32 280Ah Eve "grade a" from Shenzhen Luyuan (Amy Wan)

[Capt Bill]

Figured its time to document my process of buying/receiving/testing these cells

First off: Working with Amy is nice. She responds super quick and gives honest (and true) information


I ordered 32 (8x4) "EVE 3.2V 280AH NEW GRADE A". Here is the timeline of events. Once my capacity tests finish I will put my overall recommendation (yes or no), on the top post...

1. 1/31/21 I reached out to for a Quote
2. 1/31/21 She replied asking for detailed shipping information
3. 2/2/21 I changed my request from 16 to 32 cells
4. 2/3/21 I got a new total quote: ($529) shipping to west WA, total cost of ~4300
5. Some general back and forwards over a few days as I lingerd on if I wanted to pull the trigger.
6. 2/6/21 I payed Alibaba
7. 2/6/21 Amy Confirmed
8. <Chinese newyear!!>
9. 2/22/21 Amy replied said they just got the next batch from Eve, welding studs now
10. 2/28/21 Amy said they went into shipping
11. 3/2/21 I recieved pics of the cells being packaged, voltage checked, etc (but could not get a test report)
12. 3/8/21 *domestic* tracking info provided (doesn't help when the cells are on the boat
13. <LOTS of waiting>
14. 4/1/21 I asked if she had any info on the boat, she replied with ETA in Cali on 4/4/21
15. 4/9/21 I followed up for status
16. 4/10/21 Amy replied saying they have been unloaded and cleared customs, waiting on Fedex in cali now
17. 4/12/21 Fedex tracking came alive
18. 4/19/21 all 16 boxes arrived on my door

Status of cells on arrival:

• Packaging was great. I honeslty think you could have yeeted these off a 50 foot building and they'd likely be un-damaged. Very very nice packaging, double boxed, etc.
• Every cell was 3.295
• No visual imperfections (except one positive terminal is not centered by a mm or two)
• Got 32 busbars and ~70 bolts (32 isn't enough for most uses, I mentioned this to her)
• The bus bars, imho, do not look near thick enough to handle 300A of current. They are ~1/16th, maybe 1/10th of an inch thick, made out of <Some shinny metal?>, and 3/4 inch wide. But Will used these on his 280ah video and seemed OK with them /shrug.

Between then and now:

• I screwed around with the cells quite a bit (hooked up 4 to series to test a few 12v things, hooked up a 48v string to test my Renogy inverter/charger, etc)
• Had to figure out how TF im going to get more busbars. These aren't apparently things in the USA. I contated Amy and she was willing to send more over rush Air shipping for 1.2 per + 33$ shipping
• I bought 18 feet of 1/8''x1'' copper, and made my own busbars

<To be continued>

Question re thread title: 280Ah Eve "grade a" from Shenzhen Luyuan: ... Wondering: Did you order "Matched Cells" (that cost more) vs 'bulk cells"? ... Here is something I just learned about those terms about 20 minutes ago: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/eve-280ah-in-europe-contact-amy-wan.17777/#post-216323

 

[Thorium]

So what’s the bolt torque setting people are using on Amy’s Eve cells with the laser welded studs?

 

[Short_Shot]

You know. After reading the thread.

I'd say I would happily pay them for matched cells at a premium over other vendors if they could provide a test report for my actual order.

If they started doing that and we started verifying the results they'd be an absolutely top tier supplier.

Or is this a thing they already do?

 

[Just John]

You know. After reading the thread.

I'd say I would happily pay them for matched cells at a premium over other vendors if they could provide a test report for my actual order.

If they started doing that and we started verifying the results they'd be an absolutely top tier supplier.

Or is this a thing they already do?

For a short time Amy had problems getting the test reports from Eve, and was shipping cells without them.
That problem is resolved. Her grade A cells really are grade A (matched in sets of up to 16), including test reports (or at least mine came with them).
I verified mine, I can't speak for anyone else.

 

[Capt Bill]

For a short time Amy had problems getting the test reports from Eve, and was shipping cells without them.
That problem is resolved. Her grade A cells really are grade A (matched in sets of up to 16), including test reports (or at least mine came with them).
I verified mine, I can't speak for anyone else.

That sounds very Good. ... I am curious what your test report included. ... any chance you could share a copy for the shared educational value :+)

 

[RGIvy]

So what’s the bolt torque setting people are using on Amy’s Eve cells with the laser welded studs?

Amy recommended 10Nm which I thought a bit high. I have however torqued two sets of 4 cells to 10Nm without any problem - those cells need to handle around 220A. Usually we go to 8Nm. We've done about 20 cells to 8Nm.

 

[Just John]

Amy recommended 10Nm which I thought a bit high. I have however torqued two sets of 4 cells to 10Nm without any problem - those cells need to handle around 220A. Usually we go to 8Nm. We've done about 20 cells to 8Nm.

OK, seems they go away after so many months, the first time I looked in April all the values were filled in, I'll have to look and see if I saved a copy.
Here is what it looks like now (and as I said, all the empty spots were filled in when they first sent it to me). They had resistance measured in three different voltages from the capacity test the factory did. The "code" is the cell serial number, just FYI. These are 8 of the 105AH cells.

 

[Steve_S]

To CLARIFY, you do NOT get a Printed Report but a link to the Database Report which you should print/save to a PDF file.
There will be a new "insert" document accompanying cell orders, started this month. Also a Longer Busbar for making "Block" packs is going in from what I know now... or maybe you just have to ask for them... Talking to Amy later today and will clarify.

 

[Just John]

To CLARIFY, you do NOT get a Printed Report but a link to the Database Report which you should print/save to a PDF file.
There will be a new "insert" document accompanying cell orders, started this month. Also a Longer Busbar for making "Block" packs is going in from what I know now... or maybe you just have to ask for them... Talking to Amy later today and will clarify.

Yes, I should have made that clear, it's a web link, and allows you to look at and download an excel compatible file. I probably have it saved on another laptop, once I looked it wasn't that important to me. The important part to me was the fact my testing matched the test reports, and it did. I have an automated 40 amp charge and discharge tester, and it makes short work of testing. Just as an FYI, the 105AH cells use M4 screws/grubscrews, and the holes are drilled by the factory. Although small, they are noticeably better than the third party drilled M6 on larger cells. The larger cells are really designed for welded busbars.

 

[myles]

this thread has been very valuable, just getting ready to pull the trigger on this order for 64 batteries!

 

[Stepandwolf]

There are other strings and an admission by Amy that these aren't being matched, and in fact, shipments include two different model numbers, a range of Ah, and date codes. I have found that some vendors consider the ship date the manufactured date, and vendors who think testing is matching. In my case, I was actually sent the spreadsheet that was obtained from EVE, but that was from Basen.

 

[Bob B]

There are other strings and an admission by Amy that these aren't being matched, and in fact, shipments include two different model numbers, a range of Ah, and date codes. I have found that some vendors consider the ship date the manufactured date, and vendors who think testing is matching. In my case, I was actually sent the spreadsheet that was obtained from EVE, but that was from Basen

I didn't see Amy say there was no matching going on .... can you give us a link to where she said that?

Wasn't it you the other day who also claimed that the ONLY difference between N and K EVE cells was the way they are tested?

 

[Stepandwolf]

I didn't see Amy say there was no matching going on .... can you give us a link to where she said that?

I believe it was in the thread that was closed. I don't take footnotes of everything I read. Believe it was a part of the discussion about the mixed 66 and 71 order. Was also mentioned by someone else. Still waiting for a formal definition of matching that we and the vendors can agree on. If a vendor says they are sending premium matched cells and they send two different models and a Ah range of 5, I personal don't consider them matched.

Wasn't it you the other day who also claimed that the ONLY difference between N and K EVE cells was the way they are tested?

I said the difference in life cycle rating between two model was based on .5C vs. 1C testing. I quoted Basen and user Robert on here concurred. I think I was comparing LF280 and LF280N.

 

[Bob B]

I believe it was in the thread that was closed. I don't take foot notes of everything I read. Believe it was a part of the discussion about the mixed 66 and 71 order. Was also mentioned by someone else.

Amy didn't post in the thread that has been closed .... she has posted in the other thread started by MrProton and the way I remember it, she indicated that they have moved on from matching the cells themselves to buying cells in 500 and then 2000 per lot that have been matched by the manufacturer EVE.

I said the difference in life cycle rating between two model was based on .5C vs. 1C testing. I quoted Basen and user Robert on here concurred. I think I was comparing LF280 and LF280N.

The insinuation is the same ... You just didn't use the word only .... but it was insinuated.

 

[Just John]

There are other strings and an admission by Amy that these aren't being matched, and in fact, shipments include two different model numbers, a range of Ah, and date codes. I have found that some vendors consider the ship date the manufactured date, and vendors who think testing is matching. In my case, I was actually sent the spreadsheet that was obtained from EVE, but that was from Basen.

Amy sells both types, matched and unmatched (bulk cells). There is a significant price difference. For 280AH, bulk = $91.50, matched = $128.00 (plus shipping, as the most common example purchased).

Shenzhen Luyuan Technology Co., Ltd

If the above is the Amy you speak of. You certainly get more storage for your money with bulk cells. When you buy her matched cells, you get the spreadsheet as well (actually a link to obtain it from Eve). If you need high C rates, the matched cells are the only way to go. If you need a lot of low C rate storage, bulk cells are much more cost-effective. The thing I like about Amy, is you get exactly what she advertises. Her matched grade A cells are exactly that, and the bulk cells are brand new, not used and bloated cells. You will also notice the matched grade A cells say "Processing Time 15 days", that is because the factory matches them, then sends them to Amy, who then packs them and sends them to you.

I just like honest vendors who tell you what you are buying, and deliver what they promise. Yes, you pay more, but it isn't a gamble.
Bulk cells can be out of stock, but she always has the grade A cells in stock, because Eve manufactures them and matches them to send. They will match in groups of up to 16 (i.e. 48v systems).

So far the biggest complaint I've heard about Amy is slow shipping. But that goes for any vendor. I've never heard of anyone getting bloated or used cells, which is very important (to me, maybe not to you).

 

[Stepandwolf]

Amy didn't post in the thread that has been closed .... she has posted in the other thread started by MrProton and the way I remember it, she indicated that they have moved on from matching the cells themselves to buying cells in 500 and then 2000 per lot that have been matched by the manufacturer EVE.



The insinuation is the same ... You just didn't use the word only .... but it was insinuated.

You are reading and responding to MrPhoton's forum topic that was created when the other forum topic was closed. I don't know how you can read what MrPhoton said about promises from Amy vs. what he got. I didn't order from Amy as I wanted my batteries sooner, and I could buy domestic matched grade A cheaper than from China.

The point of this forum topic was transparency. What vendors claim, and what you get. MrPhoton obviously didn't get what was claimed so he created the other topic to bring the surface to light.

 

[Stepandwolf]

The insinuation is the same ... You just didn't use the word only .... but it was insinuated.

Here is the exact quote from Basen that I quoted. You can make from it whatever you want. You should be more careful about noticing when a person is quoting someone else which doesn't make it their comments, but who they are quoting.

"The cycle life of K and N is actually the same. K has 6000 cycles, but it is based on 0.5C discharge, and N has 3500 cycles are based on 1C discharge"

That is the only comparison I referred to regarding the various model options, and it wasn't me saying it, it was Basen.

I didn't insinuate or attempt to make any other comment comparing models.

 

[Bob B]

You are reading and responding to MrPhoton's forum topic that was created when the other forum topic was closed. I don't know how you can read what MrPhoton said about promises from Amy vs. what he got. I didn't order from Amy as I wanted my batteries sooner, and I could buy domestic matched grade A cheaper than from China.

The point of this forum topic was transparency. What vendors claim, and what you get. MrPhoton obviously didn't get what was claimed so he created the other topic to bring the surface to light.

Actually MrPhoton hasn't gotten his cells yet .... His post is based on serial numbers on a spreadsheet ...We do know that Amy has posted on that thread and told him she will make it right if he gets different type cells.

 

[Bob B]

Here is the exact quote from Basen that I quoted. You can make from it whatever you want. You should be more careful about noticing when a person is quoting someone else which doesn't make it their comments, but who they are quoting.

"The cycle life of K and N is actually the same. K has 6000 cycles, but it is based on 0.5C discharge, and N has 3500 cycles are based on 1C discharge"

That is the only comparison I referred to regarding the various model options, and it wasn't me saying it, it was Basen.

I didn't insinuate or attempt to make any other comment comparing models.

Where do you have information that shows you will get 6000 cycles from the 280N cells .... at any discharge rate?

 

[Stepandwolf]

Where do you have information that shows you will get 6000 cycles from the 280N cells .... at any discharge rate?

I will repeat what I said when I quoted Basen: "K has 6000 cycles, but it is based on 0.5C discharge, and N has 3500" Where in there did you get me (or Basen) saying an N was 6K?

I just checked the two spec sheets instead of quoting Basen. K is 3500 at 1C, N 6000 at .5C. *I* am not saying that makes the batteries equal nor am I making any other claims about K or N batteries.