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Add Heating Pads to EG4 or Switching to Trophy Batteries?

Old_Skewler

Old_Skewler

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Messages
510
Location
NYS
I am currently running my off-grid cabin with (1) EG4 48V battery. This year I need to add at least 1 or 2 battery racks to my system. The only issue I had last winter was the cold weather limitation in which I had to wait until mid-day to charge my EG4.

I was recommended Trophy rack batteries instead of EG4 for my cold climate cabin. I basically would like to hear from more experienced users which way would be better: stick with EG4s and add heaters to batteries OR dump EG4 and move to Trophy batteries, which already have heaters built-in.

TIA!
 
I ran into low temperature charging shut off as well. I've 6 batteries in a rack and I resolved the BMS shut down by buying 2 seed mats putting each one on each side of the bottom two batteries, plugging in the two seed mats into an Inkbird temperature controller which turns them on when the temperature inside the rack drops below 35F and turns off when the temperature exceeds 40F. I then covered the rack with a moving blanket for insulation. Never had an issue since with temps being in the teens. Total cost ~$70 to keep a rack of 6 warm. Trophies are about ~$150 extra for each battery.

Seed mats:

Inkbird temp controller:

Will also has a video on using a holding tank heater, but that seems overkill for my purpose.
 
vladkgb said:
resolved by buying 2 seed mats putting each one on each side of the bottom two batteries, plugging in the two seed mats into an Inkbird temperature controller which turns them on when the temperature inside the rack drops below 35F and turns off when the temperature exceeds 40F.
Click to expand...
Do you happen to have any photo of your rig that you could share?

So only the bottom (2) batteries get the heater pad, 2 pads per battery. And

vladkgb said:
Trophies are about ~$150 extra for each battery.
Click to expand...
And for some reason slightly taller, taking more space in the rack then EG4s...


vladkgb said:
Seed mats:

Inkbird temp controller:
Click to expand...
Any concerns about power consumption from these heating mats?
 
Old_Skewler said:
Do you happen to have any photo of your rig that you could share?

So only the bottom (2) batteries get the heater pad, 2 pads per battery. And


And for some reason slightly taller, taking more space in the rack then EG4s...



Any concerns about power consumption from these heating mats?
Click to expand...
No picture, it would be hard to take anyway, the seed mats are hidden on the sides of the rack.

Heat rises so the two mats around the bottom two work for me, but my temperatures get to 20F in the shed when its in the teens outside, so your mileage may wary. Cool thing about this setup is, you can just add more seed mats.

As far as power draw, each mat is 20W, and i also have the Inkbird controller on a timer, so it turns on about an hour before sunrise (6am) and turns off at sunset, 7pm. No point in heating the rack at night when there's no charging going on, unless you charge from the grid. The trophy heaters draw power as well, don't know how much, and you have less control on when the heaters turn on AFAIK.
 
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Well it’s Trophy only here and honestly I have asked this question before: Why in the world does anyone pick EG4 ‘s over practically any other battery brand out there? The amount of grief I see on these forums with EG4 batteries is astounding but everyone seems to line up for the punishment. And given the choice why do most choose to install a bunch of 100Ah batteries when by my way of thinking less connections are better for a host of reasons?
 
jfpetesn said:
Why in the world does anyone pick EG4 ‘s over practically any other battery brand out there?
Click to expand...
I have a different question: why in the world someone with 700+ posts in this forum cannot figure out why people buy EG4 batteries? That is puzzling to me.....

jfpetesn said:
The amount of grief I see on these forums with EG4 batteries is astounding but everyone seems to line up for the punishment.
Click to expand...
I only can speak for my experience and despite having issues with GroWatt & SigantureSolar costumer service, I've had ZERO issues with the EG4 battery, at least as of now. Fingers remain crossed!

jfpetesn said:
And given the choice why do most choose to install a bunch of 100Ah batteries when by my way of thinking less connections are better for a host of reasons?
Click to expand...
Again, I really don't get how someone allegedly with 700+ posts does not understand why people would start small and add up storage as they go along...

The only thing as shocking as your questions is how "shocked" you sound when I read your posts. I honestly suspect you'd benefit from a break to cool off and relax...
 
I redesigned my entire cabin system to be able to use Trophy batteries because of the simplicity of the heating and capacity.

It seems to me that if you're using EG4 inverters with EG4 batteries the communication works, but if you're using any other combination the communication features pretty much require a PhD in dark voodoo magic.

I personally would rather go with Trophy and ditch the EG4's before you get cold damage or have to figure out how to get heaters jerry-rigged to work right.

But that's just me.
 
Why heat the batteries when you can instead dig a hole, bury a box and let the earth regulate the temp for you?
 
Dig below the frost line. I'm in NH. The granite state. It can't be any harder where you are.
 
Old_Skewler said:
I have a different question: why in the world someone with 700+ posts in this forum cannot figure out why people buy EG4 batteries? That is puzzling to me.....


I only can speak for my experience and despite having issues with GroWatt & SigantureSolar costumer service, I've had ZERO issues with the EG4 battery, at least as of now. Fingers remain crossed!


Again, I really don't get how someone allegedly with 700+ posts does not understand why people would start small and add up storage as they go along...

The only thing as shocking as your questions is how "shocked" you sound when I read your posts. I honestly suspect you'd benefit from a break to cool off and relax...
Click to expand...
Making a lot of assumptions aren’t you. Perhaps a mirror would be helpful. I made my points prove them wrong.
 
jfpetesn said:
Making a lot of assumptions aren’t you. Perhaps a mirror would be helpful. I made my points prove them wrong.
Click to expand...
What points you made ? What are you talking about? You simply asked some weird questions that, if taken seriously, shows that you either live in a bubble or that you need some vacation and time off.

You do you bro.
 
Old_Skewler said:
What points you made ? What are you talking about? You simply asked some weird questions that, if taken seriously, shows that you either live in a bubble or that you need some vacation and time off.

You do you bro.
Click to expand...
Another post search function is your friend. But let me clarify.
10:1 complaints on this forum about EG4 batteries than all other brands.

Multiple complaints about Sig Solar and their customer support and wait times.

Customers receive their batteries and have to spend hours of time getting them working and balanced.

In regards to 100ah batteries, starting small is fine but at some point one must realize when they get in this game that they are going to need additional storage. So do you want to keep wiring up 100ah batteries? I have 1850Ah of storage. So do I buy 18 100 Ah or 8 Trophies?

I just installed 4 more a week ago. I spent almost $500 on wire and supplies to add the 4. If I had 18…well you do the math. Not even mentioning the space requirements.

Price….Trophy ends up .21 cents more per Ah. For that I get excellent customer service, someone who always answers the phone, top notch build quality, fast shipping, heaters even though I don’t need them, etc.

These are my points…now convince me why I should buy the EG4’s.
 
You asked a question and I gave you my opinion. I guess you’ve already decided EG4 is your brand. Why you ask in the first place?
 
jfpetesn said:
You asked a question and I gave you my opinion. I guess you’ve already decided EG4 is your brand. Why you ask in the first place?
Click to expand...
Man... I don't want to be responsible for another person's stroke or heart attack. I am a free man with a clean conscience. Your help comes with this anger and is not worth for me.

Please, simply block me and you won't come across these "stupid posts" from me.
 
jfpetesn said:
.

Customers receive their batteries and have to spend hours of time getting them working and balanced.
.
Click to expand...

Try 40 cycles or 2 months. But now that I understand the battery BMS, it could be done over a few days.
 
Old_Skewler said:
Man... I don't want to be responsible for another person's stroke or heart attack. I am a free man with a clean conscience. Your help comes with this anger and is not worth for me.

Please, simply block me and you won't come across these "stupid posts" from me.
Click to expand...
You’re the guy who got his panties in a bunch and decided it was time for me to take a break. I asked a simple question. Convince me I am wrong and I should buy a truckload of EG4’s. So sell me and point out where I’m wrong. No hard feelings but you asked for our opinions. Obviously I have plenty of those. No stupid questions just some don’t really want an answer.
 
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