Flex Modular System FAQ's

What is the Flex Modular System?

The Inergy Flex Modular System is the most versatile and powerful portable solar energy storage system in the world. The Flex Modular System is comprised of four advanced power modules that allow you to build a portable solar power station that can adapt to almost any unique scenario:

1. Flex 1500 Power Console. The Flex 1500 Power Console and the Flex Battery connect to form the Flex 1500 Power Station. 
2. Flex DC Power Console. The Flex DC Power Console and the Flex Battery connect to form the Flex DC Power Station, which provides 30A of regulated DC power for DC-power-only users.
3. Flex Battery. The Flex Battery is the smartest, most versatile Lithium-ion expansion battery ever made. You can use the Flex Battery to expand the capacity of the Flex Power Stations and the Apex and Kodiak with an additional 1,069 Wh of capacity.
4. Flex MPPT Supercharger. The MPPT Supercharge allows you to triple the standard 30A max charge input of a Flex 1500 or Flex DC Power Station to an unmatched 90A charge input, which would allow you to charge one Flex Battery in about one hour.

You can use these four modules to create a powerful adaptable portable solar power system, so you can power what you need, wherever you need it, for basically as long as you need.

 

What are the benefits of a modular system versus an all-in-one product with a set battery size and fixed solar charging capabilities?

First and most importantly, you can create the ideal Flex Modular System for your uses. Second, you can adapt your Flex Modular System to suit your needs. You could choose to keep three Flex Batteries at home for power-down situations and power your refrigerator for days. You could take the same system camping with only one Flex Battery for a lightweight, portable power solution with no noise or toxic fumes. You have tons of options that allow you to power dozens of critical devices whenever and wherever you want, for as long as you want.

 

Will the Apex Car Charger, Standard Wall Charger, and Quick Wall Charger work with the Flex Modular System?

Yes. All three chargers work with the Flex platform.

Can I jump start my car with the modular system?

No; you cannot.

 

Can I expand the capacity of my Flex Modular System with lead acid / AGM batteries?

No. Flex Batteries will work much better and give you a lot more power.

 

How should I store my Flex Modular System?

Storing the system at half charge ensures the longest battery life. We also recommended checking the battery level every three months. 

 

Why did Inergy choose to use Lithium NMC chemistry?

The Flex Modular System is a portable system. Other chemistries like LFP or lead acid / AGM are much heavier, much larger, and in the case of LFP, more expensive. LFP does have its advantages, especially in permanent DIY installations or when being used to power RVs, but they are not ideal for portable solutions. Lithium NMC offers the highest power density and, with the Flex Battery’s advanced safety features, is lighter and more compact than other battery chemistries without sacrificing safety.

 

How long will my system last?

The cycle life of your battery is totally dependent on how you use it. Your Flex Battery could last anywhere from 400 cycles up to 2,000 cycles or 10 years if you use it to run moderate loads and take good care of it.

 

How do I maximize my solar charging speed?

If you want to supercharge your solar charging, you can add the  Flex MPPT Supercharger upgrade, which allows you to add two more 90V strings of solar panels for a total of three 90V panel arrays for 90A (1,200W) of solar charge input. You could charge one Flex Battery in about an hour.

As you expand your Flex Modular System with additional Flex Batteries, you can also boost your system's solar charge rate to as much as 990A (4,400W). For every Flex Battery you add to your system, you can also add another MPPT Supercharger to maintain a rapid charge time. If you added five Flex Batteries in pairs with five Flex MPPT Superchargers, your entire 6,414Wh system could still charge in only an hour and a half.

Before connecting six or more MPPT Superchargers, please consult with an Inergy Support Specialist at 877-891-2657.

The MPPT Supercharger can be used only with a Flex 1500 or Flex DC Power Station.

 

Can I use the Flex MPPT Supercharger with my Kodiak or Apex?

Unfortunately no, the Supercharger is designed specifically for the Flex modular platform and cannot be used with the Apex or Kodiak power stations.

 

Why do the Flex 1500 and Flex DC Power Stations have different solar charging specs than the Apex or Kodiak?

When we developed the Flex Modular System, we completely overhauled how the system charges. Our goal was to allow up to four (4) 100-Watt panels to be connected in series for those wanting to pursue that path, while not limiting the size of the solar string if connected in parallel. You can use additional panels in parallel to support the 400-Watt maximum charge rate in sub-par solar conditions.

In previous systems, you were limited to a maximum solar input of 500 or 600W and you could use only parallel wiring configurations. With the Flex Modular System, we removed those limits. You can now use series with four 12V 100-Watt panels in series, or you can use parallel.

 

What is the difference between maximum solar input and maximum charge rate?

Maximum solar input is 90V to the MPPT charge controller, and the controller will charge the battery at a maximum charge rate of 30A (≈400W).

 

How fast can you charge the Flex 1500 and DC Power Stations with solar panels?

Short Answer: You can charge one Flex Power Station in about 3 ½ hours. If you add the Flex MPPT Supercharger, you can charge the Flex Power Station in about 1 hour.

 

Advanced Answer: The Flex Power Consoles’ on-board MPPT charge controller is rated for 14-90V of solar input, which gives you more options for solar panels in either parallel or series configurations. You will be able to charge one Flex Battery from 0 to 100% in about 3½ hours. 

If you want to boost your solar charging ability beyond this, you can connect the Flex MPPT Supercharger, which includes two advanced maximum power point tracking (MPPT) charge controllers with up to 90V of solar charge input each, so it gives you even more options and charges faster using solar panels—you can charge one Flex Battery from 0 to 100% in as little as 1 hour. You will love the freedom of capturing clean, unlimited power from the sun whenever you need it.

The Flex Modular Platform is designed to be completely plug and play. To connect the Flex MPPT Supercharger to the Flex 1500 or Flex DC Power Stations, simply add the Supercharger anywhere in your stack. The auto-lock system takes care of the rest. It takes only seconds to triple your system's solar charge rate.

For every Flex Battery you add to your system, you can also add another MPPT Supercharger to maintain a rapid charge time. If you added five Flex Batteries in pairs with five Flex MPPT Superchargers, your entire 6,414Wh system could still charge in only an hour and a half.

Before connecting six or more MPPT Superchargers, please consult with an Inergy Support Specialist at 877-891-2657.

 

Can I connect off-brand solar panels to my Flex system?

Yes, you can use our EC8-to-MC4 adapter to do so. You can connect in either parallel or series (as long as you don’t exceed 90V max input).

 

Can I use more than one charge source at a time to charge the Flex Battery?

Yes. First, the MPPT controller in the Flex 1500 and  Flex DC Power Stations will charge each Flex Battery in your stack at the same time. One single Flex Battery will charge in as little as 3 1/2 hours. More batteries in the stack will, of course, take more time. If you need faster charge times, you can add the  Flex MPPT Supercharger, which triples the standard solar charge input to an unheard-of 90A input. You can also direct charge each Flex Battery with a Standard Wall Charger or Car Charger. The Flex Battery accepts charge using any of the above methods simultaneously when connected to a Flex Modular System.

 

What are the dimensions of the Flex 1500 Power Station?

14” x 8” x 9.4”

 

What are the dimensions of the Flex 1500 Power Console?

14" x 8" x 4.7"

 

Can I connect two Flex 1500 Power Consoles together to double the inverter output?

No, but you can expand the battery capacity with the Flex Battery, almost infinitely.

 

Can I connect third-party batteries to my system?

No; the Flex Modular Power Platform only supports Flex Batteries due to the communication requirements resulting from interfacing with the Kodiak, Apex, and Flex Power Stations. No third-party batteries of any type will function with the system.

 

How big is the inverter?

The system has a 1500-Watt continuous (3,000-Watt surge) pure sine wave inverter.

 

Can I draw 1,500 Watts continuously?

Yes! Our customers spoke and we listened. The Flex 1500 pure sine wave inverter is designed to output up to 80% of battery capacity at 1,500-Watt discharge under normal operating conditions before shutting down to protect the batteries and the inverter. As with any battery, drawing the maximum output continuously will affect the cycle life of your Flex Batteries, but the choice is yours.

 

What are the dimensions of the Flex DC Power Station?

14” x 8” x 9.4”

 

What are the dimensions of the Flex DC Power Console?

14" x 8" x 4.7"

 

I use only DC power in my off-grid home or van. What if I don’t need AC?

Then the  Flex DC is ideal for you. The Flex DC gives you 13.8V of regulated DC output, so you can power your portable refrigerator and other DC appliances longer and more efficiently. 

 

What is the battery capacity of the Flex Battery?

1,069Wh nominal

 

Can I use the Flex Battery without the Power Console?

No, the Flex battery doesn’t include output ports.

 

How many Flex Batteries can you connect together?

You can connect up to 96 Flex Batteries for up to 102 kiloWatt hours of storage capacity.

 

Can I use the Flex Battery with my Kodiak or Apex?

Yes. The Flex Battery will nearly double your storage capacity with 1,069 Watt-hours of additional capacity. If you want, you could connect up to 96 Flex Batteries to one Kodiak or Apex for a ludicrous amount of battery capacity.

The Flex Battery is plug and play, requiring no manual Voltage balancing. It can detect the state of charge of your Kodiak, Apex or additional Flex Battery, and decide whether the partner battery is too low and needs to be charged. If the partner battery is too low, the Flex Battery will automatically charge it to a safe Voltage range, at which point it will automatically connect to the partner battery and work as one large battery bank.

This is worth mentioning once more. You can connect up to 96 Flex Batteries (approximately 102 kWh) to one Flex 1500 Power Station or Flex DC Power Station (or to an Apex or Kodiak) and enjoy the same plug-and-play functionality.

 

How does the Flex Battery connect to my Apex or Kodiak?

The Flex Battery will connect to the Apex or Kodiak with theFlex Battery-to-Ring Terminal Adapter Cable, which is sold separately.

 

Does the Flex Battery come with cables to connect it to my Kodiak or Apex?

No; you’ll have to purchase the Flex Battery-to-Ring TerminalAdapter Cable separately.

 

Do I need to manually balance my Flex Batteries before connecting them to my Kodiak or Apex?

No.The Flex Battery can detect the state of charge of your Kodiak, Apex or additional Flex Battery, and decide whether the partner battery is too low and needs to be charged. If the partner battery is too low, the Flex Battery will automatically charge it to a safe Voltage range, at which point it will automatically connect to the partner battery and work as one large battery bank.

 

Can I AC charge each Flex Battery individually?

Yes you can charge each lithium expansion battery with the Standard Wall Charger or Car Charger. 

 

Can I solar charge each Flex Battery individually?

Yes. The MPPT Supercharger can be added to Flex batteries to provide up to 90V of solar input and a maximum charge rate of 800W.

 

Can I use more than one charge source at a time to charge the Flex Battery?

Yes. First, the MPPT controller in the Flex 1500 and  Flex DC Power Stations will charge each Flex Battery in your stack at the same time. One single Flex Battery will charge in as little as 3 1/2 hours. More batteries in the stack will, of course, take more time. If you need faster charge times, you can add the  Flex MPPT Supercharger, which triples the standard solar charge input to an unheard-of 90A input. You can also direct charge each Flex Battery with a Standard Wall Charger or Car Charger. The Flex Battery accepts charge using any of the above methods simultaneously when connected to a Flex Modular System.