[RE-wrenches] LiFePO4; WAS Availability of Powerwall Batteries

Sat Jan 23 13:46:44 PST 2016

Larry,

         Thanks to people like you, we will all benefit from Lithium 
batteries coming online sooner, no doubt at a decreasing cost.  Many of 
us in this field know what its like to pioneer/beta test new products 
but soldier on to move things along to a better future.

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net

On 1/23/2016 11:44 AM, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote:
> August,
>
> To be sure, there is a fragility in using LFP batteries if the 
> integrator does not understand the pitfalls….and there are many. In 
> November a lithium battery and solar “dealer” emailed me for help. He 
> had damaged an $8000 battery bank and wanted to know how to get it 
> working again. After I told him a few things to NOT do, I then offered 
> my expertise for a $250 consulting fee. No response.  I could tell of 
> other cases where the unlearned have ruined their DIY installation or 
> people have bought a LI-ion battery from dealers that won’t provide 
> support. The stories are too many.
>
> I’ve been on the bleeding edge for 2 years now and I’m still 
> discovering mistakes I made in the early application of our battery. 
> Fortunately I am able to make the changes to hardware and software to 
> keep the battery safe from humans. Lead is SO much more forgiving than 
> Li-ion when it is not done right.
>
> We are up to 4-5 installations per month plus out the door sale of 
> about 5 systems per month. I receive email inquiries daily about our 
> LFMP batteries. I have high hopes for products from the likes of 
> Tesla. As I have said in the past, Lithium battery technology IS the 
> future for RE storage…lead, your years are numbered.
>
> Larry Crutcher
> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>
> On Jan 22, 2016, at 5:35 PM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com 
> <mailto:august at luminalt.com>> wrote:
>
> Larry,
>
> To get back to your previous response to me – I’m fully onboard with 
> the benefits of lithium batteries. For now, they seem like the clear 
> successor to lead acid technology. However, I’m still concerned about 
> the ability of these smaller “integrators” to assemble cells and 
> electronics together and make a robust package. There may very well be 
> good ones out there, I just don’t know. Tesla’s product is still brand 
> new and who knows how that is going to go.
>
> Best,
>
> August
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
> <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of 
> *Starlight Solar Power Systems
> *Sent:* Friday, January 22, 2016 2:46 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] LiFePO4; WAS Availability of Powerwall 
> Batteries
>
> Hi Allan,
>
> I would like to challenge the use of the term "locally manufactured". 
> Mccune Solar Works does not manufacture lithium batteries. They 
> purchase battery cells from China and package other third party 
> components like EMS and relays to make a lithium battery  system. Very 
> similar to what we do except our LFMP battery package EMS and CPU is 
> designed by the manufacturer exclusively for GBS batteries. Perhaps a 
> better term would be LFP battery dealer or integrator.
>
> Larry Crutcher
> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2016, at 12:30 PM, Allan Sindelar <allan at sindelarsolar.com 
> <mailto:allan at sindelarsolar.com>> wrote:
>
> Wrenches,
> A longtime off grid friend of mine, with whom both I and Positive 
> Energy have collaborated on difficult installations over the years, 
> just purchased a 24V 230AH, 120 lb. LiFePO_4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) 
> battery bank that is locally manufactured in Albuquerque. It's still 
> too small and too expensive to run his entire home, so he has devised 
> a battery switching system and is keeping his older FLAs in operation 
> while he tests these and affords more strings. So far he's quite 
> pleased with the performance, but there's not yet a track record for 
> his set.
>
> So I want to pass on this low-key manufacturer: Chuck McCune, McCune 
> Industries, http://www.mccunesolarworks.com 
> <http://www.mccunesolarworks.com/>, (866) 622-8630. I believe that a 
> legal Non-Disclosure Agreement is necessary to get the real info.
>
> Contact me off list if you'd like to speak with my friend with the new 
> set. I believe that he has set up as a regional dealer.
> Allan
>
> *Allan Sindelar*
> allan at sindelarsolar.com <mailto:allan at sindelarsolar.com>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
> *505 780-2738 cell*
>
>
>
>
>
>
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