[FS] Valence U27-12XP 48V Bank - 4 Modules + BMS (7 kWh) - $1,400 - New Orleans, LA

Interesting listing but screams a few red flags for me personally. Valence U27-12XP cells are LiFeMnPO4 chemistry rather than standard LFP — not a bad thing necessarily, but worth knowing because they behave differently and that proprietary BMS integration is quite specific to the modules. If the BMS has been paired and reset improperly these cells can be a nightmare to balance.

7 kWh for $1,400 isn't terrible on paper, but you'd want to know the cycle count and whether they've been stored at a sensible SOC. These were originally fleet/telecom units so they could have serious hours on them.

Also — and this might just be me — I'm always a bit wary of Valence modules without the original documentation. Getting replacement BMS comms sorted without the CANbus specs is a headache.

For anyone stateside thinking about this: it could be a solid static installation buy if you verify cell health properly. I run my static setup on Victron kit with Fogstar cells so I'd be curious what monitoring solution the seller has been using with these.

Anyone here actually run Valence U-series in a similar bank size? Keen to hear whether the long-term reliability matches the hype they used to get in the telecom world. Feels like these come up for sale fairly regularly now as that industry moves on — which is either an opportunity or a warning sign depending on how you look at it.

Good spot @MuddyTrekker — the LiFeMnPO4 chemistry point is worth expanding on. Those Valence modules have a proprietary BMS that communicates between units, so if even one module has a duff internal board, the whole bank can behave unpredictably. I'd be asking the seller for individual module voltage readings and whether the inter-module CAN bus comms are functioning properly.

Also worth noting — being US-based and dollar-priced, this thread's probably not relevant to most of us here. Shipping lithium across the Atlantic isn't happening legally without serious freight arrangements.

That said, the Valence U27 series genuinely were well-built units — used in industrial applications, decent cycle counts when maintained properly. The question is always why they're being sold. Second-life commercial bank? That's a different conversation to "I upgraded and don't need these anymore."

Few things jumping out at me here beyond the chemistry chat —

$1,400 for a 7 kWh bank works out at £1.10/Wh-ish (assuming rough dollar parity for import costs), which honestly isn't that far off what you'd pay new for Fogstar Drift cells. Factor in shipping from New Orleans and any customs headaches and the deal gets thinner fast.

Also worth noting — Valence modules need their own proprietary BMS comms to balance properly. "Comes with BMS" doesn't tell you much unless you know exactly which one and whether it's talking to all 4 modules correctly.

Not saying it's a bad buy, but it's a US listing on what I assume is a UK forum? @MuddyTrekker where did you find this one?

Couple of things nobody's flagged yet —

Location is New Orleans, LA. This is a US forum listing being discussed on a UK board. Shipping lithium internationally is a nightmare; you're looking at hazmat freight costs that could easily double the "bargain" price, plus HMRC/customs on top. Not worth it unless you've got a freight contact.

Also worth checking: the Valence U27-12XP modules need their own proprietary charger profile or a BMS that specifically supports them. Generic LFP settings won't cut it. @ZI_Sparks mentioned proprietary — this is probably what they were getting at.

For context, I've priced up similar capacity Fogstar Drift cells recently and the gap isn't as dramatic as it looks on paper once you factor in all the above.

Really important point that's been missed — what's the actual cycle count on these modules?

Valence U27-12XP packs were widely used in commercial fleet vehicles and telecom backup, meaning a lot of second-hand units have seen heavy duty cycles before they hit the resale market. Seller hasn't mentioned it at all.

Also curious whether the BMS included is the original Valence unit or a third-party replacement — the proprietary comms on these modules make BMS compatibility genuinely tricky, not something you can just swap a generic unit onto.

@Chopper makes a fair point on the location side of things too. Shipping lithium across the Atlantic isn't straightforward, and if anything goes wrong with the cells on arrival, you've got zero recourse really.

Would want full capacity test results before even considering this one.

Good points all round but one thing nobody's touched on — Valence U27-12XP modules need the proprietary Valence BMS to balance properly. The listing mentions a BMS but doesn't specify which one. If it's not the genuine Valence unit, those modules can drift badly and you'll lose usable capacity fast.

Also worth checking: the U27-12XP uses a non-standard CAN bus protocol for communication. Integrating it with anything Victron-based (which most of us here run) needs a proper interface — not plug-and-play like a Fogstar or Pylontech.

@Mike1980's point on cycle count is the crux of it really. Without Valence's own battery management software to pull the history, you're essentially buying blind on a second-hand LiFeMnPO4 bank from across the Atlantic.