Just a quick report of how my Li Time 100ah LiFePO4 Bluetooth battery install went. I used 8awg duplex marine wire both to a switchable 30 amp circuit breaker in the battery compartment and to a 12 bank fuse panel mounted in the starboard locker. I installed a TH marine battery box for a group 24. It doesn't fit perfectly and the cinch strap does an okay job, but the battery shifts around more than my AGM and Lead-acid's do. I will likely look for some foam to wedge in the battery box to keep the battery shifting to a minimal. Overall, I think the hardest part was running the fish tape through the boat and reaching my hand around fiberglass spikes in the boat. I bought a glow in the dark fiberglass Klein fish tape. I can’t tell you how many times that saved me while running various wires.

 

When my AGM cranking battery was powering my helix 10's, I was getting somewhere in the ballpark of 12.2 to 12.4 volts at full charge. With the new install, I’m getting between 13.0 to 13.2V with two helix 10 G4Ns, ML1, and 5 port switch. I am pretty happy about that. I definitely think the Bluetooth was worth the extra money. Just being able see how much longer until full charge is nice.

 

All in all it was not that hard, but I kept plugging away at it an hour or two here and there. Between the battery, charger, all wire, ratcheting crimpers, connectors, ring terminals, etc. I probably spent somewhere between $500 - $600. Not too bad for a lithium battery and all the necessary components and tools. 

 

 

What I like:

• Higher voltage and I feel better not running down my cranking battery with added electronics.
• Fairly low cost setup
• Bluetooth mode allows you to track your battery health, remaining battery level, and time remaining to charge.
• I can lift the battery with my pinky finger 
• have plenty of space and easy access to my fuse panel for future troubleshooting

 

What I dislike or wish I did differently:

• I mounted the circuit breaker a 1/2" too low, and the 8 awg wire presses up against the (center) raised battery stand. I may try to rotate the wire 90 degrees, but we will see. 
• The battery charger sounds like a turbine engine compared to my Noco. Time will tell if that matters. The charger did not come with inline fuses, but that was a simple fix.
• The corners that BPS cut while rigging up the wiring at the factory...heat shrink not heated to make watertight, 12 gauge wire to the dash fuse panel, etc. 

 

Hopefully this helps someone out in the future, as I know a lot of people are doing this nowadays. 

 

Thanks,

Steve 

Nice. Glad it worked out. 
 

Pool noodle is a cheap solution for buffer.