Dave in AZ
Solar Enthusiast
A recent thread got close to this, but I didn't want to derail it. Folks with interesting comments on this were
@RV8R @HarryN @Tomthumb62
I have a small truck topper "popup canopy camper" made by Tune, similar to an Alu-Cab or GoFast Camper but whole top pops up, so not much insulation. Recently, three friends all got bit by colder than expected weather, below -5f. In all 3 cases, they couldn't get battery power to start their diesel heater. Two of them had power stations with -5f operating limit, pretty common, and stations just shut themselves off, no way to discharge the battery. Other guy had a Lifepo4 battery system, but also could not discharge, don't know if that was BMS.
In any case, I decided I need a small backup to get me just enough 12.8V power to start and run my diesel heater for an hour or so, about 34 Watt-hrs (14 to start, 20 more to run an hour to heat Lifepo4 or power station). So say 100 Watt-hrs total or just 8Ah would do it.
What are your thoughts on keeping a small AGM charged with a cheap Noco or such, vs. a Lifepo4 in an insulated box with heat pad or self heated? Reliability and weight and total cost? I'm thinking a small AGM if available would work better and easier?
Also, I need minimum 12v, 12.8 better, no matter what, 11A startup flow, can an agm do this? Or add some kind of boost transformer to ensure 12-13v?
Oh, it could be sealed lead acid, I just assumed AGM would be better. Thoughts?
@RV8R @HarryN @Tomthumb62
I have a small truck topper "popup canopy camper" made by Tune, similar to an Alu-Cab or GoFast Camper but whole top pops up, so not much insulation. Recently, three friends all got bit by colder than expected weather, below -5f. In all 3 cases, they couldn't get battery power to start their diesel heater. Two of them had power stations with -5f operating limit, pretty common, and stations just shut themselves off, no way to discharge the battery. Other guy had a Lifepo4 battery system, but also could not discharge, don't know if that was BMS.
In any case, I decided I need a small backup to get me just enough 12.8V power to start and run my diesel heater for an hour or so, about 34 Watt-hrs (14 to start, 20 more to run an hour to heat Lifepo4 or power station). So say 100 Watt-hrs total or just 8Ah would do it.
What are your thoughts on keeping a small AGM charged with a cheap Noco or such, vs. a Lifepo4 in an insulated box with heat pad or self heated? Reliability and weight and total cost? I'm thinking a small AGM if available would work better and easier?
Also, I need minimum 12v, 12.8 better, no matter what, 11A startup flow, can an agm do this? Or add some kind of boost transformer to ensure 12-13v?
Oh, it could be sealed lead acid, I just assumed AGM would be better. Thoughts?
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