DR.PREPARE 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery with POWERMAX Hub

[@MiniLuv-1984]

It comes, with low temp cutt-off, delivers stated capacity, inlcudes an mppt charger, offers a variety of outputs and exposed battery terminals for say and inverter. Its one of the best so far. That the hub is replaceable also bodes well. Currently at $US400 - its a winner. It looks like you can't safely series connect them based on no mention of series connections on their specification page. Nice review Brad. I thought it might have a PTC that Sylvan_dB has already mentioned.

[@BradCagle]

I agree, I like this thing! Thanks

[@joeh3767]

Are you sure that is nota PWM charger, not MPPT ?

[@Stealthnomad007]

Mine was tossed...it lasted 2 months. Got a full refund

[@ModernSurvivalSense]

The 100ah rating is based on a .2C discharge, correct? The hub is an interesting feature, but with its limitations and the possibility of damaging it just by plugging in something that draws too much power or by simply using the battery while plugged in, it's a no-go. Hopefully hub 2.0 fixes these shortcomings.

[@BradCagle]

Possibly, I've done a lot of tests, and the difference between .2C, .5C, and 1C on lithium is usually very small. So I'll typically test around .5C to 1C, and if it does not pass, i'll follow up with a .2C. Interestingly if you read the spec docs on larger cells, they all pretty much suggest testing at .5C. As for the hub, I was bummed that I was able to break it so easily, but the damn thing recovered and started working again, so I dunno LOL. Thanks!

[@chrisanderson8553]

You just learned the difference between usbc and a power delivery port. :)

[@BradCagle]

Yes, yes I did LOL. Thanks

[@Sylvan_dB]

Sounds like a good design with a PTC reseting fuse. 👍

[@BradCagle]

I was totally bummed out thinking I could have killed it so easily, everything was very good leading up to that. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was working again. It was a pain, but I knew I had to add that in the video, and re-upload.

[@welcometofreddysplace]

Question: can I hook the hub anderson connector to a 20 amp line from the tow rig/ coach (instead of solar)? or will I need a true dc/dc converter?

[@gabehodges1088]

great vid, thx for the work.

[@BradCagle]

Hey Gabe! Thanks :)

[@Dimythios]

This is nice. Keep up the Good work.

[@BradCagle]

Thanks!

[@Roll2Videos]

Great job!

[@BradCagle]

Thanks!

[@Sylvan_dB]

Did you charger charge it full? It appeared to not be at/over 14.0v at start. Not much between 13.5v and 14.5v but there are a few amphours...

[@BradCagle]

I did run the charger a few times to make sure it was full. But looking at the video now, I see it setting at 13.2 before the test, and strangely it jumps up to 13.6 briefly when I start the inverter. This is also the video that my charger died, so It's possible it was limping along. I think I'll do another discharge test to see if I get a better result. Thanks for the observation.

[@johnshaw359]

They really should have implemented the full 20v/100w on the USB-C port with a boost converter, it's not like they were short of power to deal with it, a missed opportunity.

[@BradCagle]

It being modular, they could build a V2 hub. I'd bet they would do this if this product becomes any kind of success. We'll see, thanks for the comment.

[@johnshaw359]

@@BradCagle I was thinking that, myself, it could be sold as a "Terminator" power bank for running a laptop etc for extended periods off grid.

[@5cyc]

Can I charge this with my truck running down the road?

[@leeinwis]

yes

[@Stealthnomad007]

My 2 month old DR PREPARE with hub stopped accepting a charge and I lost a refri full of food. Plus I am now traveling and have to use daily food purchases. I have sent 3 emails to Dr Prepare..no response.

[@kriskeilman2087]

Sorry to hear that. I am running my fridge/freezer off my Dr. Prepare with hub. Are you charging it through the hub or connected directly?

[@utubemouse]

@@kriskeilman2087How do you have your fridge hooked up to the Dr. Prepper?

[@Jamie-re9cv]

Have you had any trouble charging over 3 bars

[@tiredofeverythingnew]

Brad love your video's but pls invest in a tripod.

[@BradCagle]

It's the camera moving, I've had a few others say this. I do have a tripod, I'll start using it more. I'll do better, thanks for the suggestion!

[@emagowan]

Any idea if 'Dr. Prepare' build their own or is this a repackage of another manufacturer?

[@BradCagle]

Pretty sure it's their own.

[@Justin-C]

Made by Renogy, apparently.

[@ebenwaterman5858]

18 volts is not a guarantee of MPPT. PWM controllers run at that level too. 12 volts would be if there was absolutely no controller at all. If the solar panel was connected directly to the battery. :)

[@BradCagle]

Thanks Eben, i'll dig into it deeper. Do you have any ideas how to verify it as MPPT?

[@ebenwaterman5858]

@@BradCagle Sadly, no. Not easily. But maybe if you hooked it up to a variable supply voltage simulating a solar panel. An MPPT controller will do a bit of hunting around to find the most power point, A PWM won't. You should see that on your meters. (If they don't specifically say MPPT, it probable ain't.) :)

[@BradCagle]

@@ebenwaterman5858 Alright so I started reading up on how PWM controllers work. During the "bulk" stage of charging the FET will be completely closed, so 100% duty cycle on the PWM signal. The PV at this stage would be fully connected to the battery, and it would be dragged down to the battery voltage. Latter stages like absorb, and float this is when the duty cycle would change on the PWM to something less than 100%, basically so it can regulate the voltage, and not overcharge. This is when you could see the panel voltage higher than the Battery. So If I fully discharge this battery, and test the voltage at the PV again It should give a clear indication of what type it is.

[@ebenwaterman5858]

@@BradCagle Hmmm. I didn't know that about PWM. And....I've never connected a PWM controller to a "dead " battery b4. Thanks for your research on this. I'll stay tuned for any updates. :)

[@Justin-C]

22:30 - This is baloney from the MFR, if a plugging in a USB-C PD device is what actually fried the hub's USB/12V, they made it wrong, period. A device that is able to charge off of USB-C PD 60W should NEVER 'burn out' a USB-C PD supply only capable of 30W.

[@svenshanah]

IMHO, you are WAY too nice brother.. (appreciate your videos btw, super helpful for me so far..just found you a few months ago) If a company tried to tell me that I couldn't charge my little laptop (an item MANY ppl will be wanting to, & expecting to be able to charge) with that massive 12+V / 100Ah battery, I'd be offended that they insulted my intelligence, and frankly laughed in their face..then I'd have put it all in the video, but accompanied by some serious head shaking and some added, "can you believe these guys" in for good measure..?? The only thing that saved this whole thing is somehow it bounced back. I was all about this thing until that happened..I'd be still OK with it if it had died outright, then been a fluke, they sent another, etc., etc..but saying that's too much for it & a breakdown from not having enough protection to avoid failure from such a small & common item is to be expected?!? Um, no.. fix it then before letting it hit the market🤷‍♂.. A "laptop" is far too small and far too common of an expectation IMO to not be able to do. I could even go for absorbing some of the blame on the fact that it didn't get to full charge, if it had just kicked off due to a protection sensor, etc.. but heck they saw the video and STILL gave u the story of it being too much for it? Maybe I'm just an entitled jerk that expects too much, but to me that's Bravo Sierra🤨 (sorry for the 1000 word AAR ;-)

[@BradCagle]

No, I agree. I've plugged this laptop into other batteries with USB ports, and it was fine. I might revisit this one, and beat it up more.

[@john-j7e7e]

umm he showed the manual during the video. it stated usb c is rated at 30 watts output, max. had it been a chromebook, that would have worked. yes, you arent too bright and yes, you are an entitled jerk. and yes, you can pretend to be as smart as you think you are haha

[@Stealthnomad007]

Piece of crap....can't get it to charge off solar or cigarette plug. It shows 25% charge on the blue indicater...but no blue or green. Light. 3 months and I wasted a out 75 in food getting warm.

[@BradCagle]

Bummer. I guess it was acting sketchy when I tested it for a reason. Sorry to hear.

[@kriskeilman2087]

I had problems initially as well. I have a victron mppt solar charge controller connected directly to it. I raised the absorption from 13.5 to 13.9 initially then lowered it later to 13.7. Now it seems to get a full charge.

[@Stealthnomad007]

I got a full refund

[@BradCagle]

@@Stealthnomad007 Glad to hear!

[@Stealthnomad007]

Good client service, however