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Fair point. If you intend to use this battery lightly then lithium ion is probably fine. Spec says 900 cycles. Many people use these on a daily basis, and would be better off with LiFePo4 which can last 2000+ cycles.
My point was that LiFePo4 batteries last for many more cycles, and this is something to consider before making a purchase.
Li-ion has about 50% higher energy density than LiFePO4. i.e. LiFePO4 weighs about 1.5x more for the same capacity. Significantly more than "a bit."
In practice the difference is smaller because the non-battery parts (case, electronics, etc) add about the same weight to both types. So on the smaller capacity batteries the % weight difference will be smaller. But as you increase the capacity, the % weight difference becomes larger.
The argument that LiFePO4 makes up for it with better longevity assumes high usage. e.g. Regularly topping it out to 100%, and draining it close to 0%. In that case, getting similar longevity with Li-ion requires keeping it between 80%-20% or 70%-30% depth of discharge (DoD). Under those DoD, the weight difference is canceled out for the same usable capacity, and LiFePO4 is better.
But it's not like Li-ion is completely unusable between 100%-0% DoD. Typical endurance if you regularly do a 100%-0% DoD is about 300-500 cycles. But the definition of that is that after 300-500 cycles at 100% DoD, usable capacity drops to 80% of when new. So it's not like Li-ion becomes useless after 300-500 cycles. Its capacity just drops from 1.5x higher energy density than LiFePO4, to 1.2x-1.25x (LiFePO4's capacity drops a bit too). So realistically, you're probably looking at about 1000 cycles from Li-ion before its energy density becomes worse than LiFePO4 (which is typically rated for 3000-5000 cycles to reach the same 80% of new capacity).
If you're going for a large-capacity static installation (so weight doesn't matter) where charging is out of your control (so it will regularly be charged to 100%), and is heavily discharged afterwards, then LiFePO4 is unquestionably better. This usage pretty much exactly describes solar installations. Which is why everyone creating solar power banks is in love with LiFePO4. However,
Even if you do one 100% DoD every day, Li-ion will remain superior to LiFePO4 for ~3 years.
If you don't use it daily, then a lighter Li-ion can easily give you 5-10 years of use while retaining more capacity for less weight than LiFePO4.
Furthermore, if you don't need 100% DoD (e.g. you need less than its full capacity so most of the time it will only experience 80%-20% or 70%-30% DoD), then it'll take decades to become worse than LiFePO4. Your main concern then will probably be heat and storage conditions, not cycles and DoD.
In 10+ years, there will probably be much better battery options available. So you'll be itching for an upgrade.
One is not superior to the other. They each have their pros and cons. Buy the one which best suits your use case.
I needed one for weekend camping outings and the occasional longer road trip. So I went with Li-ion.
I was also considering getting a small battery for my dashcam to save wear on my car battery when parked. That would've seen multiple charges to 100% each day (every time I drove the car), with a discharge to 0% each night while parked. So if I were getting that, I would've gone with a small LiFePO4.
I would 100% get 2 units, 1 additional battery. Having a full set of extra ports, being able to recharge both units separately, etc. Many benefits to having 2!
Asking for a friend who is looking to get a few of the pros. Is it better to ha e 1 pro with 2 additional batteries or is it better to have 2 pros and 1 additional battery?
Asking for a friend who is looking to get a few of the pros. Is it better to ha e 1 pro with 2 additional batteries or is it better to have 2 pros and 1 additional battery?
I would 100% get 2 units, 1 additional battery. Having a full set of extra ports, being able to recharge both units separately, etc. Many benefits to having 2!
I have a fridge that runs at 142w per hour. Where do I find a calculator online to tell me how long it would run? Or is it too easy and just decide 142 into 720? So 5 hours?
I have a fridge that runs at 142w per hour. Where do I find a calculator online to tell me how long it would run? Or is it too easy and just decide 142 into 720? So 5 hours?
You got it. But you won't get the full 720 WH, so deduct 25% for a more accurate estimate.
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My point was that LiFePo4 batteries last for many more cycles, and this is something to consider before making a purchase.
In practice the difference is smaller because the non-battery parts (case, electronics, etc) add about the same weight to both types. So on the smaller capacity batteries the % weight difference will be smaller. But as you increase the capacity, the % weight difference becomes larger.
The argument that LiFePO4 makes up for it with better longevity assumes high usage. e.g. Regularly topping it out to 100%, and draining it close to 0%. In that case, getting similar longevity with Li-ion requires keeping it between 80%-20% or 70%-30% depth of discharge (DoD). Under those DoD, the weight difference is canceled out for the same usable capacity, and LiFePO4 is better.
But it's not like Li-ion is completely unusable between 100%-0% DoD. Typical endurance if you regularly do a 100%-0% DoD is about 300-500 cycles. But the definition of that is that after 300-500 cycles at 100% DoD, usable capacity drops to 80% of when new. So it's not like Li-ion becomes useless after 300-500 cycles. Its capacity just drops from 1.5x higher energy density than LiFePO4, to 1.2x-1.25x (LiFePO4's capacity drops a bit too). So realistically, you're probably looking at about 1000 cycles from Li-ion before its energy density becomes worse than LiFePO4 (which is typically rated for 3000-5000 cycles to reach the same 80% of new capacity).
If you're going for a large-capacity static installation (so weight doesn't matter) where charging is out of your control (so it will regularly be charged to 100%), and is heavily discharged afterwards, then LiFePO4 is unquestionably better. This usage pretty much exactly describes solar installations. Which is why everyone creating solar power banks is in love with LiFePO4. However,
Even if you do one 100% DoD every day, Li-ion will remain superior to LiFePO4 for ~3 years.
If you don't use it daily, then a lighter Li-ion can easily give you 5-10 years of use while retaining more capacity for less weight than LiFePO4.
Furthermore, if you don't need 100% DoD (e.g. you need less than its full capacity so most of the time it will only experience 80%-20% or 70%-30% DoD), then it'll take decades to become worse than LiFePO4. Your main concern then will probably be heat and storage conditions, not cycles and DoD.
In 10+ years, there will probably be much better battery options available. So you'll be itching for an upgrade.
One is not superior to the other. They each have their pros and cons. Buy the one which best suits your use case.
I needed one for weekend camping outings and the occasional longer road trip. So I went with Li-ion.
I was also considering getting a small battery for my dashcam to save wear on my car battery when parked. That would've seen multiple charges to 100% each day (every time I drove the car), with a discharge to 0% each night while parked. So if I were getting that, I would've gone with a small LiFePO4.
No that's the regular river, non pro.
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The water heater I'm not sure about. As long as it's below 600w you're fine. It can boost to 1800w but can't sustain that.
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Many tankless water heaters are 240v, so probably not.
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