Upgrade house batteries to Lithium Ion

[BVasily]

I am revisiting upgrading my house batteries on a 42 Sundancer (Cummins 6ct Deisel engines) to 2X 300ah Lithium. I understand there are two concerns: 1) draw on alternator from LI batteries can damage the alternator, and 2) LI are not intended to provide the cranking amps needed to start a diesel engine.

I believe the solution to #1 is to install a DC-DC (Victron) charger that would receive the power from the alternator and regulate it to ensure the charging power is regulated, and #2, to use the emergency start switch at the helm to start the port engine.

Does anyone in this group have experience with LI conversions or have alternative suggestions?

 

[PascalG]

There is no way in hell I would use lithium batteries. There have been to many fires in the last couple of years which have pretty much be proven to have been caused by lithium batteries.

Here is one for starter…

Firefighters Suspected Her Lithium Batteries. Now, There's a Big Insurance Investigation

$5 Million Power Cat Burns, Sinks at Longboat Key

loosecannon.substack.com

This one as well although no final report

https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/visionf-82-yacht-fire-miami

Plus a couple more in the last year in Europe.

 

[boatbum]

I wonder if LiFePo batteries are an alternative. Probably not. It seems they have specific charging requirements.

 

[Bt Doctur]

in 2 new jersey marinias we have had 2 fires claiming 3 boats each, but Li have been known to just explode when on a charger unlike gel or wet cell batteries