384 volt lithium-ion battery... for solar storage?

humboolay
humboolay Registered Users Posts: 4
Say one of these 900lb LiFePO monsters was left in a basket on your doorstep one night:

Nominal Voltage: 384 VDC/110 Ah
input charge 20kw; 60 amp max
output 414-348 VDC

Is it a viable option as solar energy storage in a residential setting? Could it be? Should it be? Again, assuming the cost of the battery itself is zero or not far from it. Battery is new as well...

Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    There is (was?) a push towards 380 VDC powered data centers. Many standard 120/240 VAC computer power supplies can take 380 VDC input power. And for AC inverters, 380 VDC can be more efficiently "switched" to 240 VAC when needed.

    http://dc-nexus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dcF-THE-BENEFITS-OF-380V-dc-summary.pdf

    If you have the need for lots of power, and can find loads that will take 380 VDC battery bus (plus charging equipment, etc.) it can be used nicely.

    HOWEVER--380 VDC from a large battery bank is also dangerous too. Shock, Arc Flash, etc. are things that somebody not trained and not have the right tools/protective gear (and locked rooms/buildings/etc.) can work support.

    This was a being pushed for data centers 10 years ago or so... Not sure where the industry is at today.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    humboolay said:
    Say one of these 900lb LiFePO monsters was left in a basket on your doorstep one night:
    Dropped on my door step...

    I'd have to check it out. I know the native voltage of LiFePo4 is 3.2-2.6 volts, so it' string of cells to get to that high voltage.

    I'd figure out if I could reduce it safely to 48v nominal strings and look at finding a BMS that would work for it and how many parallel strings would be acceptable.

    humboolay said:
    Is it a viable option as solar energy storage in a residential setting? NOT AS IS, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY AC INVERTERS THAT TAKE 380VOLT Could it be? CERTAINLY IF BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER STRINGS Should it be? NOT ON MY DOORSTEP, NOT MY CALL Again, assuming the cost of the battery itself is zero or not far from it. Battery is new as well...

    Big questions...

    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just try getting a 384V MPPT solar charge controller
    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 ,

  • humboolay
    humboolay Registered Users Posts: 4
    Yeah.. if you happen to come across one in the 400v range let me know! :D
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2022 #6

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    I think he is looking for a 400vdc battery charging output...
    Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    BB. said:
    I think he is looking for a 400vdc battery charging output...
    Bill
    Here's the specs:
     
    • Voltage: 384V
    • Max VOC of PV arrays: 700V
    • Max charging current: 100A
    • Inputs: 1 group
    • Equalize charging point: 460.8V
    • Float charging point: 441.6V
    • Over voltage: 512V
    • Over voltage recovery: 480V
    • Equalize charging recovery: 422.4V
    • Stand-by consumption: <.5 Watt

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.