Affiliate link to the MK battery: Links to Mk battery with heaters watts247.com/product/rack-battery-lifepo4-heated-5-1kwh-100ah-51-2v-built-in-fire-supressors-lcd-selectable-multi-bms-protocols-can-rs485-rs232-growatt-mpp-sol-ark-voltronic-luxpower-and-many-more-its-a-drea/?wpam_id=122
Great video, Gavin. This is an interesting battery. It's good to see the competition driving the prices down. I agree about not having a breaker but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. I don't agree on the mulberries though. Yeah, I know they're good but they make such a mess everywhere.! Especially when the waxwings come through in flocks and poop mulberry stains on everything. I just cut down a huge one at the lake house last year because I was tired of dealing with all the mess on the back porch, driveway, vehicles... But I digress - good job on the review. Ian seems to be have been stepping up his game over the past year or so. Good to see that too. Thanks for all your work putting the videos together.
Thanks! Mulberries can be messy, but we harvest for over a month off that one tree. Amazing flavor and no seeds. But yeah, the cars and sidewalks do get a bit purplish for a couple months. There is a white variety though, good flavor without the stains.
Great review! We will probably never have server rack batteries as i already spent a small fortune on my 6 DIY battery banks, lol I think we'll have a mullberry tree in our in ground greenhouse in 10 years when it's completed. It's taking me forever, lol Thanks for sharing, and as always, keep building 👍
Yeah you’ve already got a lot of storage. Might be nice to get a couple rack batteries at some point just to be the lead batteries for communication. Or maybe get a BMS for your packs that can communicate. We love our mulberry. It’s a everbearing, 2 months of berries in the summer
@GavinStoneDIY I've got 3 backup seplos bms with communication. Maybe I'll slap one on as the lead. I've been wanting to hook one up and play around with it anyway.
No Bluetooth. Although with the number of battery protocols available the inverter should give you the information that’s needed. And any major adjustments can be made at the screen itself. You wouldn’t typically see an active balancer in most rack batteries on the market. Most are passive balancing.
Welded studs so its not user serviceable and I could be wrong but I don't think that BMS has much in the way of an active balancer. Doesn't appear to have UL cert which is a must for people who want to be legal. $1300 is not competitive anymore either when other major brands are regularly down near the $1000 mark now. Same price for the heated and non heated versions? I like Watts247 but they missed the mark completely on this one. Really surprised they are carrying this battery.
Non heated version is actually on sale for $900 I think. Have you ever heard from anyone that has replaced a Lifpo cell in a rack battery? It’s an interesting selling point, but if anything will fail it’s going to be the BMs. I don’t know of any rack batteries with active balancing. The LL-S models may, I’m not sure. That is true about the UL cert. but there is likely a lot of DIY people that won’t be too concerned with that.
@@GavinStoneDIY The website is not showing any sale that I can see right now. Both are listed at $1300. Now, if they were $900 I would be a little easier on them butt still not a great setup. I have replaced cells in an Orient Power, RUIXU and Seplos/Mason battery so far. I have also replaced numerous BMS' in the EG4 batteries due to verry high failure rates. Everything should be user serviceable since there is little to no justification for permanently affixing them other than initial assembly cost which is minor. Helps save on waste too. I have seen batteries lose a fair bit of capacity over the years due simply to imbalanced cells. Tons of brands and DIY kit providers are moving to the JK Inverter BMS as it now has everything in one neat package for a great price. In 2024, the vast majority of people who will not worry about a UL cert are those that are off-grid and/or not installing their system legally. Even many off-grid installations still fall within the jurisdiction of some governing body. You will be hard pressed to find many governing bodies across the country now that will not require them. Restrictions are only getting tighter
@@URackADisciprine I saw the sale for those batteries listed in the banner on the website. I just didn’t check to confirm. Normally I think they are $200 less than the heated version. the DIY battery builds are still extremely popular. Albeit slightly less than a couple years ago. None of them would be acceptable for inspections. So I would assume this would be along the same vein. I’ve talked with a few different companies in regards to the cell replacements. It’s just so rare it’s basically a non issue. Apparently not in your neck of the woods though. I do have Jk BMS on one of my DIY kits. It works great. Then again my JBD with passive balancing is doing just as good. I don’t know of any major brands that are switching to Jk. But that would be interesting to see. Active balancing does make sense if the cells were poor quality to begin with, it’ll keep them in line. And overall it’s probably a concept that will eventually become the norm.
My question is: Will it work without hooking up to the inverter? I know it's probably better to, but that is just extra steps where something could go wrong.
Yes. You don’t have to add communication if you don’t want to. More people do prefer it at this point. But it will function just fine with voltage only.
@GavinStone its a nice battery and i know if you started the test with the battery truly at 100% you would have gotten the 100ah, anyways the EG4 LL is better IMO for like $199 more and even the EG4 LP has a built in breaker and cost about the same, truly hard to say where to place this battery because its price is way too close to much better battery, still its a nice battery.
It’s the heater option that sets it apart. I love the EG4 LL’s. That’s a fantastic battery. But if someone needed a battery in cold climates and wanted something with multiple protocols this would be a good option. The non heated version is on sale for $900 I think. Which is a killer price for what you get I think.
@@GavinStoneDIY good point, on the heater options; however i would go with the wall mount EG4’s in that case and i know most people will not be happy with just one battery so overall the EG4 wall mount would then be the next best thing, as for the non-heater version the price is nice looks like $899 but after you add an external breaker box and breaker and cables + $100 so its about $1k and the EG4 LP4 is going for $1,139 right now with built-in breaker plus free shipping if you buy two from signature solar right now, i truly hear you but that battery needs to be much cheaper IMO.
@@fullyelectric yeah I would definitely go for the EG4 wall mount if you wanted plenty of storage. For the price and quality it’s the best on the market. Lifepowr 4’s don’t come with cables either so I don’t think that’s a consideration. But there is lots of people that need heated options that can’t afford more than a couple batteries. I know some people that have tried to use cheap 12v heated batteries in series to get 48v. And those typically don’t work out well. People in RV’s for instance. This isn’t for everyone. A lot people don’t need heated batteries. Others want more storage and wall mounts. The point is, the more options the better. Someone on a budget could get this to run a 5kw inverter and it would get the job done in the summer and winter. I’m just glad to see more clean builds out here now. I’ve got a couple in my shop now that were sent to me that are a mess.
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Affiliate link to the MK battery:
Links to Mk battery with heaters
watts247.com/product/rack-battery-lifepo4-heated-5-1kwh-100ah-51-2v-built-in-fire-supressors-lcd-selectable-multi-bms-protocols-can-rs485-rs232-growatt-mpp-sol-ark-voltronic-luxpower-and-many-more-its-a-drea/?wpam_id=122
Great video, Gavin. This is an interesting battery. It's good to see the competition driving the prices down. I agree about not having a breaker but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. I don't agree on the mulberries though. Yeah, I know they're good but they make such a mess everywhere.! Especially when the waxwings come through in flocks and poop mulberry stains on everything. I just cut down a huge one at the lake house last year because I was tired of dealing with all the mess on the back porch, driveway, vehicles... But I digress - good job on the review. Ian seems to be have been stepping up his game over the past year or so. Good to see that too. Thanks for all your work putting the videos together.
Thanks!
Mulberries can be messy, but we harvest for over a month off that one tree. Amazing flavor and no seeds. But yeah, the cars and sidewalks do get a bit purplish for a couple months. There is a white variety though, good flavor without the stains.
Thank you for your balanced review
Very interesting....Thanks Gavin
Great review!
We will probably never have server rack batteries as i already spent a small fortune on my 6 DIY battery banks, lol
I think we'll have a mullberry tree in our in ground greenhouse in 10 years when it's completed. It's taking me forever, lol
Thanks for sharing, and as always, keep building 👍
Yeah you’ve already got a lot of storage.
Might be nice to get a couple rack batteries at some point just to be the lead batteries for communication. Or maybe get a BMS for your packs that can communicate.
We love our mulberry. It’s a everbearing, 2 months of berries in the summer
@GavinStoneDIY I've got 3 backup seplos bms with communication. Maybe I'll slap one on as the lead. I've been wanting to hook one up and play around with it anyway.
Cool. I wonder if it can still do that many amps when it is at a lower charge.
Good question. I’m going to be testing them more in a couple weeks with another inverter. I’ll take a look at this. I would assume yes.
@@GavinStoneDIY cool. My lifepower4 batteries don't work quite as well when they are low.
no bluetooth? no active balancer? Sorry if you mentioned them.
No Bluetooth. Although with the number of battery protocols available the inverter should give you the information that’s needed. And any major adjustments can be made at the screen itself.
You wouldn’t typically see an active balancer in most rack batteries on the market. Most are passive balancing.
Welded studs so its not user serviceable and I could be wrong but I don't think that BMS has much in the way of an active balancer. Doesn't appear to have UL cert which is a must for people who want to be legal. $1300 is not competitive anymore either when other major brands are regularly down near the $1000 mark now. Same price for the heated and non heated versions? I like Watts247 but they missed the mark completely on this one. Really surprised they are carrying this battery.
Non heated version is actually on sale for $900 I think. Have you ever heard from anyone that has replaced a Lifpo cell in a rack battery? It’s an interesting selling point, but if anything will fail it’s going to be the BMs.
I don’t know of any rack batteries with active balancing. The LL-S models may, I’m not sure.
That is true about the UL cert. but there is likely a lot of DIY people that won’t be too concerned with that.
@@GavinStoneDIY The website is not showing any sale that I can see right now. Both are listed at $1300. Now, if they were $900 I would be a little easier on them butt still not a great setup.
I have replaced cells in an Orient Power, RUIXU and Seplos/Mason battery so far. I have also replaced numerous BMS' in the EG4 batteries due to verry high failure rates. Everything should be user serviceable since there is little to no justification for permanently affixing them other than initial assembly cost which is minor. Helps save on waste too.
I have seen batteries lose a fair bit of capacity over the years due simply to imbalanced cells. Tons of brands and DIY kit providers are moving to the JK Inverter BMS as it now has everything in one neat package for a great price.
In 2024, the vast majority of people who will not worry about a UL cert are those that are off-grid and/or not installing their system legally. Even many off-grid installations still fall within the jurisdiction of some governing body. You will be hard pressed to find many governing bodies across the country now that will not require them. Restrictions are only getting tighter
@@URackADisciprine I saw the sale for those batteries listed in the banner on the website. I just didn’t check to confirm. Normally I think they are $200 less than the heated version.
the DIY battery builds are still extremely popular. Albeit slightly less than a couple years ago. None of them would be acceptable for inspections. So I would assume this would be along the same vein.
I’ve talked with a few different companies in regards to the cell replacements. It’s just so rare it’s basically a non issue. Apparently not in your neck of the woods though.
I do have Jk BMS on one of my DIY kits. It works great. Then again my JBD with passive balancing is doing just as good. I don’t know of any major brands that are switching to Jk. But that would be interesting to see. Active balancing does make sense if the cells were poor quality to begin with, it’ll keep them in line. And overall it’s probably a concept that will eventually become the norm.
@@URackADisciprineAre you applauding all the disgusting people who try to keep taking our freedom away or calling them out
@@mikeg2321 I’m not sure what that means? Referring to inspections? Taxation?
The schematic in the manual shows a breaker like switch next to the terminals. I wonder if a model with a breaker is coming out.
Hmm. That’s interesting, maybe they are using a universal schematic for a couple different types.
My question is: Will it work without hooking up to the inverter? I know it's probably better to, but that is just extra steps where something could go wrong.
Yes. You don’t have to add communication if you don’t want to. More people do prefer it at this point. But it will function just fine with voltage only.
Test the fire suppression! 😊
It’s on my list. 🫠
@@GavinStoneDIY Lemme know and I can drive down with some gasoline to help out. 🔥
@GavinStoneDIY that would be awesome!
@@ericjansen9042 I have a roofing torch that would do the job. I’m not sure that would be a very “real world” type of test though.
@@GavinStoneDIY I think 'Fire Marshall Bill' would disagree ;) - if you remember any of those skits from 'In Living Color'.
@GavinStone its a nice battery and i know if you started the test with the battery truly at 100% you would have gotten the 100ah, anyways the EG4 LL is better IMO for like $199 more and even the EG4 LP has a built in breaker and cost about the same, truly hard to say where to place this battery because its price is way too close to much better battery, still its a nice battery.
It’s the heater option that sets it apart. I love the EG4 LL’s. That’s a fantastic battery. But if someone needed a battery in cold climates and wanted something with multiple protocols this would be a good option.
The non heated version is on sale for $900 I think. Which is a killer price for what you get I think.
@@GavinStoneDIY good point, on the heater options; however i would go with the wall mount EG4’s in that case and i know most people will not be happy with just one battery so overall the EG4 wall mount would then be the next best thing, as for the non-heater version the price is nice looks like $899 but after you add an external breaker box and breaker and cables + $100 so its about $1k and the EG4 LP4 is going for $1,139 right now with built-in breaker plus free shipping if you buy two from signature solar right now, i truly hear you but that battery needs to be much cheaper IMO.
@@fullyelectric yeah I would definitely go for the EG4 wall mount if you wanted plenty of storage. For the price and quality it’s the best on the market. Lifepowr 4’s don’t come with cables either so I don’t think that’s a consideration.
But there is lots of people that need heated options that can’t afford more than a couple batteries. I know some people that have tried to use cheap 12v heated batteries in series to get 48v. And those typically don’t work out well. People in RV’s for instance.
This isn’t for everyone. A lot people don’t need heated batteries. Others want more storage and wall mounts. The point is, the more options the better. Someone on a budget could get this to run a 5kw inverter and it would get the job done in the summer and winter. I’m just glad to see more clean builds out here now. I’ve got a couple in my shop now that were sent to me that are a mess.
Did I mention you can simultaneously run e.g. growatt and pylontech comms at the same time, canbus and rs485 are independent
Awesome! I will mention that in my next video on these.
So, in theory, you could run canbus to your inverter and the RS485 to say something like an EG4 chargeverter?
@@joeldcoxks good point. I would have to test this. The chargeveter uses a specific protocol on rs485. I’ll look into this
@@GavinStoneDIY Thanks, it would be cool to find out. I could see it being very useful for people
@@joeldcoxksthis is correct , two different units talking to the same battery on canbus and rs485 via independent protocols as per your example
👍🏼👍🏼