Batteries: bad, good, and spherical

I’m often asked about batteries, building battery packs, and where to buy cells without ending up with junk. Today I have a short article and video on the subject.

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I won’t go into too much detail; it’s easier to watch the video at the end of the article, but here’s a little background.

First, a word about what not to buy. I’m talking about the popular batteries sold under the Litokala brand.

Three years ago, I published a review of LiFePO4 cells. Their stated capacity was 32 Ah, but the actual capacity was only 25 Ah.




The batteries aren’t mine, but their owner, who sent them to me for review, took a couple of recent photos and also said they’re still working, though the cells have become noticeably unbalanced. The imbalance is being corrected only by an active balancer.


I bought similar cells for myself 2.5 years ago, but in the end I never used them - review


The stated capacity was 30 Ah, while the actual capacity was about 26 Ah, which is pretty decent.


But they had one major problem: their specifications varied widely. I even got part of my money back over it.


A year later, in March 2022, I built a battery pack from them. The batteries looked perfectly fine, but six months later, when I tried to discharge them, they started swelling. Another year on, they were looking downright dangerous.
1. March 2022
2. August 2022
3. July 2023.


So, the obvious question is: what should you buy? There are quite a few options. Off the top of my head:
CALB
CATL
EVE
Lishen is another option, though there are other, less well-known manufacturers.

I published a review of three CALB battery models; I recommend giving it a read.


In this case, the capacity not only matched the stated figure, but exceeded it by a noticeable margin. The batteries’ specifications also showed very little variation.




I’m also often asked where it’s best to buy batteries, especially with the coming winter of 2023–2024.
There are several options: local stores, OLX, and Taobao, in principle. But I’d recommend checking out the largest battery retailer, Nkon.

In the video comments, someone pointed out that you should use the Russian-language version of the site, since prices on the European version are higher because an additional tax is charged there.


The process is very simple:
1. Go to the website
2. Register and enter your delivery address and other details.
3. Go to the main page and select batteries.
4. Let’s say you decide to buy CALB 130 Ah cells. Sometimes you’ll see that an item is on backorder. That’s normal—you can still place an order; they’ll simply ship it later. The expected stock date is listed on the product page.


5. Add the number of batteries you need to your cart and proceed to checkout.
6. Pay by card. The card’s currency doesn’t matter; the conversion is automatic.
7. Wait for the order to ship. This usually happens twice a week.

Please note: the duty-free import limit is 150 euros (not dollars). You’ll have to pay duty on anything over that amount. The duty is 30% of the excess amount; shipping costs are not included. If there are any excess charges, a customs broker will call you once the package reaches customs, tell you the amount, and, if you’re happy with it, give you the payment details. You can also pay by card through your bank’s app.
Alternatively, you can place orders under your own name, your wife’s, your mother-in-law’s, or even your beloved cat Murka’s, and spread the total out so it stays below the limit. But some batteries only get a good price when you buy 4 or more.


That’s it. In 2–3 weeks, the batteries will be delivered to your home—or at least to the entrance. Sometimes you’ll find a little note like this from the store’s packers on the invoice :)


As you can see, it’s all very straightforward. If you have questions about choosing batteries, ask away—I’ll help however I can. Or, if enough questions come in, I’ll make a video with the answers.



Before ordering, I recommend reading some reviews and watching videos by other creators first—or at least checking with me. I also recommend using a protection board and making sure you have a balancer; it will improve the battery’s performance.