Chinese batterys plus other expensive bits needs ordering.

[wildebus]

You can get "B" grade cells cheaper than I'm paying. Stick them in a plastic box and advertise their capacity below what they are. Then you can guarantee their capacity for a few years knowing full well they were well over before hand.
Many of the commercial ones are in boxes too big for their capacity, that suggests they are up to the same trick.
If your happy with your purchase, long may it last.

I think there seems to be two reliable ways to go ....
1) Buy your battery from a Reputable Dealer who sells recognised major brands - more expensive, but more chance of getting what is advertised and with ongoing backup
2) Do a DIY jobby, but based around Reputable Sellers and recognised Cells and BMSes - less chance of buying duff goods but still a bigger risk for sure than 1) as warranty from a seller half way round the world is tricky if they don't want to play ball.

Always possible to save money with a 'bargain', but bargains can often work out rather expensive sometimes.

 

[wildebus]

I have gone ahead with my order. Stupidly I then started read peoples comments about them. The one that was initially a worry was the damage being done to them. Then I realised it was experimenters with no brains and too much money.
What ever you do don't use the rigid battery links. The cells change size whilst being charged and discharged. If you do use rigid links they need a hump in them to allow movement and not to damage the cell connections.
Some of the preferred names are no longer to be trusted. I used Basen and they have started to get complaints. Though it's a job to know as it could be idiots damaging the cells and then expecting a refund.
I went for prismatic cells and these are the ones that there is controversy over clamping them or not.
I think now the round cells might be a better option if you plan on abusing them. They still come in a blue rectangular package.
So two months of praying ahead

Oh and btw, the pricing is going up as it is also for solar panels. I think everyone is worring about powering their homes.

Ref Battery Links, this video will interest you ....

the fact it is a 48V system rather than 12V has no relevance of course. Still bus bars fitted.
Came across this just this evening and it is both entertaining and interesting to watch (all the way through). What I really like is that there is virtually nothing in the video I would have done differently to her in this test (didn't shout "noooo" at the screen once )

 

[Canalsman]

I chose to buy two branded LiFePO4 batteries.

The technology is still relatively immature.

The dealer and distributor have provided excellent backup. There have been ongoing issues with the performance of the batteries. I am optimistic that the problems have now been resolved. This has been achieved by providing two replacement sets of batteries; so I am now on the third set.

In addition, as a goodwill gesture, I have been refunded about 11% of the purchase price for the inconvenience and my time.

And there's a five year guarantee!

I know which option I prefer.

 

[SquirrellCook]

Ref Battery Links, this video will interest you ....

the fact it is a 48V system rather than 12V has no relevance of course. Still bus bars fitted.
Came across this just this evening and it is both entertaining and interesting to watch (all the way through). What I really like is that there is virtually nothing in the video I would have done differently to her in this test (didn't shout "noooo" at the screen once )

Thank you David, at least she wasn't as painful as most. I suspect the unexpected results were due to the quality of the metal in the rigid bars.
It does have me thinking as too a fabricated bus bar or a pressed solid bar with a expansion hump in it.

 

[wildebus]

I chose to buy two branded LiFePO4 batteries.

The technology is still relatively immature.

The dealer and distributor have provided excellent backup. There have been ongoing issues with the performance of the batteries. I am optimistic that the problems have now been resolved. This has been achieved by providing two replacement sets of batteries; so I am now on the third set.

In addition, as a goodwill gesture, I have been refunded about 11% of the purchase price for the inconvenience and my time.

And there's a five year guarantee!

I know which option I prefer.

I think to be fair, the actual performance of the batteries in terms of power delivery has been excellent. What HAS given issues is the way the two batteries have worked together to give a balanced (even) output between the two batteries, and the over-sensitive voltage protection on charge.
And the only way you would be aware of this is due to the advanced BMS that tells you what is happening. Yes, they are annoying and should be sorted, but it doesn't impact the usability.

Most Lithium batteries do not have that info available to the user so they would not have a clue about if there was a problem (there is a great Facebook self-build page where people go on about how lithium batteries with Bluetooth are not suitable for connecting together, but non-bluetooth are fine. Not understanding that the only reason non-bluetooth "don't have the same problem" is that those people don't have a way to tell what is happening with those batteries. to take a popular phrase... SMH

 

[wildebus]

Thank you David, at least she wasn't as painful as most. I suspect the unexpected results were due to the quality of the metal in the rigid bars.
It does have me thinking as too a fabricated bus bar or a pressed solid bar with a expansion hump in it.

Maybe it is just what I am used to, but I have always reverted to cables rather than bars, with enough length to give a slight bend to avoid strain and pull on an movement.
I think some people look at the bars supplied and think they need to replicate them as they must be the best way as that is what the manufacturers supplied.
No, that is what they supplied as that is the cheapest way to supply a product to the minimum quality they can get away with.


PS. I hope after that test in the video, she replaces the main cables from battery bank to the big Anderson plug? That looked a bit undersized really

 

[Derekoak]

Ref Battery Links, this video will interest you ....

the fact it is a 48V system rather than 12V has no relevance of course. Still bus bars fitted.
Came across this just this evening and it is both entertaining and interesting to watch (all the way through). What I really like is that there is virtually nothing in the video I would have done differently to her in this test (didn't shout "noooo" at the screen once )

I think I am persuaded to copy her flexible bus bars rather than my cut 1.5mm copper plate.
I am still waiting for a last component from America before I can do a final test and then install my 200amphour diy Lithium under my camper. So I could order up crimps without much lost time.

 

[Derekoak]

My last relay just arrived.
I looked at a couple of you tube videos where people opened up manufacturered lithium phosphate batteries, intended for vehicles. Inside Both used solid bus bars. My feeling is there cannot be much in it between solid and cable cell connectors.

 

[SquirrellCook]

My last relay just arrived.
I looked at a couple of you tube videos where people opened up manufacturered lithium phosphate batteries, intended for vehicles. Inside Both used solid bus bars. My feeling is there cannot be much in it between solid and cable cell connectors.

For most companies, profit is more important than product quality.

 

[Nabsim]

I spotted some Lifepo4 100ah battery’s for just under £400 including VAT yesterday so prices are still dropping for shop bought batterys. By shop bought I mean non diy

 

[Phantom]

I spotted some Lifepo4 100ah battery’s for just under £400 including VAT yesterday so prices are still dropping for shop bought batterys. By shop bought I mean non diy

Probably the only thing that is not going up in price then?

 

[SquirrellCook]

I saw those roamer type batteries this morning and they are about 400 dollars in china.

 

[Nabsim]

These are in the U.K. delivered in a couple of days. Not gone into how good or bad they are, it was the price caught my attention

LifePo4 Battery 12v 100Ah Up to 7000 Deep Cycles with BMS Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery for Trolling Motor Solar Panels RV Boat Golf Cart Off Grid Applications Household Appliances Include Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

LifePo4 Battery 12v 100Ah Up to 7000 Deep Cycles with BMS Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery for Trolling Motor Solar Panels RV Boat Golf Cart Off Grid Applications Household Appliances Include Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

smile.amazon.co.uk

 

[st3v3]

For most companies, profit is more important than product quality.

If you can make them yourself, is flexible really more expensive?

 

[Deleted member 11815]

I saw those roamer type batteries this morning and they are about 400 dollars in china.

Are you sure they were identical? Some may be, but some are their design and unique to them? I guess there may not be a lot in it of course, may well be generic parts etc. But, UK based support and warrantee replacement. (Which of course you pay a premium for)

 

[Deleted member 11815]

I chose to buy two branded LiFePO4 batteries.

The technology is still relatively immature.

The dealer and distributor have provided excellent backup. There have been ongoing issues with the performance of the batteries. I am optimistic that the problems have now been resolved. This has been achieved by providing two replacement sets of batteries; so I am now on the third set.

In addition, as a goodwill gesture, I have been refunded about 11% of the purchase price for the inconvenience and my time.

And there's a five year guarantee!

I know which option I prefer.

What brand ? And what were the issues?

 

[SquirrellCook]

If you can make them yourself, is flexible really more expensive?

It depends on what equipment you have. Punching solid links will be cheaper and more reliable than a fabricated cable.

 

[Canalsman]

What brand ? And what were the issues?

Poweroad Sub Zero Infiniti.

The batteries are fine and perform well singly. But I have two in parallel and the Bluetooth BMS has reported a variance in the state of charge that increases as the batteries are discharged. The effect can be that one battery is almost fully discharged whilst the other still has a significant amount of charge.

I reported this problem in June soon after installation but only recently has the solution been confirmed. In the meantime the suspicion was that the batteries themselves were the issue.

The solution is updated firmware and the interconnection of the two batteries using a data cable between the respective comms ports. This permits the batteries and the individual cells to balance.

This has been done with the third set of batteries and I will monitor the situation. Others have reported that this solution works.

The dealer who offered a partial reimbursement was Alpha Batteries. Well done to them for providing this without prompting.

 

[SquirrellCook]

What a surprize today.

 

[Canalsman]

Poweroad Sub Zero Infiniti.

The batteries are fine and perform well singly. But I have two in parallel and the Bluetooth BMS has reported a variance in the state of charge that increases as the batteries are discharged. The effect can be that one battery is almost fully discharged whilst the other still has a significant amount of charge.

I reported this problem in June soon after installation but only recently has the solution been confirmed. In the meantime the suspicion was that the batteries themselves were the issue.

The solution is updated firmware and the interconnection of the two batteries using a data cable between the respective comms ports. This permits the batteries and the individual cells to balance.

This has been done with the third set of batteries and I will monitor the situation. Others have reported that this solution works.

The dealer who offered a partial reimbursement was Alpha Batteries. Well done to them for providing this without prompting.

An update.

The situation has not been resolved.

So after three sets of batteries, firmware update and installation of a comms cable between the batteries, I am returning the Poweroad batteries to Alpha.

They are supplying a 200Ah low temperature battery with Bluetooth as a replacement.

This is made by a company called Topband whose products are about to be introduced in the UK.