Previously-Recommended KiloVAULT Batteries now OUT OF BUSINESS!

[Brian.Dixon]

Sorry, folks ... Previously-Recommended KiloVAULT Batteries now OUT OF BUSINESS!  Of course ... this means your warranty is null and void 

Perhaps consider Epoch batteries instead ... Make sure they (or Amazon or whoever) ships to your location:

https://www.epochbatteries.com/

[json]

Ugh... This is so lame. Thanks for the heads up Brian.

[Brian.Dixon]

Ugh... This is so lame. Thanks for the heads up Brian.

Responses from our resident expert, Dan Boccia, on FB:

Epoch is my current vote for lower cost batteries with built-in BMS, bluetooth, and heating. On the higher end, Victron, Mastervolt, and the ultimate, Lithionics, are the go-to brands. The battery must have bluetooth or some other means of communicating what is going on at a cell level within the battery, and in northern climates we benefit with heating, otherwise it has to be above 32F ambient for the battery to charge, and much better if it's above 40F. Also look at continuous discharge, pulse discharge (10s and 3s), weight, and size for your application. Using a lithium battery for anchor winches/windlasses, bow thrusters, and large inverters requires special consideration as the inrush current at motor start will often cause a FET-based BMS to shut down due to overcurrent. The Kilovault batteries were one of the few that could handle this. Finally, your charging sources must be carefully considered.

Kilovault WAS a major battery producer for several years, with a wide variety of excellent batteries backed by a US company, with especially robust BMS's and excellent documentation. They were loved by marine electricians, solar installers, and many others, with configurations for everyone. Unfortunately, their focus on quality at a mid-level price point is what killed them. Other companies undercut them with lesser quality (but still good) batteries, other companies added expensive features such as locking non-FET switches and Victron communication needed by the higher-end full-time cruising and mission-critical crowd. The race to the bottom (and the top) killed them ultimately.