Recent content by alcook62

Yeah - this. Unless you have the JK BMS with the 2A active balancer (or add a stand-alone active balancer) it will never balance properly with what a typical bms with passive balancing can do.

I have that particular inverter and switched to LiFePO4 three years ago. You can implement a custom battery profile by accessing the "advanced settings" menu and go to "charger settings" and select "custom". From there you can set the parameters you feel are best.

Fully off-grid since 2018. Just the wife and I. 2400 watts of solar and 12.2 kWh of batteries (more coming when my social security kicks in in August!). We've briefly used the backup genny maybe a half dozen times since winter started. You're right about load management, and it becomes...

To achieve a good top balance you should have all 16 cells in parallel while doing the top balance. You may be confusing this with paralleling multiple batteries. If you parallel two or more batteries they should be as close to the same state of charge as possible to avoid a large inrush of...

Linseed oil, I believe, provides a more natural look than varnish, and is less toxic. But yes I believe your premise is correct!

I've added an additional LiFePO4 battery to my existing system and have not had any problems. How are your current batteries paralleled? If you are using a bus bar to parallel your current batteries then simply charge the new battery to match the SOC of the older batteries and connect the new...

I don't believe I'm pushing the mini-split at all. It only heats/cools the main room in our house and has only remained at full power briefly on start-up. It's actually been a great substitution for the 12K window shaker it replaced. I've tracked its wattage over the previous summer and this...

Could you expand on this? I'm fully off-grid and depend on my inverter (Schneider SW4024), obviously. This summer I installed a 12K Pioneer 120 AC inverter model. What possible harm can I do to my inverter? What can I do to mitigate any harm?

I haven't done an actual test, but anecdotal evidence comparing the soc between the Whizbang Jr. shunt and my Overkill BMS they are within one percent of each other. Normally, it is spot on. Anyways, the Overkill BMS doesn't track the soc via a shunt. I believe it's by coulomb counting.

Two batteries, in parallel, will tend to equalize in voltage but NOT state of charge. This is especially true with the inherently flat charge/discharge profile of LFP batteries.

I'm admittedly not familiar with the Pylontech batteries, however, that being said, generally any battery of corresponding chemistry (ex. LiFePO4 with LiFePO4) added to the system will work. They should be similar in amp-hour capacity, but that can be stretched somewhat. I have two separate...

I love this. My TOWMBO is currently soaking in a natural hot spring in 16-degree weather. For anyone that tough, obeisance is deserved!

Just caught this. Once series-connected, you've created a 24-volt battery and must set your charging parameters appropriately. 14.4 volts will not charge a 24-volt battery consisting of two 12-volt batteries series connected.

I have a Schneider SW 4024 inverter that has been charging my 510ah LiFePO4 battery bank for three years. You can set your preferred parameters by entering them via the Conext SCP in the Advanced Settings menu. I'd like to also second the previous recommendations to avoid the series-connected...

Something about lead acid batteries is that as they age they charge/discharge differently. Adding more lead-acid batteries to an existing system introduces problems. They don't play well together. They won't charge well together and if lead acid batteries aren't fully charged, over time they...