Sorry to hear about your lead acid batteries. I use EPsolar tracer charge controllers. They have since been updated with EPever tracer charge controllers. I have three of the old models and two of the new models. I like the remote meters that are optional. I keep a close eye on them and they do indeed convert extra voltage to amps, thus MPPT. The old originals are more than seven years old and have been totally trouble free. I use pure sine wave GAIA inverters. I really don't trust the hybrids. Simple things for a simple minded guy.fhorst wrote: ↑March 10, 2020, 11:34 amGood news and bad news..
I'll start with the bad news.
My 16 * 12v 200Ah lead-acid batteries are fried, dead, no longer to be used. they appear to be fully charged and after 4 hours.... voltages below 8 volt. Empty.
Farewell 126.000 THB... Welcome 1000kg old lead...
That is what happen when the crappy EASUN MPPT inverter charged the batteries at 78 volts!!
(My 3 x new Revo II 3.2kw MPPT inverters work perfect!!)
Good news, you won't believe how cheap lifepo4 is these days!!
I was amazed. maybe positive effect from Corona, to high stock??
Lifepo4 (lithium) is safer then lead, do exploding gasses !!
Also, it does not have big issues with the Thai temperature. 40, 50 degrees, no real problem!
Besides that is is now even cheaper then lead-acid, lifetime is + 2000 cycles, compared to + 500 from lead acid.
And those are real cycles, discharge 95%, without problems!!
I've looked into Lithium when i bought the lead-acid last year februari, price was minimal 2.5 times higher.
now... $43 for 152Ah, and under $83 for 280Ah!!
I've bought 32 * 152AH (3.2v) for $ 1602
3.2v 152Ah LiFePo4 Battery for $ 43.00 (MOQ=1)
This price was including DDP transport. (all costs, including tax, paid!!)
they look really impressive, are well matched (same voltage 3.29v = 70%)
(pictures of the batteries, somehow I can't get photo's inside) (edit.. found it!)
https://ibb.co/gJCPK3q
https://ibb.co/QcxHCVw
Maybe ill add in the future one set (16 * for 48v system) of 280Ah (only $82.67, MOQ=4)
on an other forum (diysolarforum.com) I found the perfect guide on how to order Chinese batteries (thanks ghostwriter66)
The BMS I ordered (not yet arrived) give me full insight (Bluetooth app) what is happening with the batteries.
After the expensive malfunction of the EASUN, i like to stay on top to know what is happening.
It can do 100A charging, 300A discharge and balance the cells with 1A (if needed)
I bought from Aliexpress, $120.70
Building is really easy, it takes less then 30 minutes to setup, and light to handle!!
(my lead acid are 70 kh each.. one lifepo4 cell is 3 kg)
Will Prowse, a known youtube "guru" explains all about it in [urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyP_dgWz8pY&lis ... 583gq0OAyi] his video's (this is playlist for DIY lithium[/url]
I started out with four AGM sealed batteries. They lasted about five years. Disappointing for such expensive batteries. I bought them because I kept them in the house. They were replaced with four six volt golf cart batteries that are kept outside. Both my main systems are twelve volt mainly because so many DC devices run on twelve volts.
Two 12 volt deep cycle lead acid batteries are original. I think they are getting weaker. A few weeks ago I did something the experts say not to do. I used a pair of jumper cables and hooked those two battery banks together. So far everything is working great and both banks are balanced. The FB deep cycle 125 AH are over seven years old. I am very careful not to discharge them below fifty percent.
That's an amazing price for the Lithium batteries. Since I am happy with my lead acid batteries, I'm a little hesitant to change over when necessary. I worry about my existing charge controllers charging Lithium batteries. They can be damaged if not charged properly.