Idiot's guide to a self build battery

[Joeboy]

That's the mounting board up and anchored, 9 fixing points! Also added the first mounting rail for my own reference and perspective. Anyone in Aberdeenshire have a hydraulic crimper for hire before I go to the Bay?

I have a crimper but not hydraulic, it's German made I think and should be able to do the size of crimps that you require.

Ooh, 6 pack do ye? What kind?

[Fintray]

Not sure of the name and can't check as not at home, but they look like this:

[Joeboy]

Not sure of the name and can't check as not at home, but they look like this:

That would do Iain, but I'm gonna go for the hammer type. I am old enough and onshore enough now that my chances at new things are vastly reduced. Order is in, hammer crimper on s/by. Thank you .

£1,687- 15 of LF280K (A) batteries incl del, bus bars n bolts
£60.72 - 1 of 15s 5A balance board.
£60 framework and bolts
£20 DC-DC variable 20A buckboard (battery charger)
£38 Amp clamp (AC AND DC capable)
£60 Frankenstein breaker & 2 125A fuses
£26 2 of 2mtr lengths 25mm2 DC cable
£12 Hammer crimper
£36 Solder kit gear, 18awg cable & heatshrink kit
£24 lugs for AWG2 & AWG18 wire, reel of solder.
£2,036 total

[Joeboy]

The first sign of lines of three batteries! A pity I've not ordered them yet.
An insane amount of time going into this but should look good for a long time.





I also found a 5mm hardwood plyboard in the back of the workshop wood pile. More than enough to make three base plates for the batteries to rest on and I'll have a crack at gluelamming together the 6 end caps for the squeeze. Will build them out of three pieces of the 5mm board.

[Joeboy]

That's 2.5 days work so far to get to this stage, not complaining but I'm sure I used to craick on harder than this, achieve more and not feel so knackered!

[Stinsy]

Nice work. Do you have a date on the batteries?

[Oldgreybeard]

It's always the mass of "little stuff" that seems to absorb time and money. Somehow I always seem to forget/underestimate the effort that goes into all the "little stuff" on any project. My wife's reminded me of this today, as the pile of components for the new panel install is growing, everything from bolts and top hat washers, through cable and MC4s, plus the big stuff like the panels, rails and inverter. It all adds up and it's easy to overlook the time and cost all the extras soak up.

[Joeboy]

Nice work. Do you have a date on the batteries?

Not ordered yet, will do that on 19th Sept so they arrive for our return from Turkey. Getting all this out the way will hopefully mean I can focus on getting the hook up right!

Pretty sure that Caesium's will be at his first. I do have this picture to enjoy and a dimension drawing.

[Joeboy]

It's always the mass of "little stuff" that seems to absorb time and money. Somehow I always seem to forget/underestimate the effort that goes into all the "little stuff" on any project. My wife's reminded me of this today, as the pile of components for the new panel install is growing, everything from bolts and top hat washers, through cable and MC4s, plus the big stuff like the panels, rails and inverter. It all adds up and it's easy to overlook the time and cost all the extras soak up.

I am looking forward to seeing your build, exciting when it all rolls in! When are you starting?
I have another 6 hours or so and I'll be finished with the rack for a while.

Fortunate the backboard, fixings for same, large aluminium angle pieces and the hardwood ply battery base board were all to hand and upcycled from other projects.

[Oldgreybeard]

I am looking forward to seeing your build, exciting when it all rolls in! When are you starting?

If stuff arrives when promised then I should get to start putting things together in about ten days time. Depends on whether the key bits arrive on time.