Blue Ion batteries opinion please
Home Power Magazine did an article on Blue Ion batteries this month and they do look interesting. Using Ferrous Phosphate (LiFePO4) they should be good about resisting thermal runaway and with a claimed 8000 cycle life and a 15 year warranty they should last a lot of years.
I saw that Dave mentioned them once on this forum but no other references to Blue Ion here.
Opinions and thoughts please.
I saw that Dave mentioned them once on this forum but no other references to Blue Ion here.
Opinions and thoughts please.
Conext XW6848 with PDP, SCP, 80/600 controller, 60/150 controller and Conext battery monitor
21 SW280 panels on Schletter ground mount
48v Rolls 6CS 27P
Comments
|| 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 ,
100% DOD cycle life (number of cycles to 80% of original capacity) = 2,000–7,000
Sony Fortelion: 74% capacity after 8,000 cycles with 100%DOD
Other notes - these use a lot of carbon, aluminum and a number of seemingly "high tech" manufacturing techniques.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
This battery chemistry is extremely promising and is already in large scale use. Light and hardy are nice attributes. Not using cobalt is fantastic.
The technology is far more important than any particular manufacturer such as Blue Ion.
PLEASE NOTE: Manufacturer's policy requires this product be installed by a certified dealer to be covered under their industry leading product warranty. Because of this policy, this product is not available to DIY clients. If you are in Washington state please contact us for more information. Outside Washington please contact Blue Planet Energy for a certified dealer near you.
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I saw the required dealer install but I have a friend who is a solar installer an hour North of me I have read their warranty and it seems fairly straightforward. 10 years on everything and 15 years on battery performance. Expensive yes, but if you really can expect to get 8000 full cycles which they clearly state (two 50% discharges equals 1 cycle) then the batteries should last over 21 years.
https://blueplanetenergy.com/blue-ion2
If they do last over 20 years, especially in my hot climate then the high price works out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
Conext XW6848 with PDP, SCP, 80/600 controller, 60/150 controller and Conext battery monitor
21 SW280 panels on Schletter ground mount
48v Rolls 6CS 27P
On any battery and especially one that has electronics in it, the warranty is only as good as the company being there, or big enough to keep happy customers and not get negative publicity.
My LG's count (3) 30% discharges from 99% full as one cycle. They should last around 37 years at the rate we use them. Do I expect them to last that long? I live 60 minutes from Costco and can get a set of LA easily.
I just look out the window for power. It is pretty easy these days compared to what many of us did offgrid in the past. The efficiency and not worrying about Soc is just hard to describe. Talk about not needing a generator
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
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Then again....why did US manufacturers phase out the Iron Edison battery? With todays cheap panels, that battery chemistry ought to be revisited. Something odd going on...as always.
|| 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 ,
I still feel that these would make fantastic off grid batteries but they really should cost less than lead acid batteries if mass produced. Iron is much, much cheaper than lead. Nickel plating costs very little.
Since I monitor/commision alot of customer systems I need cloud monitoring. The sales rep told me to compare their chinese LFP with the chinese alkaline is like using a computer compared to a slide-rule. They are cheaper is about all I can see good about them compared to LFP. I do not think they will last as someone will screw up the maintenance over time and the LFP will just keep going, I think....
Also look at Discover by AES. They communicate into Schneider and Outback very soon.
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
Cobalt presents the threat of thermal runaway. A house fire is the worst thing possible.
Tesla powerwalls and LG home batteries have quite bit of experience with NMC and I have never heard of house fires in their applications.
They are BMS designed to be as safe as possible. People are the biggest risk in my opinion.
So did you get tired of roofing in Florida?
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
Didn't matter. They got the Dept of Health after me and I paid about $8000 as a result. We are still getting clogs from baby wipes 1/2 year after they moved out.
You may learn to really not want to mingle with strangers. Yet many happy landlords report years of making vast sums with no troubles at all. Not sure if I believe them.
Some areas are notorious for shady people. Florida for example, a sunny state with shady people. Ten bad experiences for every good one it seems. The good ones seem to come from people who recently moved there. Could be "anecdotal" experience though.
EDIT: Did a search. Turns out that the word *volt* is pretty common here.
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
Dave, what do you mean by LGs? I know you're testing a Schneider battery set; is that what you mean by LGs?
Bottom line either from newbie battery mistakes (I thought I was fairly good at keeping the batteries maintained) or the excessive heat in the garage where the batteries are, or for whatever reason; my 32 month old battery SGs are down to about 1.247 average SG (post EQ spread runs about .012 so no bad cells) after a solid 4 hr absorb and EQ. Had numerous calls and emails with battery tech guys the last 18 months along with following the battery discussions here. I figure by this fall or winter the batteries will average below 1.238 SG and ready for retirement.
Since the ground is sloped outside the garage I plan to have the next set of batteries outside the hot garage slightly sunk in the ground with the battery box mostly in shade. This should help but make monthly SG checks a little less comfortable.
I'd willing willing to conceder the expense of Lithium if the longer life (not to mention minimal maintance) made Lithiums an economically smart choice by lasting 20+ years. But if Lithiums only last 12-15 years before either dying or the BMS system needs replacement then LAs in a somewhat cooler location may be the way to go.
Conext XW6848 with PDP, SCP, 80/600 controller, 60/150 controller and Conext battery monitor
21 SW280 panels on Schletter ground mount
48v Rolls 6CS 27P
I am done testing them! They are fantastic batteries but were marketed wrong in my opinion for 48V nominal.
Tesla has a similar battery but it is a challenge to use it offgrid. The others I mentioned are worth due diligence in research.
You can become a client and leave it to me....
There are no guarantees but death and taxes
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
Bottom line either from newbie battery mistakes (I thought I was fairly good at keeping the batteries maintained) or the excessive heat in the garage where the batteries are, or for whatever reason; my 32 month old battery SGs are down to about 1.247 average SG (post EQ spread runs about .012 so no bad cells) after a solid 4 hr absorb and EQ Had numerous calls and emails with battery tech guys the last 18 months along with following the battery discussions here I figure by this fall or winter the batteries will average below 1.238 SG and ready for retirement.
The phenomenon of of dropping SG is mainly due to undercharging which manifests over time, if the cells are all equal, plus or minus a few points SG, leaving them on charge, without loads for a period of time will likely bring the SG back to more acceptable levels. Naturally this is difficult if they are relied upon, my experience was a bank which displayed almost identical SG issues, once relieved of its discharge responsibility, rebounded to normal, they are assigned to light duty and have exceeded their life expectan and often transition to float, something that never happened during previous discharge cycles.
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
Conext XW6848 with PDP, SCP, 80/600 controller, 60/150 controller and Conext battery monitor
21 SW280 panels on Schletter ground mount
48v Rolls 6CS 27P
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.