Advice on cheap and reliable batteries

Hello all!
I have a bit of a conundrum and I'm sure you knowledgeable and experienced peeps can help me out.
I am off-grid outside the US (so no servicing warranties) and I'm looking for a reliable 48v (or 24v setup-less desirable) battery with around a 3.5kw capacity. I designed my system two years ago, and planned on a 3.8KW 48v SimplyPhi which currently retails around $2,500. I am finally ready to bite the bullet, but when checking prices, I was shocked by the much lower price of other brands.

My top priority is reliability, the second is ease of installation (ie. Something I can't screw up), the third would be redundancy (I can always just keep a small emergency lead acid on hand). I'd prefer to save some money, but can spend up to 2,500. I have the 3k 48v Growatt hybrid inverter (https://growatt-america.com/show-42-589.html)

I'm currently considering:
Big Batteries - 48v Husky 5.2KW at $2,300.
Electric Car Parts Company - 48v 5.12KW at $2,000
Renogy - 48v 50Ah/2.4KW at $1,600
Battle born - 24v 50Ah/1.2KW at $800each
Ampere time - 48v 4.8KW at $2,500

I'd love to hear your brands and recommendations (no 12v banks please), as well as good and bad experiences with different batteries and brands. This is a huge purchase for me and I do need to make sure it will work for many years. Thanks!

Well, ,ecpc just went up 300 dls. Yey inflation!

Using the same Growatt with 2.3K of panels.

Initially I bought bigbattery 48V, nothing but problems. Then I bought CHINS 12V and put them in series for 48V, working great.

Just bought 30kW of EG4 from Signature Solar to pair with another 4kW array and a Growatt.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N53GF81/ 12V 300Ah $1039 .. 14kW for $4,400.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091YCZV2T/ 24V 100Ah .. 5kW for sub $2,000

solarzfun said:

Using the same Growatt with 2.3K of panels.

Initially I bought bigbattery 48V, nothing but problems. Then I bought CHINS 12V and put them in series for 48V, working great.

Just bought 30kW of EG4 from Signature Solar to pair with another 4kW array and a Growatt.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N53GF81/ 12V 300Ah $1039 .. 14kW for $4,400.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091YCZV2T/ 24V 100Ah .. 5kW for sub $2,000

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I was just going to make a post about Chins batteries to get a pole of how many people have them.

I bought one 12.8v 300ah for my RV And it’s been great so far. I’m living in it while setting up a new 32’ manufactured home in the mountains of Central Oregon off grid. I was thinking I might take the chance and buy 8 more for the house. So I would have 600ah@48v.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the info. I think i will just skip big battery then, save a penny, loose a dime... or something like that.

Jack Rabbit Off Grid said:

I was just going to make a post about Chins batteries to get a pole of how many people have them.

I bought one 12.8v 300ah for my RV And it’s been great so far. I’m living in it while setting up a new 32’ manufactured home in the mountains of Central Oregon off grid. I was thinking I might take the chance and buy 8 more for the house. So I would have 600ah@48v.

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My only concern with the Chins is what happens if there is a 'fire'. I'm building individual battery containers out of metal, or maybe cement board+metal.

It's been 3 months for me and they are cycling great. I get 90% charge by 1-2 pm with non-optimal array that misses sun after 3PM.

Angeliqu3 said:

I think i will just skip big battery then,

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Good plan

Has anyone have any experience with the BatteryEVO's. Thinking about 2each 202 Ah batteries to replace 2 Each 100 AH AGM batteries. Saw them on Amazon at 120 AH but their web site shows bigger ones.

And the EG4 batteries from eg SignatureSolar?

$1500 for 48V / 100Ah. (5.1kWh)
Much better deal than the HSKY.. those are 103Ah... for $2300 or the other options (which are in a similar range)

DJSmiley said:

$1500 for 48V / 100Ah. (5.1kWh)

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That is just under $300 per kWh.

DJSmiley said:

$1500 for 48V / 100Ah. (5.1kWh) (EG4)

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+ shipping, Amperetime and Chins have the prices including shipping.

With Signature Solar the shipping depends where you are in the country and how many you order. So do a full cost comparison.

You can get a CHins 24V 200AH (5,1kwh) for $1600 delivered. Amperetime delivers 5.1kwh for $2000

I am still kicking myself for not buying more of the 24v BYD's last year. Paying $140 per kwh seemed like an ok deal back then, and it was arguably a crap shoot buying used packs, but a year later my two batteries are working great. I just wish I has bought at least two more of them....