Get to Know Your Top Solar Brands: EG4

What is the downtime you experience while your batteries recharge? Re-volt-ing! Ok, it's a terrible joke, but we all know the frustration of not having the right battery backup system for your solar setup.

Batteries are expensive. Probably the most expensive part of going off-grid. EG4 is trying to change that. They produce great batteries at a far more affordable price and are currently trying to break into the entry-level microinverter market with a new inverter ready to go to market as well. 

If you need batteries, you need to get to know EG4.

About EG4

EG4 was started by the self-proclaimed "Signature Solar Guy" James Showalter. The company manufactures its products in China but is headquartered in Sulphur Springs, Texas. According to James Showalter, their vision is to create a solar market that anyone can access, "from DIYers to Mom-and-Pop electricians and from the average consumer to businesses of all sizes."

EG4 was founded as an arm of Signature Solar in 2020 in order to bring batteries and integrated inverter solutions to the US market. They offer Texas-based repair, support, and assembly.

What Is EG4's Signature Product?

EG4 has expanded its product offering a lot in the last few years, but they are best known for their solar batteries.

EG4-LifePower4 Lithium Battery

The EG4 battery is an impressive lithium iron phosphate battery with a usable capacity of 5.12kWh and a roundtrip efficiency of 99.0%. With a warranty of 5 years, this battery is designed for residential use and offers both peak and continuous power output of 5.12kW. It has a depth of discharge of 80% and a degradation rate of 7.0%.

In terms of physical characteristics, the EG4 battery has dimensions of 441.96mm (L) x 154.94mm (W) x 469.9mm (D). Its scalability allows for easy expansion, making it a convenient choice for adding more batteries if needed. It can operate off-grid or serve as a reliable backup power source.

One standout feature of the EG4 battery is its impressive storage capacity of 5.12kWh, which far surpasses many standard deep-cycle solar batteries on the market. It achieves this through a 16-pack of high-quality LiFePO4 cells, known for their power storage capability and longevity.

With a lifespan of 10 to 20 years, backed by the warranty and the built-in Battery Management System, this battery offers peace of mind and protection against common issues such as over-charging. Furthermore, its rack-mountable design allows for easy expandability, making it convenient to stack and connect multiple batteries to create a power storage system with a potential capacity of up to 81.92kWh.

EG4-LL Lithium Battery

The EG4-LL Lithium Battery (V2) is a top-of-the-line server rack battery that offers exceptional performance and reliability. With a price tag of over $1,700 each, this battery is a significant investment, but it comes with a range of features and benefits that make it worth considering.

First and foremost, the EG4-LL Lithium Battery boasts an impressive capacity of 5.12kWh, making it suitable for demanding solar and non-solar applications. Its 100A internal Battery Management System (BMS) ensures efficient operation and allows for over 15 years of daily charging and discharging without any issues. With 16 UL listed prismatic 3.2V cells, this battery has been rigorously tested for 7,000 deep discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharge (DoD).

The battery's 99% operating efficiency ensures optimal energy conversion and utilization. It also features an LCD screen that provides quick access to important battery information. The EG4-LL Lithium Battery is compatible with popular closed-loop inverters, including Schneider, Solark, Victron, Growatt, and EG4, making it easy to integrate into your existing setup.

Safety is a top priority with this battery. It includes dual onboard automatic fire arrestors, ensuring failsafe operation and protection against rare hardware failures. The EG4-LL Lithium Battery is also environmentally friendly and lead-free, meeting UL 1973 and UL 9540A standards.

In terms of expandability, this battery allows parallel connection of up to 64 batteries, providing a total storage capacity of up to 81.9kWh while maintaining BMS communications. This flexibility allows you to scale your power storage system to meet your evolving needs.

To provide peace of mind, the EG4-LL Lithium Battery comes with a 10-year warranty, supported and serviced from Texas. The battery is designed to last up to 20 years, so you know you'll get the most out of your investment.

What’s New with EG4?

EG4 is trying to break into the inverter market against brands like Sol-Ark, and so far, so good. 

The EG4 Solar 18k inverter has a maximum output of 18,000 watts and can be used to power both grid-tied and off-grid systems. The inverter also has a built-in battery charger, so it can be used to charge batteries from solar power.

The inverter is designed to be easy to install and use, which is great for DIYers. The inverter also has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to configure the settings.

It’s able to convert up to 96% of the solar power that it receives into usable electricity, which can really cut down on your utility bills. 

Having said that, it’s not a premium brand, and there have been hiccups and complaints about the inverter here and there, but not enough to put us off recommending it. EG4 will no doubt make more improvements as time goes by and until they do, the 18K microinverter is a solid choice if you are on a budget. 

How Does They Hold Up Against the Competition?

EG4 has a few competitors when it comes to its signature rack batteries. Aolithium is a reputable brand known for its quality and reliability in the server rack battery industry. They offer a LiFePO4 51.2V battery, which is highly recommended for home backup power. The battery is built with top-notch processes, including laser welding and solid sheet construction. It is made of durable ABS material that is resistant to vibrations. The battery also has a removable housing for easy maintenance.

One notable feature of the Aolithium battery is the built-in display, which allows users to monitor real-time battery power and peak power through an LCD screen. It is equipped with a LiFePO4 16-cell pack, ensuring an efficiency of at least 95%. The battery also includes a smart programmable battery management system (BMS) with strong load capacity and various protections. It has a long lifespan, lasting more than 15 years, and supports the expansion of power capacity by connecting multiple batteries.

The Aolithium server rack battery comes at a higher price range, but it offers several advantages over the EG4 battery. Aolithium provides more detailed information about their product, including dimensions, warranty, waterproof level, and shipping details. They offer an 8-year warranty compared to EG4's 5-year warranty. The Aolithium battery also has a wider operating temperature range for charging and discharging.

Here’s how they compare: 

Who Are EG4 For? 

EG4 makes great batteries that can provide backup power for critical loads during outages, keeping your servers, networking equipment, and medical devices powered for longer. They are also perfect for off-grid use if you want to keep your home powered during outages using stored solar energy.

You can find a range of EG4 products at ShopSolar.com.

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