...... Are you better off just buying a decent brand lifepo4 with a warranty? .....
Thanks
Has ANYONE actually been successful and happy getting warranty service or replacement with a malfunctioning manufactured battery, especially brands from China? I would NOT count on it or include warranty service as part of they buying equation. It is likely to be a headache, hassle, expensive or worse.
I purchased 2 GSL 100 AH batteries and required service on both for different reasons and support was HORRIBLE and I ended up fixing the problems myself via the internet. Their BS and back peddling and disgusting support and then their sudden cut off of communication was a complete reversal of their sales bullshit. Felicity batteries completely lied to me and then again stopped communication when asked to prove their lie. Other Chinese manufacturers when contacted were of similar bullshit. GSL, 18 months ago was the most convincing. Today no way in hell would I expect warranty service and it will likely be an expensive nightmare, especially for a manufactured battery from China. Dealing with GSL from getting info pre-purchase, to the bullshit during purchase, then the bizarre extreme bullshit regarding shipping, idiotic holiday delays, idiotic translation problems through the entire process. Idiotic dealing only with 1 salesperson allowed, Complete useless manual with wrong or poor information and settings. Abysmal support where they never did solve the problems and then stopped communication. They could not or said they could not open jpegs nor mp4 videos, despite my sending them 3 different methods via email or email links or email links for downloads. Very smart tech support could not open the files and yet my friends could.
At least with building from individual cells, I've read and watched videos of DIY'ers getting a few cells replaced under warranty or from user mistakes, but I have yet to read or view a video of a manufactured battery being replaced or repaired in an easy and successful manner, especially if off shore. Maybe Battle Born has better service or one of the US distributors of Chinese batteries, but not everyone lives in the USA, so what about those buyers? And even the US distributors have had hassles as you can read in the forums.
And as mentioned earlier, buying pre-built, you learn very little and the battery manufacturers will teach you very little. Hell some of them have incoherent and totally useless User Guides / Manuals, eg: GSL Energy.
Personally, when or if I have to upgrade my battery, I would build my own, choose my own BMS, have the BMS software for troubleshooting and learn what to do vs. relying on Manufacturers most of which will be hard pressed to provide support let alone service and easy successful warranty service. Most will call you a liar, maybe not up front, but you will have to prove your case first then jump through many hoops. Hell Outback USA support was so convoluted, communication was so poor and lacking and bizarre and warranty service took months, which for someone 100% off grid is a big deal, where Outback with all their knowledge and resources and reputation could not have cared less.
Summary, unless it's local, expect service, support and warranty to be a hassle or non existent. Hell, just read some of the threads of hassles forum users here have had with solar panels, inverters and batteries. The solar business is kind of a joke when it comes to service and warranty. At least it was for me and some others. So go lower cost, learn a lot and you'll probably make as good a battery as the manufacturers.