Off-grid Battery Comparison Chart
The off-grid battery comparison chart lists the latest modular, rack-mount lithium battery systems used for off-grid solar power systems. These 48V DC-coupled batteries are compatible with a wide range of off-grid and hybrid (all-in-one) inverters, which can be used for off-grid or grid-tie energy storage systems. Lithium Iron Phosphate, or LFP, has become the most popular type of battery chemistry. Lithium titanate is a lesser-known cell chemistry with a long lifespan and other advantages. Learn more about it in our solar battery review.
The two main types of off-grid lithium batteries:
Managed batteries feature a BMS with closed-loop communication to the inverter (CANBus or RS485) and can only be used with compatible inverters. The battery BMS regulates the charging process rate based on SOC, temperature, and cell voltage, which are measured directly by the BMS. Managed batteries precisely calculate the SOC and battery SOH (state of health) and pass on this data to the inverter.
Self-managed batteries feature a BMS that monitors the battery charging, temperature and cell balancing but does not require a communication connection to the inverter to operate (open-loop). These batteries can be used to replace lead-acid battery banks and can be installed with most off-grid inverters. Battery charging is managed via the inverter (and MPPTs), while accurate SOC is calculated via a DC shunt.
Learn more about off-grid solar systems and battery types in our detailed off-grid solar systems review.
Off-grid Modular & Rack-Mount Battery Systems
Battery features explained
EOL = End of life: Typical EOF is when the battery capacity has reduced to 60 to 80% of the original capacity; learn more about the expected battery life and degradation rates in our detailed battery review.
Other battery and inverter comparison charts:
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