Alternative to lead acid inverter batteries

[beeza]

My fourth set of Interstate lead acid 6v deep cycle batteries are nearing the end of their lives. I have a bank of eight which used to give me 8 to 10 hours powering the most essential loads in the house. Now I'm lucky if I get two hours on inverter.

At around 9k to 10k pesos per battery, I was wondering about alternatives. What experience has folks had with gel or LiPo batteries? Is it worth the investment?

Typically I can get around four to five years of life for a set of batteries. My inverter is 20 years old, but it's a good one. I paid top dollar in the day for a Trace 5kw sine wave inverter that charges the batteries by monitoring their temperature. A sure fire way to kill a battery is overheating whilst charging and I reckon my batteries have lasted that long because of my inverter.

Is it time to change battery technology or do I stick with the old fashioned lead acid?

 

[PJT]

My fourth set of Interstate lead acid 6v deep cycle batteries are nearing the end of their lives. I have a bank of eight which used to give me 8 to 10 hours powering the most essential loads in the house. Now I'm lucky if I get two hours on inverter.

At around 9k to 10k pesos per battery, I was wondering about alternatives. What experience has folks had with gel or LiPo batteries? Is it worth the investment?

Typically I can get around four to five years of life for a set of batteries. My inverter is 20 years old, but it's a good one. I paid top dollar in the day for a Trace 5kw sine wave inverter that charges the batteries by monitoring their temperature. A sure fire way to kill a battery is overheating whilst charging and I reckon my batteries have lasted that long because of my inverter.

Is it time to change battery technology or do I stick with the old fashioned lead acid?

It is one of those cost vs benefit formulas. How much life for lead acid vs that of the LiPo. If supposedly you get more years out of the LiPo, they may be worth the expenditure. There are variables such as amount use of the batteries; such as to how many cycles of charge/discharge, hours in service, and complete discharges. The only true measure is advice from someone who has converted to LiPo or has found a better solution.

Regards,

PJT

 

[beeza]

During the 19 years I've lived here, I would have thought the power grid infrastructure would have improved over time. How wrong was I?

It's worse than ever! My inverter and batteries get a regular workout.

 

[JD Jones]

I bought 2 12V gel batteries a year ago. I expected them to last forever since I rarely have outages.

The two batteries were cheaper than 4 lead acid batteries.

I'm not very impressed with the gel batteries. The time they last is definitely decreasing.

At this point, if the power goes off long enough to run them down, I start the generator to recharge them and keep the house going.

I really don't know what my next set will be.

 

[reilleyp]

I am very happy so far with my WECO LiPo batteries. I only have them 2 years so there is not much to report yet. The great thing about them is that it has an app so that I can monitor them when I am out of the country.

 

[JD Jones]

I am very happy so far with my WECO LiPo batteries. I only have them 2 years so there is not much to report yet. The great thing about them is that it has an app so that I can monitor them when I am out of the country.

Did you buy them locally?

 

[sosuadr]

I use Lithium (LiFepO4)batteries good for 6000-8000 charge-recharge cycles of daily usage (16-20years!) One of these is the same or more than 8 led Acid batteries worth of charge they are now more easily measured in KWH such as mine is 7.5kwh (so that means 7500 watts of power or according to your ede Norte meter 7.5kwh which is about an entier days worth of power for me. Mine is 24v I would someday like to upgrade to 48v and get a bigger inverter so that I could use it for my 220v well pump. If you are looking to buy one of used ones let me know.

 

[reilleyp]

Did you buy them locally?

+1 (829) 680-9084. Luis Sosa LS Green Energy Systems. Very knowledgeable guy who does not play any games. Straight shooter.