chalupa_monster
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2022
- Messages
- 2
After absorbing so much information from this forum when building my 12v LiFePo4 battery using 230Ah cells for my shed, I wanted to share the solution I came up with for heating the batteries during winter in Northern Illinois.
I'm using the JBD 200a Smart BMS with the heating lead. The BMS only engages this lead when the temperature is below the low charge temp cutoff and energy is being supplied by the solar charger. I wish it would start running at the low temperature release value, but maybe future iterations will improve on this.
I cut 1x3s to border around the edges of a 12x12in aluminum sheet and drilled holes through through the sheet to run wood screws into the 1x3's. I'm using these 12v silicon heating pads, with two sets of pads wired in parallel to divide the voltage and decrease the output. I used silicone glue from the local home improvement store to adhere them to 12x12in 1/8 thick aluminum sheet.
The performance is about what I expected. In -6C weather, it heats the battery by 3-4C per hour using ~30w. I don't need super fast heating as my panels face west and there is enough light in the AM to heat the batteries before direct sunlight reaches the panels. The temperature probes are mounted to the top of the battery, insulated with tape and foam strips. The slow heating helps reassure me I'm not cooking the battery and the temperature delta between the top and bottom isn't too great.
Anyhow, I'm open to input or suggestions. Personally I think came out great and works really well for a non-critical DIY battery.
I'm using the JBD 200a Smart BMS with the heating lead. The BMS only engages this lead when the temperature is below the low charge temp cutoff and energy is being supplied by the solar charger. I wish it would start running at the low temperature release value, but maybe future iterations will improve on this.
I cut 1x3s to border around the edges of a 12x12in aluminum sheet and drilled holes through through the sheet to run wood screws into the 1x3's. I'm using these 12v silicon heating pads, with two sets of pads wired in parallel to divide the voltage and decrease the output. I used silicone glue from the local home improvement store to adhere them to 12x12in 1/8 thick aluminum sheet.
The performance is about what I expected. In -6C weather, it heats the battery by 3-4C per hour using ~30w. I don't need super fast heating as my panels face west and there is enough light in the AM to heat the batteries before direct sunlight reaches the panels. The temperature probes are mounted to the top of the battery, insulated with tape and foam strips. The slow heating helps reassure me I'm not cooking the battery and the temperature delta between the top and bottom isn't too great.
Anyhow, I'm open to input or suggestions. Personally I think came out great and works really well for a non-critical DIY battery.