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  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    Loctite doesn't add a significant amount of adhesion. It fills in the threads after the bolt is torqued. When removing, there should only be a moment where you overcome the grip and the rest is threads chasing down the same path. Just don't use the red stuff.
  • Post in thread: Tell me about SolArk.

    One of the things that is attractive to me is that I am being told that the SolArk team is very responsive and they will share system details with customers as easily as with contractors. I am also told that the system is very modular, so you will never be waiting for a complete 100lb box to...
  • Post in thread: XUBA:: How long is it taking you guys to get your XUBA shipments??

    If you think about it, even with shipping, $1000 for 12V 560Ah of capacity is an excellent deal. If you bought Battle Born, you would only get 100Ah.
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark Inverters 8 and 12K

    That does look like a good starting point. It will definitely be a challenging project because the only reason I would start on that is if my BMS protocol does not successfully talk to the SolArk. I am a Test hardware kind of guy, so the new world where software is used for everything is a...
  • Post in thread: 280ah Lifepo4 Leisure Battery - Build Thread

    It seems that you may have missed the updated diagram on page 2 where these were removed. The wires you referenced are part of the BMS. They are soldered on the PWB and would probably all receive a ring terminal and be put on the same post. They could conceivably be crimped into a single...
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark Inverters 8 and 12K

    I bought a $200 Heltec BMS for my SolArk system. It has CAN and RS485. I have to wait for my cells to arrive before I can power it up. I'm hoping that is before my solar install, so I can leverage the expertise of the installer. The Alibaba vendor sent me their CAN info, but most of it is...
  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    I don't know of too many applications that require a 1C rate. Using all your power in an hour sounds like poor planning, or abuse. What application do you have that needs more than a 0.74C rate?
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark Inverters 8 and 12K

    I don't think I would label using the cloud (internet based) data stream can be construed as "Big Brother". Maybe you need to read 1984 again. Encryption means that your data is yours and cannot be taken from you for any reason. Not even SolArk could break it. It's not nefarious, just...
  • Post in thread: Heltec BMS' (up to 350A) with Active Balancing & Independent Active Balancers

    Extensive discussion about corrosion on terminals here. https://diysolarforum.com/threads/avoiding-galvanic-corrosion.10947/
  • Post in thread: DEYE Inverter UL Listed available in US

    That's interesting @solardad. It's too late for me as well. My 12k with EMP protection is already on order. Ay least we're not stuck with an Enphase system ?.
  • Post in thread: This could be interesting

    I would think that the softer annealed metal would be softer and allow the middle of the crimp to open more than a harder material. Of course, it would also form easier, and maybe create more contact with the strands. Maybe it would be best to crimp annealed pipe then harden it with heat...
  • Post in thread: Battery Box Measurements for 280ah Dongguan/Xuba Battery?

    With those calculations, if you placed the bank to one end of your box, you would have 45.2mm of head space, which should be plenty as long as you don't make your cables too long. There will be 14mm at the end and you will have room for 4 more cells with about 53mm between the banks. That is...
  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    @RunSim, I am using the SmartBMS from AliExpress. US $7.47 13%OFF | smart BMS 4S 12V 60A 80A 100A 120A Li-ion LifePo4 Lithium Protection Board W balance High Current Bluetooth APP PC software GPRS https://a.aliexpress.com/_m04zeGF It works well. I like having the Bluetooth module to connect...
  • Post in thread: New Supplier for 280Ah cells: Shenzen Basen

    The information overload certainly takes its toll. I fall into analysis paralysis from time to time. I do some weighing of the pros and cons and decide what is more important to me. You also have to decide whether the claims are true. 6000 cycles with 1 cycle per day is 16+ years. I'm...
  • Post in thread: Avoiding Galvanic Corrosion

    I definitely advise against plating the studs. This is the first innovative idea that I am enthusiastic about using studs. If your custom machining these, you can have hex flats put on the flange to provide a method to torque them. Otherwise, a nut installed all the way down will do. It...
  • Post in thread: Jehu García DIY Powerwall

    So, $168 gets you 570Wh. I certainly hope that means populated with new cells. With prismatic cells, a single 3.2V 280Ah cell is about $80 delivered. That is 896Wh and zero work to put it together. You can get 4 cells and a BMS for under $500 and have 3.3kWh ready to go. (without soldering)
  • Post in thread: Incrementally Adding AC Batteries

    True, the raw cells come out about there. My cost for 4 280Ah cells was $117.75/kWh. Add the BMS and you're at about $500 total. Rough calculation to use the same cells means that X4 plus bus bars, cables, etc. and you're in the neighborhood of $2k.
  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    That's a pretty good noble metal chart. Usually of you are within one step in the table, there is not a lot of risk. The reason I harp on it is because aluminum and copper are so far separated on the table and the lithium batteries have such a long life cycle. It's a perfect recipe for...
  • Post in thread: DEYE Inverter UL Listed available in US

    Here's the post in this thread directly from a member of the SolArk Management team. I have no reason not to believe them. I talked to him about my SolArk before I had it installed. Most of what you are saying is hearsay and I have no idea who you are. The fact is, they are pretty...
  • Post in thread: XUBA:: How long is it taking you guys to get your XUBA shipments??

    My tracking number just went live! Delivery is scheduled for 6/11! That will be 51 days since they shipped.
  • Post in thread: Noobie Building LifePo4 Battery - BMS question and more

    I looked into the Chargery, and was leaning that way until I spent more time researching all the options. In the end, I settled on a Bluetooth version with a low temp cutoff its cheap and I will be able to look at it almost constantly until I get comfortable or bored then I can ignore it until...
  • Post in thread: DEYE Inverter UL Listed available in US

    I have no regrets. I am having nearly 8kW of panels installed, so I would not want to start so close to the capacity of the system. I want room to expand later when I have an electric car to charge as well. The cost of an 8k + the 5k is about what the 12k is for SolArk and I am having the...
  • Post in thread: DIY BMS design and reflection

    Sorry to take the thread backwards. ? Many of the new thermal pads are much more efficient than thermal paste. They are much easier to use also without all the cleanup. They can get expensive, but there are some mid-range ones that still outperform paste.
  • Post in thread: Heltec BMS' (up to 350A) with Active Balancing & Independent Active Balancers

    That's the one I bought. 2A Active balance with a CAN bus were the important specs for me. Trying to interface it with a SolArk. I think I'm breaking ground on this. If anyone is ahead of me on the CAN bus path, I would appreciate an assist.
  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    It took a few days with only 10A charge capacity to get the cells to full charge for a top balance. I'm now in a holding pattern waiting for the BMS to arrive. In the meantime, I have ordered some copper and aluminum bar stock to make some improved bus bars. I bought both because I'm still...
  • Post in thread: 12V 280Ah LiFePo4 battery Build and Test

    Power Supply arrived today! I took some time to check it out a little and it seems to be fairly good for the cheap price.(<$100). It will put 10A into a cell. That will be important. Unfortunately we won't get to hit substantial C rates unless I get creative. I set up cell #1 to charge it to...
  • Post in thread: looking for a good quality bms for my large 14s system

    I found that out! I have one also. All the ring terminals are crimped. Once I get the cells compressed, I'll be ready to hook it up!
  • Post in thread: First DIY build - need help with schematic

    That makes sense if there is that kind of draw by the meter. I got the BMS with Bluetooth capability for that exact reason. I figure I'll be fascinated by it for a while and eventually will stop geeking out about it and just check the SOC on occasion.
  • Post in thread: Sol-Ark Inverters 8 and 12K

    I learned that SolArk has proven the BMS from the following makers work with their system: Pylontech Dyness Discover Blue Ion and Storz Digging around, it must have been the JK BMS I had the protocol for and not the Heltec. I'll request it.
  • Post in thread: DEYE Inverter UL Listed available in US

    No matter how you use your solar energy, I like the SolArk philosophy of only inverting it once. PV energy stays DC from the panels and into the batteries. It gets inverted once to be used or sold to the grid. Maybe I'm just a true believer, but that is the model that that makes the most...
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