I am working with a manufacture (Epoch) to make my first non-lead acid battery purchase. After inspecting the bilge area of my SeaArk this weekend I discovered the platform that the batteries rest on is causing damage to the bottom (inside). Also the aluminum is pitted probably from battery acid but I am not sure about that…anyway I need to do something. Here is what I have done so far:
- Re-enforce the flooring where the platform stands rest on the bottom
- Sand and paint the flooring - I used Flex Seal
- Reroute and secure wiring and fuel line
- Engage with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery manufacture
I started researching battery alternatives last Feb. After visiting the Bassmaster Classic in Greenville I decided to hold off. Mainly due to the high number of Li-Po manufactures and the inconsistency of features offered. The chemistry to make a Li-Po electrochemical reaction is risky and needs dependable circuits to monitor and manage the reaction and state. Last year at the Classic, a few batteries had some of the circuits needed and some did not. But even those with protection did not cover ALL of the possibilities.
The tech has matured and now there are batteries that cover all of the protection circuits needed.
The circuits needed are:
- Over charge and over discharge circuit
- Over current and short circuit protection circuit
- High and low temp cut off circuit
- Internal heater
These circuits should be monitored by the battery management system (BMS) that is inside the battery…not the charger.
In addition to these circuits you need an easy way to monitor the state of the battery. Typically, a BT app is provided to do this but there also needs to be a built-in monitor function on the battery. A phone can get lost or run out of power so you need a backup.
The li-po chargers are different than a typical lead-acid charger. These chargers should also be integrated with the battery BMS so that the charger turns itself off through BMS notification.
Since we fish saltwater the battery needs to be sealed so that the battery cells and circuits don’t get corroded.
Also the battery needs to be environmental friendly. The Iron in the new non-lead acid batteries is a step in the right direction. Iron can be recycled easier than Cobalt.
I will keep this post updated as I move further along making my decision on the Epoch battery. There are a few more questions I need answered and I need to study the warranty more. If anyone has any experience with the new battery tech please leave a comment.
Regardless I am signup for a new responsibility that comes with owning a boat. With Lead-acid its pretty much plug in the charger and forget it. Now I will have to set a reminder to check on the charge state of the battery. It does not matter what manufacture you chose. If your battery is going to sit for an extended period, it requires to be put in a discharge state (certain level of charge). Failure to do this will damage the battery and reduce the life.
