CHINS 200Ah LiFePO4 battery test/review

Yeah, I am disappointed. I am already getting all kinds of worthless feedback from CHINS. They said they are sending my data and results to their engineers to try and resolve this issue. WHAT???????????????????? How are you going to resolve this? Only way I can think of is to send me a replacement set of the same garbage, or a refund. I already submitted the refund on Amazon, and I am waiting on an answer, up to 48 hours. In 48 hours, Chinese new years starts. Seven more days of waiting.

As for sending Will a battery, ithat would set me back over $160 for a tear down. Sorry, but I don't have that right now. I would love to see it happen though. Thanks for tuning in everyone. I hope I helped someone out.

Thanks for taking one for the team!

Well then. Guess I'm back to square one on what battery I'm going with.

I was planning on getting 4 of the 300Ah Chins. Was all excited at the cost and power I would have and now..

Guess I'll look closer at ampere time, they have a 24v 100ah

GREAT NEWS! I escalated this with Amazon, and CHINS already sent me return UPS shipping labels. They are already packed and I am taking them to the UPS drop off a little later. Going to order two more of the 200Ah Ampere Time Batteries I already have while they are still $200 off. It was fun and, they all lived happily ever after.

Chins responded to my email -

Questions:
Product = 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery - 200Ah and 300Ah batteries that are listed on amazon.com
1) Do these have a low voltage discharge shutoff in the BMS?
2) Do these have a low temperature cutoff?
3) What number of cells in the 200Ah and 300Ah?
4) What is the cell type/wiring for the 200Ahand 300Ah? IE: 300Ah = 8s 280Ah 3.2V in 4s2p
5) What cell balancing features does this battery include?

Answers from Chins:
1. The battery pack has a discharge low-voltage protection function. Generally, it will protect the board at 9.2-9.7V. We recommend that the inverter end over-discharge protection cut-off voltage is 10V.
2. When the battery pack is discharged below -20 degrees, the discharge low temperature protection is triggered, and when the battery pack is charged below 0 degrees, the charge protection is triggered. (The ordinary lithium iron phosphate battery does not have the low temperature protection function of charging,
Low temperature heating lithium iron phosphate battery has low temperature protection function) Please check our low temperature heating lithium iron phosphate battery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N56268P?ref=myi_title_dp
3. There are 8 3.2V100Ah batteries inside the 200Ah battery pack, 4S2P combination.
There are 8 3.2V150Ah batteries inside the 300Ah battery pack, 4S2P combination.
4. Our battery types are all lithium iron phosphate batteries with 25*2mm connecting pieces inside, and the output positive and negative wires are 2 6AWG wires connected in parallel to the copper terminals of the shell.
5. The battery pack has the function of passive charging balance.

Pros:
Price
Passive charge balancing

Cons:
9.2-9.7V cutoff that doesn't appear to work
No low temp cutoff in the non-heated version
Doesn't look like they are provide advertised capacity

If you don't feel up to building your own battery, an off-the-shelf battery is what you're left with. But it's going to cost more money for less Ah than you can get if you build one yourself.

My two 4s 280Ah batteries cost ~$940 (including shipping from China), plus $240 for two Overkill Solar BMS. I now have 560 Ah, with 240 amps of throughput for $1180. More than twice the capacity and well over four times the charge current.

A Battleborn battery comparable to the CHINS would cost about $2,000 (reg price, but they're on sale now for $899). In that case you would have a full 200Ah capacity. But you would still have less Ah capacity than a DIY equivalent.

What a crock of $%#! in point 1.

1. The battery pack has a discharge low-voltage protection function. Generally, it will protect the board at 9.2-9.7V. We recommend that the inverter end over-discharge protection cut-off voltage is 10V.
I am never going to rely on my inverter to protect my battery, That is what the BMS is for. It is there to protect the battery cells. The inverter adding the protection is also added safety. The BMS in this battery is just terrible. The low voltage cut-off didn't even work at all. The last test I did allowed me to apply a load even at 8.37V, and they still didn't shut down, on both batteries. Not just a coincidence.

2. When the battery pack is discharged below -20 degrees, the discharge low temperature protection is triggered, and when the battery pack is charged below 0 degrees, the charge protection is triggered. (The ordinary lithium iron phosphate battery does not have the low temperature protection function of charging.
The batteries I purchased have no low temperature cut off for charging. That is only available on their model with internal heating. I also do not need the low temp charging cut-off for these batteries as they will be installed in my utility room which is climatized.

3 and 4 are clear.

5. The battery pack has the function of passive charging balance.
This is one point that allows them to sell this for $899.

As for capacity, the advertising on Amazon states:

"Each battery Can Support 2560W Power Output"​

Not very confident wording.

I wash my hands of these things.

Repro said:

OK, I am done with the testing and have contacted CHINS for a refund. Let's see how this goes. I charged the batteries partially, then put under a load to see if the low voltage cut-off worked. I let it drop to 8.37v and gave up. The BMS's just do not work, they provide no protection whatsoever, and the risk of damaging the cells inside are just way too high. I do not want to speculate on what I would find inside if I were to open them. If CHINS refunds my money, and doesn't want the batteries back, I will cut these paper weights open and see. DONE!

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hmm this is unfortunate. I have 2 of them on the way and no way to cancel it at this stage, i purchased based on some supposition using the reviews and questions as a litmus test (several people complained about the batteries turning off when the voltage dropped below the cut off point not understanding the low voltage cut off so i assumed that would function). let me know how the refund goes.

I ended up going with 3 24v 200Ah batteries through a different no name company scream power. I noticed a number of these companies have new stock coming in March and I'm avoiding anyone with stock right now as I'm worried they are recycling returns for current demand.

I'll post my experience when mine come in sometime in late March.

I don't have a bunch of gear lying around and figured if I went with 24v batteries I can test them better with my 24v equipment without needing a bunch of extra crap just for the test. I was also looking to avoid 4 12 in 2 sets of series in parallel so that made my decision for me. If these don't live to to the advertising I'll return via Amazon a-z

Not going to lie, I've got a little bit of pucker factor in the backside as I wait to see if these things are crap or not.

I escalated it to Amazon immediately. After negotiations between Amazon and CHINS, they paid the return and sent me Parcel labels. I shipped them today. As for the refund, I saw to it that they did an immediate refund, and once I had the funds, they sent me the labels. In exchange, I had to change my Amazon review. Amazon is aware of the deal for my case.

great!

Repro said:

I escalated it to Amazon immediately. After negotiations between Amazon and CHINS, they paid the return and sent me Parcel labels. I shipped them today. As for the refund, I saw to it that they did an immediate refund, and once I had the funds, they sent me the labels. In exchange, I had to change my Amazon review. Amazon is aware of the deal for my case.

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I was thinking of recommending my brother look into these for his boat, but you’ve saved me the trouble...

Thanks for sharing.

HRTKD said:

If you don't feel up to building your own battery, an off-the-shelf battery is what you're left with. But it's going to cost more money for less Ah than you can get if you build one yourself.

My two 4s 280Ah batteries cost ~$940 (including shipping from China), plus $240 for two Overkill Solar BMS. I now have 560 Ah, with 240 amps of throughput for $1180. More than twice the capacity and well over four times the charge current.

A Battleborn battery comparable to the CHINS would cost about $2,000 (reg price, but they're on sale now for $899). In that case you would have a full 200Ah capacity. But you would still have less Ah capacity than a DIY equivalent.

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Where did you find 200AH battleborns on sale for $899? That is a good price!

$899 is for the 200Ah CHINS batteries, not the Battleborn's, and it is not a good deal, trust me!

So did the Battery have any type of Programming software - Battery app to change settings on the BMS?

No it did not. There was no access to the BMS. The only way to get to it was cutting the case open. The warranty is then gone.

Someone from this forum mentioned "DIYSOLARFORUM" in their Amazon review, and the fact that they cancelled their order has caused CHINS to get in an uproar. I guess they checked it out, and they are slamming me for not changing my negative review on Amazon, which was part of the agreement for them paying return shipment. I did change my review and Amazon OK'd it. But I find it awesome that this forum has found a way to help people. Thanks Will!

I considered writing a "be careful" review. But it sounds like someone beat me to it. Poor products need reviews that see the light of day.

Repro said:

Someone from this forum mentioned "DIYSOLARFORUM" in their Amazon review, and the fact that they cancelled their order has caused CHINS to get in an uproar. I guess they checked it out, and they are slamming me for not changing my negative review on Amazon, which was part of the agreement for them paying return shipment. I did change my review and Amazon OK'd it. But I find it awesome that this forum has found a way to help people. Thanks Will!

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I'm actually not even seeing your negative review on amazon at all. I do see the DIYSOLAR one.

Repro said:

Someone from this forum mentioned "DIYSOLARFORUM" in their Amazon review, and the fact that they cancelled their order has caused CHINS to get in an uproar. I guess they checked it out, and they are slamming me for not changing my negative review on Amazon, which was part of the agreement for them paying return shipment. I did change my review and Amazon OK'd it. But I find it awesome that this forum has found a way to help people. Thanks Will!

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That was me , thank you again for the review.
IMH Guess: The BMS voltage references are untrimmed and to the low side. Charging cuts out at 14.3, discharging 9.3.