Dal2000

Hi all,
I’ve got a Mecer 200Ah LiFePO4 (12.8V) battery, about 2 years old, running with a RCT VM1 1000w 12v inverter. Because load shedding has been minimal, the battery hasn’t worked hard – maybe 200 cycles total, mostly shallow.
I recently tested it with a constant 500W load through the inverter. It only lasted about 2 hours before low-voltage cutoff. That feels way too short – I was expecting closer to 4–4.5 hours for a healthy 200Ah battery, even with inverter losses.
The battery label says:
Bulk/absorption: 14.6V
“Recommended for inverter”: 14.1V (which I’ve been using daily)
Cut off 10.5v, I've set the inverter to 11.5
From what I’ve read, LiFePO4 batteries balance best at higher voltages (around 14.4–14.6V). So maybe charging at 14.1V all the time has prevented proper balancing, especially since the battery rarely gets a full charge?
Questions:
Is this safe, and will occasional full charges at 14.6V help re-balance?
Has anyone else with a Mecer 200Ah seen low capacity like this, and fixed it with higher voltage charging?
Could there be other causes (BMS issues, early cell degradation, inverter cutoff too high)?
After testing, should I go back to 14.1–14.2V daily and just do a 14.6V top-up monthly?
Any advice or experiences with these batteries + Axpert/Mecer inverters would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dale

There are many other options too. Like a 3kW at about the same price. Yes it does need 24V but just a less over worked inverter and thus ready for the now and again high load. I firmly belief things can just get worse going forward. Having an inverter that can at least warm food has been a priority for our family. 
One cannot braai every day when LS. 

Partly market forces and sellers. Instead of fitting a lead acid for which the inverter was designed an upgrade option is taken to a lithium battery that is power hungry during charging that seems to overload when the 20A instead of 10A charging selection is made. 
Normally the lead acid will only charge for a short period at up to 20A then the current drops so the charger seems OK. 
Trolley is also a vague description as again there are a number off different specs under the trolley configuration. Some the inverter is contained inside the box and others it is loose on top of the box. 

I have a cheap Chinese knock-off inverter with specs below and my thinking is, you really don't need a generator if it's just for load shedding but you can also take advantage of the same inverter to power household loads, which then reduces your overall reliance as well as consumption with Eskom. Problem with generator is:
fuel will go up, generator will need to be serviced, generator will need to be turned on and off generator comes with noise You could get a very cheap Inverter, not necessarily any high-end brand & it'll do the trick very nicely and serve you well enough for years to come as well as the household. Increase battery size and you could literary be semi-off-grid for most days. Even in days when I have cloud cover, the inverter works and I've always had water as my tank is on the ground supplying water to the house. Without the inverter power, I don't have water to the household. A smaller inverter means it may be dedicated only to pumping water which in my humble view becomes a wasted investment where's a 3kVa can double up with household loads. My inverter also at times when I have load shedding I use and induction cooktop with 1600w and can cook and make a cup of tea... so am happier. Just want to go to 5kva so I can have a 48v system which improves efficiency. The important thing is having enough panels which allow you to run directly off solar and not necessarily your battery, hence my suggesting 3000w total panel array. For a battery am using also a Chinese brand called Bluecarbon, meaning I keep investments costs low and get immediate benefits. Hope that helps.
 

If the pump runs at 800w Ac on a 24v dc system you will be drawing 37 amp dc from the battery. To cover the pump and a bit more to charge the battery during partial cloudy days i will go with 4 x 500w panels. You could get away with 2 x 500w panels but that would just cover the pump during the hours it runs and leaving very little power to charge the battery should you need it, cutting it a bit close.
 
 
 
 

24v would be a bit more efficient and the choice on inverter will be a bit better at 24v.
Most likely 3kw or higher spec inverter would be better suited and would/should allow more solar panels, aim for about 2000 watts solar panels.
Make sure about your startup amps before starting to look at inverter specs. Or maybe add a slow/soft starter to the motor.
I am sure more forum folk who are more knowledgeable about motors should be able to better guide you nicely.

@Dal2000I recently acquired a 3kva 24v Fivestar inverter and i am pleasantly surprised so far. I run a base load of 1300 watts for the 2 or 4 hours during load shedding without a problem. I have 3 x 460w panels connected in parallel pushing 40 amps through the pwm charge controller in good sun exposure and the unit is dead quiet the fan switching on at 45°C and switches off at 40° with ambient temps close to 35°. It is early days it still needs to prove its worth but for now i am happy with the performance. I have seen the RCT 3kva in action at my brother's house and in comparison to the 3kva Fivestar the RCT is smaller in size and weight that let me wonder more weight might mean bigger heatsink and transformer. To me the overall built quality between the Rct and Fivestar the Fivestar wins hands down. My brother also complains about the fan constantly running and the battery charging on the Rct that almost never reaches the set bulk charge voltage of 28v but rather will charge just above float setpoint of 27.2v.With the Fivestar i have not experienced this type of behaviour as it charges up to bulk setpoint 28.4v then the current will decrease until close to 0 amps then going to float. Charge mode on the Fivestar is set to Solar first parameter 03 and Work mode set to Sbu parameter 02 and will only charge from utility when solar is not available and battery low setting is reached. So for me the Fivestar is exactly doing what it is supposed to with no complaints so far. When i get a chance i will post some pictures of my setup.