LiFePO4 Batteries: Discussion Thread for Those Using Them as House Banks

[deckofficer]

Balqon dropped some prices. Even though my cells from them took 3 1/2 months and were 2 1/2 years old, I figured I'd pass along the price drop. The 400 a-hr cell was $440, is now $380. Nice to know a 12 volt, 400 a-hr battery is down to $1520. (4) Odyssey PC-2150 100 a-hr are $1510, so it is now a no-brainer, weight savings, 4X cycle life, nil Peukert effect, and 80% DOD vs 50% for the AGMs.

[hellosailor]

Bob, did China ever make any comment on why their distributor here in the US was
1-taking so damned long
2-selling such old cells without disclosing the age or old model type

??

Plenty of other makers and vendors who don't seem to have those problems.

[deckofficer]

I didn't tell Winston about the age, as the spec sheet gave the cycle life of the older cells and I've seen others here get a mixed bag of new and old on a shipment. As long as they perform to spec, I'm OK.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Balqon dropped some prices. Even though my cells from them took 3 1/2 months and were 2 1/2 years old, I figured I'd pass along the price drop. The 400 a-hr cell was $440, is now $380. Nice to know a 12 volt, 400 a-hr battery is down to $1520. (4) Odyssey PC-2150 100 a-hr are $1510, so it is now a no-brainer, weight savings, 4X cycle life, nil Peukert effect, and 80% DOD vs 50% for the AGMs.

No doubt Lithium has arrived price wise, now. Lower effective cost than Odyssey.

[hellosailor]

Bob-
If the cells can sit unused for 2+ years without any degradation or capacity loss, that's incredible. Assuming they were properly stored, and not "demo" untis somehow that were not just sitting around but were being used for something, somewhere. Goods in storage that just sit around for two years...odd in this say and age. I hope I'm wrong about that but I've been bit by too many snakes.
Then there's the fact they're a different chemistry from the new ones, no? It just all seems like day-old fish to me. Hey, great if it works and makes no difference.
if they can sit two years with no loss and no damage...boy would that be a selling point for those of us who are used to hauling for the winter and then we gotta screw around with batteries for six months. Somebody ought to tell Winston that one extra bonus would be enough to blow everything else out of competition!

[deckofficer]

They will probably be 3 years old when I first use and cycle them since they are for the kayak. The e-xpert lite will tell the story on capacity vs cycle life, so I'll see this Spring.

[NahanniV]

They seem to be clearing out the older cells:

Balqon - Advanced Transportation Solution

$258 for a 400ah cell !

[deckofficer]

I didn't even see the clearance items. Would be great if those prices become the new normal retail. Did you notice the price of the 1,000 a-hr cell? $520 !

[Cotemar]

Help Needed:

At $258 for 400ah cells I might have to jump in and build a battery bank.

http://www.balqon.com/store.php#!/~/product/category=4218089&id=18005964

To make a 12volt bank I would need to buy 4 x 400ah and wire them in series?

What should I set my boat battery charger to ? See attached settings.

What else would I need to make this work?

[deckofficer]

Banding and buss bars.

[mcarling]

Deleted.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Banding and buss bars.

What did they charge for Banding and buss bars?

[deckofficer]

Banding was done for me by the retailer. Through research I've learned that banding helps to keep the cells from bulging during heavy C, both charge and discharge. The interlocking plates do a good job of supporting the sides and the tension of the banding keeps the battery unit a solid brick.

[deckofficer]

Due to the delay of getting my order to me, they didn't charge for the banding and supplied me with the buss bars and related hardware free of charge also.

[Cotemar]

What should I set my boat battery charger to ? See attached settings.