Extra batteries advice

Post Reply
JohnW
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:31 pm

Extra batteries advice

#1

Post by JohnW »

Hi Chaps

I'm looking to install some more battery storage. I currently have a single Pylontech US5000 and want to add another 15kW or so. My question: Is it better to get more smaller batteries or fewer bigger ones? Or doesn't it matter?

Cheers
JA Solar panels 14 x 380W East/West arrays
Solis S5-EH1P hybrid inverter
Pylontech US5000 battery x 1
Pylontech US3000C batteries x 4
Dovre 8kW wood burner
Morso 5kW wood burner
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 7796
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Extra batteries advice

#2

Post by Joeboy »

JohnW wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:12 pm Hi Chaps

I'm looking to install some more battery storage. I currently have a single Pylontech US5000 and want to add another 15kW or so. My question: Is it better to get more smaller batteries or fewer bigger ones? Or doesn't it matter?

Cheers
An alternative route below?
Last edited by Joeboy on Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 7796
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Extra batteries advice

#3

Post by Joeboy »

JohnW wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:12 pm Hi Chaps

I'm looking to install some more battery storage. I currently have a single Pylontech US5000 and want to add another 15kW or so. My question: Is it better to get more smaller batteries or fewer bigger ones? Or doesn't it matter?

Cheers
John, an hour well spent. There is a LOT of info in here.
https://camelot-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/view ... =14&t=1194
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
JohnW
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:31 pm

Re: Extra batteries advice

#4

Post by JohnW »

Joeboy wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:19 pm
JohnW wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:12 pm Hi Chaps

I'm looking to install some more battery storage. I currently have a single Pylontech US5000 and want to add another 15kW or so. My question: Is it better to get more smaller batteries or fewer bigger ones? Or doesn't it matter?

Cheers
John, an hour well spent. There is a LOT of info in here.
https://camelot-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/view ... =14&t=1194
Thanks Joeboy, I'll take a look at that tomorrow, looks like a lot of info and another steep learning curve 🧐
JA Solar panels 14 x 380W East/West arrays
Solis S5-EH1P hybrid inverter
Pylontech US5000 battery x 1
Pylontech US3000C batteries x 4
Dovre 8kW wood burner
Morso 5kW wood burner
User avatar
Stinsy
Posts: 2640
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:09 pm

Re: Extra batteries advice

#5

Post by Stinsy »

The easy route is to strap on an additional US5000. You could add smaller US2000 or US3000 batteries but the cost per kWh is lowest with the big boy. The only downside is that manoeuvring the US5000 into position isn’t much fun.

Alternatively the lowest cost per kWh route is a homebrew battery similar to that which Joeboy and a few others in here have built. This is the lowest cost per kWh method.
12x 340W JA Solar panels (4.08kWp)
3x 380W JA Solar panels (1.14kWp)
5x 2.4kWh Pylontech batteries (12kWh)
LuxPower inverter/charger

(Artist formally known as ******, well it should be obvious enough to those for whom such things are important.)
marshman
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:58 pm

Re: Extra batteries advice

#6

Post by marshman »

__
Last edited by marshman on Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Andy
Posts: 487
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:16 pm

Re: Extra batteries advice

#7

Post by Andy »

How much extra time do you have to spend nannying your home brew setup once the initial balancing is completed. I've just finished a stack with 8x US5000 ordered before the thread had started.
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 7796
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Extra batteries advice

#8

Post by Joeboy »

Andy wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:16 pm How much extra time do you have to spend nannying your home brew setup once the initial balancing is completed. I've just finished a stack with 8x US5000 ordered before the thread had started.
None. :D
I'll dust it in 6 months or so.
19.7kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN & DW
Ripple 7kW WT & Gen to date 19MWh
42kWh LFPO4 storage
95kWh Heater storage
12kWh 210ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
Zoned GCH & Hive 2
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
Post Reply