- cross-posted to:
- hardware@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- hardware@lemmy.world
- Exciting to see all sorts of batteries for different applications. Is lithium-ion still standard for home power backup? I’ve heard characteristics of the new sodium-ion batteries being ideal for that use case. - It really is exciting to see alternative battery systems beginning to see wider commercialization. - I am not aware of sodium-ion batteries for home use, I believe it’s mostly for industrial-scale battery systems. I could be wrong though, would be interested in learning more. - In an apartment setting, IMO the current gold standard is LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) batteries. - I live in Ukraine and we have constant problems with electricity supply (thank you dear russians). At times you have 1-2 full charge/discharge cycles per day on a 1 Kilowatt-hour battery system. Several LiFePO4 systems in my extended family seem to work close to baseline even after 1.5 years (not used daily though). - I have not seen any options for sodium-ion batteries for home use, but this maybe a local thing. - In a more rural/suburban setting, generators work as backup power supplies for most people. Typically only the well off get a high capacity LiFePO4 systems for house setting. - Sodium ion batteries are really just hitting the mainstream. Prior to now, they appear to have been more from pilot projects/factories, but a couple large factories are being built now. I expect they will be very popular for stationary use in a couple years. 
 
- Good old lead acid is still quite popular in off grid and UPS systems, it’s still quite cost effective if size and weight isn’t much of an issue. - Yes, but with a limited cycle life of typically 300 or so for AGM, significantly reduced if the battery is ever more than 50% discharged. Also high losses in charging, and needing an extended duration of high voltage low current charging to get to 100% from 80% - For larger applications you don’t use agm, you often go back to flooded batteries with even replaceable, high cycle cqthodes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9781782420132000030 
 
 
 
- If you’re not limited by space isn’t lead-ion cheaper? - It is, but lead based chemistries tend to wear out and need replacing a lot sooner than lithium ion. - You’re core idea is correct though, there’s a lot of battery techs that are cheaper / better when size and weight are irrelevant. 
 
- I wish there were more Nickel Iron (Edison) home battery options. Those run for over 100 years and are perfect for a home where size/weight don’t matter. - It’s very uncommon for them to last 100 years, but they do last a lot longer than any lithium or lead acid batteries. The charging efficiency is rather low, which is probably why you don’t see them used much. 
 




