Hey all,
So currently I have (2) 6V Golf Cart Batteries in series, (1) 240W 24v Solar Panel connected to a Renogy MPPT Tracer charge controller, (1) 100W 12v solar panel connected to a Renogy PWM charge controller, and a Xantrex ProWatt 600W pure sine wave inverter. This entire setup is outside in an unheated shed about 50' away from the cabin. I'm in central PA and the winters can occasionally get down to around zero degrees F for several days at a time. Yes, I have to water the batteries. But, only about 3-4 times a year and it's not really a problem...
This system has been running my entire recreational cabin for 6 years now and the batteries are still going strong. (I've only run them below 80% charge maybe twice and those two times not below 70%). My normal routine is to run our Champion 2000W inverter generator when running our freezer/fridge conversion, the vacuum, taking showers that uses our Shurflo water pump, and watching movies or the kids playing xbox. So for the most part, the batteries are only there for nightime lights, and flushing toilets, washing hands, etc. When I'm up by myself, I do use it more mainly because I don't always need the fridge and the batteries can easily handle my quick showers, plus no xbox
So at this point, I don't really "need" any more power. But, I would like longer runtime, such that we could watch a movie without having to worry about draining the batteries too far too fast. So the easiest and least expensive upgrade is to just get (4) GC2's and wire them up in series/parallel and as such double my runtime. This will cost me about $450. (I already have a 2nd 240W 24v panel that I can add to the MPPT as well)
Now, if I switch to LifePO4, I would be looking at (1) roughly 240AH 12v LifePO4 to match the (4) GC2s safe runtime. Looks like I could possibly find one of these in the $600 - $800 range (more if I buy from a more "trusted" source). Now I know the theoretical lifetime of these "should" be much longer than FLA. However, if I go this route, I also need to upgrade my charge controller to one with a low temperature cutoff and also setup some way to heat the batteries in the winter. (This could add another couple hundred.) So let's say to be safe, I'm looking at $1500 to go LifePO4 and let's say I can expect 20 years of use (I know maybe more). But, I'd have to deal with the low temp problem in the winter.
Currently, I have no worries about using and charging my batteries during the winter. If I switch, I imagine I'd have to be careful and pay more attention to making sure they're warm before charging as well as being careful not to drain them too far if I know I can't charge them... For $1500, I can stay with (4) GC2's and replace them 3 times. With my low usage, I expect to get 7-10 years out of the GC2's. So about the same long term costs as the LifePO4's... And that's assuming the GC2 prices stay the same
So am I missing something?
Thanks for any thoughts...
Jeff
So currently I have (2) 6V Golf Cart Batteries in series, (1) 240W 24v Solar Panel connected to a Renogy MPPT Tracer charge controller, (1) 100W 12v solar panel connected to a Renogy PWM charge controller, and a Xantrex ProWatt 600W pure sine wave inverter. This entire setup is outside in an unheated shed about 50' away from the cabin. I'm in central PA and the winters can occasionally get down to around zero degrees F for several days at a time. Yes, I have to water the batteries. But, only about 3-4 times a year and it's not really a problem...
This system has been running my entire recreational cabin for 6 years now and the batteries are still going strong. (I've only run them below 80% charge maybe twice and those two times not below 70%). My normal routine is to run our Champion 2000W inverter generator when running our freezer/fridge conversion, the vacuum, taking showers that uses our Shurflo water pump, and watching movies or the kids playing xbox. So for the most part, the batteries are only there for nightime lights, and flushing toilets, washing hands, etc. When I'm up by myself, I do use it more mainly because I don't always need the fridge and the batteries can easily handle my quick showers, plus no xbox
So at this point, I don't really "need" any more power. But, I would like longer runtime, such that we could watch a movie without having to worry about draining the batteries too far too fast. So the easiest and least expensive upgrade is to just get (4) GC2's and wire them up in series/parallel and as such double my runtime. This will cost me about $450. (I already have a 2nd 240W 24v panel that I can add to the MPPT as well)
Now, if I switch to LifePO4, I would be looking at (1) roughly 240AH 12v LifePO4 to match the (4) GC2s safe runtime. Looks like I could possibly find one of these in the $600 - $800 range (more if I buy from a more "trusted" source). Now I know the theoretical lifetime of these "should" be much longer than FLA. However, if I go this route, I also need to upgrade my charge controller to one with a low temperature cutoff and also setup some way to heat the batteries in the winter. (This could add another couple hundred.) So let's say to be safe, I'm looking at $1500 to go LifePO4 and let's say I can expect 20 years of use (I know maybe more). But, I'd have to deal with the low temp problem in the winter.
Currently, I have no worries about using and charging my batteries during the winter. If I switch, I imagine I'd have to be careful and pay more attention to making sure they're warm before charging as well as being careful not to drain them too far if I know I can't charge them... For $1500, I can stay with (4) GC2's and replace them 3 times. With my low usage, I expect to get 7-10 years out of the GC2's. So about the same long term costs as the LifePO4's... And that's assuming the GC2 prices stay the same
So am I missing something?
Thanks for any thoughts...
Jeff