Idiot's guide to a self build battery

User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5791
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#201

Post by nowty »

Joeboy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 3:38 pm
Caesium wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 3:28 pm Yep they were all within two thousandths of a volt of each other, 3.290v - 3.292v, I thought that was pretty good. So the balancer won't have much work to do yet.

After seeing some croc clips on a balancer on a thread round here recently I cribbed the idea and ordered a bunch off ebay so I have more soldering to do now :) Can just clip onto the busbars then, nice and easy.
That would be Nowty's set up. Excellent, you're nearly there!
Actually, my main balancer connection uses brass ring terminals like these which I would recommend, 5mm or 6mm should fit,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354243757975 ... BM3u6kre1g

Image

My croc clips connectors are for parallel cell connectors, connecting several other batteries together in parallel to pimp off the single balancer which you don't need. As you have them in a vertical stack I would worry if they accidently came off and touched another bare bus bar.
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
Jinx
Posts: 80
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:16 pm

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#202

Post by Jinx »

If your nervous putting in a link then stick your meter across one of the cells, then move the probe from the already connected terminal across the terminals to be linked, then move the probe you didn’t move first time across the other cell.

You obviously see cell voltage, then zero, then cell voltage. Sounds complicated written but it’s a two second job, proves the meter, the contacts you have made and that it’s safe to insert. It’s how I do it on MW capable batteries.
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 8096
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#203

Post by Joeboy »

Jinx wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:19 pm If your nervous putting in a link then stick your meter across one of the cells, then move the probe from the already connected terminal across the terminals to be linked, then move the probe you didn’t move first time across the other cell.

You obviously see cell voltage, then zero, then cell voltage. Sounds complicated written but it’s a two second job, proves the meter, the contacts you have made and that it’s safe to insert. It’s how I do it on MW capable batteries.
Sounds good, I will remember that when it is my turn. Thank you.
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
Caesium
Posts: 218
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:01 pm
Location: Brighton

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#204

Post by Caesium »

Well thats made a royal mess of my nice neat battery stack :D

Image

But its all connected and still no explosions. Just the one orange LED on it which I guess means power. I could try applying a small surplus voltage to one of the cells and see if it balances it back out, but otherwise I've no idea if its working yet, it has no balancing to do :)
User avatar
nowty
Posts: 5791
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#205

Post by nowty »

Caesium wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:13 pm Well thats made a royal mess of my nice neat battery stack :D

Image

But its all connected and still no explosions. Just the one orange LED on it which I guess means power. I could try applying a small surplus voltage to one of the cells and see if it balances it back out, but otherwise I've no idea if its working yet, it has no balancing to do :)
That was quick, I thought you still had to order it. :lol:
Bet your happy now, I'm sure it's working fine.

I tested mine by shorting a cell with a 0.5 ohm resistor to instantly lower its voltage in the circuit.
https://camelot-forum.co.uk/phpBB3/view ... =10#p13028
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 8096
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#206

Post by Joeboy »

Caesium wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:13 pm Well thats made a royal mess of my nice neat battery stack :D

Image

But its all connected and still no explosions. Just the one orange LED on it which I guess means power. I could try applying a small surplus voltage to one of the cells and see if it balances it back out, but otherwise I've no idea if its working yet, it has no balancing to do :)
Great to see 👀 👍 well done indeed! 👏
When are you making THE connections?
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
Andy
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:16 pm

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#207

Post by Andy »

Joeboy wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:17 am First change is that the 200Ah won't do the job. Don't have DOD I am looking to match in the Pylontechs.
Now looking at Eve LF280 batteries 3.2V 280Ah capacity across the stack and a 90% DOD at 6,000 cycle lifespan.
How did you do the DOD comparison? I haven't got my Pylontech yet but am already wondering how to extend them. plenty of room in the new shed and I will have a 1000A busbar to play with.
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 8096
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#208

Post by Joeboy »

Andy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:04 pm
Joeboy wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:17 am First change is that the 200Ah won't do the job. Don't have DOD I am looking to match in the Pylontechs.
Now looking at Eve LF280 batteries 3.2V 280Ah capacity across the stack and a 90% DOD at 6,000 cycle lifespan.
How did you do the DOD comparison? I haven't got my Pylontech yet but am already wondering how to extend them. plenty of room in the new shed and I will have a 1000A busbar to play with.
Damn good question Andy and without the sheets to hand I can only say that the lowest voltage acceptable on the LF280's was below my 90% dod I run my pylontechs to so not a problem. I will come back with figures later.
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
nowty
Posts: 5791
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 2:36 pm
Location: South Coast

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#209

Post by nowty »

Joeboy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:14 pm
Andy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:04 pm
Joeboy wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:17 am First change is that the 200Ah won't do the job. Don't have DOD I am looking to match in the Pylontechs.
Now looking at Eve LF280 batteries 3.2V 280Ah capacity across the stack and a 90% DOD at 6,000 cycle lifespan.
How did you do the DOD comparison? I haven't got my Pylontech yet but am already wondering how to extend them. plenty of room in the new shed and I will have a 1000A busbar to play with.
Damn good question Andy and without the sheets to hand I can only say that the lowest voltage acceptable on the LF280's was below my 90% dod I run my pylontechs to so not a problem. I will come back with figures later.
This is my cheat sheet.
Image
18.7kW PV > 109MWh generated
Ripple 6.6kW Wind + 4.5kW PV > 26MWh generated
5 Other RE Coop's
105kWh EV storage
60kWh Home battery storage
40kWh Thermal storage
GSHP + A2A HP's
Rain water use > 510 m3
User avatar
Joeboy
Posts: 8096
Joined: Mon May 31, 2021 4:22 pm
Location: Inverurie

Re: Idiot's guide to a self build battery

#210

Post by Joeboy »

nowty wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:20 pm
Joeboy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:14 pm
Andy wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:04 pm

How did you do the DOD comparison? I haven't got my Pylontech yet but am already wondering how to extend them. plenty of room in the new shed and I will have a 1000A busbar to play with.
Damn good question Andy and without the sheets to hand I can only say that the lowest voltage acceptable on the LF280's was below my 90% dod I run my pylontechs to so not a problem. I will come back with figures later.
This is my cheat sheet.
Image
3.65v to 2.5v max charge/discharge voltage per cell pack on the LF280's. Both upper and lower values are outside of Pylontech operating parameters. Although if you are operating US2000C with a 95% discharge you'll need to confirm their lowest voltage for peace of mind. Nowtys cheat sheet will be damn close.
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