of the lithium-ion batteries group. Their chemistry is considered perfect chemistry since they are built with a cathode and an anode.
They made their way into the battery world with force, outdoing lead-acid batteries. As a result, they have purchased batteries in the last ten years.
Here is a general video about how batteries work.
Factors To Consider When Buying LiFePO4 Batteries
Whether you embark on a multi-week journey or have multiple devices, you should not worry about your battery. As a result, when purchasing these batteries, there are several factors to consider, especially the application requirements.
From price, capacity, voltage, depth of discharge, to warranty, all have its characteristic and need to be considered.
Voltage
Most LiFePO4 batteries have 12V. This is enough for most devices, including campers or even boats. They will vary in their Amperes as they differ in their performance characteristics. You can have a look through all our batteries for a better understanding.
Depth of Discharge (DOD)
The Depth of Discharge is one factor that makes people switch from lead acid to lithium iron batteries. Depth of discharge denotes the usable capacity of the battery.
In other words, lead acid batteries will require charging once the storm hits 50% of its charge. With Goldenmate batteries, you can use 100% of its capacity.
Another example is if you need 100Ah with a LiFePO4, you can purchase a 100Ah. If you have a lead acid battery, you will need 200Ah to have enough battery for your devices.
Low-Temperature Cut-Off
LiFePO4 batteries have many positive characteristics, one of which is their temperature range. These batteries can operate in extreme temperatures. The main reason for batteries to run flat is cold temperatures.
Be mindful that charging batteries in freezing temperatures will affect your battery's lifespan, be it lead-acid or lithium-iron.
Find the optimal temperature range for your battery performance. If you are looking for specifics, you can check the datasheet. There you will find the charging, discharging, and storing temperature ranges.
Warranty
If the product you purchase is of good quality, then the warranty will be about of 12 months. This is a good indicator of the way these batteries were built. In general, lead acid batteries have a warranty of 6 months. At the same time, lithium iron ones start from 1 up to the 6-year warranty. Goldenmate has a two-year warranty.
If properly managed, our batteries will last about ten years.
Cycle Life
The number of charges and discharges a battery can undergo is named cycle life. The more cycle life batteries have, the longer they will last. A cycle is the total discharge of a battery, and Goldenmate ones can withstand up to 5,000 cycles. Choosing a more extended cycle life battery is a better return on investment.
Value For The Money
One deciding factor is the difference in price between lead acid and lithium iron batteries. However, we would like you to think about it as the value of your money invested in this battery.
It is a fact lead acid batteries are less expensive, yet their cycle life is a third of a LiFePO4. While lithium-iron batteries can last up to ten years, lead acid can run dead in one or two years. Then lithium-iron is the best option if you opt for the value of money instead of price.
Maintenance
Even though every battery has maintenance requirement, lead acid ones have many requirements. LiFePO4 battery maintenance is much simpler and easier.
One of these characteristics is when you need to replace the battery cells. In lead acid, you need to do it after one year of usage, whereas in LiFePO4, after five or even more. As a result, you should not do this as often since these batteries will last at least five years.
Battery Application
You need to be aware of your gadget's requirements before purchasing your battery. There is no point in getting the biggest battery if you only need outside lightning.
Additionally, these types of batteries are the new generation in solar systems. In developed economies, they are mainly using lithium-iron batteries because of their safety, efficiency, and long-lasting life.
Some common applications are:
- Caravan/Morohomes/RVs
- Cabins/Boats
- Home Solar Systems
- Off-grid living
Environmental Impact And Sustainability
Lithium-iron is built with low levels of toxic metals compared to lead-acid ones. LiFePO4 batteries do not contain lead, cadmium, or mercury, which have enormous negative impacts on humans, animals, and plants. Even cobalt is not used and is one of the major causes of environmental damage.
LiFePO4 contains non-toxic and biodegradable materials. Iron and phosphate also do not produce harmful gases while they operate.
Never forget to make a proper disposal of any type of battery.
All In All
There exists a long list of different batteries for you to choose from for any of your devices. All of them will vary according to the use or application you are looking for. From motorhomes, golf carts, outdoor lighting, and more, you do not want to purchase so many batteries.
It is worth noting that LiFePO4 batteries do offer a wide range of capacities and uses for multiple devices.
Additionally, the environmental impact and the long-lasting cycle life make it outstanding from any other battery type. Even though you may consider it expensive, if you think about the ten years you will use that battery, it is worth the investment.
