Upgrading my little solar power system.

[Aerindel]

My flooded lead acid batteries are dying after about four years use.

I notice that the price of Lithium iron batteries has radically fallen, to the point where it was only about 20% more cost to replace my lead acids, with lithium.

While I'm doing this, I plan to get a better charge controller PWM to MTTP, and do some more DC wiring in my house to use my power more.

But.....one concern I have is from explosion/fire from the lithium batteries.

My current batteries are stored under my stairs in the living room. It would be a bad place for a fire that can't be put out.

I am thinking of moving the batteries outside, however, I have concerns about temperature, namely it can get down to -20 here, not commonly, but it happens.

I am thinking of moving them to the same crawlspace where I keep my water tank, which stays at about 35-60º. Only problem is, this requires an additional 50 feet of wire run from the panels.

Thoughts?

 

[Hardcalibres]

Most of the fires are with Lithium Ion (often just called "Lithium" batteries) and Lithium Polymer Batteries (often called "LiPo" batteries).

Good quality LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries that are charged within the specified parameters, are actually pretty safe from fire.

Most high end camper trailers are now getting equipped with LiFePO4 battery packs......and there are no significant number of fires being reported with those.

Most of the Lithium battery fires are cheap Chinese scooters with Lithium Ion batteries.

The extra 50' of wire can be solved with heavier gauge cables......the charge current is not very high.....so losses will not be too bad with heavy cable.

 

[Mountain trapper]

In my battery bank I'm using 12 Rolls 2 volt batteries for a 24 volt system. I love these batteries. In the 2+ years that I've had them I've only needed to add water about 3 times a year. I don't have any idea how long they'll last, but so far they're doing great. My battery bank is located in a shed that houses my inverter, charge controllers, 12kw generator with auto start, a 55 gallon day tank, tools, etc. This building is unheated except for when the generator is running. This time of year the generator will start usually once a day and is programed to run for 4 hours.
So far I haven't seen the need to buy more expensive batteries.

 

[Aerindel]

So far I haven't seen the need to buy more expensive batteries.

I was fine with my lead acid batteries, but since they have to be replaced anyway, I wanted to try something different and with a looming 25% tarriff on China, I'm thinking most of the cheap batteries (and most other cheap stuff) is going to vanish soon.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I was fine with my lead acid batteries, but since they have to be replaced anyway, I wanted to try something different and with a looming 25% tarriff on China, I'm thinking most of the cheap batteries (and most other cheap stuff) is going to vanish soon.

Personally I think that would be a good idea. Just beware of cheap stuff from China. You might be better off paying a little more for quality. I don't remember what I paid for my Rolls batteries, I'll have to look it up.

 

[viking]

Our 24 lead/acid batteries are from Costco with the Interstate label on them, since the U.S.A. no longer smelts lead the batteries are more than likely made in Mexico. This last batch of batteries we bought all have the same manufacturers date on them and they are 210 amp hour, the orignal batteries were 205 amp hour and half had a months different manufacture on them which wasn't a problem in connecting them in series. I'd loved to have been able to have bought Rolls batteries but we just didn't have the money to do that, due to a fixed retirement income. Anyway this last set of batteries from Costco are working great and I've only had to add water once in a year, but then they haven't been abused like the first set which were mainly used to test the backup solar system I had put together, so in reality the batteries surviving 10 years did a good job, considering some of the discharge and charge amperages I saw them go through.

 

[Neb]

Most of the fires are with Lithium Ion (often just called "Lithium" batteries) and Lithium Polymer Batteries (often called "LiPo" batteries).

Good quality LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries that are charged within the specified parameters, are actually pretty safe from fire.

Most high end camper trailers are now getting equipped with LiFePO4 battery packs......and there are no significant number of fires being reported with those.

Most of the Lithium battery fires are cheap Chinese scooters with Lithium Ion batteries.

The extra 50' of wire can be solved with heavier gauge cables......the charge current is not very high.....so losses will not be too bad with heavy cable.

And

Wire batteries in series for a higher voltage and less current to reduce losses in the wire runs.

Ben

 

[zoomzoom]

I'm using LiFePO4 batteries. Just a heads-up, they shut themselves off below about 35° to protect themselves. If you use this type battery, you're going to have to keep them above that temp.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Our 24 lead/acid batteries are from Costco with the Interstate label on them, since the U.S.A. no longer smelts lead the batteries are more than likely made in Mexico. This last batch of batteries we bought all have the same manufacturers date on them and they are 210 amp hour, the orignal batteries were 205 amp hour and half had a months different manufacture on them which wasn't a problem in connecting them in series. I'd loved to have been able to have bought Rolls batteries but we just didn't have the money to do that, due to a fixed retirement income. Anyway this last set of batteries from Costco are working great and I've only had to add water once in a year, but then they haven't been abused like the first set which were mainly used to test the backup solar system I had put together, so in reality the batteries surviving 10 years did a good job, considering some of the discharge and charge amperages I saw them go through.

Rolls batteries are made in Canada, Nova Scotia I think. Our 2 volt batteries are 1169 ah each and I think cost around $600 each.