Much Appreciation to Our Amazing Community!
On December 3rd, we held our first Reddit AMA dedicated to battery technology, and the response exceeded all expectations. For two full hours, our product and engineering leads connected directly with the r/RenogyCommunity, fielding over 30 detailed questions from enthusiasts, DIYers, and industry professionals worldwide.
We were truly impressed by the depth and insight reflected in your questions. Thank you for helping create such a vibrant and meaningful technical exchange.
Top Technical Questions & Detailed Answers
Section 1: Battery Performance
Question 1: What are the supported charge/discharge temperature ranges?
The charge/discharge temperature ranges for the Pro S1 LiFePO4 batteries are as follows:
- During charging: -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C)
- During discharging: -4°F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C)
Question 2: How does the self-heating function affect charging time in cold weather? Does the S1 pro have a longer life span compared to traditional lithium battery?
In low-temperature environments, there is a certain impact on charging time. Charging is not possible during the self-heating process, so charging time may be slightly extended in cold conditions.
The lifespan is comparable, but the Pro S1 offers better safety due to its solid-state technology.
Question 3: Will the S1 be compatible with the Renogy one?
Yes! The Pro S1 is compatible with Renogy One.
Question 4: How would this battery compare to a lead acid 12v bci group 31m 100ah battery? Can I use it for all the same things in my RV? Is it less prone to going dead if I accidentally drain it completely? I know I'd have to replace my charge controller, as it can only do float, but beyond that, would everything work and hook up the same way?
The Pro S1 is a lithium battery, which is more environmentally friendly, lighter, and has higher energy density compared to lead-acid batteries.
The usage of lithium batteries is essentially the same as that of lead-acid batteries. If the battery is accidentally completely depleted, due to its built-in BMS protection board, it can be recharged in time within a week.
Yes, a charger with lithium activation mode is required. Due to its built-in heating function (required for charging in low-temperature conditions), the charger power must be greater than 100W (for 120AH)/200W (for 240AH).
Its connection method is the same as that of lead-acid batteries.
Section 2: Battery Installation
Question 1: What are the limits for Pro S1 batteries connected in parallel?
The Pro S1 battery supports up to 16 units in parallel. If the power levels of two batteries remain consistent, they can essentially achieve output close to the full rated power.
Question 2: I'd like to buy and install this battery now, can I add another in parallel to it next year?
It is possible. However, we recommend purchasing multiple batteries at once based on your actual needs. If you buy an additional battery next year, the old and new batteries may have performance differences, which could prevent ensuring the maximum charge and discharge performance.
Question 3: What type of charger is required. Do we need to use specific mppt or contrôler to charge or recharge solid state battery?
Since the Pro S1 is also a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, you can simply use a controller equipped with a Lithium (LiFePO4) mode.
Question 4: Is it safe in a system with multiple batteries to have different amp hour rating(sizes)? If so, would there be a difference in performance between 1 300ah battery vs one 200ah plus one 100ah, or 3x 100ah batteries?
We recommend using batteries of the same specifications.
If batteries are of the same specification, the performance of one 300Ah battery is basically equivalent to three 100Ah batteries, provided that the three 100Ah batteries maintain consistent current levels.
If different specifications are used, and the charging/discharging current is high, different specifications may trigger protection mechanisms, affecting normal use. If the charging/discharging current is low, they can still be used, and there won’t be a significant difference in performance. However, batteries of different specifications have different lifespans. Over long-term use, this will affect the lifespan of the smaller-capacity batteries.
Question 5: The Renogy Pro S1, what inverter size (in terms of Watt output) would you recommend to hookup with 2x Renogy Pro S1 with a combined 440ah total?
The ProS1 series is available in two capacities: 120Ah and 240Ah. We recommend pairing it with a 3000W inverter. Although the battery can support a larger inverter, the necessary wiring would become excessively thick.
Question 6: What combined wattage of solar panels would most efficiently charge the new Pro S1 without taking forevs?
We recommend using a solar panel with a minimum of 200W for optimal compatibility.
Don't Miss the Full Discussion
This recap is just the beginning. Dive into the complete AMA thread, a rich resource of community knowledge and detailed technical exchanges.
Explore the entire Q&A archive and ongoing discussion here.
This Dialogue Continues
The quality of discussion in r/RenogyCommunity has inspired us to make direct dialogue a core part of how we operate. This AMA was a first step.
We invite you to continue the conversation. Bring your project ideas, technical challenges, and questions to our community. We're here, we're listening, and we're committed to powering your journey with not just products, but knowledge.
Stay curious, stay powered.
The Renogy Team
