Firefly batteries: real world application?

capta

capta

.
Jun 4, 2009
5,072
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Frankly, I'd love Lithium Ion batteries on our boat. Just as frankly, we can't afford them!
I've been hearing about these Carbon Foam technology batteries and the hype makes them sound pretty good for those of us who can't afford the Lithium Ion batteries.
Anybody have any first hand experience with them? Positives or negatives in a real world application?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I just tested one of the first banks I put in 2.5 years ago. The boat is full time PSOC for six months a year. Mooring sailed or cruised with stock alternator, no solar and an inverter/charger via a gen set is all he has for charging. Batteries have been cycled to 80% DOD as monitored via a Smart Gauge.

On capacity test #1 the batteries delivered 102.3, 102.7, 102.4 which is below their rating.

I then recharged fully, ran two 90% DOD cycles followed by 100% recharges, and then conducted a second Ah capacity test. All three recovered to their as new rating +/- 0.3Ah..

The recovery process is two or three deep cycles 10.5V to 11V followed by full 100% recharges, no equalization.

I have never tested any other battery, put through the same or similar use, that can survive it without significant capacity loss.

That said Firefly is a small company and production is slow. I also had a set of batteries that had one battery with a defective valve. This battery failed and took the others out with it. Firefly replaced ALL THE BATTERIES IN THE BANK, not just the failed battery, at no cost and without question..

They are really amazing batteries but this is a small company trying to keep up with demand and struggling to do so. I suspect the big guys are just waiting out the patent.
 
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