🌨️ Keeping Your LiFePo4 Batteries Warm in Winter ❄️ Vatrer LiFePo4 Batteries

[@BR0_CODY]

Storing a battery in a cooler to stay warm is genius. I Would have never thought of that.

[@TheOldJarhead]

I wouldn't have either! When I heard Will Prose say it I was shocked! And I may yet try it LOL

[@davefroman4700]

Insulation works.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Yup

[@TheOldJarhead]

Makes sense

[@TheOldJarhead]

Nice!

[@northidahodreaming5657]

important topic....thanks....I use seedling heat mats in an insulated cabinet for 6 server rack batteries. An Inkbird digital temperature controller can cycle the mats as required.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Nice setup!

[@n3evpn3evp]

I constructed a small, well insulated, cabinet that holds 3 Eg4 server rack batteries in my garage. During very cold temperatures, I have a very small , thermostatically controlled 100 watt electric heater that is plugged into the 120 volt receptacle on my all-in-one inverter/charger.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Thanks for sharing

[@davidbalgosky4107]

You can use a Victron solar charger with an optional temperature sensor in with the batteries that will disable solar charging when the batteries are less than a set temperature.

[@TheOldJarhead]

That’s a clever workaround!

[@1GREATDANE]

I myself thought of a 12 Volt Truck Drivers Heating Blanket and They want a constant 155 watts to operate, and Reptile Ceramic 110 Volt Heaters want 75 - 150 watts each Constantly and Then I Found RV Water Tank Heaters that only Need 45 watts each x's 2 for 90 watts o 110 Volt Power and Ordered the listed Set off Amazon Prime and will lay them each under My heavy duty Battery Bank Shelves in My Well House on the Concrete Floor with a Temperature Control Circuit Board off of My 4 RENOGY 200AH AGM BATTERIES and a REDODO 12 Volt 2000 watt Inverter - Great Topic to Cover and again Thank You Erik & Semper Fi Marine 🇺🇸 @ 🌴💦 Indian Creek Ranch 🌵⛩

[@TheOldJarhead]

That’s a great approach and a very affordable solution, you’re going to love it! Semper Fi Brother!

[@1GREATDANE]

@TheOldJarhead 16 Batteries Total accounts for the Battery Banks o Lithium Iron Phosphate and the balance of 4 Heavy Renogy 200AH AGM Batteries on the bottom of 1 set of shelves. I Don't want to Compromise this 30KWH Storage due to Cold Temps here come Winter 🥶 which is pretty moderate at 3,100 feet from Sea Level and 20 miles north of Big Bear Lake Mountain Resorts Community in The High Desert 🌵⛩

[@TheOldJarhead]

Understood! Similar to my heated back room -- no compromise! Semper FI!

[@davefroman4700]

Glad I don't have this issue. Even though I am in Saskatchewan. A 60ft trench 10ft deep and 140' of perforated drainage pipe is the easiest and most fool proof way to prevent issues with freezing. A small fan pulling the air up out of the ground and it will be 50F in that shed all winter long. It will keep it cool in the summer as well btw.

[@TheOldJarhead]

That’s a neat trick for sure! I had a geologist friend who was into geothermal heating but he always advised that you had to have the heat close enough to the surface to use it. He advised a local church NOT to put in Geothermal because of the region and the type of geography we have. They didn't listen, insisted it would work, drove a pipe over 200 feet down and got 33F out of it. They had to then install heaters to heat the water up. It's warmer than the coldest ambient air temps but terribly inefficient unless in a region that has enough thermal heat to use it that close to the surface. So for me, it wouldn't make sense but I love the idea!

[@davefroman4700]

@@TheOldJarhead The company miscalculated. It does not matter where you go on this planet, once you are 8-12 ft deep its 50-55F constant year around. Geothermal well systems are looking for temps around 200F for adequate thermal transfer. That is why they go so deep.

[@davefroman4700]

@@TheOldJarhead There are shallow field geothermal systems as well, but that tears up your whole yard so they are reserved for new builds normally.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Hmmm, perhaps, but he was right in his advice to them. I am aware that 2 feet of earth cover is usually all that's needed for a root cellar but even then, in extreme cold a 100w light bulb was often used to add some heat.

[@davefroman4700]

I could have built such a system here, but the last thing I wanted to deal with in my old age? Was another refrigeration system. Because that is what it is. That and I would have needed a battery bank the size of Zeus' throne to support it. The house side of my heating system? Is three pumps that consume a little less than 500watts total. And its rare that all three are running at once.

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

Being in the north I use the big lead acid semi batteries. Plan On wiring self starting generator if low power and maybe low temps once I move to camp.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Makes sense

[@boscodog4358]

I use a small 12v heat blanket.

[@TheOldJarhead]

That'll work

[@Clark-Mills]

Trivia: LiFePo4 = Lithium, Ferro (Iron), Polonium (4 atoms) LiFePO4 = Lithium, Ferro (Iron), Phosphorous, Oxygen (4 atoms) (Lithium Ferro Phosphate)

[@headdown1]

I had a fifth wheel RV with the LiFePO4 batteries in an unheated compartment, which can be an issue for the reasons you mentioned. I have recently transferred the solar system and batteries to a homebuilt cargo trailer to RV conversion, and I have them indoors under the bed where they are always close to room temperature. Problem solved. If possible, keep your LiFePO4 battery bank somewhere in your living space.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Agreed. Manyvare afraid of them butvthey are not as hazardous as people think!

[@headdown1]

@@TheOldJarhead Yes..a lot of people are thinking of the fire hazard of lithium ion batteries, not realizing that LiFePO4 are much, much safer in that regard.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Yes

[@NeverTakeNoCut-offs]

Build a small powerhouse with the inverter and batteries that is super well insulated. Put a 500 watt thermostatically controlled heater in the powerhouse. I do this down to -30F for 50Kwh of batteries.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Great idea! I've seen a few setups like that.

[@BS.-.-]

Do you find it odd that this battery brand has basicly the same exact website as the LiTime?

[@TheOldJarhead]

I'll admit, I found some of their features very similar but with all the Chinese manufacturers it's hard to say if there is a connection.

[@northidahodreaming5657]

Again...thanks for this video. One more comment on this subject: I have a walk out basement here in north Idaho. Even at -20F outside, the basement has never gotten below 39F. One of God's little miracles....sub grade freeze protection. I don't have to worry about frozen pipe in the basement. I've thought about putting my batteries down there, but at this point, I have to go outside to get to the basement (no inside stairs).....and I like to lay my eyes on the system once or twice a day. I'm not sure why I don't put the system in the less than accessible walk out basement...and stop worrying about keeping LFP batteries warm.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Put in a meter upstairs like my Bogart Engineering Trimetric Meter

[@roberterickson68]

Winters here on the open prairie, often see -40 to -50 C . I’m concerned lifepo4 batteries could potentially be permanently damaged . If left unattended.

[@TheOldJarhead]

You’ll need to make sure they’re protected and warmed up. With a well insulated container and batteries heaters with solar panels/charge controllers hooked up etc, they should manage however, if concerned, build the box (or use a cooler inside an insulated box) and place heat mats in it that run off the solar and test to see what temps you see at -50c. You might be surprised but I've always said, extreme cold is still a place for Lead Acid Batteries.

[@hegefarms4260]

I have 3 Vatrer 12/100 ah batteries Running a 12 Volt DC Electric Fence Charger i recharge them every 3 to 4 months. They never go Dead on that Cycle

[@TheOldJarhead]

That's great to hear about your experience!

[@rtsrts2317]

I've seen people use heating pads on a timer set to intermittently come on.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Yup

[@dougjohns5115]

good until the heater drains the battery...

[@TheOldJarhead]

Except, no. You miss understood or didn't catch that part of the video ;) I point out that these heaters ONLY run with a 10A input. They will not drain.

[@yorotirb3941]

I dont see what the big deal is bout lo temp. If you leave, shut off the panels. When you come back i doubt your going to stay at or below freezing, so start up your heater and turn on when they warm. ??????? Ive read about heaters that run off your solar and can be used with your batterys but cant find info for these. Maybe they were talking about these new batterys your talking bout. I know there are 12 volt elect blankets you might be able to use. Enjoy your program , just found it recently.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Don't ever shut off the panels. Leave them on so the batteries get a daily charge, which helps heat them. Sub zero Temps can break battery causes (even on FLAs, which can also freeze breaking plates if not charged daiky.