New to solar

[huntindog]

I like them too. Will Prowse also likes other batteries and often says you don't need to spend that much anymore. If you can buy twice or more AH capacity batteries for half the price of a Battleborn, it seems silly not to consider options. EVE cells are also very reliable, and some have dual posts, are sold by companies within the US. Battleborn was definitely the first to major market and for a while there really weren't any viable competitors. But those days are gone. They'll still be around - similar to Apple phones and such - they just have a portion of the market willing to pay more for their product An there are other viable lesser expensive options around. Those are just my thoughts on the subject...

I tried an Android phone. For 3 weeks I could not get the email to work.I gave up and went back to my flip phone. DW stuck with her android and all of it's issues until the bad actors started getting close to our financials.... In the meantime I got an Apple, and it was trouble free right of the box. She then made the jump to Apple. Some things really are just better. Apple Phones, LT tires and Battle Born batteries for me. I will economize elsewhere

 

[huntindog]

You would need a 3,000 Watt Inverter to run one A/C unit.

In theory, 2,000 Watts might be able to run one A/C unit, however the draw from the A/C startup would be too high to start the A/C, even with a soft start A/C module. Additionally, nothing else would be able to operate during A/C operation.

With my 3,000 Watt Inverter, I am able to operate a single A/C unit.

I was told that my Onan 5500 onboard generator could not run all 3 of my Coleman 15Ks at once. I tested it at 115 degrees. It not only did it, but the voltage only sagged to 121V for a second at startup...Starting them one at a time. So that is less than 2000 watts per unit. Unless the Onan is an overachiever. Which I suppose is possible.

 

[Butcher]

Well now that a lot of you said not to buy Battle Born batteries, too late. I purchased two 270Ah batteries during their Earth Day sale which took $400 off each one.

Life is about making and spending money. Some make more and they usually spend more. I made my fair share but with the list cost of Battle Born's 270ah battery, I made my own with over 1200Ah. DIY is not for everyone but since I am a tight wad and I like to make things, this worked out great for me. My warranty department is available 24/7 365. Lifetime labor warranty.

 

[huntindog]

Life is about making and spending money. Some make more and they usually spend more. I made my fair share but with the list cost of Battle Born's 270ah battery, I made my own with over 1200Ah. DIY is not for everyone but since I am a tight wad and I like to make things, this worked out great for me. My warranty department is available 24/7 365. Lifetime labor warranty.

I get the DIY philosopy. I do a LOT of stuff... But when it comes to electricity. I prefer UL certification. And UN38.3

 

[BoredWeasel]

I like Battle Borns. Yes they are expensive. Just like a Mercedes cost more than a Chevy. A Chevy will get you places, but it will never be a Mercedes. Battle Borns have a great reputation and following for a reason. Buy what you can afford and be happy with.

why? they were first to market? they may have a better warranty? the warranty is pointless as very few own their trailer more than a couple of years. I have owned both and the performance is identical......the battle born performance is dropping off just like prismatic cells and the variety of Chinese battery's I own

 

[BoredWeasel]

I have 2 Battleborn batteries. If I want to add to the bank, I assume I can mix with a different brand?

Oldcow

in my workshop I have a mix of brands and types being powered by 2k in panels. there is no issue, it has been this way for about 3 years now. they are all lithium iron. I have even mixed capacities. with 2 battle born 100ah, 2 weize 100ah and two lifetime 200ah. all but the battle born purchased at significant discounts....I purchase the 600 ah of battery's for 2/3 the cost of 200 ah of battle born

 

[Riverbug]

I tried an Android phone. For 3 weeks I could not get the email to work.I gave up and went back to my flip phone. DW stuck with her android and all of it's issues until the bad actors started getting close to our financials.... In the meantime I got an Apple, and it was trouble free right of the box. She then made the jump to Apple. Some things really are just better. Apple Phones, LT tires and Battle Born batteries for me. I will economize elsewhere

I understand. Wife and I have always only had iPhones (well since they came out anyway), started with an iPod in 2002(?) and still use it for music in my workshop. My parents and siblings have always been Android users. And guess who has to help parents out every time the have questions or issue; yep, the iPhone guy. But they seem stable enough, they are just different and 90% of the problems my parents encounter are user error. LOL!

 

[Riverbug]

in my workshop I have a mix of brands and types being powered by 2k in panels. there is no issue, it has been this way for about 3 years now. they are all lithium iron. I have even mixed capacities. with 2 battle born 100ah, 2 weize 100ah and two lifetime 200ah. all but the battle born purchased at significant discounts....I purchase the 600 ah of battery's for 2/3 the cost of 200 ah of battle born

That is good to know. I still have my first 206AH SOK battery which I was debating adding to my system for Alaska just for the additional reserve. It would be added to 4 DIY 280AH packs with EVE cells and JK BMS'. Glad to know I could throw the SOK into the mix if I choose to.

 

[huntindog]

in my workshop I have a mix of brands and types being powered by 2k in panels. there is no issue, it has been this way for about 3 years now. they are all lithium iron. I have even mixed capacities. with 2 battle born 100ah, 2 weize 100ah and two lifetime 200ah. all but the battle born purchased at significant discounts....I purchase the 600 ah of battery's for 2/3 the cost of 200 ah of battle born

Are they wired using buss bars?

 

[huntindog]

That is good to know. I still have my first 206AH SOK battery which I was debating adding to my system for Alaska just for the additional reserve. It would be added to 4 DIY 280AH packs with EVE cells and JK BMS'. Glad to know I could throw the SOK into the mix if I choose to.

It will work fine if you use buss bars.

 

[Riverbug]

It will work fine if you use buss bars.

I do have DIY copper buss bars made from 1/8" x 3/4" bar stock. Never really found a formula to determine exactly what dimensions they needed to be, but seemed as or more robust than what I could find others were using. Hopefully, I have an optimal solution there.

 

[huntindog]

why? they were first to market? they may have a better warranty? the warranty is pointless as very few own their trailer more than a couple of years. I have owned both and the performance is identical......the battle born performance is dropping off just like prismatic cells and the variety of Chinese battery's I own

You can file warranty claims with the manufacturers

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

That is good to know. I still have my first 206AH SOK battery which I was debating adding to my system for Alaska just for the additional reserve. It would be added to 4 DIY 280AH packs with EVE cells and JK BMS'. Glad to know I could throw the SOK into the mix if I choose to.

You will want to connect them using Buss Bars, vs, cabling them all together.

 

[Butcher]

One of my pet peeves and this does not only apply to Battle Born is when they offer such a huge discount on special days. If you are taking off $400 and still making a profit, what does that tell me about your business practices?

I have a small business and when people ask me for a deal, I tell them to go check other prices. By giving them a 'deal' implies that I am overcharging them on the first estimate. It's just me, but I do not barter and when I see these discounts, I just think for 364 days a year they are overcharging you but that one day a year, they are not. I know, I am just a minority. Everybody likes sales.

I am glad there are companies like Battle Born. I suspect it just proves to everyone what money can buy you. If you believe their hype/warranty and have the money, I don't feel you will go wrong. I have no doubts that my DIY will last as long or longer than Battle Born but I totally understand who is taking the risks. I certainly know for a fact, that the amp/hours I purchased will last 4X longer without a charge.

 

[huntindog]

One of my pet peeves and this does not only apply to Battle Born is when they offer such a huge discount on special days. If you are taking off $400 and still making a profit, what does that tell me about your business practices?

I have a small business and when people ask me for a deal, I tell them to go check other prices. By giving them a 'deal' implies that I am overcharging them on the first estimate. It's just me, but I do not barter and when I see these discounts, I just think for 364 days a year they are overcharging you but that one day a year, they are not. I know, I am just a minority. Everybody likes sales.

I am glad there are companies like Battle Born. I suspect it just proves to everyone what money can buy you. If you believe their hype/warranty and have the money, I don't feel you will go wrong. I have no doubts that my DIY will last as long or longer than Battle Born but I totally understand who is taking the risks. I certainly know for a fact, that the amp/hours I purchased will last 4X longer without a charge.

I spent 41 years in retail. My Company did many things including sales that made no sense from a logical point of view....But they did those things because they worked. Early on in my career some leader ship decided to take surveys of customers to find out just what they wanted. It did not take long for them to discover that what people say and what they actually do are two very different things. When asked people most always answer in a way that makes sense, and thus themselves smart....But it is not what they do in real life

Sales will always be with us, as they just work.

 

[huntindog]

I do have DIY copper buss bars made from 1/8" x 3/4" bar stock. Never really found a formula to determine exactly what dimensions they needed to be, but seemed as or more robust than what I could find others were using. Hopefully, I have an optimal solution there.

Sounds like you have a pretty stout Buss bar. I bought mine, I remember they had an amp rating, I don't remember what it was, just that it was higher than I would ever need. I needed 2 positive and 2 negative bars for my layout, They were not very much $$ and were pretty nice, color coded with a nice cover to prevent accidental shorts and they had multiple large and small terminals for large and small loads.

 

[Riverbug]

Sounds like you have a pretty stout Buss bar. I bought mine, I remember they had an amp rating, I don't remember what it was, just that it was higher than I would ever need. I needed 2 positive and 2 negative bars for my layout, They were not very much $$ and were pretty nice, color coded with a nice cover to prevent accidental shorts and they had multiple large and small terminals for large and small loads.

Thanks, I think they are stout enough just don't know how to calculate that. I also actually purchased the buss bars on amazon that are color coded and have covers, but the bars were a nickel/brass if I recall correctly so I made my own to replace the bars but fit the housings and bolts. It worked nicely.

 

[Butcher]

My Company did many things including sales that made no sense from a logical point of view....But they did those things because they worked.

Oh, I know it works and why not do what works? People are easily separated with their money. Scams, Lotteries, Casino, and BOGO are all ways to make people just hand you money without them complaining.

It does not mean that there are a few out there that don't participate. Sure, it's totally understandable that you got way too much inventory, you got a close out, last years model, but when you have huge discounts product, it just makes me feel that they are over charging on a typical sales day. It's not illegal, it just makes me wonder.

 

[kb0zke]

Years ago a well-known retailer had sales on a regular basis. They got in a new CEO who decided that he would just cut the prices overall and do away with the sales. Business fell off, so they went back to higher "regular" prices and frequent sales. Didn't save the company.

 

[huntindog]

Years ago a well-known retailer had sales on a regular basis. They got in a new CEO who decided that he would just cut the prices overall and do away with the sales. Business fell off, so they went back to higher "regular" prices and frequent sales. Didn't save the company.

Diamonds/ Dillards. That company had a lot of problems when he took it over. It was too far gone to save.