LE300 lithium batteries: Smart plug-and-play solution tested in practice
Kristina Müller
· 17.01.2024
The LE300 lithium battery is installed according to the plug-and-play principle: it is simply connected to the positive and negative terminals of the existing battery. Its use then increases the service life and capacity of the normal batteries. Unlike when switching to pure lithium batteries, no charging technology needs to be changed. The manufacturer is BOS Balance of Storage Systems AG from Neu-Ulm.
Intelligent BMS and modular design
The integrated BOS high-performance battery management system (BMS) protects and balances the lithium cells and monitors the lead battery. The use of LE300 modules, each with a usable capacity of 25.2 Ah, extends the service life of normal batteries, whose cycles are limited and often used up after just a few years.
To increase the capacity of the system, several LE300 modules can be connected in parallel and expanded at a later date. The modules do not necessarily have to be installed as a single unit, but can also be mounted separately to save space. One module measures 17.5 x 22.9 x 6.7 centimetres and weighs 3.4 kilograms.
LE300 in the test: simple installation, high-quality workmanship
We tested the addition of two LE300 modules to a 190 Ah battery bank on board for a season. The cells are of high quality and solid workmanship, the screw connection to a common block works well. Installation is simple. The supplied cables including fuse and fuse holder are simply connected in parallel to the existing battery bank - that's it.
During the test phase, a season from March to November with intensive boat use, not a single cycle of the gel battery was consumed thanks to the LE300 batteries. All charging cycles were taken over by the lithium modules. We integrated an additional shunt into the system to be able to monitor these.
Smart combination of lead and lithium batteries
The integrated BMS of each individual cell is well thought out, prioritises the conventional system and absorbs excess charge. This makes it possible to combine the best of both worlds - conventional and lithium batteries. This system is a smart option, especially for owners who still have usable batteries on board or for those who do not want to adapt the ship's charging technology. One module costs around 460 euros.
