New! EG4 PowerPro Budget Model: 14.3kWh LiFePO4 Battery for $3,431

DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse
2 Apr 202413:48

Summary

TLDRThe EG4 Power Pro battery is a heavy-duty indoor use battery weighing 282 lbs, designed for non-back problem individuals due to its weight. It features a 14.3 KW hour lithium iron phosphate battery, 200 amp BMS, and can connect to inverters or other batteries in parallel. The battery comes with a color touch screen interface, showing communication, state of charge, voltage, total capacity, and current flow. It also includes fire extinguishers for code compliance despite the safety of lithium iron phosphate chemistry. The battery is competitively priced, making it suitable for off-grid living and can power significant loads like space heaters and electric vehicle chargers. The video also discusses the setup process, including the use of conduit boxes and the potential for mounting configurations with vertical bus bars.

Takeaways

  • 🔋 The EG4 Power Pro battery is a heavy indoor-use battery weighing 282 lbs.
  • 🚪 It replaced the previous outdoor-rated model and is more affordable due to its indoor rating.
  • 🌡️ The battery features internal heaters for cold environments and fire extinguishers for code compliance.
  • 🔌 It has a 14.3 KW hour capacity with lithium iron phosphate cells rated for 8,000 cycles.
  • 🔩 The 200 amp BMS and bus bars with four ampol connectors allow for easy connection to inverters and other batteries in parallel.
  • 🖥️ A color touch screen provides information on communication, state of charge, voltage, capacity, and current.
  • 🔧 The battery includes an on/off switch, circuit breaker, and mounting plate for wall installation.
  • 🔌 The top anel connectors are designed for easy connection to inverters and other batteries.
  • 💡 The battery can be used in combination with a 6000 XP for a complete off-grid system at a relatively low cost.
  • 🔋 The battery's fire extinguisher system is a safety feature despite the safety of lithium iron phosphate chemistry.
  • 🛠️ The build quality is similar to most server rack batteries, and the bus bars are notably large and robust.

Q & A

  • What is the name and model of the battery discussed in the video?

    -The battery discussed is named EG4, Power Pro.

  • What is the weight of the EG4, Power Pro battery?

    -The EG4, Power Pro battery weighs 282 pounds.

  • Is the EG4, Power Pro battery designed for indoor or outdoor use?

    -The EG4, Power Pro battery is designed for indoor use only.

  • How does the EG4, Power Pro battery differ from the previous model?

    -The main difference is that the EG4, Power Pro is rated for indoor use only, whereas the older model is rated for outdoor use.

  • What is the battery capacity of the EG4, Power Pro?

    -The EG4, Power Pro has a 14.3 KW hour battery capacity with lithium iron phosphate cells.

  • What is the role of the internal heaters in the EG4, Power Pro battery?

    -The internal heaters are present to keep the battery functioning properly in cold environments.

  • What is the maximum output current of the EG4, Power Pro battery?

    -The EG4, Power Pro battery can output a maximum of 200 amps.

  • How can you connect multiple batteries or inverters in parallel with the EG4, Power Pro?

    -You can connect multiple batteries or inverters in parallel using the bus bars equipped with four Anderson connectors rated for 600 amps.

  • What safety feature is included in the EG4, Power Pro battery for code compliance?

    -The EG4, Power Pro battery includes a fire extinguisher system for code compliance, even though lithium iron phosphate batteries are considered very safe.

  • What is the purpose of the vertical bus bars on the EG4, Power Pro battery?

    -The vertical bus bars allow for side-by-side mounting configurations, saving space compared to the outdoor model which requires a foot between each battery.

  • How can the EG4, Power Pro battery be used for electric vehicle charging?

    -The EG4, Power Pro can be used to run a Level 2 electric vehicle charger at 25 amps, making it a cost-effective solution for charging electric vehicles.

  • What is the advice given to viewers regarding the use of affiliate links in the video?

    -The advice given is to disable ad blockers when using affiliate links to make a purchase, as over 75% of the traffic through the links is not tracked due to ad blockers, resulting in no commission for the creator.

Outlines

00:00

🔋 Introducing the EG4 Power Pro Battery

The video begins with the introduction of the EG4 Power Pro battery, a heavy indoor-use-only battery weighing 282 lbs. The presenter mentions the difficulty of handling the battery alone but manages to do so with a hand truck. The EG4 Power Pro is distinguished from its predecessor by being designed for indoor use, despite having internal heaters for cold environments. It is also more affordable than server rack batteries or other 48-volt batteries. The presenter highlights its feature set, which is comparable to the outdoor-rated Power Pro batteries, and mentions that distributors, including Current Connected, will sell the product. The EG4 Power Pro comes with a 14.3 KW hour lithium iron phosphate battery, a 200 amp BMS, bus bars with four ampol connectors, and a color touch screen. The presenter also discusses the battery's communication ports, mounting plate, and ropes for easier movement, emphasizing the battery's weight and the need for caution when handling it.

05:00

🔧 Exploring the EG4 Power Pro's Construction and Safety Features

In this paragraph, the presenter delves into the construction of the EG4 Power Pro, noting the large bus bars and the secure connection to the circuit breaker. The presenter initially mistakes certain components for heaters but corrects himself, identifying them as fire extinguishers for code compliance. The lithium iron phosphate cells are recognized for their safety, and the presenter appreciates the secure connections and build quality. The video then transitions to setting up the battery, emphasizing the importance of careful handling when attaching the lid. The presenter also discusses the ease of setting up a complete off-grid system with the battery, including solar panels and loads. A load test is conducted using a 240-volt space heater, demonstrating the battery's performance and capacity.

10:01

🚀 Running an Electric Vehicle with the EG4 Power Pro

The final paragraph discusses the versatility of the EG4 Power Pro battery, highlighting its capability to run an electric vehicle charger and the potential for a cost-effective mini gas station setup. The presenter shares his experience of installing a conduit box and the benefits of vertical bus bars for compact mounting configurations. He also mentions the addition of a Nema 1450 to the AC input of the 6000 XP, which allows for visual indication of the battery's charge status. The presenter expresses excitement for upcoming competition in the vertical mount battery market and encourages viewers to disable their ad blockers when using affiliate links to support the channel. He concludes by inviting further questions and comments from viewers and anticipates testing new competition in the coming months.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡EG4 Power Pro

The EG4 Power Pro is the central subject of the video, a battery designed for indoor use. It is characterized by its substantial weight of 282 lbs and its high capacity of 14.3 KW hour, utilizing lithium iron phosphate cells. The battery is intended for use in power systems, offering features such as a color touch screen for user interaction and a 200 amp BMS for managing battery health. Its indoor rating and lower cost compared to server rack batteries make it an attractive option for various energy storage applications.

💡Indoor Rated

The term 'indoor rated' refers to the classification of the EG4 Power Pro battery, indicating that it is designed and approved for use in indoor environments. This rating is significant because it affects the battery's cost, as indoor-rated batteries are typically less expensive than their outdoor-rated counterparts. Additionally, indoor-rated batteries may have different safety features or construction to suit the controlled environment they are intended for.

💡Lithium Iron Phosphate

Lithium Iron Phosphate, often abbreviated as LiFePO4, is a type of lithium-ion battery chemistry known for its high safety, longevity, and stable performance. It is particularly favored in applications where a long service life and resistance to overcharging are important. In the context of the video, the EG4 Power Pro battery utilizes this chemistry, which is noted for its 8,000 cycle rating and its suitability for both indoor and outdoor applications, despite the specific model discussed being indoor-rated.

💡BMS (Battery Management System)

A Battery Management System (BMS) is a critical component in battery packs that ensures the safe, efficient, and optimal operation of the battery. It monitors various parameters such as voltage, current, and temperature, and protects the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, and short-circuiting. The BMS in the EG4 Power Pro is rated for 200 amps, indicating its capacity to handle significant current loads and manage the health of the battery effectively.

💡Parallel Connection

Parallel connection is a method of linking multiple batteries or power sources so that they share the same voltage and the total current is the sum of the individual currents. This configuration is beneficial for increasing the overall capacity and current output of the system without affecting the individual voltage of each component. In the video, the EG4 Power Pro battery can be connected in parallel with other batteries or inverters, thanks to its bus bars and ampol connectors, allowing for greater energy storage and output capabilities.

💡Touch Screen Interface

A touch screen interface is a user-operated system that allows for interaction with electronic devices through touch-sensitive screens. It provides a visual and intuitive way for users to control and monitor the device's functions. In the context of the EG4 Power Pro battery, the color touch screen serves as a user-friendly interface for checking the state of charge, voltage, total capacity, and current flow. The touch screen also has energy-saving features, such as entering standby mode to conserve battery life.

💡Code Compliance

Code compliance refers to the adherence to rules, standards, and regulations set forth by local, regional, or international authorities. In the context of the EG4 Power Pro battery, it indicates that the battery has been designed and manufactured to meet specific safety requirements, such as incorporating a fire extinguisher system. This ensures that the battery is safe for use in indoor environments and reduces the risk of accidents or failures.

💡Off-Grid System

An off-grid system is a self-sufficient power setup that is not connected to a central power grid. It typically relies on renewable energy sources like solar panels and energy storage solutions like batteries to provide continuous power. The EG4 Power Pro battery is highlighted as a cost-effective option for creating an off-grid system, especially when combined with solar panels and an inverter, allowing users to generate and store their own power for various applications.

💡Load Test

A load test is a procedure used to evaluate the performance and capacity of a power system, such as a battery or an inverter, under heavy usage conditions. It involves connecting a load, such as a space heater mentioned in the video, to the system and monitoring its output to ensure it can handle the required power without issues. This test is crucial for verifying the reliability and effectiveness of the power system, especially after installation or setup.

💡Vertical Bus Bars

Vertical bus bars are components used in battery systems to distribute electrical power within the battery pack. They are typically used to connect multiple batteries together in parallel or to link batteries with other system components like inverters. In the context of the EG4 Power Pro, the vertical bus bars are noted for their usefulness in mounting configurations, allowing for side-by-side placement of batteries, which saves space and offers flexibility in system design.

💡Conduit Box

A conduit box is an enclosure used to protect and organize electrical cables, particularly in power systems. It provides a safe and neat way to manage wiring, preventing exposure to potential damage or hazards. In the video, the conduit box is mentioned as an accessory for the EG4 Power Pro battery and 6000 XP inverter, intended to conceal the connecting cables and enhance the overall aesthetics and safety of the setup.

Highlights

The EG4 Power Pro battery is introduced as a heavy-duty option for those without back problems, weighing in at 282 lbs.

The new model is rated for indoor use only, unlike the previous model which was outdoor-rated.

Despite being indoor-rated, it still features internal heaters for cold environments.

The indoor rating results in a lower cost compared to server rack batteries or other 48-volt batteries.

The EG4 Power Pro shares the same feature set as the outdoor-rated Power Pro battery.

Multiple distributors, including Current Connected, will be selling this battery model.

The battery includes a 14.3 KW hour lithium iron phosphate battery with cells rated for 8,000 cycles.

It features a 200 amp BMS and bus bars with four ampol connectors rated for 600 amps.

The color touch screen display conserves power by going into standby mode and can show various battery stats.

The battery comes with anel connectors for easy connection to inverters and other batteries in parallel.

The top of the battery has positive and negative bus bars for connections, and the communication ports are on top.

The battery includes a fire extinguisher system for code compliance and safety.

The build quality is comparable to most server rack batteries, with large bus bars and a secure connection to the circuit breaker.

The battery can be mounted on a wall with a mounting plate and can be moved with ropes attached to the top and bottom.

A complete system can be set up with the battery, solar panels, and loads for an affordable off-grid solution.

The battery can run an electric vehicle charger or two 40-volt heat pumps, showcasing its versatility.

The vertical bus bars on the indoor model allow for side-by-side mounting configurations, saving space.

The conduit box for cable management will be installed once a second indoor model is acquired for a setup with two 6000 XPS.

Transcripts

00:00

so today's battery is called the eg4

00:02

Power Pro and it's for people that do

00:04

not have back problems because this

00:07

thing is heavy it weighs

00:09

282 lb and to get this out of the box so

00:13

I could make this video was very

00:15

difficult I did it on my own though with

00:17

a hand truck so I know you guys can

00:19

figure it out if you have some friends

00:20

around now the main difference of this

00:22

model in the previous model is that this

00:25

one is rated for indoor use only the

00:28

older model is rated for out outdoor use

00:31

but this still has the internal heaters

00:33

if you have a cold environment also

00:36

because it's indoor rated it actually

00:38

costs less money and actually it's

00:41

cheaper than server rack batteries or

00:43

any other 48volt batteries but it has

00:46

the same feature set as a powerpro

00:49

outdoor rated battery also multiple

00:51

Distributors will be selling this as

00:53

well including current connected so if

00:56

you like their customer service and

00:58

support check out their website cuz

01:00

they'll have packages with this and

01:02

they're going to be selling this with

01:03

the 6000 XP and that should be a very

01:06

good combination this is indoor rated

01:09

the 6000 XP is indoor rated but you get

01:11

the most features and output for the

01:13

lowest amount of money but first let's

01:16

go over the basic features first off it

01:18

has a 14.3 KW hour battery with lithium

01:21

iron phosphate and the cells are rated

01:23

to 8,000 Cycles next it has a 200 amp

01:27

BMS and it has bus bars up here with

01:31

four ampol connectors rated for 600 amps

01:36

so you can connect this to lots of other

01:38

batteries in parallel or you can connect

01:40

it to lots of inverters in parallel so

01:43

if you have three 6000 XPS and you have

01:46

two of these or whatever other

01:47

combination you want to connect them in

01:49

it's very easy to do so next it has a

01:52

color touch screen which is pretty darn

01:55

cool and it takes a second to load up

01:58

because it goes into standby mode cuz it

02:00

doesn't want to use the electricity

02:02

imagine having this large screen on all

02:04

day on a battery that would be illogical

02:06

so it turns itself off and on the main

02:09

whoops no it really turns itself off

02:12

quickly and on the main screen you have

02:14

the communication the state of charge

02:16

and then you have the voltage the total

02:18

capacity and how much current is going

02:20

in or out and under settings you can

02:23

change your communication protocol up

02:25

here the language you can see the

02:27

firmware version and you can also see

02:29

the the voltage of individual cells and

02:33

next you have the temperature which

02:35

there's four temperature sending units

02:37

or sensors in there and that's it now on

02:40

the top you have the anel connectors and

02:42

this is where you connect your inverters

02:44

and other batteries in parallel this is

02:46

the positive bus bar and this is the

02:48

negative bus bar and this is quite a bit

02:51

different than the outdoor model these

02:53

ones face straight up and they're on the

02:55

top but on the outdoor model they're

02:58

actually on the sides you can see them

03:00

connected right there and they're facing

03:02

outward also the communication ports are

03:04

on the side but not on this one they're

03:06

actually on the top to connect other

03:08

inverters and batteries you need ampol

03:11

connectors and it comes with two of them

03:13

with each battery but you might need to

03:14

order more especially if you put

03:16

batteries in a parallel and all they do

03:18

is snap into place just like that so

03:22

we're going to use this to connect to

03:23

6,000 XP and on the side we have the on

03:26

and off switch and a circuit breaker and

03:28

this is how we turn it on on woo that

03:31

was

03:31

hard and on the back you have a mounting

03:34

plate if you wish to mount this on a

03:35

wall and it also has a rope on the top

03:38

and the bottom so you can move the

03:40

battery easier but even with these ropes

03:42

it's very hard to move it's very heavy

03:45

but these do help so there are handles

03:47

on this side but I prefer this rope and

03:49

using my body to push against it and

03:52

Shuffle it around slowly so I'll tilt it

03:54

and then push it and then tilt it and

03:57

then push it

04:01

but don't tilt too far unless it will

04:03

fall and break and then slowly bring it

04:06

back but I'm telling you you need to be

04:08

careful this is a lot of weight and lift

04:11

with your back not your

04:15

knees imagine if there's not a battery

04:18

inside and it's just Geral food and then

04:20

you have like three Geral on Wheels and

04:22

they just run all day long be better if

04:25

we had nuclear reactors I mean it's 2024

04:28

but no this is a lot of screws oh there

04:31

we go but we've got a screen so we've

04:33

got a cable in there

04:36

[Music]

04:38

somewhere that is dangerous the amount

04:41

of stuff that can short out right here

04:44

now with open batteries like this you do

04:46

not want to drop a tool like this on

04:48

these terminals man it just makes me

04:51

nervous even looking at it these are

04:54

welded and screwed on I've seen that on

04:56

a couple batteries in the past but I

04:58

didn't know they did it on the power now

05:00

the overall build quality is very

05:01

similar to most server rack batteries so

05:04

nothing really special here now I don't

05:06

see the heaters so let's look around

05:08

closer but this is actually pretty

05:10

special look at how big these bus bars

05:13

are and how it's connected to the

05:14

circuit breaker this is rated for DC so

05:17

it's massive and man I love how the anol

05:20

connector connects to it that is solid I

05:23

think these are heating elements and

05:25

they connect to the metal that surrounds

05:28

the cells wait a second these are not

05:31

heaters these are fire extinguishers

05:34

they have sensors over here and then the

05:37

heater conductors actually go between

05:39

the cells I should have known they

05:41

always cover it with this white stuff

05:43

whenever you have heaters and lithium

05:44

iron phosphate batteries now I know what

05:46

you guys are thinking why would you have

05:48

a fire extinguisher system inside of a

05:51

lithium iron phosphate battery but

05:53

that's actually for Code Compliance also

05:56

if this BMS were to fail it's nice to

05:58

have something that can put put out that

06:00

fire but these cells are very safe and

06:02

you're not going to have a

06:03

self-propagating thermal runaway event

06:05

with lithium iron phosphate it's like

06:07

the safest chemistry around but you have

06:10

to have these in here anyways now all

06:12

the connection seems secure everything

06:14

seems pretty good this seems like a

06:15

pretty good battery we have to put this

06:17

lid on very carefully you do not want to

06:20

drop

06:23

it that was

06:28

easy

06:37

so there's three holes on the top and

06:39

three holes on the bottom the center

06:41

hole you want to hit a stud and then for

06:43

the side holes you can just move it out

06:46

of the way and then put the drywall

06:48

anchors after you mark

06:58

it

07:29

that's ugly

07:30

that's not

07:35

good that's

07:39

better and we have a system just need to

07:41

hook up some solar and some loads and

07:43

we're done how easy is that that's crazy

07:46

for the price of this this is less than

07:48

like an 18K and you get the battery as

07:51

well so you can go off grid for like a

07:54

cabin very cheaply

07:58

now

08:03

so I fired up and I have zero voltage

08:05

and that's because it's looking for a

08:07

battery so we're going to set up the

08:09

battery communication so what you need

08:10

is the orange cable and we're going to

08:12

plug this into the can and then feed

08:14

this up here into the battery

08:16

communication port and then you need to

08:18

set the identifier dip switch so all the

08:21

switches should be on except for the

08:24

first one and it should look just like

08:26

this and then you turn the battery on

08:28

and off again and then turn this

08:31

on and then it should show you the state

08:33

of charge and there should be some lines

08:35

right here and the capacity in amp hours

08:38

and now the inverter just turned on and

08:40

you should see 120 volts right there and

08:43

then it should have a smiley face down

08:44

here so that means everything is

08:46

actually running properly and we can

08:47

connect loads so now this is a complete

08:50

system that can actually turn on and we

08:52

can now do a load test and this is a 240

08:56

volt space heater and this takes 6,000

08:59

watts to power so this is a good test

09:02

for the inverter and the battery and

09:05

it's on and now it's on

09:07

high and it's pulling 6,000 ws and on

09:11

the battery it says we're pulling 118

09:13

amps but this battery can output 200

09:16

amps that's 9,600 W and on the screen it

09:20

shows that we're only pulling 90% of its

09:22

rated output capacity so it can

09:25

technically do a little bit more but

09:26

this is what it's rated for it seems to

09:28

be running pretty well so I guess I'll

09:30

come back in like 10 minutes but this is

09:33

a purely resistive load with a small fan

09:35

so it's not that challenging but I can't

09:38

think of any other loads than a massive

09:40

heat gun so yeah this is the max I can

09:42

do with just a single inverter it would

09:45

be nice if we had two of these connected

09:46

to a single battery that would be

09:48

awesome that would exceed its rated

09:50

output so that would not be that good

09:53

but keep in mind if you want the full

09:54

output of 2 6000 XPS you need two eg4

09:59

power Pro batteries so there probably

10:01

will be kits on the websites from all

10:03

the Distributors and signature solar

10:05

selling kits with two batteries and two

10:07

6,000 XPS all right let's turn this off

10:10

now unfortunately this was supposed to

10:12

have a conduit box just like the 18K it

10:15

was supposed to go between these two

10:17

devices but they never sent one out for

10:19

me but if you buy these together you

10:21

should get that conduit box and it will

10:23

hide these cables now something you can

10:25

do with just this battery in a single

10:27

6000 XP is run run an electric vehicle

10:30

charger a level two charger at 25 amps

10:34

and you could throw some solar panels

10:36

out on the ground or just have a small

10:38

array and you can run an electric

10:40

vehicle with a system that costs less

10:42

than

10:44

$55,000 that's pretty darn cool this is

10:47

like a mini gas station and it will pay

10:50

for itself very quickly or you can run

10:52

heat pumps 2 40 volt heat pumps that's

10:54

not an issue either so fast forward a

10:56

week later and we have the conduit box

10:59

but I'm not going to install it until I

11:01

get a second indoor model because I want

11:04

to have two 6000 XPS connected to two

11:07

indoor eg4 Power Pros also something I

11:11

noticed this week is that the vertical

11:13

bus bars are very useful for mounting

11:16

configurations because on the outdoor

11:19

model you have to have a whole foot

11:21

between each battery and those can take

11:23

up a lot of space but with these you can

11:26

put them side by side you will not be

11:29

able to access the on and off switch and

11:31

the circuit breaker but after it's all

11:33

set up you can move it into place

11:35

connect it with some anels connect the

11:37

Communication cable and you're done and

11:39

under normal circumstances you shouldn't

11:41

have to turn it on or off or flip the

11:44

breaker if everything's working properly

11:46

also this week I connected a Nema 1450

11:49

to the AC input of the 6000 XP and I

11:53

charged it up to 100% And once it was

11:56

fully charged you get four bars so these

11:58

bars also show you the capacity so you

12:01

don't have to touch on the screen and

12:03

wait for it to load you can just look at

12:05

your batteries and see if they're fully

12:07

charged which is pretty useful now if

12:09

you put these batteries side by side

12:11

like I was saying you can do it with the

12:13

conduit box it doesn't extend that far

12:16

off of The Edge so you could actually

12:18

have like an inch between each battery

12:20

and still use the conduit box also this

12:22

has lots of knockout holes compared to

12:25

the older one that I used to have and it

12:27

should make it look pretty nice when

12:28

it's all connected now this year there's

12:31

going to be lots of other Distributors

12:32

and manufacturers making vertical Mount

12:35

batteries like this one so we'll see who

12:37

comes out ahead in the end but it should

12:39

be some fun competition and I should

12:41

have those batteries in the next month

12:43

or two so I'll make videos about those

12:45

right when I get them now before we end

12:47

this video I want to tell you guys to

12:49

disable your ad blocker if you use an

12:52

affiliate link to purchase this because

12:54

I found out last week that over 75% of

12:58

the traffic that goes through my links

13:00

is not tracked because people use ad

13:03

blockers and then I don't get a

13:05

commission at all so please oh please

13:08

disable your ad blocker for 5 seconds

13:11

and then click on the link and then it

13:13

should work and then turn it back on

13:15

after you make a purchase and I can't

13:17

think of a solution besides asking you

13:19

guys I was thinking about doing a Drop

13:21

Shipping website where you have an ad to

13:24

cart and it's like will prow DIY solar

13:26

but that's just such a hassle so if you

13:29

can turn your ad blocker off I would

13:31

really appreciate it um if you have any

13:33

more questions or tests on this battery

13:35

please let me know down below but yeah

13:37

we'll see if it has new competition this

13:39

year and we'll see if it still works in

13:42

the next couple months um so thank you

13:44

so much for watching and I will see you

13:46

in the next video bye

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