LiFePO4 batteries that ship?

[randomq]

There used to be a few sellers on Amazon that would ship LiFePO4 batteries to Hawaii, but it seems that well has dried up. Where is everyone buying their batteries these days, and for how much? I see insane 10x markups in some of the local ads... 

[punikahakaiferret]

I got my latest in Nov from Doug at Solarman. Have you checked with him?

Oh, yeah, and check Battery Bob's in Hilo, if you haven't. 

Luck to you...let us know what you find. Inquiring PWers want to know. :-D

[MyManao]

Oh, yeah, and check Battery Bob's in Hilo, if you haven't.

Gee I should get out more.. so much I miss these days.. but I did a search and didn't find a Bob.. but did find a Bill..

https://batterybill.com/hilo/

Which looks promising.. not to say prices are one way or the other but it sounds like they got the goods.

[punikahakaiferret]

My bad! Yes, Battery Bill's! I blame being blonde...and old(er). Or both. Or not having had coffee before I replied. Yeah, that's it. Yeah.

Mahalo for the correction!

[Durian Fiend]

I got my latest in Nov from Doug at Solarman. Have you checked with him?

Oh, yeah, and check Battery Bob's in Hilo, if you haven't. 

Luck to you...let us know what you find. Inquiring PWers want to know. :-D

I believe Doug has retired.

[kalakoa]

The problem isn't shipping per se, it's being able to guarantee "surface" instead of "air".

It's just a matter of logistics. Get a few people together and buy a pallet. Send it by ship.

[punikahakaiferret]

I got my latest in Nov from Doug at Solarman. Have you checked with him?

Oh, yeah, and check Battery Bob's in Hilo, if you haven't. 

Luck to you...let us know what you find. Inquiring PWers want to know. :-D

I believe Doug has retired.

Unless it just happened between November and now, I wasn't aware. I have a pretty good rapport with him (well, I think?) and think he would have let me know. There were rumors of that when one of the people that worked with him started their own biz, but I was told those were just rumors. Can't hurt to reach out and confirm. :-)

[ironyak]

kalakoa - It's just a matter of logistics. Get a few people together and buy a pallet. Send it by ship.

Folks at Ultimate Off-Grid Solar Hawaii pointed me towards someone that had done exactly that last time I was looking for some parts and doing a price comparison on batteries. Wasn't up for buying an array of batteries from a "friend-of-a-friend" type situation, but they may still have a lead as the prices quoted were much lower than the in shop options. Good luck - keep us posted!

[randomq]

Yeah, I had Doug in my contacts from some previous work so emailed already. Hopefully he's got some inventory he's looking to liquidate! Thanks for the pointer on Battery Bill, cool that he is selling those in town. Unfortunately my budget doesn't accommodate that level of integration -- and I like separate components (with backups) for reliability.

I'll keep everyone posted. If I don't find something reasonable I probably will arrange ground shipping, either directly or through an arrangement with a mainland mail drop. If anyone is looking to go in on a pallet let me know.

[Durian Fiend]

I got my latest in Nov from Doug at Solarman. Have you checked with him?

Oh, yeah, and check Battery Bob's in Hilo, if you haven't. 

Luck to you...let us know what you find. Inquiring PWers want to know. :-D

I believe Doug has retired.

Unless it just happened between November and now, I wasn't aware. I have a pretty good rapport with him (well, I think?) and think he would have let me know. There were rumors of that when one of the people that worked with him started their own biz, but I was told those were just rumors. Can't hurt to reach out and confirm. :-)

I called him a couple months ago and no one returned my call.  Perhaps I should have tried again, but then I saw something online that said he closed.  So, if anyone gets in touch please confirm in this thread.  Thanks.