A few months ago I reviewed the Micro Deep Cycle batteries from Redodo. What impresses me is not only the impressive power and battery life of the batteries, but also how small they are. The end result is that you can double, if not quadruple, the amount of energy storage in the same space, making it a great buy for anything from an RV to a trolling motor.
We recently saw the company’s full-size offering, this time offering cold protection. In short, I’m impressed, but let’s dig a little deeper!
For those unfamiliar, a deep cycle battery is a type of battery used for modular energy storage. These batteries have been around for decades, and in the past most cases used cheaper lead-acid batteries, such as 12-volt internal combustion engine car batteries. Deep cycle batteries differ from standard car jump starter batteries in that they are optimized for longer cycles and lower power output rather than being designed for high power quick hits.
Deep cycle batteries can be used in a variety of applications, powering RVs, trolling motors, ham radios, and even golf carts. Lithium batteries are quickly replacing lead acid batteries as they offer some very important benefits.
The biggest advantage is the long service life. Most lead-acid batteries will last no more than 2-3 years before they stop storing energy. I know many RV owners who replace their batteries almost every year because they forget to gradually charge the batteries during winter storage, and they simply consider purchasing a new house battery every spring as part of the cost of running their RV. The same is true in many other applications where lead-acid batteries are exposed to the elements and left unused on rough days.
Another important thing is weight. Redodo batteries are extremely lightweight, making them easy to operate and install not only for men, but also easier for women and even older children to use effectively.
Security is another major concern. Off-gassing, leaks, and other problems can cause problems with lead-acid batteries. Sometimes they can cause battery acid to leak and damage objects or injure people. If they are not properly ventilated, they can explode, spraying dangerous acid everywhere. Some people even deliberately abuse battery acid to attack others, causing lifelong pain and disfigurement to many victims (these victims are often women, targeted by men who adopt the “if I can’t have you, then no one can have you” mentality). . relation Goal). Lithium batteries do not pose any of these dangers.
Another very important advantage of deep cycle lithium batteries is that their usable capacity is almost twice that of lead-acid batteries. Deep cycle lead acid batteries, which are frequently discharged, will discharge quickly, while lithium batteries can withstand much deeper cycles before degradation becomes a problem. This way, you won’t have to worry about using lithium batteries until they run out (the built-in BMS system stops them before they get damaged).
This latest battery that the company sent us for review offers all of the above benefits in a very neat package. Not only is it lighter than many of the deep cycle lithium batteries I’ve tested, but it also has a convenient folding strap for carrying. The package also includes a variety of connection methods, including screws for connecting wires and screw-in battery terminals for use with clamps. This makes the battery essentially a replacement for those pesky lead-acid batteries with minimal work and likely no modifications to the RV, boat, or anything else that uses it.
As usual, I connected a power inverter to get the maximum current rating. Like the other battery we tested from the company, this one performs within specifications, so you don’t have to worry about it.
You can find full specs and features on the Redodo website, priced at $279 (at time of writing).
Best of all, this smaller battery from Redodo offers a capacity of 100 amp-hours (1.2 kWh). This is the same energy storage that a typical deep cycle lead-acid battery provides, but it is much lighter. That’s pretty impressive, especially considering the price, which is significantly cheaper than the more compact offerings we tested earlier this year.
However, in such deep cycle applications, lithium batteries have one disadvantage: cold weather. Unfortunately, many lithium batteries can lose power or fail if they are exposed to cold temperatures. However, Redodo thought about this in advance: this battery has an intelligent BMS system that can monitor the temperature. If the battery gets wet from the cold and drops to the freezing point, charging will stop. If the weather gets colder and the temperature causes problems with the drain, this will also cause the drain to turn off in a timely manner.
This makes this battery a good and economical choice for applications where you don’t plan to encounter freezing temperatures, but may accidentally encounter them. If you plan to use them in cold weather, Redodo also comes with batteries with a built-in heater so they can last even in harsh winter conditions.
Another great feature of this battery is that it comes with decent documentation. Unlike the batteries you buy at big box stores, Redodo doesn’t think you’re an expert when you buy these deep cycle batteries. This guide provides all the important information needed to charge, discharge, connect and configure a high power or high capacity battery system.
You can connect up to four cells in parallel and in series with a maximum voltage of 48 volts and a current of 400 amp-hours (@48 volts), in other words, to build a 20 kWh battery system. Not all users will need this functionality, but it is an option if you want to create almost anything. Obviously you need to take the usual precautions when doing low voltage electrical work, but beyond that Redodo doesn’t consider you an RV mechanic or an experienced low speed angler!
What’s more, the Redodo Battery Manual and Quick Start Booklet come in a waterproof zip-lock bag, so you can keep the documentation handy after installation in an RV or other harsh environment and store it there with the battery. So, they were really well thought out from start to finish.
Jennifer Sensiba is a long-time and highly prolific car enthusiast, writer, and photographer. She grew up in a transmission shop and has been experimenting with vehicle efficiency since she was 16 years old behind the wheel of a Pontiac Fiero. She enjoys getting off the beaten path in her Bolt EAV and any other electric vehicle she can drive with her wife and kids. You can find her on Twitter here, Facebook here, and YouTube here.
Jennifer, you are not doing anyone any good by spreading lies about lead batteries. They usually live 5-7 years, I have some that are 10 years old if they don’t get killed. Their circulation depth is also not as limited as that of lithium. In fact, lithium’s performance is so poor that a BMS system is needed to keep it active and prevent fires. Install such a BMS on a lead-acid battery and you will get a service life of more than 7 years. Lead-acid batteries can be sealed, and unsealed batteries will operate within specifications without issue. Somehow, I was able to provide customers with off-grid renewable energy systems that lasted 50 years with lead batteries and 31 years with electric vehicles, all at minimal cost. Do you know who else has been effectively developing electric vehicles for 31 years? To achieve this goal, lithium would have to sell for $200 per kWh and last 20 years, which is what most batteries claim but has not yet proven. Now that those prices drop to $200 per kilowatt-hour and they have time to prove they can survive, they’ll turn things around. Currently, most batteries in the US (such as Powerwall) cost around $900/kWh, which suggests prices in the US are about to drop significantly. So wait until they do this in a year or start using lead now when they need to replace it the price of lithium will be very low. I still top the list because they are proven, cost effective, and insurance approved/legal.
Yes, it depends on the usage. I just (a year ago) assembled Rolls Royce OPzV 2V batteries into a 40 kWh battery pack, 24 in total. They will last me over 20 years, but 99% of their life they will float, and even if the mains fails, the DOD will probably be less than 50% of the time. So situations exceeding 50% DOD will be very rare. This is a lead-acid battery. Costing $10k, much cheaper than any Li solution. The attached image seems to be missing… otherwise its image would have been displayed…
I know you said this a year ago, but today you can get 14.3 kWh EG4 batteries for $3,800 each, that’s $11,400 for 43 kWh. I’m about to start using two of these + a huge whole house inverter, but I’ll have to wait another two years for it to mature.