Pho3niX90 Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 So I have seen some great prices on these brands, but I am not familiar with them. So wondring if anyone had some experience with them. The 2 year warranty also doesn't instill confidence Example: 59K for 20kwh https://leroymerlin.co.za/fivestar-51-2v-400ah-20-4kwh-lithium-battery-lifepo4 Nolwazi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madness_za Posted November 21, 2023 Share Posted November 21, 2023 No. Just look at the lack of aftersales support for them. They're cheap for a reason zsde and Nolwazi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3niX90 Posted November 21, 2023 Author Share Posted November 21, 2023 8 hours ago, madness_za said: No. Just look at the lack of aftersales support for them. They're cheap for a reason It seems it's popular on the 4x4 forums. They are apparently rebranded felicity batteries, and when contacting them they are quick to assist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madness_za Posted November 21, 2023 Share Posted November 21, 2023 7 hours ago, Pho3niX90 said: It seems it's popular on the 4x4 forums. They are apparently rebranded felicity batteries, and when contacting them they are quick to assist. You only have to look on this forum to see the absolute shit show over fivestar. If you're spending that kind of money, there are better options with superior aftersales support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zsde Posted November 21, 2023 Share Posted November 21, 2023 8 hours ago, Pho3niX90 said: They are apparently rebranded felicity batteries Who makes that claim? You are welcome to contact Felicity locally to verify that, but I very much doubt that, unless it is the bottom end range (LFPBR) of the Felicity batteries that are not even sold locally and which Felicity themselves don't even market anymore. https://www.felicitysolarsa.co.za/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madness_za Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 8 hours ago, zsde said: Who makes that claim? You are welcome to contact Felicity locally to verify that, but I very much doubt that, unless it is the bottom end range (LFPBR) of the Felicity batteries that are not even sold locally and which Felicity themselves don't even market anymore. https://www.felicitysolarsa.co.za/ There's a grand total of 3 posts on 4x4 forums making the claim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3niX90 Posted November 22, 2023 Author Share Posted November 22, 2023 10 hours ago, madness_za said: You only have to look on this forum to see the absolute shit show over fivestar. If you're spending that kind of money, there are better options with superior aftersales support Here is a link of one https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/362015-Anybody-own-a-Fivestar-battery Not a claim, they actually got support "Within 30 mins I had the problem acknowledged, the cause identified as software needing to be tweaked, and a technician allocated to come and fix." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3niX90 Posted November 22, 2023 Author Share Posted November 22, 2023 11 hours ago, madness_za said: You only have to look on this forum to see the absolute shit show over fivestar. If you're spending that kind of money, there are better options with superior aftersales support Well I cannot find anything, except inverters. To be fair, there are more sunsynk issues on here than fivestar. People tend to only post negatives to get support, never positives unless asked for. Ergo this thread. razzor13bt and cam083gp 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zsde Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 34 minutes ago, Pho3niX90 said: People tend to only post negatives to get support, never positives unless asked for. Very true, however that thread does not confirm anything about Fivestar batteries being Felicity or Felicity having taken responsibility for Fivestar batteries. The guy in your linked thread that got support has the OEM Felicity battery, not the Fivestar. Two guys actually confirmed they have the Felicity batteries, Jeepiscool has the 8,7 LFPBA and sAnD.mAn has the 12,5KW LFPBF versions. Nowhere in that thread did a Fivestar battery owner get support from Felicity. And that has been an issue on this Forum as well, there seems to be no official Fivestar support outside the shop you buy it from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3niX90 Posted November 22, 2023 Author Share Posted November 22, 2023 20 minutes ago, zsde said: Very true, however that thread does not confirm anything about Fivestar batteries being Felicity or Felicity having taken responsibility for Fivestar batteries. The guy in your linked thread that got support has the OEM Felicity battery, not the Fivestar. Two guys actually confirmed they have the Felicity batteries, Jeepiscool has the 8,7 LFPBA and sAnD.mAn has the 12,5KW LFPBF versions. Nowhere in that thread did a Fivestar battery owner get support from Felicity. And that has been an issue on this Forum as well, there seems to be no official Fivestar support outside the shop you buy it from. Well spotted. I was assuming since it was a fivestar thread, that it would be related to only that. As far as I have seen, even our local brands have support issues. These days it's better to lear the tech, and self support. I myself went DIY because of this. I was hoping to get some info on these bats to assist individuals that would like to get a better bang for their buck, than paying twice this. zsde 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zsde Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Pho3niX90 said: was hoping to get some info on these bats to assist individuals that would like to get a better bang for their buck With Felicity batteries you can be sure of good support ever since they started their local import, distribution and support site, and their batteries are reasonably priced as well. Have a look at Solarway Supplies as they have some of the best pricing on their range. https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/felicity-solar-12-5kwh-battery/ With SVolt 5kWh batteries being available in the R16k - R17k range currently and local support, that is also a good bang for buck option as two of them would be 10kWh at around R35k whilst the Felicity 12,5kWh is around R43k. So from a R/kWh perspective both are pretty evenly priced. Edited November 22, 2023 by zsde Scorp007 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3niX90 Posted November 22, 2023 Author Share Posted November 22, 2023 1 hour ago, zsde said: With Felicity batteries you can be sure of good support ever since they started their local import, distribution and support site, and their batteries are reasonably priced as well. Have a look at Solarway Supplies as they have some of the best pricing on their range. https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/felicity-solar-12-5kwh-battery/ With SVolt 5kWh batteries being available in the R16k - R17k range currently and local support, that is also a good bang for buck option as two of them would be 10kWh at around R35k whilst the Felicity 12,5kWh is around R43k. So from a R/kWh perspective both are pretty evenly priced. I have noticed the svolts being extremely low priced recently. At the time I wasn't familiar with them. Perhaps the title should be changed to best bang for buck batteries. zsde 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce FLS Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 As far as I know, the batteries currently sold by Fivestar are no longer produced by Felicitysolar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyCLown Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 I would be hesitant to touch the Five Star batteries and inverters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oros Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 My biggest question is the info the sellers supply regarding what tipe of cells (prismatic,blade) is used and what bms they use. For example if you look at say Gobel batteries, if you go to their website you get any and all info you would want to know. What tipe cells, brand of cells, how it's wired(16s1P), but the local brands does only give basic info. Even when I mailed one supplier, they send me the exactly same basic info that is advertised. That is why I'm scared to buy these brands. Unfortuanetly, like the Gobel GP-SR1-P200 280ah battry cost R40 000, but to import it cost R60 000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyCLown Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 On 2024/02/24 at 8:50 AM, Oros said: My biggest question is the info the sellers supply regarding what tipe of cells (prismatic,blade) is used and what bms they use. For example if you look at say Gobel batteries, if you go to their website you get any and all info you would want to know. What tipe cells, brand of cells, how it's wired(16s1P), but the local brands does only give basic info. Even when I mailed one supplier, they send me the exactly same basic info that is advertised. That is why I'm scared to buy these brands. Unfortuanetly, like the Gobel GP-SR1-P200 280ah battry cost R40 000, but to import it cost R60 000. Gobel power make "DIY" type of batteries and options can vary - they can use different brands of cells and different cell capacity too if I am not mistaken. Companies like Hubble, Freedom Won, Fivestar, BSL, Svolt etc. are more on the already built side of things, the cells are generally not changed out to different brands of capacities. Some of the manufacturers will share what cells they use, I think Hubble shared this info a while back and Svolt use their own Svolt cells. Majority of batteries use the Pace BMS, this includes the Hubble & Svolt batteries. Some like to keep things more of a secret for whatever reason. Not knowing what is inside the battery isn't great but for the average consumer they do not care as long as it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oros Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Hopefully the local brands will eventually also start making and selling diy batteries. At this stage the diy thing is not so big in SA, but it will get there!! At this stage China have the whole market for diy batteries!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 I decided to open mine up as I`m having no luck with communication on Rs232 or Rs485. Works great otherwise. I was surprised to see, its actually quite well made and neat inside, even has a cover over the battery terminals. The BMS seems to be a Pace 16s150a, board number is SST21-54-3.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oros Posted May 2 Share Posted May 2 Hi Tyrel Thanks for the reply! What make battery did you open? Did it have prismatic cells inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 Hi Oros. Its the Fivestar FS-G01-48200 and yes it has prismatic cells. The BMS resembles the Pace 16s200a, not 150a. I will open again soon and take more pictures. I want to fiddle with the comms on the board as it seems odd to not even have rs232 communication. According to the supplier the bms only communicates with Deye inverters on RS485. I can't get comms on solar assistant with correct cable or on pc. razzor13bt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Success! After plenty of fiddling. Fivestar FS-G01-48200 (Pace 16s150a BMS) RS232 is hit or miss. Have to try multiple times with breaks in between before getting a successful connection using PBMstools HS1.0.8 Inverter protocol is not set, after setting to pylontech I now have BMS coms to my Kodak OGS5.6. The pinouts in the manual are incorrect. BMS coms are on pins 1+2, 7+8. Switch 1 must be on. Hopefully this will help someone else. razzor13bt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razzor13bt Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 great info I must check the Sunmagic 48150 51.2V 150AH batteries if it possibly has the same bms. These are also sold as Fivestar units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBE NEW GENERATION Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 Does this battery link with the sunsynk inverter and what is the libms protocol to use i can not get mine linked up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 You could try using the Voltronic protocol on the battery. That works with LIb BMS on my Kodak inverter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razzor13bt Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 these i was told are using the Felicity protocol and the pinout corresponded to the manual provided. I used the pinout in the manual to connect with pbms Tools. i connected to and used the RJ11 6 pin plug to serial adaptor. problem is finding the pinout or protocol for the new Fivestar inverters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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