Growatt vs Pylontech batteries

[Bob Smith]

Hi
I have these two datasheets and I try to compare the two batteries. I wished there was an ISO standard so we could compare apples with apples more easily. I know I just admitted I know little in the area. Hopefully one of you, gurus, will be able to educate me and this post will also help for future dummy like me. Thanks in advanced

This is the polytech datasheet for the US3000C




and here the one for the Growatt equivalent



How do I tell which one is best? What parameters is more relevant? Maybe there is also important info to consider which are not in the datasheets?
Here my summary of the datasheet of what I believe is relevant to compare.

Parameter	Growatt	Pylontech	Winner
Nominal Voltage	51.2V	48	Growatt
Nominal capacity	3300Wh	3552Wh	Pylontech
Usable capacity	3000Wh	3374Wh	Pylontech
Charge discharge current max continuous	32/42.5A	37A
Charge discharge peak	?	74-89A@ 60sec or 90-200A@15 sec
Rated discharged power	1.64kW (max 2.5kW@3sec)	?
Operating temperature	-10 + 50°C	Charge (0 - 50°C) Discharge -10 + 50°C)
Cycle life	>6000 cycles (25°C 90% DoD)	>6000 cycles 25°C
Type	LifePO4
Depth of Discharge	93%	?
Limitation	temperature outside 0 to 45°C will limited the performance	temperature outside 10 to 40°C will limited the performance	Growatt
Parallel connection	up to 6 packs	16	Pylontech
Design life	10 years	15+	Pylontech (is that really relevant when the cycle is 6000?)
Cooling type	? (surely Natural)	Natural

Thanks

 

[Bob Smith]

From what I understand, unless you need more than 20kWh (more than 6 batteries) of storage, Growatt has better specs.

 

[binky]

From what I understand, unless you need more than 20kWh (more than 6 batteries) of storage, Growatt has better specs.

I've fitted pylontech for years with no issues with their smaller batteries. Had one of their larger batteries fail, possibly due to being on a cold garage floor. Fox batteries are rebadged pylontech.

I've heard mixed reports on Growatt.

 

[Bob Smith]

How do I find out the power discharge in kW for the pylontech?

 

[johnb2713]

How do I find out the power discharge in kW for the pylontech?

It's in the table 3.374 kWh

 

[Bob Smith]

John, this is the capacity not the power-
The battery is not capable of providing 3.374kW during an hour.

For Growatt while the usable capacity is 3kWh, you can only take up to 1.64kW of power at a time. In other words if you have several devices on at the same time and the total power to run them exceed 1.64kW, the extra power will come from another source as the battery will only deliver 1.64kW of power. (or as mentioned the battery can go up to 2.5kW but only for 3 sec)

I think the number in the Pylontech datasheet is "hidden" in the field Charge discharge peak: 74-89A@ 60sec or 90-200A@15 sec but I am too ignorant to be able to compare 74-89A@60sec with 1.64kW

 

[binky]

Discharge rates are controlled by the inverter and BMS. Try to buy batteries as a package then you get fully compatible gear.

 

[johnb2713]

John, this is the capacity not the power-
The battery is not capable of providing 3.374kW during an hour.

For Growatt while the usable capacity is 3kWh, you can only take up to 1.64kW of power at a time. In other words if you have several devices on at the same time and the total power to run them exceed 1.64kW, the extra power will come from another source as the battery will only deliver 1.64kW of power. (or as mentioned the battery can go up to 2.5kW but only for 3 sec)

I think the number in the Pylontech datasheet is "hidden" in the field Charge discharge peak: 74-89A@ 60sec or 90-200A@15 sec but I am too ignorant to be able to compare 74-89A@60sec with 1.64kW

I was thinking more at cell level which generally is 1 x the capacity, as a packaged battery it will be a function of the BMS. My Growatt 6.5kWh battery has a suggested maximum discharge rate of 3.25kW. It also says in terms of amps it depends on acceptable temperatures and gives

-10℃ to 0℃ - 21.3A
0℃ to 45℃ -104.2A
45℃ to 50℃ - 85.3A
50℃ to 55℃ -32A

It's highly likely the figures for a 3.374 kWh battery would be about half of the above.

 

[Bob Smith]

I was thinking more at cell level which generally is 1 x the capacity, as a packaged battery it will be a function of the BMS. My Growatt 6.5kWh battery has a suggested maximum discharge rate of 3.25kW. It also says in terms of amps it depends on acceptable temperatures and gives

-10℃ to 0℃ - 21.3A
0℃ to 45℃ -104.2A
45℃ to 50℃ - 85.3A
50℃ to 55℃ -32A

It's highly likely the figures for a 3.374 kWh battery would be about half of the above.

Thanks John for those details. So you own a Growatt battery.

1. What is your experience with it and how long have you had them?
2. What inverter do you have to go along?

I like very much an installer and the quote and survey they have done. However, due to a negative image I got of Growatt, I was disappointed they put that in their quote. Now my negative image is based on perception and I am trying to find facts that in fact it'll be OK and I won't regret not having pylontech.

regarding the comparison with Pylontech. If your figures are likely to be twice higher than the 3,3kWh battery, then the discharge peak would be 104.2/2 = 52.1A which is higher than the stated "discharge continuous 32/42.5A" which makes sense and this also means that the pylontech would have a higher discharge peak as its datasheet mentions 74-89A@ 60sec or 90-200A@15 sec

Thanks a lot.

 

[johnb2713]

Thanks John for those details. So you own a Growatt battery.

1. What is your experience with it and how long have you had them?
2. What inverter do you have to go along?

I like very much an installer and the quote and survey they have done. However, due to a negative image I got of Growatt, I was disappointed they put that in their quote. Now my negative image is based on perception and I am trying to find facts that in fact it'll be OK and I won't regret not having pylontech.

regarding the comparison with Pylontech. If your figures are likely to be twice higher than the 3,3kWh battery, then the discharge peak would be 104.2/2 = 52.1A which is higher than the stated "discharge continuous 32/42.5A" which makes sense and this also means that the pylontech would have a higher discharge peak as its datasheet mentions 74-89A@ 60sec or 90-200A@15 sec

Thanks a lot.

It seems that Growatt and a poor historical reputation but their latest offerings are good. My system was installed at the end of April this year and has worked very well, exceeding predicted performance and expectations.

Growatt SPH6000 Hybrid Inverter
Growatt 7 kWh battery
Hyundai PV Panels
MyEnergi ZAPPI, HARVI and EDDI

Being expanded to have in addition

Victron Inverter (5kW)
16kWh LifeP04 battery
Seplos BMS

I'm hoping the above will keep me completely away from peak rate energy.

 

[Gian]

It seems that Growatt and a poor historical reputation but their latest offerings are good. My system was installed at the end of April this year and has worked very well, exceeding predicted performance and expectations.

Growatt SPH6000 Hybrid Inverter
Growatt 7 kWh battery
Hyundai PV Panels
MyEnergi ZAPPI, HARVI and EDDI

Being expanded to have in addition

Victron Inverter (5kW)
16kWh LifeP04 battery
Seplos BMS

I'm hoping the above will keep me completely away from peak rate energy.

May I ask ,will the victron install be off grid only , and if it is can you back feed if you already have the growat system running.

 

[Bob Smith]

Thanks @johnb2713

If you are happy with Growatt why take new brands?
Regarding the new battery, what brands are you considering?

 

[johnb2713]

Thanks @johnb2713

If you are happy with Growatt why take new brands?
Regarding the new battery, what brands are you considering?

Im looking at Victron simply because I cant buy SPH6000 anywhere.

Batteries I'm using genuine EVE cells and making my own. The reason is purely cost, I can make a 16kWh battery for less than £3k.

 

[Bob Smith]

Fair enough.

Impressive if you are building your own battery!!

 

[johnb2713]

Fair enough.

Impressive if you are building your own battery!!

All items available off the shelf, literally just bolt / plug together.

Have a look here:-



It's not rocket science, I dont know where youre located Bob, if you want one of these I'd be happy to give you a hand to build it or build it for you.

 

[binky]

All items available off the shelf, literally just bolt / plug together.

Have a look here:-



It's not rocket science, I dont know where youre located Bob, if you want one of these I'd be happy to give you a hand to build it or build it for you.

I never feel happy about self building gear like that, but, I suspect if you open the ready made units, they aren't much different inside.

How compatible is that battery with various makes of inverter, more importantly the BMS? Solis uses a data cable link to the BMS/battery stack, as do most others I've encountered.

 

[johnb2713]

The Seplos BMS links to most of the inverters (theres a list on the website), that said, it's not mission critical to have comms between inverter and BMS, the BMS can manage all of it's functions stand alone.

They all generally use the LifeP04 cells, the voltages will be the same due to the chemsitry.

 

[Bob Smith]

All items available off the shelf, literally just bolt / plug together.

Have a look here:-



It's not rocket science, I dont know where youre located Bob, if you want one of these I'd be happy to give you a hand to build it or build it for you.

Hi John
thanks for the info. Very interesting

Please do not tempt me Thanks for the offer though.

 

[Ucatchmydrift]

The Seplos BMS links to most of the inverters (theres a list on the website), that said, it's not mission critical to have comms between inverter and BMS, the BMS can manage all of it's functions stand alone.

They all generally use the LifeP04 cells, the voltages will be the same due to the chemsitry.

I was told by bimble solar that pylontech batteries will shut down after 15mins if they have no bms comms... I was considering them until they told me that, as my inverter doesnt yet fully support the pylon protocol..

 

[johnb2713]

I was told by bimble solar that pylontech batteries will shut down after 15mins if they have no bms comms... I was considering them until they told me that, as my inverter doesnt yet fully support the pylon protocol..

Thanks for the info but I was never considering Pylontech battery, I'm assembling my own.