Battery brand recommendation for a mostly Victron System

Hey peps..

I need to buy some batteries. I am currently using a couple Renogy 100AH's with a Bluetooth adapter. They were on short term loan and have to go back. So now I need my own batteries.

The system is mostly Victron with a Multiplus Compact 2000, Cerbo GX, Lynx power in (used as a distributer) and assorted other parts. I also have a Renogy 50A DC2DC in the mix as well.

I have looked at the Victron Batteries but price wise they don't seem to be the best choice.

What cheaper brands would you recommend available in Canada (or USA and I can order to the border for pickup). I would like them to have low temp protection and bluetooth. I would also love something that talks to the Cerbo but I don't see any affordable options with this.

Looking at 12V total capacity 300-600Ah.. So a single 300AH would be ok, or maybe 2x200AH.. 200A continuous should be fine as well.

Lots of affordable batteries just nothing with bluetooth or communications that I can find above 100AH. Thoughts or suggestions?

2X 206Ah SOK w/Bluetooth, US$649 ea

sunshine_eggo said:

2X 206Ah SOK w/Bluetooth, US$649 ea

SOK 12V 206Ah LiFePO4 Solar Battery | Current Connected

Max discharge 100A, Max charge 50A, plastic or metal casing, 4000-8000 cycle lifespan, user-servicable design, built-in smart BMS, high/low temp disconnects

www.currentconnected.com

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Interesting. I had looked at the SOK's but ruled them out due to price. It seems like CurrentConnected is way cheaper then most other places.. They have no stock right now though. I will be interested to see what the prices are when they get more stock.

Mostly a subjective query…

Besides battleborn, you mostly get what you pay for. But then there are some quality barebones chinese offerings with great customer service.

One mans trash is anothers treasure.

If youre using a Cerbo and/or smart shunt it would not be necessary to go bluetooth.

If you properly insulate/heat your batteries externally you could forego the internal heating, as to me there doesnt seem to be an optimal controllable operation of the heating function in any of the brands anyway.

I was able to score chinesium 100Ah x3 for $600 delivered. Even had one replaced hassle-free. Just returned from a weekend trip powering the Starlink 24/7 and diesel heater overnights. Blah blah blah my point is they work great! Your mileage may vary.

Battery type/brand preference is subjective. If you require bells and whistles, you will need to pay to play.

Hey 12vDC....

12vDC said:

Besides battleborn, you mostly get what you pay for. But then there are some quality barebones chinese offerings with great customer service.

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Battleborns are more money then I can get the Victron's for.. So no real interest there...

12vDC said:

One mans trash is anothers treasure.

If youre using a Cerbo and/or smart shunt it would not be necessary to go bluetooth.

Click to expand...

The reason for bluetooth is I can not find many options that will talk with the Cerbo. A few DIY BMS's have comms but beyond that I don't see many options. I was just watching some videos on EPOCH. they might be an options. Any others?

12vDC said:

If you properly insulate/heat your batteries externally you could forego the internal heating, as to me there doesnt seem to be an optimal controllable operation of the heating function in any of the brands anyway.

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Ya, no interest in heating.. I may once in awhile have the trailer out in the cold weather but the batteries are in the heated living area though so should not be a problem. It just makes sense to me though to have the low temp cutoff as a minimum.

12vDC said:

I was able to score chinesium 100Ah x3 for $600 delivered. Even had one replaced hassle-free. Just returned from a weekend trip powering the Starlink 24/7 and diesel heater overnights. Blah blah blah my point is they work great! Your mileage may vary.

Battery type/brand preference is subjective. If you require bells and whistles, you will need to pay to play.

Click to expand...

This is where I have asked the questions.. I am having a hard time finding the right combo.
Comms to Victron OR bluetooth.
200+AH
Affordable... IE I like the LiTime but they only have bluetooth in a new 100AH battery, nothing larger that I see. I understand I will pay more for more features better brands. I am just not willing to pay 3 times the price for the Battleborn.

EPOCH might be an options, if not the SOK. I don't see any I can order right now though. So still open to options. Mind you I am not in a hurry either..

Thanks !

Aims has a 12V 200AH LFP with Bluetooth. Can be had for $649 on Amazon - Free shipping.

Part Number: LFP12V200B

12vDC said:

If youre using a Cerbo and/or smart shunt it would not be necessary to go bluetooth.

Click to expand...

Unless you want cell data.

bedpan said:

The reason for bluetooth is I can not find many options that will talk with the Cerbo. A few DIY BMS's have comms but beyond that I don't see many options. I was just watching some videos on EPOCH. they might be an options. Any others?

Click to expand...

Just because it's bluetooth doesn't mean it will talk to the Cerbo. You didn't specify that as a need.

If you're open to DIY, there is a reliable driver that will connect JBD (as well as many others, but I have experience with JBD specifically) that will enable full communication and control via UART to USB comms. I've had it offline for about a month, but here's a VRM custom widget:




Showing SoC, volts, amps and min/max cell voltages. The Cerbo console will report all 4 cell voltages realtime, but it only logs min/max.

sunshine_eggo said:

Unless you want cell data.



Just because it's bluetooth doesn't mean it will talk to the Cerbo. You didn't specify that as a need.

If you're open to DIY, there is a reliable driver that will connect JBD (as well as many others, but I have experience with JBD specifically) that will enable full communication and control via UART to USB comms. I've had it offline for about a month, but here's a VRM custom widget:

View attachment 201526


Showing SoC, volts, amps and min/max cell voltages. The Cerbo console will report all 4 cell voltages realtime, but it only logs min/max.

Click to expand...

This is interesting, maybe I'll pop the top of my AOlithium battery that has a jbd BMS and are if I can sort it out. Glad the lid is bolted on and not glued!

Dooug said:

This is interesting, maybe I'll pop the top of my AOlithium battery that has a jbd BMS and are if I can sort it out. Glad the lid is bolted on and not glued!

Click to expand...

For my JBD, I had to disconnect the bluetooth dongle from the UART port and get a UART to USB adapter from overkill plugged into the UART port.


Driver:

sunshine_eggo said:

Just because it's bluetooth doesn't mean it will talk to the Cerbo. You didn't specify that as a need.

If you're open to DIY, there is a reliable driver that will connect JBD (as well as many others, but I have experience with JBD specifically) that will enable full communication and control via UART to USB comms. I've had it offline for about a month, but here's a VRM custom widget:

Click to expand...

Its to bad there is not better bluetooth support into the Cerbo but I do understand that its not an option.
I have a Shunt... But I do like to be able to see what each battery/cells are doing. I also do re-use these batteries outside of the trailer when we are not camping. I have one of the renogys on my Sump Pump right now and another on standby for a UPS for power outages..

bedpan said:

Its to bad there is not better bluetooth support into the Cerbo but I do understand that its not an option.
I have a Shunt... But I do like to be able to see what each battery/cells are doing. I also do re-use these batteries outside of the trailer when we are not camping. I have one of the renogys on my Sump Pump right now and another on standby for a UPS for power outages..

Click to expand...

IMHO, BT as a platform isn't reliable enough. I tried the same driver using its BT support, and it was not reliable.

The only thing Victron trusts it for is VE.Smart networking, which is for sharing/monitoring, but the devices retain their own control, with their own sense equipment as backup.

I would be very hesitant to trust something connected via BT to actually control my system like a BMS does.

Victron admits that the BT on the Cerbo GX at least is "bad" as in does not have good range. They even recommend using external BT dongle if you use Ruuvi BT temp sensors which are directly supported by the Venus OS.

rhino said:

Victron admits that the BT on the Cerbo GX at least is "bad" as in does not have good range. They even recommend using external BT dongle if you use Ruuvi BT temp sensors which are directly supported by the Venus OS.

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I have been using a Pi4 for the last year or so with the Venus OS. I did just buy a new Cerbo though sitting in the box. I will swap it out at some point... I have heard the Wifi and the BT is not great on the Cerbo's.
The PI's wifi surprises me. Its in a metal box (trailer) on the far side of my property. My phones get no wifi but the Pi somehow connects and I can reach the VRM with realtime data.. I wonder how the Cerbo will compare.

bedpan said:

Hey peps..

I need to buy some batteries. I am currently using a couple Renogy 100AH's with a Bluetooth adapter. They were on short term loan and have to go back. So now I need my own batteries.

The system is mostly Victron with a Multiplus Compact 2000, Cerbo GX, Lynx power in (used as a distributer) and assorted other parts. I also have a Renogy 50A DC2DC in the mix as well.

I have looked at the Victron Batteries but price wise they don't seem to be the best choice.

What cheaper brands would you recommend available in Canada (or USA and I can order to the border for pickup). I would like them to have low temp protection and bluetooth. I would also love something that talks to the Cerbo but I don't see any affordable options with this.

Looking at 12V total capacity 300-600Ah.. So a single 300AH would be ok, or maybe 2x200AH.. 200A continuous should be fine as well.

Lots of affordable batteries just nothing with bluetooth or communications that I can find above 100AH. Thoughts or suggestions?

Click to expand...

Current Connected has an Epoch 12V 300AH V2 advertised with a Victron Comm port.

Although I don't think you can use more than 1 with the comm port?

seneysolar said:

Current Connected has an Epoch 12V 300AH V2 advertised with a Victron Comm port.

Although I don't think you can use more than 1 with the comm port?

Click to expand...

The Epoch seem to be one of the best options. Also like the SOK.. Pricing in Canada is very high, CurrentConnected seems to be the cheapest.. They have no stock though.. I will keep reading and researching. Thanks for the suggestion.

Will did a Youtube on the epoch 460ah.

Sun Fun Kits 300HP or the 275EX seem to be very good with victron compatibility and some nice options like bluetooth, heaters, and active balancer:

more batteries can be added by attaching a usb hub to the cerbo, in the sfk demo video they showed 4 batts attached.

You could probably get a raspberry pi with venus OS and a usb to get it all to communicate if you don't have a cerbo gx.

Epoch would be the other choice, but it has a HUGE downfall:

• VICTRON COMMS – Max of 1S1P for communications, cannot string multiple batteries for communication purposes.

The sfk batt allow up to 8:


Finally there is Voltgo but its quite pricey but again it may only allow 1 battery at a time.

I got there 275SE battery recently (not listed on there site but they will sell to you if you contact them) its a non heated battery with a 150 amp bms but still has cold temp protection and bluetooth as well as the comms to victron:

It was $1,040 shipped and came with the data port and the non heated version of the switch. I didn't buy the data cable as I have yet to buy the multiplus 2 3000 12v.

Here is the manual: