Home backup battery review - 5,100 watt-hour system

It’s Dr. Hobo

Interesting. Thanks!

Thinking this may be my answer

Older wiring 1977 from transformer to house. Farther than code allows. NOT CHEAP to dig up power line and replace. The load is too much for plug in car and AC. Kicks off tv and computer ect.

This should lesson the load demand when dryer kicks on or AC draws too much.

I designed and built a LFP battery backup system for our home. It is an 840 amp-hour bank, 12v system, 50 amp solar controller, 80 amp grid charger, 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter. Weighs between 250-300 pounds, about the same size and dimensions as a toy bench. 630w solar array keeps it topped up... this was enough to run our fridge continuously in late Jan early Feb for 10 days straight with the battery coming back to full charge despite a few overcast days.

This bank could easily meet basic essential power needs continuously for an extended emergency (fridge, phones, light and even a modest bit of entertainment) for quite a while and can charge up from the generator on occasions when the solar alone isn't enough. We have rolling blackouts here in the summer because the grid is so antiquated and badly maintained that it is actually dangerous to run sometimes, so the power company just turns it off. I'm done losing a fridge/freezer full of food.

My whole setup cost about $2k in parts (including panels) and a month or so of tinkering it together. Totally worth it for the peace of mind. The unit reviewed has a price tag of $3200 (single unit).

Apples to apples comparison - my system would be rated at about 10k-11k watt hours compared to the reviewed product above at 5k watt hours. If you want convenience, just buy two of them. However with a pre-assembled setup it's a different matter if you need to repair a part, whereas with a self-assembled set you can replace just the faulty component. It's a trade off. Building my own got me twice fuck off and saved $1200 in the process, at the expense of my leg work to aggregate parts of appropriate capacity and elbow grease to put it together.

Last Edited by Graboid_Hunter on 05/31/2021 02:22 PM

Best batteries (if you can source em) can be obtained from Forklifts.

The cells weigh approx ~95#s each.

No other battery has the longevity nor the durability. Esp in terms of duty cycles, and how long it can store a charge

Yes thats what I did got LiFePo batterys from ali express

Built my own system for less than 3k and powers my house

for 5 days with no problem. thats freedom....

I use a 12,000 watt, portable generator that runs on propane or gasoline. I use propane for it. I also installed a manual transfer switch and have a 50 ft. cord to run from generator to my power inlet box.

Works great and can power every outlet on my property.

https://imgur.com/a/Q8IU49h

https://imgur.com/a/4TArVxf

https://imgur.com/a/BFVfcYp

Total cost - $1,800

Last Edited by TheGasMan II on 06/01/2021 07:52 AM