What cells do you prefer for home made 12V battery?

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softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,821 ✭✭✭✭
Wanting a small light weight battery to run fan on teardrop camper. Battery will be outside in enclosure.
Initial explorations point to 18650s - I have 40 Samsung cells.
Or sub C NiMH cells? Toyota still uses NiMH on their Prius  - last I heard anyway. They are not bad really. 
Or Lithium prismatic cells?  This packs the most battery in the least space for sure. Seem on the expensive side compared to the above. 
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries

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  • Subwayman701
    Subwayman701 Registered Users Posts: 2
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    Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries, you want to try this?
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,821 ✭✭✭✭
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    Battling a lot of storms at the moment. This project is now on back burner. Though it served to remind how little I knew very recently. 

    I know some folks here but this is far removed from being a lithium oriented board right now. To be fair, lithium batteries are far from a clear choice for many. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I know some folks in AZ that will not be buying one soon

    ( from Bills post )
    Via Candlepowerforums:
    https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?469768-Post-mortem-report-on-significant-Li-ion-incident&p=5407193#post5407193

    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 ,

  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,821 ✭✭✭✭
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    mike95490 said:
    I know some folks in AZ that will not be buying one soon

    ( from Bills post )
    Via Candlepowerforums:
    https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?469768-Post-mortem-report-on-significant-Li-ion-incident&p=5407193#post5407193

    Nickel based Li-ion thermal runaway - worst case scenario. LiFePO4 is multiples safer though larger, heavier and less energy dense. 

    Tesla basically fuses each cell. My 32650 LiFePO4s have safety based circuitry in each cell. 

    I'd have stuck with lead once again but I seek batteries that will hopefully sit ~4 years when these batteries retire. I'd say what I think but those posts seem to disappear with regularity.  
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries