offshore Nife batteries? good or junk?

new2PV
new2PV Solar Expert Posts: 305 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Anyone have any opinions of this battery company, looks like its batteries are china, anyone ever use them?
http://www.beutilityfree.com/index.php/products/nickel-iron-batteries/ordering-information


XW6848 inverter with 2 X mppt 60 150 CC , with Canadian solar 260Watt panels 2 x 3.5 kw array
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    new2PV wrote: »
    Anyone have any opinions of this battery company, looks like its batteries are china, anyone ever use them?
    http://www.beutilityfree.com/index.php/products/nickel-iron-batteries/ordering-information


    Search existing threads for lots and lots of information on Chinese made NiFe batteries, and comparisons to the original US made Edison batteries. Among other things.
    Starting the discussion from scratch at this point seems to be a waste of time.

    Member mike95490 in particular has several years of off grid experience with modern Chinese-made NiFe batteries and is approaching his self-set deadline to report on his overall experience.
    A very brief summary of what I recall as some of the salient points:
    You need to design to work with the wide voltage range of NiFe chemistry.
    You need to add a lot of distilled water frequently.
    Changing electrolyte because of carbonate poisoning can be a major undertaking for cells without drains.
    They seem to be very resistant to load/charging abuse.
    Their coulombetric efficiency is pretty poor, but if you have plenty of panel power available that is not necessarily a deal killer.
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
    · Share on Twitter
  • new2PV
    new2PV Solar Expert Posts: 305 ✭✭
    #3
    Ok , thanks I will do more research.
    XW6848 inverter with 2 X mppt 60 150 CC , with Canadian solar 260Watt panels 2 x 3.5 kw array
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #4
    Here is a very easy Google search:

    site:forum.solar-electric.com Nife batteries

    The "site:" tag limits the searches to the website you specify.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Member mike95490 in particular has several years of off grid experience with modern Chinese-made NiFe batteries and is approaching his self-set deadline to report on his overall experience.
    A very brief summary of what I recall as some of the salient points:
    You need to design to work with the wide voltage range of NiFe chemistry.
    You need to add a lot of distilled water frequently.
    Changing electrolyte because of carbonate poisoning can be a major undertaking for cells without drains.
    They seem to be very resistant to load/charging abuse.
    Their coulombetric efficiency is pretty poor, but if you have plenty of panel power available that is not necessarily a deal killer.
    What he said.
    I can't speak for the materials quality / durability, other than after 4 or 5 years, the pieces are still there and working. Will they go for 50 years ?
    They are thirsty, poor charge efficiency. hard to damage from over or under charging. And in Nov, Dec, Jan, cloudy weather really had my panels socked in, and if I had FLA batteries, would have burned more fuel running the genset to get to absorb 1x a week.

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Also, FWIW, they have been selling large quantities of their batteries for use inside China for many years. The Chinese users can read the original manuals for care information, but the equivalent information is not necessarily passed along by US distributors.
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
    · Share on Twitter
  • new2PV
    new2PV Solar Expert Posts: 305 ✭✭
    #7
    Sounds like a headache...I think I will pass.
    XW6848 inverter with 2 X mppt 60 150 CC , with Canadian solar 260Watt panels 2 x 3.5 kw array
    · Share on Twitter
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    new2PV wrote: »
    Sounds like a headache...I think I will pass.
    One thing that is definitely required of NiFe users at this point is independent thinking, McGyver skills and the dedication to watch their batteries carefully.
    Not the best choice for a newbie regardless of what the seller tells you.

    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
    · Share on Twitter
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #9
    new2PV wrote: »
    Sounds like a headache...I think I will pass.

    Not as bad as a 6 month old, sulfated LA bank because it was cloudy and the inverter kept running.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter

Categories