VATRER 12V 460Ah LiFePO4

[Alpineman]

Does anyone here have any info on the VATRER 12V 460Ah LiFePO4 found them on amazon for $1200 each, seriously thinking of getting 3 of them for my 12V boat. Was looking at 4 JITA 12V 300Ah Lithium Battery LiFePO4 @ $800 each
for a total of 1200 Ah but with 3 X 460Ah this would give me 1380 Ah for a decent price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6KKJBL...p_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM

 

[solarfuture]

I’m just hearing about Vatrer as well as it popped up while browsing batteries on amazon today. I went to their website and they have tax included in the price + free shipping… kind of nu…

There is a 12V 100Ah heated battery with bluetooth for $289 shipped. I’m really torn on whether to order it or not. Will’s video from last year was not good… but I’m wondering if they’ve stepped up their game since then and with the newer products?

Does anyone have recent experience? Any recent tear downs?

 

[Dooug]

Ive seen chatter in the marine forums about UL listed batteries being required by insurers...not sure if that matters to you, just throwing it out there.

 

[solarfuture]

@Dooug I appreciate that. This will be for a solar generator while camping.

So I’m doing more digging and watching the video posted on their website by various youtubers. Yes, they even posted Will’s negative review…

Looks like they’ve stepped up their build quality and address all the concerns from the original review. Just hoping they didn’t send out golden samples and keep everything else the same…

@Will Prowse any chance you want to review the new “king/queen” of cheap batteries with your own money? $289 shipped for a 12V, 100Ah, HEATED battery with Bluetooth? Look at the differences!!!

 

[Alpineman]

Ive seen chatter in the marine forums about UL listed batteries being required by insurers...not sure if that matters to you, just throwing it out there.

Good point on the UI requirements by insurers.

 

[solarfuture]

Ok, I bought one….

 

[Will Prowse]

Not bad. But the bus bars don't have the bend for expansion and contraction. That could be problematic

 

[solarfuture]

Yeah, true. Who knows… crossing my fingers and hoping that someone at Vatrer realized that a *self-heating battery* obviously needs flexible bus bars.

 

[Alkaline]

Are those eve lf105 cells?

https://www.18650batterystore.com/cdn/shop/products/testtt_1000x.jpg?v=1668236361

if they are the qr code is in the wrong spot...

 

[Alpineman]

Just noticed its a metal case don't think it would be good in marine situation. On my sailboat they would be going in a dry area but still exposed to ocean salt air.

 

[atgep]

I just got a pair of the 460 AH batteries and I think they are an awesome solution for RV use. I am mounting them inside so no heater required. Lots of capacity in a small form factor. Out of the box, I loaded them with 1200 watts for a few hours drawing down about 75% and they stayed cool and stable. See my initial review here:

 

[JeromeS13]

I just got a pair of the 460 AH batteries and I think they are an awesome solution for RV use. I am mounting them inside so no heater required. Lots of capacity in a small form factor. Out of the box, I loaded them with 1200 watts for a few hours drawing down about 75% and they stayed cool and stable. See my initial review here:

I was unable to capture the BMS model number. Would you mind sharing here if you get a moment? Thank you.

 

[Alkaline]

B on the QR code of the cells look to be EVE cells. Balancing will become an issue in the future, I would get an active balancer.

Pretty much confirms all varter are grade B cells.

 

[atgep]

I was unable to capture the BMS model number. Would you mind sharing here if you get a moment? Thank you.

Yeah totally new at shooting video. Here is a photo of the BMS. looks like a nice JBD unit.

 

[defeedme]

B on the QR code of the cells look to be EVE cells. Balancing will become an issue in the future, I would get an active balancer.

Pretty much confirms all varter are grade B cells.

Hi, I'm very concerned about these "b" cells - so there's a utube video about the LiTime 460ah and the dude rips it apart and it doesn't really show anything on the cells, (

) how can we find out if the LiTime 460ah has "b" grade cells or is it a better unit overall? thanks for any advice i'm trying to decide on which 460ah lifepo4 to get, right now there's a few options where Epoch is the best and then you have roamer, this vatrer and basen : https://www.basenpower.com/products...ACK/Basen-12v-460ah-LiFePO4-Battery-Pack.html and i'm assuming ReDodo bird will come out with a 460 soon, they currently have a 410ah.. any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Alkaline]

looks like @LithiumSolar did a review.

Suspect they sanded and put fake qr codes on the cells:

kind of looks like sanding marks, if they are real then this is a problem where customers get grade B but youtubers get real cells.

 

[LithiumSolar]

Suspect they sanded and put fake qr codes on the cells: kind of looks like sanding marks, if they are real then this is a problem where customers get grade B but youtubers get real cells.

That is very concerning if they're going that far to be deceptive. The cells I have seen that have scratched QR codes usually look like someone used course sandpaper on them whereas these are very, very fine. I don't think they are sanding marks but obviously can't guarantee that. They could be B-grade, which would explain the capacity test results

 

[Alkaline]

That is very concerning if they're going that far to be deceptive. The cells I have seen that have scratched QR codes usually look like someone used course sandpaper on them whereas these are very, very fine. I don't think they are sanding marks but obviously can't guarantee that. They could be B-grade, which would explain the capacity test results

@LithiumSolar

Look at this guy he got the same bat but it had the B on the qr code intact (I time stamped it so you don't have to watch whole thing):

 

[Alkaline]

@LithiumSolar
Also here are some QR codes from EVE 230 18650batterystore and under the label, no signs of sanding:

New Docan 230Ah EVE Cells

Sorry you feel this way, but I suspect many others feel the same, I'm just disappointed at how effectively the Chinese sellers have spread misinformation to the point the average joe has no idea what is what. ? Ok, I'm always anxious to learn more. So if you know what the Chinese sellers are...

diysolarforum.com

 

[LithiumSolar]

Look at this guy he got the same bat but it had the B on the qr code intact (I time stamped it so you don't have to watch whole thing):

There appears to be something fishy going on here for sure. I will follow up later this week. In the meantime, I reached out to them to see what they have to say on the matter.

 

[LithiumSolar]

I pulled off two of the black covers and here's what's underneath. Something still looks a bit off but I'm not sure enough of what's going on that I am comfortable making a video discussing. I don't believe they were sanded, but for some reason it seems the glue was removed around the code and there is black stuff on the edges of both. It looks like the area may have been polished - perhaps before etching a new code? I really don't know... Other areas of the cell have the same questionable lateral marks (3rd picture).




The manufacturer replied twice and stated the following in reference to the question I asked and a picture I sent of the aforementioned video of B-stamped cells.

Thank you for your reply, we currently do not have B grade batteries. All battery's are eve's A grade cells.

Our QR codes are not scratched off and re-laser engraved.

The QR code in the video has scratches supposedly from a sponge or something else.

This battery was developed at the time of technical evaluation used a small batch with B characters (not meet the use of automotive battery cells, fully applicable to energy storage batteries) of the EVE clls, in October 23 mass production has been upgraded to all the A cells.

 

[Alkaline]

Those look to be real cells with intact QR codes, so this begs the question are these companies going to send 1 thing to reviewers/youtubers and something else if you are an average schmuck?

I mean this is the epoch battery, same cells but almost $500.00 more:

12V 460Ah V2 Elite Series - Heated & Bluetooth & Victron Comms LiFePO4 Battery

- LiFePO4 Chemistry- HEATED - Internal heating allows for charging in sub-zero conditions- BLUETOOTH - iOS and Android Apps- Built-in Smart Battery Management System (BMS)- Over charge and over discharge protection- Over current and short circuit protection- High & low temperature disconnects-...

www.epochbatteries.com

so by that sense Varter is a deal unless they send you grade B cells.

 

[Alkaline]

Also you have to fully clean the terminal to see for sure:

selianenergy.com US STOCK EVE 304Ah

Has anyone used this companies US warehouse? I'm looking into some LF304 (I don't want the LF280K) and this company claims to have them with a very small shipping time...

diysolarforum.com

Without being able to see what is around the edges of the cell you will not be able to tell, it takes a while to clean with rubbing alcohol. See attached images only when the full area is clean can you see the parts that were sanded.

 

[LithiumSolar]

See that's the thing though, mine kindof look like your docan picture. I can't get the glue off. I tried soaking it in IPA and it didn't really loosen up at all. I gave up, but I did get the cells pulled out and they look very nice. They're flat (no bulging) and all have test stickers from Oct 2023 at 232Ah. Done fiddling with them for now. I'm considering picking up another battery and building a 16s pack out of them.

 

[EastFalcon]

I followed alkaline's advise and cleaned my cells to verify. I see he used my image of the 18650 cells. Naughty.

It takes a while but he is right they should be clear from end to end:

48 cell 304 pallet from Sun Fun Kits

So I got my cells from Sun fun Kits last week I ordered beginning of September and it took about 80 or so days to arrive. I probably delayed it a bit because I wanted the flexible bus bars so maybe added a week or two. It was a good transaction for the most part I called them probably 3 or 4...

diysolarforum.com