Battery Box Reviews - Australian focus

[TheDocAUS]

I decided to extract these mini reviews from the Third Party Suppliers thread and place put them in the right place.

KICKASS BATTERY BOX (KickAss BB)
I have first-hand experience with the Thunder BB Box, the Hardkorr BB and today the KickAss BB with a DC to DC charger. For the novice user, the KickAss is impressive. Really well designed and all the graphics on the lid tell you all need to know.

I have used the Thunder Auto and Hardkorr BB's for years.

The KickAss is for my nephew and I was really impressed. I was setting it up and everything about it was so easy to follow and do. Better than the Hardkorr, but the Thunder is still a superior build quality. Only downside is the charger is on the top of the box, rather than inside.

I was working on the KickAss model, with the DC to DC charger, but you can buy it without the DC to DC charger for about half the price.

Very clever design.

OBSERVATIONS:

1. Well made (ABS plastic);
2. Easy to follow guide printed on the BB lid;
3. The BB has a On/Off switch, so the BB can be turned off when not in use (reducing parasitic drains). The On/off switch is also called the Master Isolation Switch;
4. Neat and tidy wiring. All wires are shrink wrapped, the battery temperate wire even has a sealant in the end so the copper wire is not exposed to the air (nice);
5. The handles do not dig into your hands or fingers when carrying the BB;
6. The BB has alternator and solar inputs;
7. Charger has a solar priority mode;
8. MPPT solar controller;
9. Charger is lithium compatible;
10. Three stage charger;
11. Dual USB/QC3, 3 cig and 4 Anderson outputs;
12. Voltmeter can be turned on or off, user choice;
13. Aluminum cover on the charger, not plastic;
14. Battery is kept in place with a Velcro belt, the silicone battery pads under the battery stop the battery moving around inside the BB;
15. It uses auto reset circuit breakers, not fuses;
16. Maximum battery size 340mmx185mmx235mm;
17. The BB uses the round USB/Cig sockets with flat sides, and cannot use round USB/Cig sockets unless you round out the BB hole;
18. Quick release car battery tray (optional extra);
19. Car wring kit (optional extra);
20. Battery capacity range of the 20 amp charger is 80-500Ah (other chemistries) and 50-500Ah for LifePO4;
21. The BB has a 20 amp charger. The KickAss Lithium BB model has a 40 amp charger (make sure your battery is rated for a charge rate up to 40 amps, before choosing this model). The KickAss Lithium BB model also has an enhanced "voltmeter" screen which interfaces with the Lithium battery's BMS, and a high power output using a 175 amp Anderson plug.

 

[TheDocAUS]

DRIFTA BATTERY BOX SPECIAL PRICING
If you are looking for battery box DRIFTA have a great special on now. The DRIFTA Battery Box comes with a 25 amp DC to DC charger for $324.50 (plus postage and you need to buy a battery). The KickAss equivalent is going for $520 with a 20 amp DC to DC charger (plus postage and you need a battery.)

The DRIFT BB is not the same unit as the KickAss, but it shares features of the KickAss and the Hardkorr BB, both of which are good battery boxes. I have used a Hardkorr BB for years and recently setup a KickAss BB for my nephew (mini review here).

That is a lot of value for your money.

MINI REVIEW OF THE DRIFTA BATTERY BOX
Some observations on the DRIFTA BB based on watching the video and reviewing the images. I have not seen the DRIFTA BB in person, but it is very similar to the Hardkorr and KickAss BB’s which I have hands on experience with.

OBSERVATIONS:

1. Well made (ABS plastic);
2. Easy to follow guide printed on the DRIFTA BB lid, like the KickAss BB;
3. The DRIFTA BB has a On/Off switch, so the BB can be turned off when not in use (reducing parasitic drains). The On/Off switch is also called the Master Isolation Switch. The On/Off switches are different on the DRIFTA base model verse the DC to DC charger model – as is the voltmeter);
4. Neat and tidy wiring. There is cover on the lid so you cannot see the detailed wiring on the DC to DC model, but the battery cables are thick to the battery. The base model, with no cover, shows neat wiring in the video like the KickAss BB;
5. The handles are like those on the Hardkorr BB, and have a tendency to dig into your hands when carrying the BB (unlike the KickAss BB);
6. The BB has alternator and solar inputs;
7. Not clear if the charger has a solar priority mode (the KickAss BB does);
8. MPPT solar controller;
9. Charger is lithium compatible;
10. Four stage charger: bulk, absorption, float and pulse. The KickAss has a three stage charger: bulk, absorption, and float;
11. Dual USB/QC3, 3 cig and 4 Anderson outputs rated at 50 amps and a single 175 amp Anderson. The KickAss has no 175 amp Anderson plug, but the Hardkorr BB does;
12. Cig sockets rated at 15 amps, whereas the KickAss BB are rated at 10 amps;
13. Voltmeter can be turned on or off, user choice;
14. Aluminium cover on the charger, not plastic;
15. Battery is kept in place with a Velcro belt, the silicone battery pads under the battery stop the battery moving around inside the BB;
16. It uses auto reset circuit breakers, not fuses (visible on the base model);
17. The BB dimensions are 425mm x 225mm x 330mm. Note: the KickAss mini review shows the max battery size, not the BB size;
18. Maximum battery size looks like the KickAss and Hardkorr BB’s, as the DRIFTA BB also uses the triple Anderson in plug;
19. No Quick release car battery tray like the KickAss BB (trying to confirm if the KickAss BB tray will work with the DRIFTA BB, HardKorr also have a mounting tray). More research being done;
20. No car wring kit, but it looks like the KickAss and Hardkorr kits would work with the DRIFTA BB, as all three use the triple Anderson plug input (the extra pin being the ignition source);
21. The DRIFTA BB has a 25 amp charger, more than the KickAss’ 20 amps, but less than the 40 amp charger on the KickAss Lithium BB.

I have what is now the Hardkorr base model, not the newer Hardkorr PRO. So my comments concern the Hardkorr base model.