Renogy "Smart" 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Tear Down

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[@WillProwse]

Does off-grid solar confuse you? Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com Join our DIY solar community! #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com Check out my best-selling, beginner-friendly 12V off-grid solar book (affiliate link): amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Solar. Low prices and great warranty, and they can take your entire house offgrid with their new Powerwalls: ts.la/william57509 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My solar equipment recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first): 12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar and Coupon Codes: -Current Connected: SOK, Victron and High Quality Components. Best prices and warranty around: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp -Signature Solar: Cheap Server Rack Batteries and Large Solar Panels: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Ecoflow Delta Official Site: My favorite plug-n-play solar generator: us.ecoflow.com/?aff=7 -AmpereTime: Cheapest 12V batteries around: amperetime.com/products/ampere-time-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Rich Solar: Mega site and cheaper prices than renogy! Check them out: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out: shopsolarkits.com/?ref=will-p -Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 10% off code: diysolar -Watts 24/7: Best deals on all-in-one solar power systems, with customer support and distribution here in the USA: watts247.com/?wpam_id=3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Contact Information: I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: [e-mail] Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers: Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

[@seekfactsnotfiction9056]

Is this battery suitable for vehicles or dashcams running 24/7 parking mode? If not, what's the most powerful safe battery you would recommend for dashcam running 24/7 through motion detection?

[@Baxter3784]

I am curious why this battery isn't listed as recommended battery on your website. I only need 1 battery, and I only need 12v. I am wondering if the LiTime batter or this one would be better, since they are about the same price now. Also, have you done any recent teardown of a renogy battery?

[@mylesfromtown]

@Willprose what do you do with the battery after you pull it appart. ? I have the same battery that failed on me after 11 months, i need the lid of the battery. For its uplink ports. Renogy has the worst customer service i have ever dealt with. 0/5 And 5 year warrenty that they will not stand behind. 0/20 Do not buy renogy. 100% My Up-link ports have corroded on me sitting in my truck, super choked because renogy says its designed like that, my battery turns on and off when ever it wants Due to renogys design flaw. My amp and sub woofer are in the same area and they are fine and have been for 5 years. RENOGY is not a good company to deal with.

[@alanprudhomme9090]

This has to be the the only case I have seen you dis assemble without cutting the case open. NICE CASE!

[@donmoore7785]

It appears to be the first one that can be disassembled without destroying.

[@standpipestan2778]

All batteries should be built this way but companies dont want diy folk fixing them

[@gsp49]

@@standpipestan2778 or people who do not know what they are doing messing with them.

[@PrimalMiltos]

That's because you haven't come across the SOK batteries yet!

[@richardmoore2003]

They probably built it knowing he would do this

[@t.c.3027]

Duuude!!, I HIGHLY respect your intelligences, not only in the field of electronics, but the ability to teach & articulate in layman's terms how to become a DYI in electronics w/disclaimer warnings! I'm a 65yr old guy that has worked closely & under the guidance of a chief engineer close to my age and too come across someone in you age bracket w/so much knowledge & education in this field is totally superb, unbelievable, & awesome!!! Keep on keeping on man & I wish you the greatest in your future endeavors!!!

[@lunatik9696]

Battery tech is advancing. Thanks to Will for in depth analyses. I am sure the manufacturers watch his videos. I think WiIl has single handedly done more for solar and battery consumers than anyone else.

[@Rabs73]

It's about 4 years since i first watched this video and then purchased this battery. Has run my 4wd 12v system flawlessly since and only lost 2 to 3ah of capacity. Nice!

[@Rabs73]

I watched your video carefully again trying to work out how the pouches are stacked. Mine has been on its side so the pouches have been sitting vertically. Doesn't seem a problem which way they sit??

[@IllumTheMessage]

Like them both. A healthy ecosystem of quality battery manufacturers means everyone wins.

[@azeissler1987]

I just bought this battery, this video makes me feel even better about my purchase

[@KakaDanny]

All the way from Africa ( Arusha, Tanzania ) ! Thanks a lot Will !

[@energiewender143]

3:35 The branding under the sticker says PylonTech, so that is probably the manufacturer not only of the BMS but of the whole battery. Thank you for the interesting review. I would always prefer Battleborn‘s cylindrical cells over pouch cell as they keep the electrodes in their place more precisely than pouch cells and they can dissipate heat much better.

[@rebeccadavitt5448]

I purchased three of these during renogy’s flash sale and scored them for $599 each! I’ve only been using them for one month now but I do really like them so far. Thanks for taking it apart so we can see inside! Super cool!!

[@WizzRacing]

They are now $499.00 each..with code RB15....I got two...

[@glaoak1787]

And a year later, it is 499 (with the promotion🙄).

[@janralphalicida]

From philippines. I really appreciate your passion in sharing knowledge about solar energy. Keep sharing video sir, im on track.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@PeterMilanovski]

Secretly, I reckon that Renogy were praying for you to open up the battery to show of all the hard work they put into it! All that is missing is the ability to series connect and the trademark black and blue colour scheme!

[@ChrisHolt1]

I ordered two of these because they are group 24 size and will fit in the battery tray of my RV. They are lower in price now than when you tested and tore down, so that is good. Thanks for the teardown, it was really nice to see how well that is built.

[@wtcamer]

That battery chemistry is pretty safe in any packaging factor. LiFePO4 pouch cells are about as safe as you can get. You can run a nail through them and not start a fire or cause an explosion. They will get hot, but they will pretty much just fail in the damaged area and cauterize. It's not like Lithium where whey vent extreme amounts of gas and risk run away damage from extreme heat leading to explosions. Also, since that XT 90 plug isn't running negative and positive (90 up and 90 down for a combined 90 amps circulating) you can get 180 amps (the same 90 + 90). So technically those plugs could support 360 amps :) The 4s setup probably allows the batteries to run many more amps than the BMS will output. This keeps the cells cooler and means that even during heavy usage the cells will remain very healthy. It's very over-engineered!

[@jay-rus4437]

Thanks for sharing this info.

[@odertube]

This is great news as I just bought this for my RV. Also bought the BT module so I can view the details from my phone.

[@itrow9526]

@@odertube How is it working out for ya ?

[@odertube]

@@itrow9526 Love it! Lightweight and very powerful. I can remove it from my RV without breaking my back and I get more than 3x the Ah capacity of my Lead Acid battery. The price was impressive as well. Very happy with my purchase.

[@itrow9526]

@@odertube Nice, thanks for replying.

[@adventurefuel5172]

This review push Renogy over the top for me. I only run all 12 volt gear to avoid the inverter conversion power loss, so this is perfect. The smart battery network feature was an added benefit. First on came this week. I’ll add a second next big sale. Thanks Will for you hard work and great evaluations.

[@caddyzig]

I’d be really interested in a follow up video when you learn more about the safety features of the pouch cells. Looks like a really well made battery! Really looking forward to comparing the new Battleborn batteries whenever they’re released.

[@The-Wise-One]

Yes please, now tests on this battery 🙏

[@davidlane6758]

Love these teardowns. I keep checking back every day to see if you've uploaded a teardown of the basic Renogy 100ah that so many of us got on Black Friday. The suspense is killing me 😂

[@jackmehoffer7819]

I got 3, paid $518.00 Ea shipped

[@redsquirrelftw]

I like that it's fairly easy to open. No need to cut or melt glue etc.

[@andycanfixit]

I like that fact that you can disassemble it with standard tools and not having to cut apart the case, so if the bms fails it could be repaired. Be nice if they could do series connected even if just to 24 volts as 12 volts limits what you can do, but still it's a pretty cool build.

[@DarrenBoxhall]

Have this battery in my 4x4 for a year now, ran it completely flat a couple of times with the fridge. I run the renogy 50a DC/DC with it and the hub with Bluetooth. All works perfectly fine. Hopefully it lasts

[@MsLaurN]

Finally, a 100 ah battery for backpackers!

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

You are better off with a portable battery pack. Far better.

[@MsLaurN]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 my comment was pretty much tongue in cheek. Most backpackers don't need that kind of power, though if you had a group of four or five, and someone needed a CPAP machine or some other appliance it could begin to make sense.

[@modut6258]

I bought two of them, hooked up in parallel. Using 2 x 30a Renogy charge controllers, and a 2000w renogy inverter. All sitting on a small wheeled wood trolley. Fully fused, it was a great learning process! And given these batteries are good for about 4000 cycles at 80% DOD, I'm using them every day, and it makes a fantastic power backup.

[@SergioMorello1]

you charge them with?

[@modut6258]

@@SergioMorello1 solar panels, can use up to 800w, so i have 4x 200w

[@glaoak1787]

Could you run all appliances in a RV? I mean, in a regular every day life.

[@modut6258]

@@glaoak1787 Depends on what you are running, you need to work out total daily kwh and provide for that in both input and output.

[@PCMenten]

Will, ask them why it can’t be used in series. Nice battery!

[@glensmith766]

I'm betting it has to do with the communications system. The comm wires from the high batteries will be at a different voltage that the low battery comm wires.

[@MattLesak]

It’s the way the BMS is configured is my guess. The comms can be powered separately. I don’t see it being a big deal given their target market.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I believe pouch cells are unable to handle the pass-though current. Just are solar panels themselves differ greatly in how many can be placed in series.

[@melaniecotterell8263]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 current just knows that it is flowing to a lower potential. Just so you don't use 2 batteries to increase the current (ala your analogy with solar panels which also are voltage limited because of ground shorting possibility- these batteries are well insulated) above the rated amps the battery knows no different. Even if one was at 100% SOC and the other was at a very low SOC it wouldn't hurt anything but they would need to be balanced when recharging. Current is always passing through a battery when it is discharging. Current is constant the amount of voltage added by each cell depends on the SOC ,the current, and the resistance of the cell. Each cell should be identical and of the same age, system can only perform as good as the worst cell.

[@timf6916]

A man of my heart, let’s tear it apart and see what is in side. Good information, nice video

[@smde1]

Not being able to series connect them is an absolute deal-breaker for me. Winston batteries are looking sweeter and sweeter - How about a Winston battery "un-boxing" - that would be fun.

[@centralny753]

I got this battery last year for $800. on sale and has served me well. With the Renogy 400 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit with Wanderer .. BUT,, The BT-1 Bluetooth monitor module for it is not what I was expecting being from Renogy. Thank You for your review , it's given me I clear insight on the product.

[@movax20h]

You forgot to mention another good selling point of this battery. Over 4000 cycles at 80% DoD. I am assuming at 1C, but it is not mentioned in the spec.

[@donmontalvo1]

This video convinced me to get this exact battery (RBT100LFP12S-G1, not sure what G1 stands for). I had a local overlanding shop install it with lots of power management, solar, etc., in my 2021 Jeep JLUR. Two years (almost) and never an issue. Trust me, I do a LOT of offroad/overlanding. I really appreciate this video, I'm quite a fan.

[@ScottHarder]

Thank god. I've been waiting for your review. I bought one and HAve been running it for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately Battle Born not available in Australia so I took the gamble. Great price point here with free shipping which added to the Value . Thanks for the break down and ease of mind. Regarding the Ethernet port, I thought I read it was to connect multiple batteries together to assist with balancing across all the cells in multiple batteries.

[@lanceguilin]

i don't see the point. These 12v units are not to be connected in series, only in parallel. With parallel connection, you don't need any external method of balancing them as parallel connection itself will equalize all the connected batteries to the same voltage.

[@WillProwse]

Yes, no real need for communication with parallel connection. it mentioned that in one of the manuals too. Small manual stated otherwise. Really strange to have any form of communication between parallel batteries. Must be for future monitor system

[@jimthvac100]

@Jimmy Call Good point

[@VagrantShadow]

Looking at buying 3 of these for my van. In Aus it's hard to find any reviews or info on most of the suppliers here. Will likely get these as they actually have people talking about them, unlike Jaycars offerings or "Pro-Power". Cheers!

[@ScottHarder]

@@VagrantShadow I've got 2 for my shed setup running 2 fridges with 600w of panels, I use about 20-30% of my load over night. Been happy with them.

[@Miata822]

I like that it can be opened nondestructively and potentially repaired should the board fail.

[@IllumTheMessage]

Big plus for me too.

[@MikeGentry]

That looked to be the best overall design Will has torn down so far.

[@HappyHarryHardon]

I just bought two and the 40A dc-dc charger. I’m excited to get rid of my AGMs!!!

[@christianwinkelmann8477]

@Leslley Scotte , I would like to know how happy you are Stil with the battery? Thanks thinking of buying 2

[@HappyHarryHardon]

@@christianwinkelmann8477 I love them! I have had no issues. I replaced 4 AGM with just the two and have much more usable power for far longer. Not to mention an amazing amount of saved weight and space.

[@christianwinkelmann8477]

@@HappyHarryHardon thank you so much, you helped me a lot , I could find anything in Germany jet . Thanks and a big hug

[@HappyHarryHardon]

@@christianwinkelmann8477 You’re welcome. Enjoy them!

[@Mike-ot8ih]

Battleborn for me. Their cells seem so much more durable than a pouch. BTW... LOVE THE TEAR-DOWNS!!

[@michaelrodriguez8180]

Hello! Love the videos. Did you ever do an update on this? Figuring out more on the pouch cells, and such

[@WizzRacing]

I bought two of these.. With a DCC50S amp DC-DC MPPT charge controller. To go with my Renogy 2000W 12V P2 Inverter. It does what it claims. The DCC50S will default to 25 amps charging. When the RV is running. To protect the Alternator at idle.. As alternators are expensive if they go out... So I'm happy.. I can run everything.

[@VetSemperFi]

As an electronic tech I'm very impressed with the engineering and serviceability of this Renogy battery. Electronic components and mechanical connections do fail, as you have seen in your other battery tear downs/reviews. I would definitely pick these over the Battle Born for all my 12V battery banks! Thank you for the battery reviews!

[@erroneouscode]

I have 4 of these in a 4wd ute with a 3000w inverter. They have been running 24/7 for the past 14 months since new powering what's in the back of ute as well as some other loads in the shed and house such as computer, refrigeration etc and the worst of the 4 has a capacity of 99.97% of original 100ah according to the app which never showed more than 100ah for any of the batteries. I'm no expert on batteries but that seems pretty good to me.

[@guybrock837]

You are top shelf young man , thank you for your help.

[@codymiller8505]

@J G top shelf mode

[@TravisKepler]

Hey Will, First of all love I all of your videos. I am a grid tied solar installer but dabble in DIY off grid stuff. I am a certified LG Chem RESU installer and in their training they say that pouched cells are not a very good design because where they are folded and that causes weak points where deformation occurs over time due to the cells being stretched.

[@grannieannie1371]

Thank you so much Will. As an Australian I can't get battle born but Renogy are a pretty competitive price and are often on special so I have wondered what the quality was like. Pretty good from the look of it. Oh I bought your book and it's excellent.

[@tonydawes4169]

You can but you have to pay for shipping and their warranty stands, though the 10 year isn't really 10yr, 8yr plus other 2yr you will get I think new batteries at a discount. I can only get them to Sydney and have to work out freight to Brisbane. Here's a sample from my email just recently within last month and just the last week. I have received a cost on shipping 4 batteries to Australia. The freight forwarder has provided a price for the batteries to ship to the Sydney Airpoprt. Unfortunately they do not have a freighter service that can get them to the Brisbane airport. Cost for the shipping would be $1,767 USD with a 5-8 day transit time. You would be able to pick up the batteries in Sydney or we could explore other delivery methods once they are in country. Please let me know if I can help with anything else. Best, Eric Carter Battle Born Batteries Thank you for writing, I hope all is well. We are always going to cover our warranty no matter your location. The shipping logistics would be the one aspect that could present some difficulty. Typically we can troubleshoot over email if an issue ever comes up, but we are hopeful you’ll have batteries that perform flawlessly. Let me know how else I can assist. Best, Eric Carter Battle Born Batteries I prefer those batteries but I am having to get the 3 x 170amp Renogy ones, as they are on special for Aus$1187 not sure for how long though, maybe this is too late for you but I am new to this and plan to live off grid.

[@grannieannie1371]

@@tonydawes4169 even though I could pick up the batteries from Sydney the cost difference means renogy is just so much cheaper. And they aren't bad batteries. Although there could be a delay ATM but generally China to Au is quicker than the US to Au

[@peterryan7340]

The Renogy batteries are on sale AUD$778.99 at the moment. That's like 550 USD?

[@grannieannie1371]

@@peterryan7340 yep Renogy batteries and solar panels etc are nearly always cheaper in Australia

[@KR7PT]

More than a year later, I just bought this in Australia for AU$630 which is an absolute steal - local retailers don't even get them for that price. Can't wait to get it all hooked up in my car.

[@adjrasta9365]

Mate are these any good, yr 8mths into yrs?

[@brucedavidge8169]

Nathan, how going mate, just wondering how Renogy batteries Thinging of purchasing TWO of them for a motorhome which has One low performing 100amp AGM + looking to do lot of free camping thanks look forward to your feedback sense your in Aussie.

[@poorpauly1308]

Series only connection is a huge factor, they need to change that.

[@BenMitro]

We have some batteries here in Australia that limit series connection to two batteries. I think this has to do with limitations in the BMS, and yes it is a stumbling block. Many use 24V and 48V systems and these voltages makes so much sense when you have battery storage over 2kWh.

[@ernstlombard8336]

Definitely a deal breaker

[@BenMitro]

@@jackturtle131 yep, sell for around 595 Australian pesos. Still only good for 24V..no good to me.

[@jeffg3563]

How does Battleborn support batteries in series with a common cathode BMS? I would have figured that if the first battery cuts off from overcharging that it would disconnect the rest of the batteries and they could potentially never be fully charged.

[@BenMitro]

@@jeffg3563 Damn good point Jeff G

[@Toproller-]

Love Renogy, always thought of them as a quality manufacturer for a fair price.

[@morrisonmeister]

Love the episodes buddy, Don't think we've seen you doing anything with Edison batteries yet (e.g.12V Bank Nickel Iron NiFe Battery 400ah 10 X 1.2V Cell) I've seen alot of them still working fine, even though they are 80+years old.

[@TOMAS-lh4er]

I really admire People that can design such clean , well-laid-out Batteries !! Super well made ! I would still buy the Battleborn but the RENOGY is competition for sure .

[@4philipp]

Considering none of the renogy batteries can be wired in series, I’d go with battleborn. Add a nice MidNite classic 150 and we are in business.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

There are good alternatives to BattleBorn. They are just the brand that is currently flooding KZbin creators with free stuff. I would wait to see how they hold up considering that user installed batteries, especially in a user built system, are very difficult to warranty. FullRiver makes terrific batteries...there are others. Do your research.

[@4philipp]

G Henrickson wait and see can be challenging. I won’t need my batteries for another two years, at which point I’ll have to make the actual decision. But anyone who is in the market right now will likely go with a well branded product. It communicates quality, reliability, support and if course good looks. If the price is reasonable enough people will buy. I think there is an aspect of overthinking things as well. Most just want their system to work. Your buddy has xyz and it works? That’s all the reassurance you need.

[@oculophilia918]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 you just repped a company that only makes agm batteries? is this 2002 or am I missing something?

[@timsmith1029]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 I don't believe FullRiver offers a LiFePO4 do they?

[@matthewdeck3246]

No one else offers a 10 year warranty, that's why bb continues to stay on top. Imo.

[@rvprepperwayne]

Will, the Com Port was designed to work with the Renogy Lycan Power Box. I have one and have found flaws with it. You should look into one. I can share my thoughts with you and issues I have came across. Also with multiable batteries the com port will help with balancing of all batteries.

[@christianwinkelmann8477]

Hi I would like to know when I have 3 of them in parallel and use there BT2 can I then see a 3 or I need more cables? Thanks...

[@CalicoJackxx]

Thanks Will, another great report. I am at the point where I am considering that great leap from lead acid to Lithium so all of the recent reports that you have been doing will help me . I have been off grid for about 20 years and I am so impressed with the improvements in technology and the decrease in costs I have been a very satisfied customer of Renogy so very glad to see this product. I will wait to see Battle Borns newest products. I will be I will be so glad to get away from the affordable but frustrating 150 old technology of lead acid batteries. I am tempted to give a try at your DIY batteries but for a few hundred bucks more I think I'll play it safe with the drop in products. BZ Will

[@neliosamch3195]

Yes, lead acid batteries been obsolete for a while now.

[@ChadSmith305]

Almost 2am over here in Michigan, about to get out of work and I've got some time to kill. Bam! Will comes through with an upload! :)

[@ChadSmith305]

Learned not to mess with pouches if I ever come across them!

[@Nailnuke]

When you connect these in parallel the BMS communicate so individual cells get the charge they need, instead of all just being fed the same charge. It's clever!

[@wa9jrf]

Can the batteries communicate between themselves without an external controller? I'm thinking of using charger that has a charging profile for lithium, but no communication port, (other than measuring voltage and current.)

[@SOFISINTOWN]

If it wasn't for you, Will, we would all be flying blind. Thank you!

[@georgesrisomsak9650]

New subscriber here, and not only are these factual and to the point, but your attitude, high energy and enthusiasm is contagious. Glad to have found this channel, thank you for what you do Will! Truely appreciated!

[@artillerypr]

3:21am in PuertoRico always tune with master Will hi brother!

[@HandyC]

Ha, just got home from work on Saturday, it's 11:30 am here in the UK. :D I don't think I'd have the energy to watch this at 3am :D

[@artillerypr]

I dont sleep we're having a lot tremors and aftershock this is not good.

[@HandyC]

artillerypr aww damn!! Sorry to hear that. I hope you remain safe and your internet remains connected. 👌🏽

[@artillerypr]

Thank I'm so stressful in the first one the electricity go out for 2 days, and my solar project is not finish :-(

[@dannymars]

I have 2 of these and am equally impressed with the performance. But yeah, lack of series connection is annoying. I run a 3000w 240v inverter and the cabling is HUGE.

[@MarkSpencerAZ]

Thanks Will, I was waiting for you to tear this one down! Have you done their previous model yet? I own two of the previous model. One failed, Renogy replaced it no charge.

[@IncandescentDaD]

What happened to cause the bad one to fail?

[@zerodegrees8]

I just ordered this battery to run a fridge off solar at camp, now i'm pumped also knowing I can use a 3rd party bms should the onboard one fail. Almost seems impossible for this battery to do the job of a large lead acid and do it better, Thanks for the vid

[@ilkertemir]

Do you know how this compares to the new(?) "12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Bluetooth"?

[@PH_INFO_101]

I would bet that the Renogy Engineers have been referencing your videos in an attempt to design & build a better product.

[@KyrstOak]

@Lassi Kinnunen Laptops can bulge??

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

@@KyrstOak I believe any pouch cell can bulge yet it there is one chemistry that might resist such...it would be LiFe Po4.

[@KyrstOak]

@@geraldhenrickson7472 Ok. What makes you think LiFe Po4 can resist bulging?

[@Doctorbasss]

@DIY Projects yes. One great exemple are the Chevy Spark EV battery. All model up to 2015 have A123 top quality cells in 20Ah pouch. The packs are in 28s3p for 5.43kWh. There is 4 of these in tge spark. That spark can keep 80% charge time at full 100% power on L3 charging power. Else there are Chevy Volt that use top quality LG pouch cells in 96s3p for the 2011 to 2016 model years. These are very stable and reliable. So impressive then some friends of mine use these in their Tesla powered drag racing cars to power the tesla 500kW motor.

[@colemcleod941]

@DIY Projects and that's just one reason Tesla is superior

[@1fatsussex]

Great video I am so relieved it's a good thing. I bought this as a second battery in my Isuzu Mu-x and it has been FANTASTIC at running my camping gear and it's fast recharge rate.

[@GeoffCrittenden]

"It's hard to be critical of something that's well-made." Amen. Makes me wonder why anyone ever makes something that's NOT well-made.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Because stuff only needs to last the warranty period. The corners you can cut with this attitude are amazing.

[@CajunWolffe]

Because some folks are just greedy and don't give a shit, and some people take great pride in their craftsmanship, I'll pay the extra for the latter, but, unfortunately, many chose the cheaper route, and then bitch when it lets them down. We, humans, are silly creatures with the attention span of a gnat.

[@pmwilliams123]

Higher quality is more costly to produce, and requires a higher price point. And for modest needs, too much quality is a waste of the resources. Some people deride 'value engineering' but poor people (or wise rich people) should not be asked to pay for unnecessary quality. Do you have all your tools in titanium? Like the narrow seats you get when you buy cheap tickets for airline travel, some people are willing to make the trade-off, and we should not be so snobbish of their choices. Likewise for the firms that provide the lower quality product, they serve a market composed of real people who may not be dupes after all.

[@MountainTopHomestead316]

Thank you thank you thank you! Just got a small sponsorship with Renogy and wanted to use their batteries as well. Now I will for sure! 👌

[@ReversePeople]

Another great vid, Will. Thank you. I’d still go with Battle Born. I have 5 of them and am extremely impressed with their performance and build quality (not to mention the warranty).

[@4philipp]

ReversePeople how would you install batteries of different life cycles?

[@ReversePeople]

4philipp - First, I’d individually charge and check the battery(ies) I was about to add to my existing bank. If they check out, I’d fully charge my existing battery/bank, then connect them all together. They should all balance over time anyway, but I prefer to start them off this way. If/when the bank shows any performance degradation, I’d take individual meter readings of each battery and remove the problematic one(s). One of the many great things about Battle Borns (and presumably others of similar chemistry and quality), is they’re good for so many cycles (read: thousands, if not mistreated), you can add batteries long after your initial purchase and be just fine. Hope this helps. Will and Co - please jump in if you feel I’ve misstated anything. Thanks, everyone.

[@mrtonysantos]

UP is Coms port for for BT-2 blluetooth module to use with their Renogy BT app. When connecting batteries in parallel you go from UP to LINK and the BT-2 connects to the UP port of the last battery

[@BarryandKaren]

No series connection kills it for me.

[@wkrp10splayer19]

bingo. it is a no-go for me. also, sharing the truth limits... isn't battleborn limited to 48V? so, BB has series limitations too.

[@BarryandKaren]

@@wkrp10splayer19 true, but i think most folks would be happy with the common 24v or 48v banks, so that limit seems reasonable to me.

[@stvwds61]

@Lassi Kinnunen That is very possible! As I cannot think of any other reason they could not be.

[@ReflectedMiles]

@Lassi Kinnunen It is possible that they are actually concerned with matching problems, too, though I am suspicious of the "sophistication" of the BMS with such a significant limitation being required. Even Battle Born wants to know in advance if a purchaser intends to put their units in series so that BB can make sure they are matched. I doubt that Renogy is able to do the same.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Look for a different model. Probably just costs more.

[@kennytheclown3859]

I love your channel. I use lithium batteries for my bubble machines.

[@gomariussmith]

I see a battery called VoltaX Lifepo being advertised everywhere. Any Idea if these would be any good?

[@rogerbrooks]

I just purchased and installed two Renogy 170 Ah batteries, which did not come with a communications port and switch. So far I love them! 340 Ah in two batteries! Hopefully, mine are as well built as the one you tore down. Keep up the great work!

[@philwilliams23]

How did the 2x170 ah batteries hold up Roger?

[@rogerbrooks]

@@philwilliams23 Abdsolutely love them. Have four of them for a year on a travel trailer, and now have six 170A Hr batteries on our fifth wheel for 14 months and counting. They have been fantastic. Twice we accidentally drained them and in both cases they charged right back up with no issues. A great BMS as well. We use two Victron Multi-Plusses and Victron MPPT controllers and 2360 watts of solar.

[@daves3016]

Dang i was hoping for the older style renogy battery teardown. i own 2 of them and was curious whats inside.

[@TNhilltophomestead]

I wonder how they perform since you can still get them for $100 less than the "smart" ones

[@ejchalabala7704]

I am also very interested in the older battery teardown!

[@CFArmouredCrewman]

Just an update to this, a fellow has now added a mod for the Renogy BMS RS485 protocol to the Victron GX / Venus, allowing for full monitoring of the BMS on your Victron system. Loving it so far!

[@JCMW-hw9jl]

Hello where can i find this fellow or link!? please...

[@martijnheeroma5492]

Impressive build quality, thanks for the video Will, really like you're tear down's.

[@georgegautier372]

HUGE difference with the Chinese copy brother!!! Thanks, is worth pay the price difference between this one and the copy

[@Voiceguitar]

This review is compelling, but renogy's amazon reviews are awful unfortunately. Seems like there is a lot of dead batteries being sent out with zero support after purchase. Shame

[@danielgeorgerannelli9432]

Man I like how this guy gets right down to the truth of the matter. Great advice and informative

[@moavbilly7993]

Thank god......have been "scared" that my $3596 investment was going to be negated by "tear" down. Thanks Renogy AND Will.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

If you had it professionaly installed you will have the warranty to fall back upon. The panels have a 25 year warranty?

[@moavbilly7993]

What ?????

[@kevinholland4156]

It's so good you tear these apart Will. It lets us know if it's garbage. I wish Dakota Battery would send you one to take apart. Their prices are right up there too. I want a Battle Born so bad my teeth hurt!

[@SmokiesDen]

The fact they can't be put in series is very disappointing and would be a reason I wouldn't buy them.

[@redsquirrelftw]

Yeah they need to figure out a way around that, or make different voltage ones like a 24v and 48v model that just changes the grouping of the cells and uses a different BMS. They just need to clearly mark it, since most people that see a battery in that form factor (ex: "car battery") assume it's 12v even if they know nothing about batteries.

[@stvwds61]

Right! I was excitedly interested until learning they were restricted to 12v only system design!

[@ReflectedMiles]

@J G Not really. Life begins at 48 (at home and the office, anyway).

[@stvwds61]

@J G My primary issues are the cost and inconvenience with wire gauges and, solar charging capabilities.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

A lot of folk seem to run a 12v battery bank. For some it would not matter. Perhaps they have another model that offers series capability.

[@LibertineScene]

For 24v - 48v use a 12v battery balancer in between each series string. Simples :) The problem with series strings, is that chargers (& dischargers) cant see the individual battery voltages. Hence when batterys get out of bakance you have problems. I.e. One battery could be at 10v, the second 14v. Charger sees 24v, and continues to charge. Second battery is either overcharged, or bms disconnects. The first battery is chronically overcharged. A active string balancer solves this by monitiring individual strings, and moving power from battery a->b (or vica versa) to keep the packs balanced :)

[@roguepilot1]

The only thing I don't like is the fact you can't put them in series.

[@jerryeastman8407]

Will, good job, like the tear down videos. I have and use the 170ah Renogy battery in my motorhome and love it. Only problem with it is they limit charge to 50 amps so it's not in the motorhome charging system I have it on it's own 45 amp charger. Keep up great information.

[@howard922]

25.3 pounds = 11.47 kgs 👍

[@fred1534]

Thanks

[@isaacdoesathing]

REAL competition for drop in replacement batteries! YES!!!

[@FullTimeOverland]

Do you know the warranty? If it’s less than 10 years, I’d stay with BB.

[@tonyborrill1789]

The Renogy website lists it as a "5-year prorated warranty".

[@FullTimeOverland]

Tony Borrill Battle Born FTW!!!. Five additional years of warranty for $10 per year!

[@2heavyb517]

funny, lead acid probably not worth a damn before 5 much less 10 years

[@Motumatai3]

@@mikemead2315 Yep. My super heavy ancient technology FLA are just hitting 11 years old. Are close to being stuffed, but only cost $2,500 USD for 25kwhrs storage @ 48volts. Have run the house for 11 years for 2.5K USD

[@redsquirrelftw]

Rolls Surrette lead acid batteries also have like a 7 year warranty so it's something to keep in mind. If they put one that long it means they expect them to perform well at least that long. Hopefully much longer though as they arn't exactly cheap but still cheaper (and easier to get) than lithium. They're also made in Canada which is a bonus. I have no plans to setup a huge system but I will consider them when I'm in the market.

[@junkerzn7312]

Its nice to see some real competition forming. Bodes well for prices and future improvements. -Matt

[@Mike-.]

For the algorithm

[@48kornbinder19]

Well done Will. Another brutally honest review. Although for once you didn't have to be brutal to be honest. A very nice product with quality. You are having an effect on the industry. They are watching you. And people are spending their hard earned cash wisely based on your reviews. Thanks for being there and doing such a great job.

[@burnzy56469]

No glue amazing.. that's a first

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

@J G I think he bought this one with his own $$$$. There's no sponsorship mention. Which you have to do when they send you product.

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

@J G I stand corrected, I missed that.

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

@J G No, there's stuff he still buys with his own money. He gets sent a crap ton, but he'll also happily spend his own money.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I believe they are skipping the marine market with this battery. Not waterproof so cheaper to build by far.

[@Dirt-Diggler]

I've gone sealed lead acid in my new build, the reasoning being by the time i need to replace them LiFePO4 batterys will be cheaper than they are at the mo, i've (hopefully) future proofed the system to cope with the upgrade later (fingers crossed). cheers Will, enjoy your channel and the forum !

[@ragincajun9354]

Glad you did this Will, I purchased 2 of the 170AH I was worried about the parts you can't see (inside) thanks to your video I feel good about my purchase. I do run mine in parallel in my RV.

[@johncanalese588]

The 170Ah Renogy is a completely different battery architecture. It does not use LFP pouch cells but uses 26650 cylindrical batteries in a 4S53P configuration (total of 212 batteries). The BMS is also different and no “smart” connectivity. Not saying it’s bad just different.

[@loz11968]

Good job sir. Looks like it’s well made I could see the connection system monitoring all the batteries in parallel and it could tell you if you have a problem with one of the 12v battery units that could drag the system down.

[@cayrick]

I am looking at 12v batteries but didn't know what was inside. Good video.

[@jstans78utube]

Thank you for understanding this stuff - your video here is absolutely welcome as I was looking hard at Renogy. Great video buddy, excellent

[@kendclife7913]

Thanks for the detailed review and tear down. I was on the fence, but you have sold this battery. It is on Amazon now for $815 (shipped and sold by Amazon). I am going to use it on my mini-camper van build. By the way, your eyes are amazing, and you need to look directly into the camera and better mesmerize viewers more :-) !

[@christianwinkelmann8477]

Hi I would like to know how happy you are still? Thanks...

[@t0ny747]

I am looking to buy a battery soon for my van. I think I am going to wait for the new BattleBorn batteries to come out before deciding. I like the data port on this battery ( assuming it can do what I think it could ) and the ease of opening it ( for future repairs if needed ) but the downside is thatit only has a 5 year warranty.

[@gsp49]

I like this construction build better than the Battleborn. No cutting plastic.

[@Totogita]

I love renogy I am impressed with their stuff.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

It seems OK yet time will tell. We will know for sure in about 20 years.

[@maggiesjourney3877]

Mine are in the mail. I get them Wednesday. I got mine for for $750 each. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. Just in time. Went back up to 899 the next day.

[@WillProwse]

Awesome Maggie!

[@maggiesjourney3877]

DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse thanks Will. I totally trust your judgment. And I couldn’t pass up the temporary price drop. Thank you for all you do to help old ladies like me. I tore apart stuff to see how it worked when I was a child too. Lol

[@michaelnelson3469]

You sold me a battery with this review. Thanks for all the detail.

[@tumbleweed1976]

Thank you Will. Enjoyed how you got right to it.

[@MrTnn26]

+Pouch cell batteries also have safety feures vent valve release as well as prismaic or cylindrical battteries.

[@patrickmcdonough4211]

I bought 5 of these for my boat. Happy.

[@RedlandFarm]

would love to see a breakdown of the previous gen Renogy Battery and compare improvements and why it is only good for 2000 cycles. I suspect more occasional price drops for it to clear out inventory. Got 6 of them at $518 (3 each on two different amazon accounts) on last Black Friday. Verify low price on TriCamel The way amazon works they might move out whole left over inventory in $400's and I'll max out quantity again if it gets Will's approval.