2024 available? 100ah+ Lifepo4 UNIT that fits under driver seat

[crazyvwvanman]

Done a couple under seat installs lately, 100ah with bluetooth.
Cost about $400 for the battery unit.
Now they are all gone, sadly.
Will they come back? Who knows.....
Any other units available similar to this including price, known to fit under the seat, with or without bluetooth?

Mark

[Mateo83]

Looks like they are available on ebay from China.

I know a few 75ah that fit. But I'd also be interested in this 100ah.
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83 Air-cooled 2.0 Tin Top

[Syncronoid]

The Renogy 100Ah self-heating battery fits, albeit the cover of the compartment needs to be removed.
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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L

[crazyvwvanman]

Don't see one with that added heating feature that fits, going by the Renogy specs for dimensions.
Do you have a link for it or a photo of the exact model installed under a Vanagon front seat?

Their battery without the heater looks like it could squeeze in for my applications with no driver side seat swivel.
https://www.renogy.com/12v-100ah-smart-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-bt-2-renogy-one-core/

Mark

[Syncronoid]

https://www.renogy.com/support/downloads/batteries...p12sh.html

Fits in the compartment and seat still swivels. Again, need to remove the compartment lid.
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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L

[Chilepines]

Partly depends on if you are willing to make mods to the battery box, if you are keeping the swivel, and if you want to build your own LFP battery.
I think someone has gotten 150 Ah under the seat with a DIY setup.

There is also another thread with some info about this.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760563&highlight=driver+seat+battery
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White 89 Westy with 2004 Subaru EJ25 and Subarugears 5MT - Betty

[CarstenR]

Hey everyone, I am also struggling to find a battery that fits in the compartment under the driver's seat without modifications, but maximum AH.

What are the reasons for not 'building your own' using a trio of something like these in parallel: https://www.amazon.com/BOTKU-Rechargeable-Phosphate-Off-Grid-Applications/dp/B0CLGBSP2X?

From what I can tell, three or even four of these should fit in that compartment, right? Even if it's three, that's 90AH, failrly close to the 100AH I was hoping to find...

- Carsten
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Carsten Ramcke
Allen Park, MI
1981 Aircooled Westfalia: the 'Opa Bus'

[DanHoug]

[Syncronoid]

Unless you are "really sure" of what you are doing, are well versed in the technology and perform adequate testing of your setup BEFORE you install it, my feeling is you are taking on a huge risk building your own.

[Howesight]

Carsten, I agree with Syncronoid - - those 30 amp hour units are already batteries. They are not cells. So, there are 3 BMS units. Yes, it could work, but why complicate matters in that way? There are lots of 100 Amp/hr units already available that will fit in the under-seat space.

My opinion is that it is already hard to access the under-seat area for battery maintenance or checks and my under-the-driver-seat area does get wet in heavy, heavy rains (this will be fixed eventually), so I use that area to store things that I rarely have to access quickly.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Chilepines]

I think you are better served using 4 LiFePO4 cells, wiring them together, and adding a BMS. Trying to link 3 of those batteries together means having 3 separate BMSs, which I think would be hard to manage. With a very inexpensive 12V battery like linked to, you are likely getting low quality cells and poor construction. Check out videos from Will Prowse for lots of info about cheap batteries.
There is also a huge thread about both DIY and already built batteries. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=739611&highlight=lifepo4
As to the advisability of DIY there are clearly different comfort levels about DIY anything. I built my own battery but would never consider doing my own Subaru conversion - others are comfortable with that, save a lot of money, and enjoy doing it. There is a lot of good info out there about LiFePO4, which made me comfortable.
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White 89 Westy with 2004 Subaru EJ25 and Subarugears 5MT - Betty

[crazyvwvanman]

I used the word UNIT in the title in hopes of steering the conversation to just that.
Of course there are other ways to get even much more battery under the seat with individual cells birds-nested together under there but I'm not too interested in that discussion at the moment.
I help a lot of people with their aux battery setups and many of them have a limited understanding of electrical systems and prefer to keep it that way.

In particular it is nice to have a unit with the built-in Bluetooth so anyone can quickly use the app on their phone to see what is going on with the battery without opening up the area under the seat and/or breaking out a meter.

My concern now is that there seem to be few available UNITS in the form factor of the UNIT I've been installing and none that I'm currently aware of with the built-in Bluetooth.
I hoped there were some and that is what this thread was intended to discover.

If anyone knows of any please share.

Yes, there are various 100ah units of larger dimension with Bluetooth for people who are installing them elsewhere besides the stock aux battery compartment.

Mark

[CarstenR]

Hey Mark, I apologize- I didn't mean to hijack the conversation. I also would prefer a single 100AH battery that would drop neatly into the driver seat battery compartment. Although I'm sure it's been done by several of you, I did send AOLithium an email asking when/if the Bluetooth battery would be in stock again. No reply yet. Hopefully they are getting plenty of such requests / inquiries and realize there is decent demand for another run...

- Carsten
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Carsten Ramcke
Allen Park, MI
1981 Aircooled Westfalia: the 'Opa Bus'

[Howesight]

Mark:

LiTime is now selling a very compact unit that they call their 100A/h "Mini" battery. The stated dimensions (I converted from cm to inches) are:

10.25" x 9" x 5.25"

See it here on Amazon.ca or find it on the US Amazon website:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BX8S2VJ5/ref=sspa_dk_de...M&th=1
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[crazyvwvanman]

Yes I bought one of those Mini batteries a few months ago to try in a different Vanagon project, not under a front seat.
I was hoping to use it for a battery setup that would fit under the van instead of inside.
Haven't had time to take it very far yet.

Mark

[CarstenR]

Good News! I heard back from AOlithium and that 100AH Bluetooth battery will be back in stock in March (est).

-Carsten
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Carsten Ramcke
Allen Park, MI
1981 Aircooled Westfalia: the 'Opa Bus'

[crazyvwvanman]

Thanks, that is good news to me, assuming the case dimensions don't grow at all!

Mark

[Crooked Designer]

[Jake59]

This was my input on another thread;

If you are willing to do a DIY setup. Meaning buying the 3.2vdc cells and sizing the appropriate BMS it can be close to those $'s. Beware of counterfeit batteries that are not "New" grade "A" but used repackaged 3.2vdc cells.

I am currently "top balancing" a set of 173ah LiFePO4 units that once assembled will measure 174, 207, 165 mm (6.85"W x 8.14"L x 6.50"T), and the BMS will just be mounted near by.

Costs will be $320 for the batteries and $130 for a 100amp BMS with both BT and a output for heater, if I deem needed. So $450 for 174ah that fits in the house battery location a Win, Win & Win.

Yes, These will fit. if you lay them on their side and the terminals go in the 12" direction. Once I have my cells top balanced and receive the BMS I will post photos of my install.

Batteries
https://batteryfinds.com/product/us-stock-catl-173ah-lifepo4-prismatic-battery-cells-4pcs/

BMS
https://batteryfinds.com/product/jbd-lifepo4-smart...art-rs485/

A awesome DIY battery forum for this topic is
https://diysolarforum.com/
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Curent ride: 87 2WD Westy, 2012 Jetta Sportwagon 2.5S

Past Rides: 62 (23 window) Bus, 64 Ghai convertable, 68 single cab, 72 Super Bettle, 78 Bay window Bus, 84 GTI.

[shagginwagon83]

150aH DIY under the driver seat, with an Overkill solar BMS and a circuit breaker. These cells were purchased in 2020, grade B for sure. They still slap tho.

It is very important to secure these cells. Even better if you compress them.

I am not sure if these cells will be available in 2024, but gives an idea of securing/placement.
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"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram: @joannthevan