I have a couple of LiFePO4 batteries on my wish list, and IF I'm a good boy I should be able to get them in a few years. I have been researching LiFePO4 batteries online and there is a lot of cheap crap out there. Currently, I'm partial to the Battle Born batteries, they aren't cheap, but they are made in America, not China, and have good reviews. Remember, these are preps and I'm not willing to compromise on reliability! A LiFePO4 battery that costs the same as a good lead-acid battery should IMO set-off alarms
Yeah, lots of Chinese crap out there targeting the American market or specifically those that think you can get something for next to nothing. No such thing as a free lunch.
Yeah, if you think that you are going to get a quality LiFePo4 battery for less than $200, then you are delusional! That is the price range of quality lead-acid batteries! You get what you pay for! I looked up DCS batteries, they are in Oz, have been in business for 10 years, and their batteries are NOT cheap. I did have some trouble accessing their website, but that could be here, there or somewhere in-between.
I believe they are assembled in the US - made from Chinese pasts. Will Prowse used to be a fan of the company - but now buys Chinese direct and saves the $$$ DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse - YouTube "Battle Born Batteries are made with quality in mind. We source our raw materials from reputable suppliers and assemble lithium batteries using cylindrical cells in our 99,000-square-foot facility in Reno, Nevada." (Amazon.com: Battle Born Batteries Lithium-Ion (LiFePO4) Deep Cycle 12V Battery 75Ah Group 24 Heated – Safe & Powerful Drop-In Replacement for RV, Van, Marine, Off-Grid – Cylindrical Cells, Internal BMS : Health & Household)
I need to replace lead acid batteries fairly soon. Think I'm going with lead acid for replacement. They've made some advancements with them for solar use. Besides being expensive, lithium has low temperature issues that begin at 32 degrees, and occasionally fires, that can't be extinguished. Most use electronic internal battery management systems that could be destroyed in an EMP, rendering them useless. On the other hand, if an EMP takes out your external charge controller, you can replace it with a spare (you DO have spare parts, don't you?) There are other technologies in the frying pan that may become viable by the time I need to replace batteries again. Either that or I'll no longer be around to worry about it.
What got me interested in the LiFePO4 batteries was that they can withstand repeated DEEP discharges...5000 DEEP discharges...that's like 12 or 13 years of daily DEEP discharges! Also, you can buy batteries that don't have the internal electronic gizmos, or you could keep the battery in your Faraday Cage, with the extra charge controller and other cool stuff.
We have been running LifePO4 batteries for about 8 years now. As our family has grown I have added a second then third system all Chinese prismatic batteries. The third set of Chinese batteries were junk and I replaced them with a set of Battle Born after they failed. I believe the Battle Born Batteries are a superior product and I appreciate the simplicity of their internal battery management system. We live off grid with most modern conveniences and work our batteries hard every day for years; lead acid would never be able to keep up.
Your fire allegation is not supported by the fire history of LiFePH4 battery chemistry. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are approved for use and carriage in common carrier transportation of passengers Such as Amtrak, buss travel, and on airliners. Fires that expose these batteries must continue burning some other fuel because the combustion process in the batteries in endothermic. That means it takes more heat to make them decompose than that process will produce. In the absence of external heat that destroys the battery the LiFePH4 is self extinguishing. Lithium Polymer batteries do fit the profile that you are erroneously applying to LifePH4 batteries.
They are **assembled** in the US. Battle Born Batteries are assembled in the United States, but they source some components, specifically the lithium cells and the Battery Management System (BMS), from China. The company designs and tests its batteries to its own specifications, integrating these imported cells and BMS with other components like sensor wires, brass, and copper.
I like the Will Prouse site - because LiFePO4 Drill Test! Will it erupt in flames? He cuts up batteries to show what is inside, he tests batteries and a whole lot of other good data to be found there. DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse - YouTube
Yeah since then I've done a little more homework. In April '25 I replaced the lead acid with LiFePO4. Glad I did. No more messy electrolyte or worrying about partial state of charge resulting in sulphation. Better power density results in less space being required and the manufacturer claims >6000 cycles. So far I have 45 cycles on them. They have internal heaters for below freezing weather and the Battery Management System keeps the cells balanced so the batteries never require equalization. I monitor them pretty closely but the day will come when I'll just look in on them occasionally, when I feel a little more comfortable. They'll probably last longer than I will.
