Winston LifePO4 400Ah Battery for Campervan - Unboxing

I'm installing a 400Ah Winston LifePO4 battery bank into my re-build. I'll do a series of videos on this covering the charging, BMS, everything for a great LifePO4 solution. Here's video 1 - Unboxing.

[@gromett]

Look forward to more videos on this..

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Thanks.

[@giottodiotto1]

I charge this mono block till 13,9volt and discharge till 11,5volt without a bms, been working perfectly ever since

[@giottodiotto1]

Very nice BIG capacity cells! I've been running for my small 200watt solar system in an apartment the single 12v/90ahwinston mono brick for a year and a half know, it replaced my 2*105ah agmbatteries witch pooped out after only a year of use, Lifepo4 batteries are crazy efficient, powerful, and long lasting, I would say "lead is dead" longleaf lithium!

[@Luxi586]

Hi giottodiotto, are you still happy with the mono brick? I'm undecided between this and the 100 Ah Winston 4 prismatic set. Thanks to share your experience.

[@martink9785]

Those things are beasts!!

[@HighTechLab]

I love the winston batteries! We just got some 700 ah cells that we are going to be making some videos on this week! Super excited!!!

[@meowzic]

Should you have a BMS for these?

[@emmyann8214]

These batteries 'Winston' for the price you can't find a better deal . I can't wait the day that I'm able to purchase 2 of the 60amh 12v batteries. :)

[@lindsayfraser4791]

What battery management system did you use?? Great video.

[@bmartinot]

What seller did you use from China and did you have to pay vat and duty?

[@docholiday8818]

Can you show us how you hook the BMS up to those batteries also those batteries are wired in series correct

[@bungle555]

Thanks for posting this! Looking forward to seeing how your BMS works - that's still somewhat confusing to me. I just emailed Thunder Sky Winston for a quote on these cells - I'm looking to get 4 or 8 of these for a similar setup for a solar travel trailer. Did you consider purchasing from Alibaba, or was your purchase quantity too small for vendors to bother?

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Hi Bungle and thanks. I'm hoping to have the BMS video out very soon - got held up deciding on exactly which chargers to order, but they are now on their way to me. I didn't consider Alibaba, only Winston direct and EV-Power (who were out of stock at the time).

[@darrellebutton]

I just found this video and channel. Thanks for the information on these batteries. Did all of the connectors, bus bars, case and everything come in the price of the batteries? Were they an extra expense? I'm wanting to build a battery bank for my home solar and will be using these cells. Do you think that a bank of these at 24 volt would be enough or should I used an 8s4p configuration? Thanks for any information that you can give me?

[@darrellebutton]

Would you sill buy them from the same supplier. Have you had any followup with them ?

[@electricvahicals88]

This is lithium battery ??? Where u perches this Battery please tell me!

[@magiclongboarder]

how are they running??

[@wily4422]

6:20 is the time stamp you want.

[@muhammadsalau7014]

Thanks for the video. Sorry, I didn't get the price: consider sending us the link if they are a bargain, pls.

[@bastapetit]

wow, nice to see you open the boxes, realy good...

[@ls87gbody]

I would like more info on this setup for a car audio install. Lithium is superior to agm in car audio. Will be a 12v system. Any input is appreciated immensely.

[@aravindsubramaniam7930]

Go lto route .

[@GaryMcCaffrey]

400Ah of lithium is absolutely beastly. I'm interested to see all the components you end up going for in this electric setup.

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Thanks Gary. I've still not made a final decision on some of the components tbh, so much bad info around (and some manufacturers are being slow in answering a few questions). Hope to get it all organised this week (BMS and chargers). Just need to make sure they play nicely together before ordering it all.

[@time2go265]

@@SelfBuildCamper diy solar with will prowse on youtube

[@maheshkafle]

is these battery internally equipped bms?

[@michelansoult316]

Certainly not ! you need to buy the CPM from GWL: it is a high precision BMS which is external and costs 140€, a very good product that is mandatory for charging LiFePO4 batteries.

[@charlesrg]

Where did you order the batteries from ? Aliexpress ?

[@5885ronny]

Gute Zellen 😊👍

[@galilfan0198]

I have 2 banks of LFP700Ps for my build, 770lbs!

[@nebulight]

Nice cells. What BMS do you plan on using?

[@SelfBuildCamper]

I'm leaning towards the 123SmartBMS, but haven't made a final decision yet. Funnily enough I'd be combining it with two of the same relays (almost the same, EV500) as you've used in your temperature cut off video (interesting video). Thanks.

[@nebulight]

Self Build Camper that's a nice bms. I was looking at that and the chargery BMS16T. You'd need a buck/boost converter to power the unit in a 4s config, and the interface looks kinda cheap, but the features look nice.

[@winterburan]

Batrium bms !!!

[@nebulight]

Pietro batrium is pricey for a 12v system in a van.

[@marioflores5787]

How much you pay for the 4 cells? Please

[@gogglet72]

Show me more please. How much they cost and how big are they???

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Cost wise, around £2000 for what I have including UK delivery (varies a little with currency rates). Size wise, they weigh 13.5kg each, so my setup weighs about 55kg inc. the bolts, connectors, etc. Each cell is 285mm in height, 461mm in width and 65mm in depth. So my setup takes a space of 285mm x 461mm x 260mm. Thanks, David.

[@SelfBuildCamper]

There's a lot of advantages to be honest. Size, weight, charge speed and usable capacity to name a few. Not for everyone, but for someone who relies on electrical power for work (like me) a good choice I think. I'll cover all my reasons in a later video. Want to do a BMS video first, but it's not arrived yet.

[@iomagicofly]

Self Build Camper totally agree with you about advantages of lifepo4, expecially winston. Can you suggest me a good seller?

[@SelfBuildCamper]

These people have a good rep and good prices: www.ev-power.eu/Winston-40Ah-200Ah/?force_sid=snnkhsqji9b2anrvmn1f9rppm5

[@iomagicofly]

Self Build Camper thanks a lot. Another question. Looks like there are basically 3 companies leading the LIFEPO4 battery market. Winston, Calb and Sinopoly. Why your choice was Winston?

[@svvelanautica2374]

Hello, we are a AMEl 54 sailing yacht and plan to switch our service bank to LiFePo. what are your experiances so far? any faults? how fast do you charge, at how many amps charging current? what kind of BMS do you use? can you give us mor details about your setup? VelaNautica.org

[@SelfBuildCamper]

So far, no faults (actually better than I'd hoped it would be). I charge at 40A on hookup, 60A whilst driving and whatever solar is available. My Votronic VBSC 60/40/430 works out the ideal amount of current needed, and reduces it when required. BMS wise, I use the 123SmartBMS with their SmartRelay. Both are excellent in my opinion.

[@almeida8065]

Ótimo vídeo onde compro?

[@atmm89]

where is the follow up video please???

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Had a few set backs with this. Firstly, planning and getting all of the right gear here was challenging (but it's all here now) then secondly, I decided to build the system in it's new home which meant having to build that part of the van first. I'll have the area where the electrics are sited finished today and hope to install the LiFePO4 setup with charger and inverter tomorrow. Have loads of videos waiting for editing (time) but will make the LiFePO4 videos a priority. Should have something out by the end of the week.

[@atmm89]

looking forward to it, thanks

[@jpmurray01]

Im not sure I would have let the copper blades that close untight. You could easily short circuit two together by miss manipulation. Lifepo4 400amp would easily burn your house....

[@surfreadjumpsleep]

Mate! You are going to find out soon enough, you should have bought 8 100Ah batteries. The reason is 24V has way less loss, and matches a 60 cell panel way better. No need for an MPPT. Check electrodacus for details. Cheers!

[@timothy790110]

Great! Ev-power.eu sells these as well, cheap and great i hope, as I'm planning to buy from them too. They have a bms system too.

[@SelfBuildCamper]

I was going to buy from them myself, but they were out of stock at the time. They have a good rep it seems. What are you thinking of installing?

[@timothy790110]

Self Build Camper ahh! I was going to go for that package they have, the 1000 euro for 200ah and bms. But I have many questions that I'm unclear of, compared to regular agms, like what chargers work, how to hook it up to an isolator/alternator, so your videos are a godsend, I'm very much looking forwards to this. I might even splurge and go for 400 ah. Now that's some off grid camping right there!

[@syncrovanCos]

@@timothy790110 Any updates yet, have you bought these batteries ? I'm also curious what solar charger controller should use and what kind of booster for the alternator.

[@timothy790110]

@@syncrovanCos no, my agm is still hanging in there! I do know that Victron use these cells (Winston) for their lifepo4, setups so that should tell you something about their quality.

[@anandbala3422]

Good /india

[@takencareofbidness]

Wow, buddy! You really milked that one for all it's worth! All in the world you did was show us the "drama" and anticipation of opening a cardboard box and taking stuff out of it! Geees.

[@Markfps]

Do you know what an unboxing is "buddy"?

[@MichaelMantion]

hate the background music, can you upload this again with out music?

[@piffdos]

*Drool*

[@barry-cq4xg]

This has to be the most tedious video on you tube. Why did to treat your viewers to the unpackaging process. i am sure that viewers would be more interested in the buying process from China, the cost etc. I hope your next video is more informative.

[@boomerrob9223]

I've never understood unboxing videos. Would rather see installation or functioning. Also, how much was this box of bits. Several thou euros?

[@danielwilson2109]

what did you pay for your batteries and where did you buy them from if you dont mind me asking? Also please remove that shitty back ground music from your videos, they are good enough without the corny music on :D Thanks for the video :D

[@drpc98014]

wow too cheap to use plastic bags on the battery cells and hardware

[@H4rleyBoy]

Nice, but what amateurish packaging to come so far.

[@SelfBuildCamper]

Funnily enough Winston contacted me after seeing this video about the packaging. They had dispatched in proper wooden crates, the courier re-packed them as the arrived for air freight. Arrived in perfect condition though, which is all I cared about :)

[@H4rleyBoy]

I've only just started watching, (just watched the puter one, did you update that?) how are you finding the batteries in action?

[@SelfBuildCamper]

You mean the PC one? If so I've not done another video yet, but have updated to a new (powerful) 12v PC. The new one has 4 x hard drive and is an editing rig. I'm using it right now (will do a video - this one runs @22w in use). The batteries are great. Kind of like having hook-up all the time. I did update a thread on Fun if interested.

[@H4rleyBoy]

I'm looking at swapping out my 3 way fridge, so looked at www.jacksonsleisure.com/caravan-and-camping/fridges/2-way-fridges/vitrifrigo-dp2600i-12-24v-caravan-compressor-fridge-freezer/ Just trying to get my feeble marbles around what I need to power it for 3-4-5 days with next to no sun in a Scottish winter, jsut started a DIY thread on that. On fun, do you have a link?