Recent content by markpj23

Yea I saw the reviews also. But at this price I can just run it in straight electric mode if I lose the heat pump. 10 year parts warranty but I figure since it was a DIY installation they would find a way to not honor it.

If yours is a salt based softener system it will actually speed up deterioration of the anodes, etc. The HO Smith HP unit manual specifically calls this out for increased frequency anode inspections.

I 'found' an AO Smith 80g unit in the clearance section of our local blue big box store. Was a previous year model advertised as 3x as efficient - the new ones advertise 4x efficiency. Anyway, orig price $2600 +/-, fir st saw it marked down to $1,600 and offered them $1,000. No dice. Went back 3...

I went to Trade High School for a year in my hometown of Springfield MA. The school was setup so that you had one week of 'book study' classes then one week of your shop trade class. I was in the heating & air conditioning group. I loved the shop week but usually skipped the other.... Later...

Patrick it seems to me that the issue is not the starting function of your LFP battery - you did not identify any problems with it handling the surge current of starting your outboard. The issues you describe are all on the charging side of the equation, and it sounds like your alternator is...

You have correctly identified the issues with so-called 'drop-in' LFP batteries. The new ones rated for starting battery current loads have the exact same charging constraints / challenges. So the answer to your question is "Yes, you still need additional components...." Fortunately the solution...

OK makes more sense now - thank you.

Reading further into the Xantrex manual, it shows that the absorb phase last until either: a) the charging current drops to 2% of the battery capacity; or b) the absorb timer lapses (default is 3 hours). Since the LFP batteries will accept all the current that the charger can supply until they...

Thanks! I can adjust the float voltage up to 13.5V. I assume the AGMs will be OK with that slight increase as well.

I have two 8D batteries for starting and six 8Ds for the house. I'm happy to say that they're all in need of replacement..... ugh! It's now cheaper for me to replace the house 8Ds with LIFEPOs than AGMs. 12V 280Ah Eco Worthy units are now just $500 each as opposed to the best price I could find...

I already get a "Low Battery Voltage" warning from my chart plotters. I think the ABYC logic is that a LA battery will stay connected and provide power until it's completely flat vice the BMS cutofff. Not sure how that's a real-world difference except in the case of over-temp or high discharge...

Choice of a really expensive system (Tao) or a very in the weeds techie approach. Waiting for this technology to mature I guess...

Wondering what to use to meet the ABYC requirement of an audible alarm before the BMS will disconnect your LiFePO4 batteries? Would a simple low voltage alarm suffice or do we have some new products out there to meet this requirement? Would be nice to have something more than a dumb threshold...

deleted so as to not hijack the thread....

Read through the earlier threads and the problems described with the AIMS charger / converters. Does anyone know if this has been resolved? Looking for a decent 24V charger for a marine application. TIA.