Siekon Deep Cycle 12V Lithium Battery Review

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We lately received to assessment a brand new lithium deep cycle battery from Siekon, an organization we haven’t labored with earlier than. As with many different lithium batteries, there are some critical advantages to creating the swap, however does Siekon’s tackle lithium batteries pan out? Learn on to search out out!

What’s a “Deep Cycle” Battery, Anyway?

Have you ever ever stayed in an RV or journey trailer? Have you ever ever used a quiet and environment friendly trolling motor on a fishing boat? You’ve used a deep cycle battery!

This sort of modular, standardized battery has been round for many years, with most batteries previously utilizing a less expensive lead-acid battery chemistry, like what you’d discover in an ICE automobile’s 12V battery. However, as a substitute of being made to offer a fast burst of energy to start out a automobile’s engine, deep cycle batteries are designed for lower-power use over hours or days.

Why Lithium’s A Worthwhile Improve

There are some critical downsides to old-school lead-acid batteries.

First off, they could be a little harmful. They emit hydrogen gasoline and may explode if not correctly ventilated, throwing acid in all places. Leaks, dropping them, or an accident can break them open, letting harmful acid stream out or begin a hearth. Even worse, some folks intentionally misuse the acid in batteries for horrible disfiguring assaults.

One other downside is sturdiness. In some instances, a lead-acid battery would possibly final 5–7 years. I’ve a automobile battery that did that lately in a automobile that we don’t drive a lot. However, typically, you’ll get 2–3 years out of a automobile battery or deep cycle battery. In excessive situations or in poor storage environments, some folks purchase a brand new lead-acid battery yearly when the subsequent RV or fishing season begins.

Capability and weight are additionally points. Lead-acid batteries are pretty low-cost, however you continue to wish to get as a lot life out of them as you possibly can since you wish to postpone that $50–200 buy for so long as doable. Lead-acid batteries begin to degrade closely while you run them beneath about 50%, so regardless of the capability of the battery is, you wish to solely use about half of that. Not utilizing a heavy metallic (lead) within the battery design saves a whole lot of weight, too.

Siekon’s Answer To This

Siekon’s 12.8-volt lithium deep cycle battery takes this to the subsequent degree by providing a LiFePO4 chemistry, also referred to as LFP. LFP batteries are extra sturdy than different chemistries, might be left at 100% with out further degradation, and are extraordinarily unlikely to catch hearth. In reality, an increasing number of electrical automobiles use LFP batteries for these causes, and since they’re cheaper.

Which means about the entire issues older lead-acid batteries endure from are solved. As a substitute of lasting a season or two, a ship or RV with these batteries can final for years. Without having to maintain the batteries above 50%, you routinely double your accessible vitality storage with out having to purchase extra batteries. Plus, there’s mainly no hazard of outgassing, fires, or acid leaks.

As a result of it’s 12.8 volts, this battery is ready to plug proper into any current 12V battery system. You don’t want any particular cost controllers, adapters, or DC–DC chargers. Merely take away the outdated lead-acid battery or batteries and wire these into the system. If you wish to use a number of batteries collectively, simply remember to get all of them to the identical voltage earlier than connecting them collectively and comply with all advisories within the battery’s documentation.

The worth can be fairly good. Whereas dearer than a lead-acid deep cycle battery ($229 as of this writing, $279 usually), the elevated sturdiness and the additional usable capability means that you could get 2–4 instances as a lot good out of those batteries than an old-school one. So, even at a larger price, they’re clearly the higher deal.

In our testing, it labored properly. Utilizing an influence inverter, we powered all kinds of instruments and units, and had no issues in any respect. So, in case you’re on the lookout for a good battery at a great worth, this one ought to match the invoice.

It’s not simply us who thinks Siekon makes a good battery, both. In different opinions, they’ve been discovered to work properly, have the marketed capability, and be constructed internally to resist the sort of use we count on deep cycle batteries to endure. Fairly than rehash all of that right here, right here’s a video from the DIY Photo voltaic Energy with Will Prowse YouTube channel: