Goldenmate 12v 200ah Lithium Ion Battery Review
What happens when a lithium battery company reaches out to you to conduct an honest product review?
You take them up on the offer, of course!
Today I’ll be highlighting my experiences with a Goldenmate 12v 200ah lithium ion battery.
The team at Par 3 Near Me typically focuses on golf cart battery options, but my off-grid bus conversion was the perfect testing grounds for a larger LiFePO4 battery.
Ready for my unbiased lithium battery review?
Let’s dig in.
Save 15% when you use code PAR3NEARME on GoldenmateEnergy.com.
Goldenmate 12v 200ah Lithium Ion Battery Review: The Unboxing
As you could imagine, a large LiFePO4 lithium battery has to be shipped with great care.
Goldenmate didn’t cut any corners here. The battery actually arrived in two boxes. One exterior box takes the brunt of any potential transport damage, but the battery itself is actually packaged in a second interior box with rigid styrofoam for added protection.
I was happy to see the owner’s manual sitting right on top of the battery, but I was even happier to see two lifting handles on each side of the battery. These handles make it easier to lift the battery out of the box. As you could imagine, a 12v 200ah lithium ion battery is quite heavy!
First Impressions
No big surprises here. The battery looked good out of the box.
I was happy to see that the battery included 9/16 bolts with locking washers on the terminal. This means the battery is ready for any eyelets for your power out.
No LifFePO4 battery charger is included. It’s up to you to decide how you’re going to charge this bad boy.
Options include:
- Battery charger
- Solar panel
- Generator
How I Tested Goldenmate’s Lithium Battery
I decided to use Goldenmate’s battery in a solar system for a skoolie conversion.
My system requires an inverter along with an AC breaker panel for all of the power going throughout the bus, and then another feed coming directly off the battery for my 12 V feed like my pumps, exterior, and miscellaneous fans. Both systems require a charge controller directly after the battery that directs your power, and from there feeds your inverter and so on.
I added this 200 amp hour battery into my already existing 350 amp hour system to help take the load off of my other batteries for the upcoming colder months.
My 12v 200ah Lithium Ion Battery Review
Once I got this 12v 200ah battery wired into the system, I noticed a big difference.
I’m a few months into skoolie living, and I typically go to bed with 73% power remaining.
With the addition of Goldenmate’s lithium LiFePO4 battery, I now close my eyes with a 94% charge. This battery is a game-changer.
My system powers the interior, lights, water pumps, fans, exterior lights, a refrigerator, a freezer, the TV, and a microwave. I even run air conditioners off of the outlets on occasion.
The system had no problem keeping up with anything I put up against it.
Technical note: When wiring my solar system, I wired directly from the battery system to the 40 moot charge controller, which then split to a 12 V panel and an inverter to feed my AC panel.
A Few Personal Notes
All of my existing batteries are Renogy. My original system included 2, 125ah Renogy batteries and 1, 100ah Renogy battery. The dimensions for these batteries are 9″x15″ and they offer reliable power.
However, if I were to rebuild my system, I would definitely consider a new layout that includes two of these Goldenmate batteries. The Goldenmate battery dimensions are 12″x24″, so two of these batteries would have a similar footprint space-wise, but the result would be greater power and a stronger system overall.
I have been very impressed with the output of this 200 amp hour battery and will suggest it to any other builds that follow my footsteps with their own skoolie build.
By the way, if you want to see more of my skoolie conversion photos, give me a follow on Instagram: @struggle_bus46
Building Your Own System
If you decide to build a solar energy system with these batteries, the process is very simple.
- Purchase your battery (or batteries). Goldenmate is one option, but there are other companies as well.
- Calculate the size of the system you need.
- Search Amazon for a solar kit that matches your system size.
- Put the pieces together for a fully-operational, off-the-grid power source.
If you need help building a system of your own, I offer consulting services for a reasonable charge. Feel free to reach out.
The perfect starter kit for your solar system. 5 year warranty.
Goldenmate Battery Specs
If you’re a detail person, here are some key specs on the battery I received from Goldenmate.
Electrical Specifications
- Nominal Voltage: 12.8V
- Nominal Capacity: 200Ah (0.2C, 25°C)
- Energy: 2560Wh
- Resistance: ≤30mh
- Cell Type: LiFePOâ‚„
Charge & Discharge Specifications
- Charge Voltage: 14.4V
- Standard Charge Current: 40A
- Maximum Charge Current: 100A
- Max Continuous Discharge Current: 120A
- Discharge Cut-Off Voltage: About 10V
Mechanical Specifications
- Dimensions: 20.55”L x 9.45”W x 8.58”H
- Weight: 57.32lbs (lighter than a traditional lead acid battery)
- Case Materials: ABS
Temperature Specifications
- Charge Temperature: 32 ℉ – 122 ℉
- Discharge Temperature: -4 ℉ – 140 ℉
- Storage Temperature: 32 ℉ – 112 ℉
Save 15% when you use code PAR3NEARME on GoldenmateEnergy.com.
Ready to Give a Goldenmate Battery a Try?
Right now, I’m very happy with the performance of my Goldenmate battery. I’ll update this post in a year or so if I notice any concerns.
If you’re ready to make a purchase, it’s worth noting that Goldenmate stands behind their batteries with a 2 year warranty. You can see more details on the Goldenmate Energy website.
There are different battery sizes to fit a variety of applications, including golf carts!
If you end up purchasing one of their batteries, feel free to post about your experience in the comments below.
Thanks for reading my 12v 200ah lithium ion battery review!
