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Recommendations for what/where to buy LiFePO4 cells?

josh-nix

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Feb 26, 2022
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My current system is 12v 100Ah lead acid from 2020. (to get through load shedding (utility power goes off for 2.5 hours) when it happens (random frequency))

12v 100Ah (50Ah usable) is just barely enough currently, and I want to also start powering lights etc and I have capacity anxiety so I want to upgrade capacity.

I was planning to get another 12v 100Ah batt, and parallel it with my current battery. Or possibly 2x 12v and run a 24v system instead and keep this running as a 12v system (run both for different loads, and redundancy)

I know Will thinks that you shouldn't parallel lead acids of different ages, but I've done it a lot. I was running my 2020 12v 100Ah battery parallel with my 2013 100Ah and a friend's 2015 100Ah for a few months, but my 2013 battery died and I gave the friend back his battery, which is still going strong.

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So I assumed I'd buy more Lead Acid. But I'm aware of LiFePO's superiority but always assumed it was too expensive.

I saw videos by americans/europeans saying they got 4x 280Ah cells for around $500 shipped from China.

Looks like those prices aren't available at the moment?
What has changed?
Is it just high shipping costs?

(perhaps the right move is to buy Lead Acid again and wait/see if the world calms down and shipping prices retrace to normality)

When I search AliExpress, filter by Delivered to South Africa and set prices to USD. I see most of the shipping prices are crazy high.

What capacity cells do you recommend for getting a decent price per shipped Ah? I want at least 80Ah usable capacity of Lithium.
Since shipping is likely a huge % of total cost of buying cells from China, it seems wisest to just buy 280Ah cells or whatever?
I see people buying/selling 40Ah cells and it just doesn't make much sense to me.

I tried searching this forum. I couldn't find much current recommendations for particular AliExpress sellers.

I don't mind running a lower capacity cell at higher voltage. In fact I prefer higher battery bank voltages because then I can use thinner cables.

I'm considering getting 1 or more big solar panels or even a wind gen, so additional capacity won't be wasted.

I'd like to spend $500~1000 on cells.

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Then I'd probably run a Daly BMS.

Regarding the Daly BMS's (or clones thereof sold on Amazon) Let's assume I get one without the bluetooth (I prefer a BMS without bluetooth/wifi, would rather configure it another way, unless you can disable the wifi/bluetooth after configuring)... how do you set your cutoff voltage ranges or set limits on charge/discharge %?

Currently I'm using a 720W UPS that has 10 or 20A (selectable) charge capability. It charges at 14.4v but then drops the voltage down to a float of 13.6 after it's finished charging. It's designed for lead acid of course.

Because LiFePO4 12v banks run in a tigher range than lead acid (for over discharge and overcharge protection) Can I simply connect the Daly BMS to the UPS and the Daly BMS will protect the lithium cells from under/over charge?
 
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Go to Jenny Wu at Docan industries on Alibaba. 4 x 280ah was 650 usd delivered to Canada. She has a good following on this forum.
 
For the Bms instead of Daly - look at JDB - it’s the same as “Overkill” that you read about on this site. The guy that does Overkill buys them from China and repacks them with a little bit of added value - mainly so those of us in America can get it in a few days.
Ask Jenny Wi @ Docan about the bms - I think others have said she can add it to a cell order.
 
This is the link I bought mine for $150ea from Jenny Wu from Docan. I got mine in 7days!
Send inquiry and ask if they have the 280ah at the Texas Warehouse.
I have noticed ppl adding a BMS to their order.
 
I think you need to think about your usage time - are you using it for years or more than ten years? If it's a few years, maybe lead-acid batteries are better and cheaper! But if you use it for more than ten years, then Li-ion batteries (such as the LiFePO4 batteries you mentioned) are better, after the time dimension becomes longer, you will be surprised to find that it is not very expensive, you will get better and cheaper 's battery. Maybe you can read LFP Battery VS AGM Battery for more details that can help you decide which battery to choose.

Regarding the shipping cost... Need to admit that the current impact of COVID-19 is very large, which is also the main reason for the skyrocketing shipping cost (of course there are other reasons, such as tariffs...), in fact, it is recommended that you start from owning a local warehouse, which should help you save on shipping.
 
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