Loading ...After some chatter among the local ham radio operators I began to investigate Lithium Iron Phosphate ( LiFePO4 ) batteries and finally shelled out hundreds of dollars for a pair of 20 Amp-Hour batteries that fit in an ammo can and I wired up for portable power for my ham radios. What finally tipped me over the edge was reading the specs on the battery cycles. If these batteries are only discharged to 50% (Like once a day in a solar application) they can be cycled 12,000 times! At a daily cycle, this will last 36 years!!
Comparable Lead-Acid cells typically get replaced every two years, so you would buy 18 lead acid cells over the lifetime of the Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. There is the lifetime savings… and maintenance free (unlike flooded lead acid)!
I expect I will leave my battery pack to my heirs for a second lifetime of service. 🙂