50ShadesOfDirt
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2021
- Messages
- 437
Li Time (formerly Ampere Time) batteries ... ordered, rec'd 2 x 12v200aH LiFePO4 batteries (plus model, w/ 200a BMS), approx $660/ea. To be configured in 24v battery bank, for upcoming Tiny Home, truck/topper projects (along with 24v MPP).
Good stuff, for these reasons:
- local US warehouse (ca, and now tx warehouses)
- for the main house existing battery bank of 2 x 12v300aH (Ampere Time 200a bms) batteries, approaching 2 years of operation now
- early on, one BMS was giving grief ... after some testing, they swapped entire battery out for another new one (their nickel, sending me prepaid UPS label (I kept the shipping boxes). That's service!
- new batteries ship in same high-quality shipping boxes; each box had a ding on outside, but it never made it through to the batteries.
- extra battery post bolts, protective covers, etc.
- nicely written instructions. staff follows through on messaging (did you get the batteries, what do you like, what could we do better)
Possible cons, depending on how you look at these things:
- sealed ABS-shell batteries, no metal case (but very nicely built, nonetheless)
- no smart BMS functionality
What I told them they could do better:
- option for 12v, 24v, 48v chargers with LFP routines, like the EG4 48vdc recent model (I'm off-grid, need it in 24v, needs to eat dirty gen power of 120v or 240v); currently use a NOCO 12v 25-amp charger to individually top off such batteries, before final cfg into battery bank.
- add smart BMS to batteries.
- option for smart shunt (if internal BMS doesn't get smart)
Anyway ... good batteries, local US warehouses, great tech support. Kept me from building my own batteries (and resulting hair-pulling).
Good stuff, for these reasons:
- local US warehouse (ca, and now tx warehouses)
- for the main house existing battery bank of 2 x 12v300aH (Ampere Time 200a bms) batteries, approaching 2 years of operation now
- early on, one BMS was giving grief ... after some testing, they swapped entire battery out for another new one (their nickel, sending me prepaid UPS label (I kept the shipping boxes). That's service!
- new batteries ship in same high-quality shipping boxes; each box had a ding on outside, but it never made it through to the batteries.
- extra battery post bolts, protective covers, etc.
- nicely written instructions. staff follows through on messaging (did you get the batteries, what do you like, what could we do better)
Possible cons, depending on how you look at these things:
- sealed ABS-shell batteries, no metal case (but very nicely built, nonetheless)
- no smart BMS functionality
What I told them they could do better:
- option for 12v, 24v, 48v chargers with LFP routines, like the EG4 48vdc recent model (I'm off-grid, need it in 24v, needs to eat dirty gen power of 120v or 240v); currently use a NOCO 12v 25-amp charger to individually top off such batteries, before final cfg into battery bank.
- add smart BMS to batteries.
- option for smart shunt (if internal BMS doesn't get smart)
Anyway ... good batteries, local US warehouses, great tech support. Kept me from building my own batteries (and resulting hair-pulling).