Brad has been cruising the Great Lakes on their ketch for many years. Seeking a lower maintenance battery solution as his power needs grew, Brad researched lithium options and chose two 200Ah LiTime batteries 5 years ago. Still powering his system today with only solar charging, Brad finds the original LiTime batteries provide reliable off-grid power. 

 We have been "off-grid" sailors in the Great Lakes for many years. As we added refrigeration to our 38' ketch, our 12v power needs increased. Further - having been diagnosed with sleep apnea - sufficient amperage was needed to power a CPAP machine. We had to find a storage and recharging solution for living "off-grid" while anchored. 

 It became clear that traditional flooded batteries were becoming a burden - they are heavy and need constant monitoring. The onset of LiFePO4 batteries for cruising sailors seemed to be an excellent solution. 

Over the years, sailboat owners have come to realize that marine suppliers can charge a premium for merchandise labeled "marine" or for "sailboats". So I turned to periodicals from the RV industry to find electronics for "boondocking" in a camper. It was there I found reviews on several top LiFePO4 battery manufacturers. I kept seeing one manufacturer appearing - LiTime LiFePO4 batteries.

5 years ago LiFePO4 batteries were 4-5 times the cost of flooded batteries from national marine suppliers. However, Amazon had a recommended series of batteries from LiTime (originally AmpereTime). When I considered all the factors - weight savings, quick recharging, hundreds of recharge cycles, free shipping, and an excellent warranty - I decided to order two 200Ah LiTime batteries. The 2 batteries weighed 31 lbs each - significantly lighter than 4D flooded batteries. 

 When you order from LiTime you soon realise that they are not a typical company. They are sincerely interested in you as a customer and that you are fully satisfied with your purchase. A potential buyer should not be afraid of dealing with a company in Shenzhen, China. 

Advantages: Presently our LiFePO4 bank only powers our refrigeration. For recharging I purchased one 225 W solid solar panel. This is maintained by an EPEVER MPPT charge controller. If we end up having a string of cloudy weather, I disconnect the LiFePO4 batteries from the refrigeration and let the panel recharge the batteries fully. If I'm concerned about maintaining cold in the fridge, we simply add a bag of ice. But generally, our panels and batteries are self-sufficient now. 

I highly recommend dealing with LiTime. They are located in Shenzhen, China. Most Americans are unaware of the impact of quality manufacturing in Shenzhen. But the list of multi-national companies located there is huge.