Several years ago I started a Victron system for my residence that I have been gradually expanding as money and time allowed. I have a pair of 48v/3000/35A Multiplus II inverters and 4.8 kw (64A) of panels. It is time to add storage capacity other than my single Chins 51.2v 100A battery. What are other people using? Is anyone using any of the many cheap LiFePO4 off brand rack batteries that are of similar quality as the Chins golf cart battery that I have been using for 3 years? I am quite enamored with the Pylontech US5000 batteries, but am roundly gobsmacked at the price. What are other people using? Realizing that cheaper batteries may lack CANBus/RS485 communication, I could live without this, if the cells were of reasonable quality, and if ideally the unit were engineered to be UL 1973/9540A certified. What batteries are other people using? TIA.
Diy battery: EVE MB 31 lifepo4 314ah cel, Yixiang empty battery box with build-in JK bms, the bms has full communication with Victron gear, bms is not officially supported by Victron.
Tempting. Thanks.
@portsample You Battery Compatibility [Victron Energy] Be cautious not to be lured into a false sense of economy as the Pylontech has > 8000 cycle life vs your Chins > 2000 which should not be overlooked. It is more complicated as the Pylontech pocket cells do not have the stresses of rolled cells which also would make a difference with regards to longevity. Also, were warranty claims to arise, you cannot return dangerous goods as an individual whereas Pylontech collects. Small things which should not be overlooked.
There’s a big YT channel, too: https://www.youtube.com/@OffGridGarageAustralia
Andy is using a number of different BMS with his Victron systems. Pylontech are not bad, but a little pricey and only have passive balancers. I’ve got a set of 8 of the US5000, but have expanded with a DIY 15S MB31 battery with JK RESS BMS since. As long as battery chemistry and cell count are the same, you can parallel as many different batteries as you like. It is not strictly necessary for all of them to talk to the Victron system either. In my case, only the Pylontech batteries are connected, the JK one is not.
A good stable system needs a good stable battery, for lithium comms is an important part as that enables it to manage the system and optimal performance.
You can also run them unmanaged via shunt, its not as sexy and some tuning and compromise is needed.
There are many different commercial and DIY batteries installed, but if you go the DIY route, please do your research, skill up. It isn’t for everyone and issues with DIY batteries from users trained solely via the internet is a large source of problem topics on this forum.
There are also many happy DIY battery users because they were equipped for the task.
The list of supported batteries is long and keeps growing, but be careful about false economics. All batteries are not equal, nor are their warranties.
It’s always a trade off, but there are numerous excellent packs that are not Pylontech.
My system has mp2 gx 5000/48, 4x 150/45 mppt, 300a shunt, 2x 16kwh eve 280k jkbms, all communicating nicely over ve direct / 2x duppa ve direct-usb hubs.
I bult my 30kWh Battery myself with EVE Cells
Also worh a look are the battery packs from nkon.nl
Be aware that Pylontech is 15S, your existung battery is 16s, so you canßt use them parallel
EVE MB31 are rated for 8000 cycles at max 0.5C charge/discharge current. Pylontech 5000 batteries are rated for 6000 cycles at max 80A charge/discharge (0.8C) current.
Even 5 years ago I would probably have bought Pylontech batteries too. But today their design (15s) and BMS is somehow outdated, and there are low cost batteries like that from NKON.nl which are made of much better components.
My own 15 kWh battery is DIY with a Yixiang box and EVE 280K cells. Only if I have installed all the screws and bolts myself can I be certain that they have been tightened to the necessary torque, and that all electrical contact surfaces have been inspected and carefully degreased and cleaned.
Again, inaccurate, quoting third party dated docs.
The entire range rated to greater than 8000 cycles and a 15 year design life.
Newer firmware has also bumped the performance of the 5000’s as they proved themselves. 100A now iirc.
Newer model ranges now tend to be 16 cell, legacy packaging still 15. DVCC was adjusted a year or 2 back to support their 16 cell models.
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. I live in a very remote part of North America. A Pylontech US5000 would cost $4,000 w/freight, whereas an Eco-worthy I could get for about $950. Has anyone tried the Eco-Worthy units?
4000 for one single piece of US-5000? i can´t imagine
Go to www.diysolarforum. c.o.m. for many, many topics about eco worty batteries
My go to provider has them for $3,300. Hazmat shipping is over $700.
I suspect if I go to one of the bigger vendors I could whittle a few hundred off of that, but still..
Here in the Netherlands Euro 720.- US50001C.
I guess Tariff makes them expensive.
OMG, 720 euros is about $844. The batteries come out of China, as do all of the other units. Could there be a subsidy in NL on these?
Around $900 here.
Must be that trade deficit 
Nickdb, out of curiosity, how much do the bargain basement Eco-Worthy 51.2v/100A units go for where you are?
In the UK, pack of 3 x US5000 with brackets, fuses and cables £2,700 = $3,700.
We don’t get them in our region. Too much choice at reasonable prices.