I am thinking about a 12v 100 AH LiFePO4 battery for powering a RC Lipo charger in order to field charge RC Heli packs. If I am NEVER going to discharge greater than 0.15c do I really need to worry about the build quality of the battery? My guess is price can be my major concern. I don't need a bluetooth BMS or anything fancy since my RC Charger will shutoff at whatever DOD I put in for the LiFePo4 and I will only be discharging and charging in temperature ranges that are not a problem. In other words, for my use case does the cheapest 100 AH battery off Amazon make sense?
12v 100 AH LiFePO4 Build Quality
- Thread starter msromike
- Start date
sunshine_eggo
Happy Breffast!
IMHO, there is enough evidence in testing and teardowns of these <$200 batteries that they may not have an actual BMS in them. IIRC, @Rednecktek tore one down and confirmed no BMS, just a balancer, but I can't find the thread.
IMHO, these <$200 bottom-of-the-barrel priced batteries sold by companies you've never heard of are being dumped on the market with the intention of grabbing as much cash as possible and then disappearing.
I would stick with a brand that SOMEONE has demonstrated actually has a BMS in it - with charge and discharge protection.
IMHO, these <$200 bottom-of-the-barrel priced batteries sold by companies you've never heard of are being dumped on the market with the intention of grabbing as much cash as possible and then disappearing.
I would stick with a brand that SOMEONE has demonstrated actually has a BMS in it - with charge and discharge protection.
fuzzmunky415
New Member
FWIW, I recently picked up a DC House 12V 100Ah pack off eBay for $151.99:
Hence my new research to figure out just how badly screwed I am! LOL Not really...bad, that is...JBD BMS (passive balancing), maybe HiThium cells, decent case with bi-directional ports (USB-C, 5.5, 2.5 barrel connector) and that barrel connector could be mighty useful for you. It may go back on sale soon...Independence Day sale, etc.
12V 100AH Upgrade Traditional LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Outlets Camping RV Outdoor | eBay
12V 100AH Lithium Battery. 24V 100AH Lithium Battery. 12V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 24V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 48V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 12V 50AH Lithium Battery. 12V 200AH Lithium Battery. With a substantial 1280Wh capacity, this lithium battery can power four trolling motors simultaneously...
www.ebay.com
Hence my new research to figure out just how badly screwed I am! LOL Not really...bad, that is...JBD BMS (passive balancing), maybe HiThium cells, decent case with bi-directional ports (USB-C, 5.5, 2.5 barrel connector) and that barrel connector could be mighty useful for you. It may go back on sale soon...Independence Day sale, etc.
Thanks for the recommendation. I love it!FWIW, I recently picked up a DC House 12V 100Ah pack off eBay for $151.99:
12V 100AH Upgrade Traditional LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Outlets Camping RV Outdoor | eBay
12V 100AH Lithium Battery. 24V 100AH Lithium Battery. 12V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 24V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 48V Lifepo4 Lithium Battery. 12V 50AH Lithium Battery. 12V 200AH Lithium Battery. With a substantial 1280Wh capacity, this lithium battery can power four trolling motors simultaneously...www.ebay.com
Hence my new research to figure out just how badly screwed I am! LOL Not really...bad, that is...JBD BMS (passive balancing), maybe HiThium cells, decent case with bi-directional ports (USB-C, 5.5, 2.5 barrel connector) and that barrel connector could be mighty useful for you. It may go back on sale soon...Independence Day sale, etc.
Rednecktek
Solar Wizard
Yup, no BMS, just a balancer. I wish I could get a couple more though, they were really easy to bolt together into an 8s config and re-house.
sunshine_eggo
Happy Breffast!
Thanks!
cs1234
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Messages
- 2,814
Wow, I missed that thread when I was on hiatus for a bit.
Guess that's a good reason to only get the cheap LFP batteries that have bluetooth, so you can at least log into something that resembles a BMS without having to cut apart the battery to verify. Or make sure to get ones that have screws to open them up easily.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
I've had good luck with the Redodo 12V 100Ah "minis". No Bluetooth but get a good 104-105Ah out of each.
grizzzman
Photon Vampire
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2019
- Messages
- 2,857
The first of the year I picked up 3 DC House 100 AH group 24 size. Testing found that they had over 104 AH and the BMS disconnected at the low voltage and high voltage cut offs. One battery disconnected during the initial 14.6 volt charge. This told me that the BMS disconnects at the cell level. Overnight at 14.4 volts and that battery tested the same as the other batteries. Later I found it on Youtube a tear down showing construction of the battery if that holds your interest.
Want to thank everyone for the DC House tip. I got a $10 coupon from them and have decided on this for field charging RC Helicopter LiPo packs with my iCharger S6. (Bonus that the S6 will charge the LiFePO4.) You saved me buying an inferior battery, that might not even have a BMS, just to save $20. A lot of guys bring a genny but I figure charging 4 packs several thousand times should be good. Solar panel input is something I might use camping or even at the RC field in the future. 
12V 100Ah Portable Deep Cycle LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
12V 100Ah Portable Deep Cycle LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
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