With battery prices on the rise, finding affordable power storage options has become a bit of a challenge.
Brands like EG4 and Rich Solar offer high-quality products, but they have higher price tags that can put them out of reach for homeowners looking for backup power on a budget.
Enter the EcoWorthy 48V (51.2V) 100Ah Server Rack Battery. Priced at a fraction of what you’d pay for similarly sized server rack batteries from the competition, it promises solid performance that won’t break the bank.
However, does the comparatively low price point mean you’re sacrificing quality and performance just to save a few bucks? We put it through our usual testing to find out for ourselves.
Before we dive into what we like and dislike about this fairly bare-bones server rack battery, let’s take a quick look at the specs:
Physically, this Eco Worthy server rack battery seems to have a really basic but functional design.
Our test unit didn’t come with carrying handles, which made moving its 95 lb bulk around The Lab somewhat memorable (and not in a good way). On the plus side, there are standard terminal connections on the front, along with communication ports. The case itself is also sturdy and seems really well-built, with no jagged edges.
This basic but very functional layout continues on the inside of the battery, with the battery cells positioned for efficient use of space, and the main board is located at the front of the unit. It also opens up really easily, so it’s not difficult to access the interior if you need to.
However, there are a few omissions worth noting. For starters, there’s no screen for quick on-unit monitoring, and we couldn’t confirm the presence of certain safety features like fire arresters.
While Eco-Worthy claims temperature monitoring, we weren’t convinced it was as effective as advertised on their website. Since it’s also not UL-listed, we kind of have to take them at their own word.
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Despite its more straightforward, budget-friendly nature, this EcoWorthy battery offers some things we actually really like:
It’s rated for 100 amps continuous but handled long surges above that rating without shutting down. Whether this is good for long-term battery health is debatable, but in the moment, it means your equipment stays running if you happen to overload your batteries.
The forward-facing terminal connections are easy to reach whether the unit is in or out of a rack, which simplifies installation and maintenance. It may not sound like much, but we’ve reviewed some low-cost server rack batteries that were not very user-friendly in this regard.
The fully mental casing feels really durable, but it is still really easy to open with a screwdriver if you need internal access. Once you do open it up, the battery cells are nicely spaced to help prevent overheating, and it just has a really clean and thoughtful internal layout.
For a server rack battery that exists mostly as a budget-friendly alternative to the more mainstream options, the build quality and layout are both beyond what we expected to see.
While not as comprehensive as some, the app provides essential data such as internal temperature readings, charge and discharge rates, and state of charge checks. You also have the option to connect to the app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is another thing we like, as some of the cheaper units only support Wi-Fi connections.
Now, we always prefer to see a display screen on batteries, but leaving it out is probably how they’re able to offer it at such an affordable price, so we’ll give them a bit of a pass.
While the listed price isn’t overly impressive, you can drop that price down significantly if you buy during one of their seemingly endless sales, and by adding our discount code (TSL50).
With those discounts, the price comes in at just $799, which means it’s one of the cheapest server rack batteries in this capacity range. For comparison, you’re talking more like $1,200 for something like the EG4 LifePower Server Rack Battery, which is EG4’s most budget-friendly unit.
You also have the option to run up to 32 of these units in parallel, which could add up to some really serious savings over the cost of the full system.
That low price could be a major selling point for budget-conscious buyers who don’t require a UL listing or the frills you get with a high-end server rack or wall-mounted battery.
While we did like quite a few things about this battery, especially the low price, we can’t ignore the compromises that come with that entry-level pricing:
Moving a 95 lb battery with no handles was a two-person job and a recipe for sore backs. Keep in mind the unit was advertised with handles at the time we received it, so it wasn’t just frustrating to move, this felt like a confusing letdown.
Now, since we released our video review of this battery, we’ve noticed quite a few comments saying that other people did receive attachable handles in the box when they ordered.
It’s possible we were just sent an earlier version of the battery, or they simply forgot to throw the handles in the box, but either way, it was a big usability miss. At the end of the day, we can only review what we were sent.
Since it’s meant to be equipped with an effective BMS, we wanted to see how it would perform in different temperatures. To do so, we dropped this bad boy into a deep freezer and let it get super cold overnight.
During this -4°F (-20°C) freezer test, the battery still output 52V despite the BMS supposedly blocking discharge at those temperatures. While this might seem like a “win” for cold-weather use, it could shorten lifespan if the battery cells are used when they are too cold.
From our tests, it seems like the battery monitoring system only works when the main breaker is on. This is unusual, as most systems allow monitoring even when the battery is disconnected, which helps with servicing or diagnosing issues.
Add that to the failed cold temperature test and we’re not so sure the BMS is as dependable as EcoWorthy’s website would have you believe.
Our attempt to reach EcoWorthy directly by phone went unanswered. We tried a couple of times, but our calls went straight to voicemail. Again, a few of our viewers have commented that they were able to get through and got solid support when they did, and that’s great, but we can only relay our own experience.
From our perspective, if you’re considering this battery, buying through a retailer that has their own customer support, like Shop Solar, might be the safer bet.
The EcoWorthy 48V (51.2V) 100Ah Server Rack Battery is a solid performer, especially for its really low price.
It’s not perfect, particularly when it comes to cold-weather performance, the questionable BMS behavior, and potential customer support gaps, but for off-grid sheds, cabins, tiny homes, or basically any budget backup power where UL listing isn’t a requirement, it’s hard to beat the value.
We wouldn’t recommend it as a solution for a primary home backup system, especially if you’re building out a battery bank that will be connected to critical loads, but for many people just getting into off-grid setups, it’s an affordable way to store a decent amount of power.
If you can pick it up for that dirt-cheap price of just $799, you’re paying for performance where it counts and skipping some of the bells and whistles. Just be ready to ask for some help carrying it if you don’t get sent handles either.
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