Nickel-Iron Battery/User Reviews: Difference between revisions
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=Truth About Batteries= | =Truth About Batteries= | ||
*Maintenance - weekly topping off with distilled water, and electrolyte must be completely replaced every so often, which is laborious. [https://www.rpc.com.au/solar-news/161/disadvantages-of-nickel-iron-batteries.html#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Ni%2DFe%20batteries,rate%20of%201%25%20per%20day.] | |||
*'''as a user of these batteries I can tell you they are NOT what we hear about day in and day out. I purchased mine from one of the best Chinese Factories (city is Mayang) . I purchased set of 20 for 400 Ah each cell for PV backup. What I learned to my surprise, they do not hold energy at their rated maximum few weeks after usage.''' - comment at [[https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/february2012_Noon]. Note that this is expected, and the user has incorrect expectations of NiFe - they discharge 1%/day [https://www.rpc.com.au/solar-news/161/disadvantages-of-nickel-iron-batteries.html#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Ni%2DFe%20batteries,rate%20of%201%25%20per%20day.] | *'''as a user of these batteries I can tell you they are NOT what we hear about day in and day out. I purchased mine from one of the best Chinese Factories (city is Mayang) . I purchased set of 20 for 400 Ah each cell for PV backup. What I learned to my surprise, they do not hold energy at their rated maximum few weeks after usage.''' - comment at [[https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/february2012_Noon]. Note that this is expected, and the user has incorrect expectations of NiFe - they discharge 1%/day [https://www.rpc.com.au/solar-news/161/disadvantages-of-nickel-iron-batteries.html#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20Ni%2DFe%20batteries,rate%20of%201%25%20per%20day.] | ||
*Batteries still need to be developed, they are the holy grail to renewable energy but are being oversold? [https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6853249] | *Batteries still need to be developed, they are the holy grail to renewable energy but are being oversold? [https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6853249] | ||
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*Electrolyte replacement - ' NiFe only goes 10 years, then you have to refresh the electrolyte That cost me a couple grand for lab grade chemicals (lab grade needed if you want a long life.)' - ? [https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum/off-grid-solar/batteries-energy-storage/ni/3211-nickel-iron-vs-lead-acid-off-grid-battery-debate/page24] | *Electrolyte replacement - ' NiFe only goes 10 years, then you have to refresh the electrolyte That cost me a couple grand for lab grade chemicals (lab grade needed if you want a long life.)' - ? [https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/forum/off-grid-solar/batteries-energy-storage/ni/3211-nickel-iron-vs-lead-acid-off-grid-battery-debate/page24] | ||
*Good experience with NiFe- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LFqf79Jyg]. Video. | *Good experience with NiFe- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LFqf79Jyg]. Video. | ||
=Conclusions= | |||
*Must top them off weekly. Auto watering solves this. | |||
*Electrolyte must be replaced decennially - tridecennially. | |||
==Superefficient System== | |||
*See [[Minimum Viable Night Time Power]]. | |||
*Say we have a minimum 1kW pack and go with the suggested 60% depth of discharge - then 600Whrs powers a pellet stove overnight. | |||
* | |||
Revision as of 12:40, 28 February 2021
Truth About Batteries
- Maintenance - weekly topping off with distilled water, and electrolyte must be completely replaced every so often, which is laborious. [1]
- as a user of these batteries I can tell you they are NOT what we hear about day in and day out. I purchased mine from one of the best Chinese Factories (city is Mayang) . I purchased set of 20 for 400 Ah each cell for PV backup. What I learned to my surprise, they do not hold energy at their rated maximum few weeks after usage. - comment at [[2]. Note that this is expected, and the user has incorrect expectations of NiFe - they discharge 1%/day [3]
- Batteries still need to be developed, they are the holy grail to renewable energy but are being oversold? [4]
- Fast nickel iron proven in lab - [https://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/june/ultrafast-edison-battery-062612.html
- Useful review- [I'm happy enough, spent the $$$ already, and re-rejuvenated the electrolyte this last summer, still going and I never worry about sulfation destroying them in a week. But they are inefficient thirsty bastards - [5]
- "I'm currently using NiFe off-grid. Just changed over from lead-acid. Lead-acid are not actually cheaper despite what people keep saying. The capital outlay is more for equivalent *quoted* Ah. The problem with lead-acid is that you can't effectively use more than 20% of the quoted capacity. But with NiFe you can use all of it. So NiFe is 5x more useable capacity straight off. Not to mention that lead-acid plates disolve pretty damn quickly. They can be dead in 1 yr with daily cycles. I've been quoted at least 15 yrs for my NiFe by the manufacturer.
- Also, if anyone needs to reduce the voltage to their inverter by 1 or 2 volts, a method I use is to add 2 or 3 forward biased diodes between the batteries and the inverter. It's not a particularly efficient method but it works. I charge my (38) batteries at 66v from either solar or genny and 3 diodes drop the voltage to 63.75v to the inverter, since my inverter cuts off at a little over 64v." [6]
- Electrolyte replacement - ' NiFe only goes 10 years, then you have to refresh the electrolyte That cost me a couple grand for lab grade chemicals (lab grade needed if you want a long life.)' - ? [7]
- Good experience with NiFe- [8]. Video.
Conclusions
- Must top them off weekly. Auto watering solves this.
- Electrolyte must be replaced decennially - tridecennially.
Superefficient System
- See Minimum Viable Night Time Power.
- Say we have a minimum 1kW pack and go with the suggested 60% depth of discharge - then 600Whrs powers a pellet stove overnight.