although Power queen is considered one of the newer companies on the market, their team has more than 10 years of experience in the BATTERY FIELD. MOre IMPORTANTLY, THEY OFFER SOME OF THE MOst AFFORDABLE BATTERIES ON THE MARKET TODAY WITH MANY DIfferent models TO CHOOSE FROM.
Power Queen is a small China-based company that specializes in manufacturing lithium iron phosphate batteries ranging in capacities from 6-410 amp hours. If you haven’t hopped on the lithium train yet, Power Queen is making it more affordable than ever!
Lithium vs Lead Acid
First of all, let’s talk about why we chose a lithium iron phosphate battery. If you’re comparing apples to apples, a lithium battery wins every single category except one —price.
Lithium cells have the highest energy density compared to any other cell, especially lead acid. Because of this, they are able to discharge and recharge at a much quicker and more efficient rate. This will allow you to power large electronics like water heaters or induction cooktops without the possibility of damaging your battery.
Another huge benefit to energy-rich lithium cells is their size and weight. Lithium batteries are more than 50% lighter than lead-acid batteries! This means easy installation and maintenance, massive space savings, and improved gas mileage. With these cells being much more efficient, they also have a much longer lifespan.
The best part, it’s affordable too!
Although lead acid batteries are cheaper, it’s not as good of a deal as you think. Here’s why. You need to compare the price per usable amp hour. A 100Ah (amp hour) lead acid battery will cost roughly $300. Since you can only use 50% of its capacity, that equals $6/Ah. A 100Ah lithium battery will cost roughly $550, but you can use 100% of its capacity. That equals $5.50/Ah.
Depending on charge cycles and how the battery is maintained, lithium batteries are also capable of a much longer life span. Power Queen batteries are good for over 4000 cycles. So when you really break down the cost per amp hour, lead acid batteries are not as cost-efficient as the price tag makes them out to be.
Lastly, and most importantly, is the environmental impact of each battery. Mercury, lead, and cadmium which are found in lead acid batteries, are highly toxic heavy metals. Remember, you need twice as much capacity for a lead acid battery to have the same power as a lithium battery. This means twice as much mining and material for the same amount of amp hours.
Although both batteries can be recycled, it is common that lead-acid batteries aren’t disposed of properly and aren’t worth the effort to recycle. Lithium batteries are 100% recyclable. With a longer lifespan, they are much more environmentally friendly.
Simple Solar System Design
Design & Build Quality
The 100ah battery that I tested out measured 13in long, 8.5in tall, and 7in deep. The weight was only 24.25 lbs which is incredibly light even compared to other lithium batteries. Power Queen uses grade A lithium cells allowing for over 4000 cycles! That’s outstanding considering you can purchase this battery for under $300 USD.
The battery has a durable build and an IP65 rating making it dust and splash-proof. This makes it perfect to use not only in trailers, RVs or campervans but also for trolling motors and other watercraft like kayaks. Each battery also includes a set of extra mounting bolts and caps for protection.
Expansion
One of the best features of the Power Queen battery is that you can expand your system to house up to 4- 100 amp hour batteries wired in series or in parallel. This makes it super easy to start small and expand your system as you go, buying more batteries when you have the budget or require more energy storage. It’s also perfect for anyone who plans on having a 12v, 24v or 48v system.
Battery Monitoring System
A battery monitor system protects your battery, giving you piece of mind while charging and discharging your battery as safely as possible. The BMS system in the Power Queen battery handles ALMOST everything you would expect including overcharging & discharging, over current, short circuits, and over temperature.
The one thing it is missing is a low-temperature cutoff. However, they recently came out with a smart model that does include a low-temperature cutoff and an on/off touch switch on the top of your battery. If you live in a cold weather climate as I do, you may want to consider purchasing the smart model or even better the heated model!
Heated Battery
LiFEPO4 cells can be damaged if you attempt to charge them below 32°F/0°C. Power Queen offers two different self-heating models (100ah and 200ah) that have internal heating built right into the battery.
When the charging temperature falls below 41°F/5°C, the self-heating function will automatically activate. The heating system will stop when the temperature reaches 50°F/10°C. This feature ensures that your cells will not be damaged in cold weather.
Warranty & Customer Service
Chances are, battery storage is the most expensive part of your off-grid system, so having a decent warranty and customer service is important. Power Queen offers a 5-year warranty. This is by no means the best on the market but for the price, is very reasonable.
Better yet, they have 24-hour customer service which is an area that many competitors lack. If those two reasons aren’t enough to gain your trust, take a look through some of their product reviews online. They consistently boast at least 4.5 stars with hundreds of positive reviews.
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