Redodo 12v 100 Ah Lithium Deep-Cycle Battery

A number of months in the past, I reviewed Redodo’s miniature deep cycle battery. I used to be impressed with not solely the battery’s spectacular output and vitality storage, however with how small they have been in a position to get it. The top result’s that you simply’d have the ability to double if not quadruple your vitality storage in the identical house, making this a slam-dunk buy for something from RVs to trolling motors.

Not too long ago, we received a take a look at the corporate’s full-size providing, this time with chilly climate safety. Lengthy story brief, I’m impressed with it, however let’s take a deeper look!

What Is It?

For these unfamiliar, a deep cycle battery is a battery you’d use for modular vitality storage. These have been round for many years, with most batteries up to now utilizing a less expensive lead-acid battery chemistry, like what you’d discover in an ICE automobile’s 12v battery. Deep cycle batteries differ from customary automotive starter batteries in that they’re optimized for longer cycles with decrease energy output as a substitute of designed for a fast high-power jolt.

Deep cycle batteries are utilized in quite a lot of settings, powering RVs, boat trolling motors, beginner radio stations, and even golf carts. Lithium batteries are quickly changing lead-acid batteries as a result of they provide a number of crucial benefits.

The most important benefit is longevity. Most lead-acid batteries wrestle to last more than 2-3 years earlier than they cease storing vitality. I’ve identified many RVers who change their batteries virtually yearly as a result of they forgot to trickle cost them throughout winter storage, and so they simply see shopping for new home batteries each spring as a part of the expense of working an RV. The identical is true in lots of different purposes the place the lead-acid batteries get uncovered to the weather and sit unused between enjoyable days.

One other huge factor is weight. Redodo’s batteries are exceptionally gentle, making it simpler not just for males to haul round and set up, however making attainable and simpler for ladies and even older kids to make use of successfully.

Security is one other huge one. Gassing, leakage, and different issues make lead-acid batteries problematic. Generally, they leak battery acid and destroy issues or injure folks. If not correctly ventilated, they’ll explode, throwing harmful acid in all places. Some folks even deliberately misuse battery acid to assault folks, inflicting lifelong ache, struggling, and disfigurement for a lot of victims (who are sometimes girls being focused by males who take an “If I can’t have you ever, no one can” perspective). Lithium batteries don’t carry any of those risks.

One other crucial benefit to lithium deep-cycle batteries is that they mainly have double the usable capability in comparison with lead-acid ones. A deep-cycle lead-acid battery that will get run down commonly will quickly degrade, whereas a lithium battery can survive many extra deep cycles earlier than degradation would turn out to be an issue. So, you don’t have to fret about really utilizing lithium batteries till they’re useless (the built-in BMS stops them properly earlier than they’d be broken).

Redodo’s Battery

This newest battery the corporate despatched us for overview has the entire above benefits in a really neat bundle. It’s not solely lighter than many lithium deep-cycles I’ve examined, however it’s received an honest carry strap that folds out of the way in which. It additionally comes with quite a lot of connection strategies within the field, together with screws to connect to wires and screw-in battery posts to make use of with clamps. This enables the battery to mainly drop-in change a nasty lead-acid battery with minimal work and sure no modifications to the RV, boat, or different factor that makes use of it.

As standard, I connected an influence inverter to drag most rated present. Like the opposite one we examined from the corporate, this battery performs as specified, so that you don’t have to fret about that.

You could find full specs and options on Redodo’s web site, and the worth is $279 (as of this writing).

The most important factor is that this smaller battery from Redodo is that it provides you 100 amp-hours of storage (1.2 kWh). This is similar vitality storage {that a} typical lead-acid deep-cycle battery provides you, however it’s far lighter. That is fairly spectacular, particularly for the worth, which is lots cheaper than the extra compact providing we examined earlier this 12 months.

There may be one draw back to lithium batteries in these deep-cycle jobs, although: chilly climate. Sadly, many lithium batteries can lower out or be broken should you expose them to chilly temperatures. However, Redodo thought of this forward of time, and this battery has a wise BMS system that displays temperatures. If the battery will get cold-soaked and drops to freezing, it can lower off charging. If it will get even colder and temperatures would trigger issues with discharge, it cuts that off in loads of time, too.

This makes the battery an excellent, financial alternative for purposes the place you aren’t planning on freezing temperatures, however might inadvertently encounter them. Should you plan on chilly climate use, Redodo additionally has a battery with a built-in heater so that they’ll even work in harsh winter circumstances.

Redodo Has First rate Documentation, Too

One other beauty of this battery is that it comes with first rate documentation. Not like what you would possibly get at a giant field retail retailer, Redodo doesn’t assume you’re an skilled while you purchase one in all these deep-cycle batteries. The handbook provides you the entire very important data you want on charging, discharging, connecting, and organising a high-power or high-capacity battery system.

You possibly can join as much as 4 batteries in parallel and in collection, for a most of 48 volts and 400 amp-hours (@48 volts), or in different phrases, construct as much as a 20 kWh battery system. Not all customers will need this type of energy, however the possibility is there if you wish to construct virtually something. You clearly have to observe regular precautions for low-voltage electrical work, however past that, Redodo doesn’t assume you’re an RV mechanic or skilled low-speed angler!

Even higher, the Redodo battery’s handbook and fast begin booklets are available in a waterproof pouch with a zipper so to hold the documentation helpful after set up in an RV or different harsh surroundings, and retailer it proper there with the battery. So, they actually did assume this product via, from begin to end.

Featured picture by Jennifer Sensiba.