My generator has been hanging out in the cool of Ian’s powershed since I dragged it there in the Spring to run his pressure pump – which has since completely failed, complicating the shower situation. I needed it today, though, because of an impending infrastructure improvement…
I bought these batteries almost exactly six years ago, which means they’re right on track to die – and die is exactly what they’re doing. In fact I think a cell or two are already dead, because they’ve begun boiling under charge and going through a *lot* of distilled water. No way they’ll last through winter, and I already have transport provisionally lined up to replace them. I discussed with Neighbor S the possibility of upgrading to lithium, an idea he shot down because my powershed is unheated. FLA batteries will work in below-zero temperatures, lithium batteries will not. Or so he tells me, and I accept his word as coming from a lot more experience than I have. He did say, though, that with my recent solar panel and charge controller improvements I should be able to up the size of my battery bank from four to six, which will reduce the discharge cycles and very likely result in batteries that outlive me. So that’s what I’m going to do. And that started the usual cascade of ‘first I gottas.’ Among which, first I gotta have a bigger table. Which means I need my power saw. Which means I need my generator. Which means I gotta go get it from Ian’s place. Which means I gotta find out how much physically weaker I am than I was six months ago before I got sick with whatever I’ve been sick with. Which means…
Wheels. A wonderful invention. I didn’t expect to have any use for this new-ish wagon until winter when I start hauling propane bottles more often. Turns out it works just as well for portable generators that aren’t quite as portable as they were a few years ago.
Trials and tribulation are never ending. But you will lick them I’m sure.
Joel,
Have you looked into getting AGM batteries, much better than old tech FLA?
Eric.
LiFePo4 batteries will discharge just fine below freezing, however, you will damage them if you attempt to charge them at those temperatures. Most of the newer ones, at 100AH and larger, have a BMS which will prevent charging in that case.
An option, with lithium batteries, is to buy those with internal heaters – yes, those do exist. And, the cells create some heat on their own, due to internal resistance, during both charging and discharging, so it’s possible that the batteries might spend very little time, if any, at a non-chargeable temperature, even without an internal heater. Is the power shed insulated? That could be something to think about too.
If you care to investigate this option, I can recommend Will Prowse, on YouTube, as an excellent resource. He also runs a DIY Solar Forum, which could be helpful.
Damn that old causal chain…
Neighbor S is right about lithium-ion batteries not liking the cold. It’s the reason for EV’s like the swasticar having battery powered heaters during the winter. This results in dead cars if you go away for a few weeks in January or February.
A colleague/friend moved to Quilpie some decades ago. It’s stinkin’ hot and dry and flat out there, and they make rooms underground anyway by digging up fossilised tree sap (opals). That gives an inexaustible temperature differential and also one of gravity. It’s a pity you’re past my age, at which the thought of grueling underground rock busting is nausea-inducing. Still, you could hire or capture some willing hands. Desert Warlord. Think of Petra (Bozrah) in Jordan.
Continuing your recent theme of infrastructure improvements, perhaps it’s time to start shopping for a 2500 watt sine wave inverter? With that, you would need to drag your Honda around that much less.
No, believe it or not the problem with the power tools isn’t so much the inverter as the batteries.Even the vacuum cleaner pulls the voltage right down. I have occasionally wanted a sine wave inverter but only very occasionally – for example I bought an electric toothbrush one time and learned that my system couldn’t recharge it. But for the most part I’m content. And I learned a long time ago that smaller is better in terms of parasitic draw.
Hi Joel
Unless your temperatures get below 4 deg f I would seriously consider lifepo4 batteries. I recently switched after having used Trojans for the last 10 years. There are two significant advantages, firstly the lifepo4 batteries provide much more usable power for the same ah rating as fla batteries, secondly lifepo4 batteries don’t have a problem with being only partially charged for long periods of time. Add to this that lifepo4’s have a much flatter charge/discharge curve and are less prone to voltage sag under load. Also they need no maintenance.
Yes, you can also buy lifepo4 that have internal heaters fitted. Here in Australia the price of lifepo4 has dropped to a point where they are similar in price to trojans for the same ah capacity.
I really strongly recommend revisiting using lifepo4 batteries.
Regards
Steve