Power Plus Energy
Along with the Gen-Z (see below), these are our current favourites for Off-Grid systems. Australian made quality and being rack-mounted they make a very neat, tidy and compact installation.
The PPE battery is an”unmanaged” lithium battery which means they have their own Battery Management System (BMS) on board and dont require communication with their host Inverter. The beauty of this is that each module manages itself, making it very safe and you can add extra batteries at any time. It also makes them essentially a Lead Acid replacement.
PPE batteries use the Lithium Iron Phosphate formula (LiFePo4) which is the safest lithium chemistry there is and they come is two variants.
- Premium LiFe Series 3.3kWh/module
- ECO Series 4.0kWh/module
Quick Comparison (*approx)
| MODEL | Price | Nom Cap kWh | Continuous
Charge | Continuous
Discharge |
| PPE Life 48V | 3.3 | C2 32A | C1 63A | |
| PPE ECO 48V | 10% less* | 4.015% more* | C2 39A | C2 39A |
It all gets a bit technical here but as you can see, because the ECO modules are limited to a C2 discharge, they can’t deliver all their energy as quickly as the LiFe modules. It makes them a great, value for money choice for some applications but unsuitable for others. Our Off-Grid Specialise will advise you on which model is best for you.
Sonnenschein BAE
For Offgrid use, where multiple days of autonomy is required, we use and recommend Sonnenschein BAE tubular gel VRLA batteries. These German made cells are designed for use with
Solar and offer maintenance free service and high cyclic performance. Although an older technology, they are still an excellent choice for many Off-Grid and some Hybrid applications.
GEN-Z
Very similar to the Power Plus, Gen-Z are manufactured by the Australian communications company Radlink. The Gen-Z modules have a casing made of 304 stainless steel with an industrial dip coating so it’s a good choice for coastal and Island jobs. Available in 2kWh and 3kWh and in 24V and 48v models.
For the mobile market, these Gen-Z N70 format batteries are great performers and very light weight. Built in BMS means they are a lead acid replacement. You can connect multiples in parallel for greater storage and they are available in 12v 100Ah and 24v 50Ah.
An excellent choice for boats, caravans and camper trailers as they weigh less than 14kg each.