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Just a few 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 power storage, however with how small they have been capable of get it. The tip result’s that you simply’d have the ability to double if not quadruple your power storage in the identical area, making this a slam-dunk buy for something from RVs to trolling motors.

Not too long ago, we acquired a take a look at the corporate’s full-size providing, this time with chilly climate safety. Lengthy story quick, 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 power storage. These have been round for many years, with most batteries prior 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 commonplace 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 a wide range 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 battle to last more than 2-3 years earlier than they cease storing power. I’ve identified many RVers who substitute their batteries nearly yearly as a result of they forgot to trickle cost them throughout winter storage, they usually 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 functions the place the lead-acid batteries get uncovered to the weather and sit unused between enjoyable days.

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

Security is one other massive one. Gassing, leakage, and different issues make lead-acid batteries problematic. Typically, they leak battery acid and smash issues or injure individuals. If not correctly ventilated, they’ll explode, throwing harmful acid all over the place. Some individuals even deliberately misuse battery acid to assault individuals, 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 person 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 repeatedly will quickly degrade, whereas a lithium battery can survive many extra deep cycles earlier than degradation would develop into an issue. So, you don’t have to fret about truly 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 assessment has the entire above benefits in a really neat package deal. It’s not solely lighter than many lithium deep-cycles I’ve examined, but it surely’s acquired a good carry strap that folds out of the way in which. It additionally comes with a wide range 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 substitute 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 ordinary, I connected an influence inverter to tug 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 will discover full specs and options on Redodo’s web site, and the value is $279 (as of this writing).

The most important factor is that this smaller battery from Redodo is that it offers you 100 amp-hours of storage (1.2 kWh). This is identical power storage {that a} typical lead-acid deep-cycle battery offers you, but it surely’s far lighter. That is fairly spectacular, particularly for the value, 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 in the event you expose them to chilly temperatures. However, Redodo thought of this forward of time, and this battery has a sensible BMS system that screens temperatures. If the battery will get cold-soaked and drops to freezing, it would 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 a great, financial alternative for functions the place you aren’t planning on freezing temperatures, however might inadvertently encounter them. If you happen to 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 Respectable Documentation, Too

One other wonderful thing about this battery is that it comes with respectable documentation. Not like what you may get at an enormous field retail retailer, Redodo doesn’t assume you might be an knowledgeable whenever you purchase one among these deep-cycle batteries. The handbook offers you the entire important info you want on charging, discharging, connecting, and organising a high-power or high-capacity battery system.

You may join as much as 4 batteries in parallel and in sequence, 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 sort of energy, however the choice is there if you wish to construct nearly something. You clearly must observe regular precautions for low-voltage electrical work, however past that, Redodo doesn’t assume you’re an RV mechanic or knowledgeable low-speed angler!

Even higher, the Redodo battery’s handbook and fast begin booklets are available a waterproof pouch with a zipper with the intention to hold the documentation useful after set up in an RV or different harsh setting, 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.