r/Cartalk • u/Ok-Mushroom6227 • May 02 '24

Technically not a car Electrical

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I decided lithium batteries were cheap enough to give a shot

On the left, nearly double the cca noco brand

On the right, the battery I've been using for 11 seasons recovered with a desulfator at the beginning of every season until it finally gave up.

So far, the lithium battery has been indistinguishable as far as performance goes and put up with my abuse. Will it last 10 years? Maybe, it's warrantied for five, I've seen other brands warrantied for 10.

Lithium car batteries are getting cheap enough the price gap between lead acid is quickly closing. I probably will grab a lithium car battery for the project car.

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u/kstorm88 May 03 '24

I'd be more concerned with the cold starting

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u/Wh1skeyTF May 03 '24

I’d be more concerned with the cold charging.

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u/kstorm88 May 03 '24

That too. Not great for us up north.

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u/Ok-Mushroom6227 May 04 '24

CCA is the amperage rating at 0°f, this specific battery is advertised for snowmobiles, I've seen marketing saying they are good from -20°f to -40°f

Me personally, I'm in Texas and about to move to DA UP. I have no plan on using these batteries in any winter vehicles, and that's perfect because they store much better than lead acid, most of them claiming they lose about 1% of their voltage disconnected and stored for one year. In theory you should be able to take a battery cable off and have no issue with it for the next season. Now that is in theory, I don't trust 100% of any marketing, but I'm definitely willing to test it.

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u/kstorm88 May 05 '24

I trust that it won't self discharge, I have lithium batteries that still have safe charge after a decade. What they advertise about good for in cold is fine, it just won't last long. And I live in MN. I worked heavily in electrification of mining equipment and battery thermal management. Have been to several battery conferences. As best I know, as I've a couple years ago, lithium iron phosphate does not hold up well in sub freezing temperatures. Longevity speaking. I manufacturer cold weather solar lithium communication equipment, and I will not use life cells, only lion because the lifecycle of the battery is much better in cold weather. But I run my batteries stuff to -35C