Marine Batterys

Here we go again. Search here for "lithium". It's been discussed quite a bit. Lithium is nice when it works. It burns hot. It doesn't extinguish. I wouldn't want to be on a vessel at sea surrounded by it.

Agreed. I went full Odyssey AGM 31 series which gives me the ability to shuffle batteries in a bind. I have two small lithium batteries aboard for powering a couple of folding Jupiters, and I keep them near a door within a small fire safe.

We are in our second year with Lith/Iron battery for our house bank. Just for the boat to bed for the winter and turned it and inverter etc off for the winter again. We seldon run a generator in our next of the woods because of the noise etc. The Lith/Iron system with the built in BMS manages quite well. It is nice to be up at 530 in the morning with a hot pot of coffee waiting to watch the wildlife moving about. Coffee pot drawing 16 amps while the solar is putting back 14 amps. By 10am battery is fully charged.
Oh, and US made as well, all except for the victron equipment. And insurance company is fine with it as long as professional installed.

People still confuse Lithium Ion with Lithium Iron.
Lithium Iron is a different chemical composition than Lithium Ion.
I know of 20-25 other boaters in our group who have similar setups. One boater has had Lithium Iron for the past 4 years with no complaints. And yes I have AGMs for the mains and generator.

You're referring to lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4), which is obviously a form of lithium-ion chemistry. Whilst these are undoubtedly 'safer' (i.e. the reactions are more stable) than lithium polymer types, one of the trade-offs is reduced energy density.

Interesting to note that for USCG-certified commercial installations, adherence to ASTM F3353 is required. There is no distinction between lithium-ion chemistries in this document. All types require fire mitigation practices, such as enclosures, monitoring, ventilation, extinguishing systems, etc.

O course, you are correct; they are from the same family. However, considered safer to use. And yes professionally installed as per Canadian Regulations suggest. The Lifepod4 is becoming more common as the stigma attached to Lithium is becoming clearer. As I said in my previous post, we have completed our second season with our Lifepo4 as house batteries with no concerns or complaints. Will not hesitate to incorporate it in our next boat.

Good morning Ralph. Not sure what you mean by counterproductive, re the Lithium? I do subscribe to the Kiss principle as a rule. However, after seeing the real-life use of the Lithium we have had with other boaters for five years, I decided to test the new and now-proven technology. I do sleep well at night knowing that I have lots of amps for the morning pot of coffee even though the fans are running all night with the fridge and freezer. And a bonus that by 10am were back to 100%.

Lithium systems explode. They burn white hot. They take a significant effort to extinguish. If it's on board, you need (my opinion) to have temp sensors and an automated extinguishing system associated. I don't see any reward whatsoever in the risk. I really don't care what Canadian regulators have to say on the subject. I care about my own life and the safety and well being of anyone I bring aboard.

Government regulators have no responsibility when your boat catches fire and people are hurt or worse. You have no idea what's happening behind the curtains to make such an approved regulation occur. However you do have good common sense at your own disposal.

I've been at the dock when a large vessel took to white flames and burned. It was merely several feet from where I slept, and the quick actions of a small boat armed with a small anchor on a length of chain, we were able to cut her lines loose and pull her into the harbor, away from the docks.

Risk reward.

Well, all I can think of is WOW!!

Ralph, do you know if they are putting Lithium Ion and Lithium Iron in the same boat, so to speak?

That's fine. Feel free to disagree, as you don't get to make my risk reward choices for me, and I doubt we share adjoining marina slips any time soon.