Fortress Power eFlex 5.4 Lithium Battery Setup and Installation
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 окт 2020
- Pick one up here: practicalpreppers.com/product...
Get help on a project:
practicalpreppers.com/consult...
Our store:
practicalpreppers.com/practic...
Get an eBike
Get started with solar:
practicalpreppers.com/solar/
Follow me!
/ practprepllc
/ engineer775
/ simplysustainabl…
/ practicalpreppers 
Развлечения
Like always amazing work.😊
I just finished installing 3 of the e-flex 5.4 batteries. Easy install and I’m liking what I see happening in operation. Pricey but overcomes a bunch of issues for us.
Do you still love those batteries or have you moved on? I was told they eat 30 watts each per hour. That's 720 watts/day each. Does that sound efficient? This is what THEIR employee told me. I'm being bled to death by a bank of 10 of these overpriced bricks during the winter and I'd never need that many during the summer! I'd have been better off giving them my money for NOTHING!
@@doodlesthegoose7085 Yes, we still ove them! Our inverters burn 50W/hr in standby, we haven't see a huge drain from the batteries though.
@@BrainStormAcres Do you have long periods without good PV production? I'm trying to figure out how you're not seeing drain from those batteries at the undisclosed rate of 30 watts. Since I posted my comment, another DIY Solar Forum member checked with both SimpliPhi and Discover and, at least SimpliPhi has confirmed that this is the number for their batteries as well. I'm learning that the larger self-consumption is a factor of these manufacturers use of contactors instead of fet. This part I can't explain further as I'm just in the learning stages but what I'm getting at is there is a substantially bigger self-consumption than is disclosed in these batterys' documentation. While I can see this issue wouldn't effect those with consistent good uptake, those with severely overcast conditions and regular snow will be drained in short order.
@@doodlesthegoose7085 We generally have few days with low light levels (cloudy/rainy/snow). This year we've had several weeks of low insolation due to weather. There are a few ways to control switched DC out of a LFP battery - MOSFETS and relays (contactors). MOSFETs are more reliable under a large number of cycles, but a relay generally will have less loss.As I understand the battery architecture, the relay is used in the BMS and permits higher current demands and acceptance. We'll be increasing our solar panel arrays to produce an additional 8kW during 10-2 during the day. Then the faster acceptance will be useful vs Lead Acid. Hope that helps.
Great video
I'm new to battery systems.. and thanks in advance for any help I can get with this question--- For the eflex 5.4's how is the wire gauge calculated for a single battery.. and how about where I have 2 or more batteries in parallel?
Great video! Just commenting eFlex to Solark is modbus communication, and it is now available. Give tech support a call as a firmware update is likely required.
You must be an employee.
I wonder if they have or will make a conduit cover for these eFlex batteries?
Great looking install!
In August we had a Sol-ark 12K system installed at our off-grid camp. They used Storz batteries, these continue to crash spontaneously to this day. Its crazy, they say its a communication issue between the batteries and the inverter. Storz offered one patch, which failed and now won't respond or follow-up with the installer (small VT company). It's disappointing. Several clients are experiencing the same issue with these batteries, unfortunately. Just got a call from the installer that they will be replacing the Storz with Fortress. Hoping this fixes the communication issues. thanks for this video.
I sure hope the Fortress was better for you! I'm stuck with batteries they tell me consume 30 watts per hour each rendering my huge investment useless in Winter and I never needed that big of a bank in summer. I just dropped $21k on GARBAGE.
Is the cable size in the conduit 4-nought?
How’s the natural spring going?
Hello were can we purchase the buss bars to combine the batteries are they on your web site
Looks good. Charge @ 49%, Discharge @ 51%...
How safe are these to put in the garage? Safer to put them in an oudoor shed?
Nice
Do you have a followup video of the final setup?
Can we get an EMP cage around the battery ?????????????????
ATTENTION HEADPHONE USERS, TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME BEFORE 3:11, after installing the cables, there is a high pitch frequency coming through the speakers.
are there any good but cheaper inverter i am having a problem find any thing that can hold dam loads
just buy a solark. great inverters, great company and great customer and techncal service
I have 10 Eflex 5.4K batteries attached to a Sol-Ark hardened inverter. Any idea of how these batteries would do in an EMP event? Will the batteries be damaged or just the BMS or will they all survive? The batteries are in a metal cabinet (underbed truck tool box) sitting on a foam mat on the garage floor.
I have a similar setup and noticed my system was literally eating it's own tail. The Applications Engineer at Fortress finally gave me the info I was looking for. Each battery he said eats a total of 30 watts per hour. That's a total for just our batteries of 7.2kwh per day (more than most days winter uptake in my area rendering my added investment in their junk product a complete waste of my life savings). Ever run your system with no loads and looked at where your power is going?
Where do you get the metal-electrical trough?
City Electric. They are distributors for E-Box
I'd be a bit concerned about the battery cables all being joined and clamped to a single knockout. That seems like a potential short just waiting to happen if the jacket ever cracks or gets cut through. A much better option would have been to drop each cable through a single insulated strain relief cable gland or use the 2 cables through one gland option. Having a breaker on each battery also wouldn't hurt since I would never trust a BMS as the first line of defence in short circuit situation. The cables, especially the main ones feeding the solarc could also be much shorter to help clean up the excess cable and eliminate any potential short circuit issues around the combiners. Other than that the install looks clean but man are those batteries pricey for the capacity. At a time when LiFePo4 batteries can be had for around $200-250 per kWh new and around $100 per kWh used.
There is overcurrent protection in the BMS but external overcurrent is never a bad idea. The battery itself has a push button disconnect. The eVault isn't quite as rugged but provides a better price point. Price is what it is, there is a difference between a hobby project and one to permit and grid tie in terms of component quality.
%~%!@@pvbatts Curious. Do you still find these batteries to be quality? Ever looked into their self-consumption? Their own employee told me it's 30watts/hr per battery! You know what that would make their real efficiency? It ain't >98%, that's for sure! I have a $35k brick of BS sitting in my shop today. All Fortress! I'm mad enough to post this damn comment!
@@doodlesthegoose7085
Efficiency. Consistency, Longevity. Safety are design considerations. Fortress battery designers chose to use mechanical contactors over FET transistors because contactors are more reliable and handle high current power better. Utility power distribution uses contactors not FETs. The drawback of contactors is not safety, it is not reliability, it is not longevity, it is power consumption.
Fortress power batteries require more power to run then FET based batteries but they employ components that are the industry standard in high power applications.
@@pvbatts That's all great and noble and all but they need to disclose their actual efficiencies to their customers. These batteries eat 30 watts of power per battery per hour which, in off-grid, low PV uptake destroys the intended purpose now, doesn't it?
@@doodlesthegoose7085 that is typical of any industrial grade that uses contactors instead of mosfet for quality and safety
Looks like a nice product but I am hoping these (or something like them but LFP) drop to about 20% of what they currently cost ...
Have you taken one apart to see what's inside ????
:)
Are these 2 batteries enough to run all the needs of the house ? I thought maybe 2-3 more.
It is the minimum size for 1 SolArk. You can do more for longer duration.
is it 4k for a 100 Amp Hours each?
I thought 1500 per 100AH was a lot.
If comparing to led, know that watt hours of a lithium batt exceed equal ah led because volts don’t drop the same. IMO WHr should be published, not AHr.
Have you used simpliphi batteries before they claim 80% DOD after 10,000 cycles. If so would you recommend them.
simplify are good batteries... definitely a good option. they sell a nema 3r rated cabinet that houses the solark 12k and 6 batteries... its called the simplify acsses
Note 10k cycles at 1 cycle per day is 27 years but the warranty is only for 10 years. So it really isn't a 10k cycle warranty. The 10 year warranty is the same for Fortress + SimpliPhi and Fortress provides a throughput warranty whereas SimpliPhi does not.
@@pvbatts Wow! There you are again! Maybe you should make sure your company either A: Manufactures a product that has actual efficiencies of better than 83% OR B: your warranty should cover people like me who want to shove these batteries right where your sun doesn't shine.
I would have used larger gauge cables for that much DC current to eliminate resistance and heat!
don't forget he uses a pair each for two batteries which in effect doubles the thickness of the dc wire
@@ursodermatt8809 Yes I seen that but personally I still would use bigger cables better safe than sorry
Wasn’t it an option to just move the combiner bus bars over closer to the inverter? That way the total length of wire would be reduced by not doubling over the Batt 1 and Batt 2 connections to the combining point, then shorter cables from that point to the inverter? Not criticizing, but observing an opportunity, I think.
Is that an 8K or 12K Sol-Ark?
12k
Wall hung batteries? How heavy are they?
My understanding for lithium cells is that you can increase the cycle life if you don’t charge them beyond 80% and don’t drain them below 20%. Occasional top balancing is still good. But even at the end of their “normal” cycle life they should still provide ~80% capacity. I’d hardly call that obsolete.
They're 116lb
You can Charge them to 100% and discharge to 20% without shortening the 6000 cycle life.
I wouldn't trust these batteries to save my life. Literally. I have 10 of these paperweights that eat 720 watts per day EACH according to their own employee, the Applications Engineer. Their support is worse than their propaganda! I may be late to this party but I'm still tooting my horn. RUN, don't walk. 'nough said!
Double check with fortress. They are not honoring the 10-year warranty on the e-flex batteries when paired with a solark unless you use at least three of them paralleled together.
Fortress now allows 2 eFlex due to the advantages gained with closed loop. Contact tech support for the update procedure if that is an issue on a current project.
@@pvbatts Shill
I bet they won't honor their warranty. Frauds don't play fair
If I build a house and do not have ANY 120/208/240 devices in it but go with only12/24/36/48VDC appliances and lighting can I be forced to connect to the electrical utility? We already own a developed lot in MS by the water and are building a fortified home to withstand some rough wx.
Im an electronics engineer and see no justification for being forced on to the local grid. And yes I know most government entities have legislation requiring connection. But I think the Utes are simply going to keep escalating the monthly service charge to cover their butts. it can be upwards of $75 or more even if you draw no current! Touch your brow to the screen and inform us tyros! What about it?
You are not required to connect to the electric utility in any jurisdiction in the USA, including Mississippi. The only utility connection mandates involve sewer systems. You still have to be code compliant though. Yes, MS has some of the worst fixed fees in the country and it will just get worse as you predict.
What is the self-consumption of these batteries when in use? Fortress is telling me that they use 30 watts just to turn them on. That would mean each 5.4kw module would burn through 720 watts a day, that's a whopping 14% !! WTF? Is that accurate?
If cycled daily for off grid use only 3650 cycles. Why so few, most decent batteries claim more like 8-10k cycles?
Throughput warranty >> cycles. You won't get to 10k cycles by the end of the 10 year warranty.
SolArk, best inverter. Notice the absolute silence pushing 75 amps. Don't waste months of your life screwing around with cheap junk like I did.
Which brands would you not recommend?
@@Joda30088 If you want something that you can confidently install and not have to babysit continually and even at times forget it's there I'd avoid Growatt and MPP Solar. They may work for smaller installations but I have a 10KW peak system that runs 24/7. Growatt and MPP Solar were non starters. Their standby power/battery draw is way too high and the Growatt especially sounds like a jet engine when running just my well pump that tops out at about 2KW. I returned two MPP Solar inverters that were replaced by the 6000T but when that started to cut out on a sunny day while also over volting my batteries I'd had it. I called AltE and ordered a solak the next day after cutting all the lines to the Growatt inverter out of frustration. You get what you pay for.
@@vincei4252 Ok thanks, Growatt wasn't on my list to get so I'm glad
Excuse my ignorance, but you commented on SOLAR being a joke. Please elaborate on that.
I did? I don't think so?
@@engineer775 when you were showing the display on the inverter, you said the solar was a joke.
@@roberthill4789 I think he was saying Solar and grid tie is a joke
Sorry about that . We met a guy that pronounced solar as so -LAR and it has been stuck in my brain ever since. The pronunciation was a joke. Sorry about the confusion.
Comment wa at 3.48 I took it as the way he pronounced solark was a joke. No way does he think solar is a joke
Who on earth downvoted this?
Two lead acid dinosaurs dislike this video.
@@N8TheSnake I mean everything has its place. I didn’t throw my ratchets away when I got pneumatic one
@@N8TheSnake
engineer 775 had the Saulus/Paulus enlightenment not so long ago
😁✌🖖👌👍😎
Cheapest 5kwh batteries rn
I called Fortress Power and they said their Eflex 5.4kWh battery has a self consumption of 30 watts while active. 30 watts x 24hrs = 720 watt-hours just to stay active. That's 14% of the battery's capacity!
No freaking way would I buy one of those.. Seriously, what idiot would design a battery that would self discharge in just 7 days on its own?