Warming the batteries and stability

[jvbutter01]

My question or advice needed is. Mom n Dad live 100% off grid. 100deg in summer time mid 20's during winter. He has solar, and backup generator for alternative power. Generator is wired to the Sol Ark 12k-P controller. He had FLA for years in a home made 4ft x 4ft plywood box w/ foam board insulated, they were fading, so he upgraded 3yr ago. Now he has some 6v 100a AGM batteries on the ground/non covered. On my last trip. I noticed 2 batteries bloated. I am looking at switching out to LiFePo 48v 16s bank.

I travel up 1x a month to check on them and help out around the house. Worried about reliability, yes they have generator backup.

2 routes to go for swapping out his batteries. 1) online from X supplier they have 48v heated cold weather rated all in one battery or 2) build Lith battery bank form 280a cells add on a BMS and add on some type of heater. Option 1 seems to be better piece of mind, vs option 2. Option 1 is $4k Option 2 would be much less ($1600 battery+$200 bms + $200 for heaters) $2k +/-

The question is, any input on which is better? Is ready made battery bank any more reliable?

 

[timselectric]

It's really just a personal preference. Depending on how comfortable you are with diy.

Is ready made battery bank any more reliable?

no, but probably comes with a warranty.

 

[A.Justice]

Some simple heating pads and something like this would be able to warm the batteries no problem.

I have that exact same unit, and it works very well.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-All-Purpose-Temperature-Controller-ITC-1000/dp/B00OXPE8U6/ref=asc_df_B00OXPE8U6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167130088685&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5017040330783085391&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013136&hvtargid=pla-307270368428&psc=1

These are the warming pads that I have, they also work very well. They make those pads for different voltages and sizes, but they have no regulation of their own, so the controller is a must.

https://a.co/d/2xKKgVq

 

[wopachop]

Could you move the batteries into the living space?

 

[jvbutter01]

@

timselectric sure at $4k id hope so. ​

A.Justice​

Yes that controler would be good idea. Will had a vid from last year where he had some big pad he put on a sheet of sheet metal. I think that would work well for 16s

wopachop​

No the whole system with Solar is out in the shop.