Nickel Iron vs. Lead Acid - Off Grid battery debate

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  • Mike90250
    Moderator
    • May 2009
    • 16020

    nope, just what was in the link a posts ago. Unable to verify any of the claims. Now if the vendor was to offer me a 48V 600ah pack, I could evaluate it against my pocket 800ah pack.
    But since the links on their page don't work, I have little hope that it's an actual product.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

    Comment

    • mdagli1
      Junior Member
      • Apr 2020
      • 21

      Mike90250 Datasheets can be found here: http://encell.com/fused-iron-batteries/

      The only bit I'm interested in really is at what state of charge does it start gassing at or if it is the same as pocket. I emailed them directly to see if I could get an answer.
      Last edited by mdagli1; 10-06-2021, 02:55 PM.

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      • Saggys
        Member
        • Jul 2011
        • 63

        Is this the same Encell that was supposed to open a manufacturing facility in Florida around 2014?
        After checking out their website it looks like Chinese manufactured batteries are still the only reliable source for NIFE cells.
        Last edited by Saggys; 10-08-2021, 08:55 AM. Reason: added second sentence

        Comment

        • mdagli1
          Junior Member
          • Apr 2020
          • 21

          Hello, so this is where I'm at the moment. Encell has failed to respond to my email so I've turned to my Chinese supplier where I got my 10Ah samples from. Apparently, they make the sintered version as well but they said it won't resolve the gassing issue...

          I've asked about what absorbent material can be used between the plates that might help... (like an AGM)

          Comment

          • Saggys
            Member
            • Jul 2011
            • 63

            Don't ever let someone tell you that NiFe batteries can't freeze, they can. I bought 22 250 amp hour batteries used and stored them in a connex box till this coming spring. 20 received weekly maintenance charge and they are fine. 1 was a never flooded spare, the other was a flooded spare that was discharged, that is the one that froze and broke the case. I spot checked the SG on about 5 of the cells and they were in the correct zone on the hydrometer, so I figured all was good. I understand if the SG is low enough it will freeze, so I should of checked all of them. It gets very cold up in Northwest, WI., -20F is not uncommon. The other batteries are now stored in a warm place till spring and will be in a controlled environment from now on. My lead acids have never broke a case on me, even not fully charged.

            Comment

            • Mike90250
              Moderator
              • May 2009
              • 16020

              The SG of a NiFe battery does not change with state of charge. The KoH electrolyte freezes well below -40F If a case burst, it was not filled with electrolyte.
              Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

              Comment

              • Saggys
                Member
                • Jul 2011
                • 63

                The supposed electrolyte was 9 years old, could it have weakened or stratified? 30577.jpeg

                Comment

                • Mike90250
                  Moderator
                  • May 2009
                  • 16020

                  I think 27% is the normal battery solution. To freeze, it had to have been greatly diluted.

                  koh_freeze_graphs.jpg
                  Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

                  Comment

                  • Saggys
                    Member
                    • Jul 2011
                    • 63

                    I agree, I will be doing an electrolyte change this spring on the remainder. Thanks for posting the graphs.

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