I'm looking at throwing some solar panels up, and realising how expensive batteries are.
For example, this costs over $17k:
Looking at alibaba, it appears that the same thing costs about $3k ($USD1.8k).
If these are real BYD batteries, what's the catch? Shipping would cost a bit, but not that much. Getting a qualified electrician to wire them up would still not really put a dent in the savings.
What am I missing?
There's no certification supplied which can mitigate the risk of being a counterfeit BYD battery?
No electrician will connect them unless they have the Australian certification. Even if it is the same model sold in another country, if it doesn’t have the AU paperwork they would lose their licence if they connected it.
Is it worth risking possibly setting your house on fire and the insurance not paying you out?
Not here to bash direct imports but make your to do your own DD and check reviews (not sure what you were trying to link in the alibaba link but it has a whole bunch of listings, many of which barely have 30 reviews…) - check the seller and who they are, check MOQ (many have moq 2) - and check for shipping costs (which may actually be quite high ), and consider any taxes and duty that may have to be paid (though iirc there is a free trade agreement).
Then also consider many electricians will have seconds thoughts about installing it - but the whole damn industry at the moment is infested with cashie cowboys atm. Also consider any possible ramifications WRT to insurance if something DOES happen to the battery and burns down something. (Maybe consider how you can isolate it in the event of a fire).
Lastly check warranty and consider how you will deal with warranty. I suppose this refers back to point 1 and vetting the seller - they will say everything and ANYTHING to get you to put the cash through and promise you the world. But assuming they DO ship you out a functional unit that is in line with what you ordered, and is suitable for interfacing with AU mains, anything is still possible. Claiming warranty can be a massive headache - its already a headache claiming stuff on ali express for $100 item - consider how much more annoying claiming a few THOUSAND dollar of item will be.
Anyway wishing you the best, report back after you purchase and get it installed im sure the forums would love to hear about the experience. Batteries do seem to be the way to go with the current pricings.
What am I missing?
Australian certification, without this, on a bad day you might find you no longer have house insurance if the battery caused the fire.
What am I missing?
Lots and lots of FUD …
What am I missing?
Besides above, the $17K pricing is from an installer, an individual installer.
Alibaba pricing are for international transactions so they are risky by definition for the uninitiated: taxes, custom restrictions, insurance, import doco(?), the unknown lot.
Also, weights about 320kg. Kinda serious transporting needed.
Did you check with other, more competitive installers?
Other alternatives?
I mean insurance would likely have a field day if it burnt down and took your house with it.
Having said that what's the likelihood of it happening, if you have an electrician willing to put their business on the line and connect it up (may have to pay for it though) then run the gauntlet. Just make sure it matches up to your inverter (you'll need a hybrid inverter).
It's more the first gen batteries, thinking LG, that were absolute sh1t.
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