The off-grid battery is a very popular item in off-grid life right now. Since off-grid means that there is no connection to the local power grid, it is particularly important to use electricity normally in an off-grid state.
What is Off-grid Battery?
An off-grid battery is a battery used in off-grid scenarios, although we will call it an off-grid battery, in reality, it may just be a lead-acid battery or a LiFePO4 battery. Off-grid batteries generally choose to use deep cycle batteries, because this guarantees more available capacity of the battery.
Why Off-grid Battery is important?
In an off-grid scenario, it seems that everything we take for granted is hard to use.
Under normal living conditions, we can cook rice on the induction cooker in the kitchen, make coffee with the coffee machine, and watch the recipes on YouTube through the computer. It seems that everything is inseparable from electricity.
In an off-grid scenario, the induction cookers, refrigerators, and coffee machines we are familiar with cannot be used because they are all powered by electricity. We must-have devices that generate electricity or containers that store electricity in order for them to work.
That’s the importance of off-grid batteries, which store electricity for us so that it can be released when we need to use it. If there is no off-grid battery, we can only return to the most primitive life or use the oil-fired generator that causes serious pollution to the environment. Of course, we all know that the oil-fired generator is very noisy, and there is no problem in emergency use, but if Long-term use is not feasible.
Relatively speaking, off-grid batteries are cleaner and more environmentally friendly. And there is no noise, which can guarantee you a quiet environment during long-lasting vacations or life.
What is the beat Off-grid Battery?
There are two types of off-grid batteries that are currently most used, lead-acid batteries (mainly Gel batteries and AGM batteries) and LiFePO4 batteries, of course, there are less popular ones, such as lead-carbon batteries and LTO batteries. These batteries can all provide power for off-grid scenarios, but which one is best?
Based on current battery technology and price, there is no doubt that the LiFePO4 battery is the most suitable for use as an off-grid battery. First of all, there is the issue of cost, which is also an option that most people will pay attention to. In the case of long-term off-grid, the default battery is generally used for a long time, that is, the working time of the battery will basically be more than 10 years. The LiFePO4 battery cycle life is very long, 10 years is not a big problem, you can always enjoy the benefits of LiFePO4 batteries during the life, although the upfront cost is higher. But there is no doubt that you can recoup the cost in a few years and continue to have fun for the rest of the time.
Secondly, there is the issue of capacity. At present, the energy density of LiFePO4 batteries is much higher than that of lead-acid batteries, and they all support more than 80% DOD discharge. This means that every battery can have up to 80%+ capacity available, which puts it away from lead-acid batteries that support 50% DOD discharge. In addition, the capacity of many LiFePO4 batteries will be relatively large at present, and some independent battery packs can also reach 9.6 kWh of energy. This is a good match for off-grid scenarios.
Finally, there is the issue of security. LiFePO4 battery safety is great and will not catch fire and explode even in extreme situations. The general off-grid scenario is in the wild, and once an accident occurs, it is actually difficult to deal with. So safety is a very important consideration for off-grid batteries.
LiFePO4 battery is the most cost-effective off-grid battery in long-term off-grid life, although in some cases the performance will not be as good as some other batteries, but in general, LiFePO4 battery can cope with most situations.
Summary
With the improvement of living standards, more and more people will choose to live off-grid. With sufficient funds, it is the expectation of more people to enjoy the benefits of returning to nature and the convenience of modern equipment at the same time. On the premise of having an off-grid battery to ensure power, you can use as many electrical appliances as you want, and I believe you can get a more perfect off-grid experience.
I have 2 12voltbattleborn lithium batteries at my camp that are 100amp.I have a model4860 60 amp controller and a2000watt samlex inverter (peak at 3800wattmy 3 panels combined are 810 watts, my controller is a smart concept
Hi Jason,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing the details of your off-grid setup with Battle Born lithium batteries. It sounds like you’ve put together a robust system to meet your energy needs at the camp.
Your combination of two 12V 100Ah Battle Born batteries, a 60A controller (model 4860), a 2000W Samlex inverter with a 3800W peak, and 810W of solar panels is a solid foundation for an off-grid system. Here are a few thoughts and tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your setup:
1. Battery Capacity: With two 12V 100Ah batteries, you have a total of 200Ah or approximately 2.4kWh of usable energy storage at 12V. Ensure that your daily energy consumption is well within this range to avoid excessive discharging, which can shorten battery life.
2. Charge Controller: Your 60A controller is suitable for the 810W of solar panels. It’s important to ensure that the controller is programmed correctly for lithium batteries. The ‘smart’ aspect usually refers to features like MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking), which optimizes the energy harvested from the solar panels. Double-check all settings align with the specific charging parameters recommended for your Battle Born batteries.
3. Inverter: The 2000W (3800W peak) Samlex inverter should be more than capable of handling the load from your typical appliances. Just ensure that your total simultaneous power draw doesn’t exceed the inverter’s capacity, especially during the peak periods. Also, be mindful of the inverter’s efficiency and its standby power consumption, as this will affect your overall battery usage.
4. Solar Panels: With 810W of solar panels, under ideal conditions, you should be able to generate approximately 4-5 kWh of energy on a sunny day. This should be sufficient to recharge your batteries, depending on your daily consumption and the sun exposure at your camp. Adjust the angle and direction of the panels periodically to capture the maximum sunlight.
5. Maintenance and Monitoring: Regularly check the connections, wiring, and the health of your batteries and panels. Keeping an eye on the system’s performance can help you catch and address any issues early, ensuring your setup continues to run smoothly.
If you have any specific questions, concerns, or need further assistance optimizing your system, please feel free to reach out. We’re here to help ensure your off-grid experience is as efficient and enjoyable as possible.
Best regards,
Eva