The Tiny house Blog

Product Review: GoldenMate 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery

By
Jason Francis
Designed and built over 100 custom tiny homes, lived on a sailboat for 9 months, and loves to live life to the fullest with his wife and their 4 kids.
Updated on:
March 14, 2024
GoldenMate battery for tiny houses

In the world of tiny home living, where every choice is crucial, discovering the perfect energy solution evolves into a journey for dependability rather than a simple purchase. Enter the GoldenMate 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery, a contender in the market of compact power sources. This isn't about hyped-up claims or sales pitches; it's about exploring how this battery fits into the practical aspects of tiny living.

Tiny homes demand practicality, and energy solutions play a crucial role in sustaining this lifestyle. This battery steps onto this stage not as a star performer but as a behind-the-scenes crew member, offering a promise of dependable power without the need for grand gestures. Let’s take a closer look.

Should you decide to purchase your own GoldenMate battery following this review, don't forget to apply our code TINYHOUSE at checkout for an exclusive 15% discount on your unit.

Key Features

This battery brings ample capacity to the table, providing a robust 12v and 200 amp-hours. This ensures a sustained and reliable power supply, catering to the diverse energy demands of a tiny home without compromise.

Incorporating advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology, the GoldenMate battery embodies a commitment to reliability. This technology, known for its stability and enduring discharge curve, ensures a consistent and dependable flow of energy throughout its usage.

Voltage stability is a non-negotiable factor, and the GoldenMate battery rises to the occasion. It delivers consistent voltage levels, ensuring that sensitive electronics and appliances in your tiny home are powered without disruptions.

Another thing I like about the battery is its simplicity. Honestly, it’d be hard to mess it up, as there are only 2 terminals that are color-identified (I dislike it when it’s hard to tell which is positive or negative!), and the battery is sealed. Simple instruction manual to point you in the right direction if you want to run the wiring in Parallel or Series.

This feature tells us that the battery is designed not only for power but also considers the unique needs of tiny home living.

Performance

Efficiency is crucial in tiny homes, and this battery does the job well. After a couple of weeks of running stress tests, it has aced every one. Handling everything from energy-efficient lighting to must-have kitchen appliances, this battery is up to the task. Unlike some traditional batteries, the GoldenMate battery doesn't suffer from the memory effect, allowing it to charge and discharge without losing its capacity over time.

Tailored for high-load, long-duration applications, this battery by GoldenMate excels in providing an extended power supply for various needs. Its exceptional cycle life, depending on discharge depth, outshines traditional lead-acid batteries by a wide margin. For tiny homes, this translates to a robust and dependable energy source that can meet the demands of everyday living.

Durability and Build Quality

One of the standout features of this battery is its robust resistance to temperature - a critical consideration in the diverse climates that tiny homes especially RVs often navigate. LiFePO4 batteries boast a wider operating temperature range compared to conventional Li-Ion batteries. 

While Li-Ion batteries typically perform optimally within a narrower temperature window, LiFePO4 batteries exhibit resilience in a broader spectrum. For instance, LiFePO4 batteries can efficiently operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F), outperforming Li-Ion counterparts. The inclusion of high and low-temperature protection ensures that it not only operates smoothly but thrives in conditions that might challenge other energy storage solutions.

This battery also boasts a 10-year lifetime, a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) for safety, a generous 5-year warranty, and an impressive cycle life of up to 15,000.

Product Comparison

When it comes to price, GoldenMate positions itself as a mid-range option in the market. While it may have a slightly higher upfront cost compared to some alternatives, it's crucial to consider the long-term benefits. The LiFePO4 technology, with its extended cycle life and consistent performance, contributes to a more cost-effective solution over the lifespan of the battery. Users looking for a reliable, durable, and long-lasting power solution may find the initial investment in the GoldenMate battery to be a prudent choice.

The LiFePO4 technology contributes to voltage stability under various loads, efficient powering of tiny home appliances, and a longer cycle life compared to some traditional batteries. Users looking for a battery that seamlessly integrates into the rhythm of tiny home living may find the GoldenMate's performance metrics aligning well with their requirements.

A third of the weight, straightforward terminals, it's like they speak our language. No need for an electrical engineering degree; it's plug-and-play even for non-techies. They do break down the wiring details on their site if you're curious.

Things to keep in mind..

Now, let's get real. No product is perfect. Biggest quirk? Don’t over-tighten the terminal connectors. Each terminal comes with a washer, lock washer, M6 terminal bolt, and plastic cap. The terminal bolt is covered in a plastic cap for ease of use, safety, and security. But I’m always worried about over-tightening the plastic cap bolt in order to ensure it doesn’t come loose. Thankfully I didn’t crack the plastic, and I think it’d take a lot of force to do so, but possibly over time if you’re removing and tightening the terminals all the time the wear might crack it off. Thankfully that’d be an easy fix though, and most people will only take it on and off maybe a few times at most over the 10-year life cycle.

Oh, and I realized afterward that the plastic cap can actually come off, and you can tighten the bolt itself. And yeah, it's a bit pricier than some others on the block. But guess what? I still like this battery and I feel the quality is well worth the money. It's like a reliable friend who forgets their wallet but always makes up for it in other ways. 

And let’s face it, batteries are always heavy, heck I almost threw my back out getting the inside box out of the outer box! (My wife came to save the day!) But once I got to the battery, its built-in rope handles with the flat grab bar made it much easier to carry around and put in place.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the GoldenMate 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery is more than a power source; it's a strategic choice for those seeking a dependable and efficient energy solution for their tiny homes, bus conversions, and RVs. 

For tiny homeowners considering GoldenMate batteries, a key recommendation is to view it as a long-term investment. Its upfront cost is outweighed by the extended service life and performance advantages, contributing to a cost-effective solution over time. It offers not just reliable energy on the go but the assurance of enduring performance in every watt.

Transparency note: We've been sent a complimentary unit by the company in exchange for an unbiased review.

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