GOLDENMATE LiFePO (LFP) Deep Cycle Battery Review

A number of weeks in the past, GOLDENMATE reached out to have us take a look at its take on the deep cycle battery. From what we will inform to this point, it really works precisely as marketed, and it a reasonably straightforward to make use of bundle!

What Would You Use One Of These For?

A deep cycle battery is a kind of power storage unit that’s designed to be discharged and recharged repeatedly, typically right down to a really low degree. This contrasts with starter batteries (like these in most vehicles), that are designed for brief bursts of excessive energy to start out the engine, however then get rapidly recharged by the automobile’s alternator.

Deep cycle batteries are utilized in varied purposes the place steady, dependable energy is required over a protracted time frame. Some widespread examples embody marine use (like powering electrical trolling motors), RVs and campers for off-grid energy, solar energy storage, and electrical wheelchairs. For those who have been to place a starter battery in considered one of these roles, it wouldn’t final almost as lengthy.

Over time, there have been a number of kinds of deep cycle batteries bettering the state of affairs, every with their benefits and downsides:

1. Flooded Lead Acid (FLA): These are the normal kind of rechargeable battery, and are sometimes probably the most inexpensive. Nonetheless, they require common upkeep (topping up with distilled water), and should be saved upright to forestall acid spillage.

2. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA): These are just like FLAs however are sealed, in order that they require much less upkeep and might be mounted in any orientation. They’re dearer than FLAs and have a shorter lifespan.

3. Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM): These batteries use a particular fiberglass separator that absorbs the electrolyte, offering some great benefits of being spill-proof, maintenance-free, and capable of ship excessive currents. They’re dearer than each FLA and SLA batteries.

4. Gel Cell: These use a gelified electrolyte, making them leak-proof and maintenance-free. Nonetheless, they’re delicate to overcharging, dearer, and usually have a decrease capability than different sorts.

5. Lithium-Ion: These are the most recent kind of deep cycle battery and supply a number of benefits like lighter weight, larger effectivity, longer lifespan, and just about no upkeep. Nonetheless, they’re considerably dearer.

Effectively, really, that very last thing (costly) is one thing that seems to be altering!

What You Get For The Cash with GOLDENMATE

One of many first issues that struck me in regards to the firm’s battery was the worth. Like many different deep cycle batteries of its measurement, it has a capability of 100 amp-hours (1280 watt-hours). However, as a substitute of costing virtually $1,000 like they used to, they’ve managed to construct an iron-based battery and promote it for $329 (as of this writing).

Connecting the battery to gadgets that draw energy from it’s fairly straightforward. As an alternative of getting battery posts or wingnuts, they supplied easy bolt-holes you’ll be able to readily add loop-style electrical connections to. It even has plastic caps that preserve issues from touching the connections as readily. With nothing related, the battery’s caps preserve the connections fully closed off to issues that may brief it out, making for simpler carrying and storage in automobiles and different settings.

It’s potential to do fairly a couple of issues with the batteries, too. Most output is 100 amps (steady), and you may join them in parallel or sequence for larger voltage and/or larger capability, permitting them to energy something typical lead-acid deep cycle batteries can, however with much less weight and bulk.

Lastly, it has a built-in carrying strap that’s produced from a versatile materials. This makes transferring the battery round rather a lot simpler than the typical deep cycle battery.

Testing

In some methods, it’s powerful to check a deep cycle battery in each state of affairs you may use one in. Few folks have a golf cart, an RV, a trolling motor, and a ham radio setup. However, with the ability to simply draw some energy from it offers you a reasonably good concept. One various I experimented with was to energy issues with an inverter I’ve laying round. It’s solely rated for 1,000 watts, however when pulling energy from a 12-volt battery, you’re pulling over 80 amps! So, pulling the 1,000 watts is an effective take a look at for such a battery.

To actually put a load on the unit, I related a transportable air conditioner to it, which I had seen pull round 800 watts from my Jackery energy station. The consequence was simply as anticipated, with the battery powering the load as marketed.

The Largest Benefit: Longevity

As I identified earlier, the know-how inside deep-cycle batteries has modified fairly a bit over time. The most cost effective batteries are easy, however should be principally stationary and upright to operate safely. Sealed models, gel cells, glass mats, and different choices enhance the longevity in movement, however they nonetheless have a restricted total lifespan.

Household which I’ve gone RVing with can attest to the restricted lifetime of lead-acid batteries. When the RV will get parked for the winter, it simply gained’t survive till spring until the battery will get trickle-charged. Even when related to photo voltaic and saved up at full voltage, a lead-acid battery nonetheless doesn’t sustain an excellent cost after a 12 months or two, and goes fully lifeless not lengthy after.

LiFePO batteries (aka “LFP”) keep away from all of this want for holding a trickle cost, and keep away from the issues of shedding capability and cost potential after a few years. Not like different lithium batteries, iron-based chemistries additionally haven’t any drawback sitting at 100% cost between makes use of, so there’s no want to empty them to a great voltage for storage, both.

The top result’s which you can take one thing that was once a ache (changing and sustaining batteries) and simply change them with one thing that works long-term. Discovering out the laborious approach that an RV doesn’t have a cost for lighting, a trolling motor gained’t troll, or a golf cart gained’t transfer actually sucks. Minimizing the failures and ache factors of utilizing battery know-how can be a fairly whole lot on the value level batteries are beginning to arrive at!

Featured picture: the GOLDENMATE LiFePO battery throughout unboxing at a mountaintop campsite in New Mexico. Picture by Jennifer Sensiba.

 

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