Community Forums

ModestMonk · 11-25-2017, 05:08 AM

Outback Power Inc. - EnergyCell Nano-Carbon

https://www.altestore.com/store/deep...attery-p11953/

Our battery needs appear to be met with the exception of the cost. We boondock or dry camp October to April. Cold weather and cloudy skies of the northeast can be challenging for getting batteries recharged properly.

So are ther any members with experience with these? I’d love to hear some real life experiences before sinking that kind of money into these.

will stevens · 11-25-2017, 07:49 AM

I put 4 of the Outback Power Energycell nano carbon batteries in my rig May of this year. I have 900 watts of solar and charge from around 20% usage of 800 watts (1600 watts used) to 100% charged in less than 1/2 day.
I love the foot print of the battery bank for my coach. I made a plywood holder for the batteries to keep them secure. Have not had them enough to give a long range test, but love them so far.
I have unplugged the coach here at the house and went through 3 or 4 rainy (low solar days) where the charge never made it to 100% and monitored the batteries. They were as low as 65% state of charge but recovered to 100% as soon as the sun was out.
Looks like as long as I do not want A/C on I can live without an external power supply quite well. I upgraded the batteries and added solar primarily due to changing to a residential refrigerator as well as adding so many other power consuming devices. I did change all of my coach lighting to LED.
I also monitor my battery bank with a Victron battery monitor.
Old picture , I changed Xantrex out for Magnum pure sine ,

I say GO FOR IT !

Scooter · 11-25-2017, 07:53 AM

Not clear to me...how many batteries do you have, 2-4-6? Do you have solar on roof and a charge controller ? I have little experience, but I would go with golf cart batteries.

ModestMonk · 11-25-2017, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will stevens

I put 4 of the Outback Power Energycell nano carbon batteries in my rig May of this year. I have 900 watts of solar and charge from around 20% usage of 800 watts (1600 watts used) to 100% charged in less than 1/2 day.
I love the foot print of the battery bank for my coach. I made a plywood holder for the batteries to keep them secure. Have not had them enough to give a long range test, but love them so far.
I have unplugged the coach here at the house and went through 3 or 4 rainy (low solar days) where the charge never made it to 100% and monitored the batteries. They were as low as 65% state of charge but recovered to 100% as soon as the sun was out.
Looks like as long as I do not want A/C on I can live without an external power supply quite well. I upgraded the batteries and added solar primarily due to changing to a residential refrigerator as well as adding so many other power consuming devices. I did change all of my coach lighting to LED.
I also monitor my battery bank with a Victron battery monitor.
Old picture , I changed Xantrex out for Magnum pure sine ,

I say GO FOR IT !

I’m assuming you have the 178 AH batteries wired in parallel?

Did anyone give you an idea of how long these will last based on your useage and configuration?

Pappion · 12-05-2019, 04:45 PM

I have 2 size 31 nan-carbon on the tongue of my A-Frame trailer. They have performed well. I use solar and may not get them to full charge after breaking camp. It's nice to not worry about it.
They passed an unintentional stress test. A switch was left on, bumped on. The batteries drained to 10.5v in storage. So, I left the 100w solar connected for a week. They came back up just fine. It does take two charge-discharge cycles to restore them.
I later added a Circuit Breaker cut-off switch to the battery box. The electric brake-away switch is on the original fuse, so I don't forget it.
My old 10W solar battery maintainer wasn't doing the job. The 20W was way overkill, I ordered a 10W and it was still too much. So I hide it in the shade mostly.

tundranurse1 · 12-11-2019, 08:08 PM

I tried to find these batteries; but, all places say it’s discontinued.

SLOweather · 12-11-2019, 08:54 PM

Yeah, it's a two year old thread...

Smitty77 · 12-13-2019, 10:16 AM

Not sure what model you were looking for. but Outback still is producing some of these... Two of the Amazon resellers have units coming in within the next few weeks, so fresh stock!! (Bigger units, not Grp 31 size like, if that matters.)

Also here is a Google Shopping search:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Outb...w=1152&bih=669

Smitty

Pappion · 12-13-2019, 05:41 PM

I read that getting them to honor the warranty is difficult. You need a shop with the $ right equipment to verify failure. I also doubt an RV is a certifiable application, in their eyes.

I was searching for the thread with the Marine house batteries that tolerate PSoC well. I can't remember the name. They were selling so well that the marinas were out of stock.

Oh well, weight matters for RVs. So LifePO is a better choice, if you can moderate the temperature extremes.

Itinerant1 · 12-13-2019, 06:47 PM

This...?
https://www.emarineinc.com/Firefly-O...oup-31-Battery

LFP batteries are the cats meow!

Pappion · 12-14-2019, 06:47 AM

Thanks. Firefly was it.

Boaters like these. It saves on diesel. They don't have to be brought up to full charge constantly. That last 10% of charge takes hours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi6czCNSqp8

https://www.practical-sailor.com/blo...e-11694-1.html

Smitty77 · 12-14-2019, 03:00 PM

Adding to Pappion's observation that weight sometimes matters to RV'er's.

X's 6 of the Firefly 4V = 564 pounds (900AH) ($4452)

X's 3 of the LifeBlue 300A = 249 pounds (900AH) ($8394)

So price wins, if weight savings is not a priority. Real world usage, I'd expect them to perform within 10-15% of each other(? Did I miss read anything?). I also like the app's for BT monitoring of the LifeBlue, and not sure if Firefly has such an app? And BMS is not real clear to me on Firely.)

! Best to all,
Smitty

Pappion · 12-15-2019, 08:18 AM

No BMS is needed. Firefly Oasis is an AGM battery. Compatible with standard lead acid chargers with an AGM or GEL setting. It has a wider temperature range than LiFePO4.

I would not compare Amp-Hour ratings 1 for 1. Typically the lead acid AH is halved for practical uses to get a decent life span. Deep cycling results in sulfur-cation. Maybe Firefly is different but I don't believe marketing claims.

So typical LiFePO4 100AH is equal to LA 200AH, maybe 125-150AH for Firefly Oasis.

Smitty77 · 12-15-2019, 10:43 PM

Thanks Pappion on the 'No BMS is needed.'

It had been over 10 months or so since I last researched Firefly, and I remembered something that made me make that comment on my uncertainty. I found this line on the Firefly webpage, that is probably what I was remembering:

"Available with Battery Energy Management System (BEMS)"

And I have not taken the time to look now, but I also think I recall their charts reflecting much better cycle life, with lower discharges.... So like a AGM will live longer if not going down to the 50% SOC level each cycle (1000 DOD), and thus live that longer life if the bank is sized for say a ~75% SOC during normal usage. The Firefly seem to indicate the same extra longer life.

If my memory is correct not the life cycle chart, suspect the needed amount of Firefly to live at 50% or above in normal usage (To yield longer life.) may need to be higher...

In general, I agree with your general assessment of Lithium to LA to Firefly... So not trying to split hairs with you on this in anyways

! Just that Firefly's too, would seem to benefit from shallower consistent discharges - I think

!

Best,
Smitty