Batteries really can disappoint you BiG TiMe!

Dave Angelini wrote: »

Use them or lose them. This happens all the time since the beginning. They have lost capacity. The first symptom is "my batteries really charge fast"

The other thing is that you may have lost electrolyte being upside down below the equator.....

I am considering a small (126 - 225) battery for backup purposes. I don't think it will be used much, for example, in the past 5 years it would have used one time for about 12 hours.

Odyssey advertises that their AGM batteries will last 8-12 years on standby. I have been told that FLA batteries last longer than AGM batteries. How long will FLA batteries last at a moderate temperature and kept at float? The most action they would probably get is exercising them while testing my backup system from time to time. Is there a specification that documents the loss of capacity in % per year down to 80% of original capacity at float?

BB. wrote: »

Back to basics... No battery based system is going to be "worth it" for 12 hour usage in 5 years. Unless it is worth it to you.

12 hours--Not enough to do much for a refrigerator/freezer. Not even really needed to pump/store water. Lighting? Radio? Computer+Cell phone? Heart Assist machine? Oxygen concentrator?

A small genset (like a Honda eu1000i or eu2000i), a siphon hose, extension cord, possibly a bicycle lock, and a car with 1/2 a tank of gas could be more practical--But like batteries, a generator is an unknown until you use it.

If it was for lighting, I would get some small/efficient LED flashlights, some AA (alkaline or lithium) or CR 123 Lithium cells, and a small radio (try to standardize on your cells between devices). You can also get USB chargers for cell phones/small computers that run from automobile or even battery packs (AA or rechargeable).

The smallest amount of power you can use during an outage lets you keep the backup power devices small too.

-Bill

All of what you say is true and makes sense. However, I am not considering this for just a 12 hour outage. Our cabin is in an area where this is one road out and which can get washed out with a flash flood. I am making plans in case the El Nino happens this year, in which case we could likely lose power for much longer. Here is my plan.

1) Small Inverter/Generator and extension cord with gas can. - in place.

Note: Already have 55 gal of water and backpacking freeze dried food, normally heat in fireplace, practicing cooking.
Have backpacking stove with fuel, Propane canisters for BBQ, lots of batteries for Coleman electric lantern,
half a dozen oil lamps with fuel, battery powered emergency radio. Should be able to keep satellite TV and DSL modem
going no problem with genny.

2) Manual transfer switch - acquired ... bids for electrician received, read to be installed in the next month or so.
3) Next phase being considered - Small battery (225 - 450 AH) sized to allow for overnight power so we don't need to listen to the generator
to be kept on float with three-stage charger and charged with generator. --- Not really cost effective or necessary, but nice to have.
4) Add solar panel and charge controller to plan for an extended outage. If I have 10 gallons of gas stored for the generator, that will last 10 days.
It would be unlikely that we would be stranded for that long, but the cost of this addition would only be another $500 - 750 or so and I would have
a new hobby.

FWIW...storing batteries in a cool environment really helps longevity,

This is why off grid Canucks rarely sing the blues......j/k...sort of.

lkruper wrote: »

Odyssey advertises that their AGM batteries will last 8-12 years on standby. I have been told that FLA batteries last longer than AGM batteries.

There are deep cycle batteries, both flooded and AGM, that are specifically designed to live long lives on float. Typically, they do not have the cycle-life that typical deep cycle batteries have. They are widely used in the telecom industry. Some of the better ones will have their rated output for 20 years of float.

These type of batteries are often used in parallel configurations... they are an exception to the rule that parallel batteries are less than optimal design. Parallel batteries work just fine if they are rarely cycled.

As 'softdown' mentioned, keeping any battery cool can add years to its life.

--vtMaps

I would need a walk in reefer, but winter temps take care of that for free... 'sides moving 1800# of batteries x 2 is more than a one man show...

softdown wrote: »

Kept hearing Californians whining about the drought. So they get some rain. Whining intensifies. Californians....

j/k

I'm disappointed. I was hoping the power would go out so I could deploy my generator

Down here in the desert we don’t get rain in the summer, we get downpours and cloud bursts. When that happens you stay out of the washes and head for higher ground and just let Mother Nature have her way, because she Always wins..