[RE-wrenches] Ni-Fe batteries

[Dan Fink]

>
> We do discuss NiFe (Edison) battery banks with the students in all our
> off-grid classes. I would only recommend them (at this time) for
> experienced off-grid experts, DIY or professional. I would not touch a NiFe
> install with a 10-foot pole for any typical off-grid consulting customer of
> ours.
>
> Be sure to look into the disadvantages of NiFe cell, before plunking down
> a bunch of money:
> ~extremely low efficiency on both charge and discharge;
> ~very expensive;
> ~very high self-discharge rate;
> ~only source is China (we used to be able to get Hungarian ones, no
> longer), we hear of problems with the Chinese cells;
> ~non-typical charge cycle performance, and only the Midnite Solar Classic
> controller has a setting for NiFe that we know of. Get it wrong, and they
> will behave bizarrely and dangerously ;
> ~We do not know of any modern inverter/charger that can properly charge
> and maintain NiFe cells via a backup generator.
>
~ controller / charger settings for NiCad will be CLOSE to correct for
NiFe, but not exactly right

>
> What is the chance that *MY* next battery bank will be NiFe? (Currently I
> am using typical lead-antimony batteries, L-16s) Very high chance, if i can
> get a decent deal. But at this time, you had better be an experienced
> off-grid expert to want to fiddle with these things. "Turn-key system" is
> not in the lexicon right now for off-grid NiFe battery banks. Great old
> technology -- but there are a whole lot of darned good reasons it is not
> common now. **
>
> --
> Dan Fink,
> Executive Director;
> Otherpower
> Buckville Energy Consulting
> Buckville Publications LLC
> NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
> 970.672.4342 (voicemail)
>
>


> ****
>
> Anyone know anything about Nickel-Iron Batteries? We sold some many years
> ago but our supplier stopped carrying them. I have a client with a fairly
> large bank of Hawker industrial batteries; 2100ah @ 48v. He is asking about
> replacing them with Ni-Fe as he has heard that they will last virtually
> forever, or at least longer than he might. Any thoughts on this? Also, any
> suggestions of good suppliers? Thanks.****
>
>
>
>
>
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