diy solar

diy solar

Thoughts on the AOlithium 51.2 server rack lithium battery -48v

Ok.. I just bit the bullet and ordered a pack to see what all the mystery is about. By this time next month there hopefully will be much more user-generated info and content on here, YouTube and the internet in general. Supposed to ship Nov 20. For off grid use only.
 
In the user manual it says:
Rated Capacity (Wh): 5120
Usable Capacity (Wh): 4608

Anyone know what that means? Is it maybe just counting if you keep to SOC between 15%-95% like recommended?
That changes the price per kWh from $195 to $217 (still better than EG4 $292).
 
My batteries just got here. Yay. While not the greatest specs there perfect for what I need. I ordered mine off ebay before aolithium dropped their price to what I paid. Came really well packed to. Free storage boxes. Going to install tomorrow. I do have one question. If I'm not hooking to my inverter and going to run thru a victron smart shunt do I need to connect the batteries together with communication cables? I don't think I do buy want to make sure. Never had pre-built batteries before.


20231117_104708.jpg20231117_110009.jpg
 
Robby1773 said:
My batteries just got here. Yay. While not the greatest specs there perfect for what I need. I ordered mine off ebay before aolithium dropped their price to what I paid. Came really well packed to. Free storage boxes. Going to install tomorrow. I do have one question. If I'm not hooking to my inverter and going to run thru a victron smart shunt do I need to connect the batteries together with communication cables? I don't think I do buy want to make sure. Never had pre-built batteries before.
Click to expand...

I had a couple show up yesterday myself. The BMS software is updated along with replacing the RJ11 style 6 pin port with a RJ45. Hopefully there's no issue with parallel comms between versions. In any event I emailed support to see if I can get firmware and utils to update the older.

I found these threads regarding the BMS as the appear to be the same:
https://diysolarforum.com/threads/bms-hardware-version-dr-jc03.49898/
https://diysolarforum.com/threads/do-you-recognize-this-bms.62914/#post-862371

Older versions:
Older main screen (you have the newer posted above)
Original_main_screen.jpg
Old_LCD_Version.jpgOld_Unit1_version.jpg

Newer version:
New_LCD_Version.jpg

New_SW_Version.jpg
 
jdanders said:
In the user manual it says:
Rated Capacity (Wh): 5120
Usable Capacity (Wh): 4608

Anyone know what that means? Is it maybe just counting if you keep to SOC between 15%-95% like recommended?
That changes the price per kWh from $195 to $217 (still better than EG4 $292).
Click to expand...
That was my guess as well. The usable capacity is 90%. However I'm just taking a guess that they recommend not doing a 100% cycle just to extend the cycle life. For us, it shouldn't really be a problem to do a 100% discharge as has been demonstrated with other LiFePO4 batteries. We shall have to see in the real world testing though.
 
Nice. Maybe the new firmware fixed Will's self discharge to death problem(™).
 
Edit: I've gotten a connection between SolarAssistant and the Aolithium battery using battery configurations "USB to Modbus RS232/RS485" or "USB to Voltronic LIB RS485" but so far only the first battery is seen, none of the slave packs are recognized.

Please help me understand this. I want to try BMS communication with my Phocos inverters or Solar Assistant using MODBUS.

latest battery manual: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...ttery_User_Manual_compressed.pdf?v=1696745889

1700322378783.png

But I'm confused with the dip switch settings on the battery. And what do they mean by stand alone? I have two inverters configured split phase.
1700321497073.png
 
Last edited:
noobie said:
That was my guess as well. The usable capacity is 90%. However I'm just taking a guess that they recommend not doing a 100% cycle just to extend the cycle life. For us, it shouldn't really be a problem to do a 100% discharge as has been demonstrated with other LiFePO4 batteries. We shall have to see in the real world testing though.
Click to expand...
I asked them about the rated capacity of 4608 kWh, and here is the explanation:
The nominal capacity is determined under standard discharge conditions of 20 hours, while the rated capacity is determined according to the actual performance of the battery and the actual depth of discharge the rated capacity always smaller than the nominal capacity , all battery same ,
Click to expand...
 
Derka181 said:
Here is my quick YouTube thoughts on the AOlithium 51.2 server rack lithium battery. Ask me any questions, maybe I can answer them.

Click to expand...
These are more implementation specific, but wondering what you've done to be successful
  • I'm trying to figure out what kind of connectors or wiring I need to buy or assemble to connect to a solar charger. I'm assuming I need a flying lead harness with whatever their battery terminal connector is, but having a hard time interpreting the manual.
  • Similarly, need something to go off to an inverter. What kind of connector/harness to use?
  • What fuses are you using and in what configuration?
 
Still waiting for mine to arrive. They said they have shipped, but since it's shipped by truck, there is no tracking. Supposedly I will receive a call soon from the trucking company to arrange delivery.
 
Yeah me too.. They said shipped but the only reference is an internal shipment number.. They said no tracking but the trucking company might call or they might just show up. They did say that that work with DHL so who knows.

They really need an agreement with a North American dealer to facilitate this.. The parent company of AOLITHIUM has been looking.
 
They use various shipping companies. Sometimes you'll get a tracking number and can follow it straight through until delivery. They must have sold a lot of batteries with the lower price. I found out that multiple individual orders were combined into single freight shipments destined to certain areas. Once the shipment reaches a local service center the orders are split out and delivered.
 
Looks like dstar and noobie, it looks like you got this battery. Do you have any schematics of your setups? I'm trying to figure out fusing between my batteries and bus bar right now, pretty new to battery setups. What are you using?
 
I just purchased and found a work around. the price sent up to $1099 per battery and without wires but, if you go to the Aolithium us website then click on LIFEPO4 battery at the top. you'll see whole page of batteries scroll down to the bottom and find the two rack, three rack, four rack for the per battery price and includes all cables. Now for the better Canadian discount... I am Canadian myself, Do not purchase on the Canadian site, as per battery is $1599 or 2 for $3167. i purchased on US site with code Aolithium01 (1%) additional off - after conversion it is $2750 Canadian. When you get to the end of the check out - you can choose Canada. - edited my post just realize they are referral links, not mine...you do save more msg me privately if you want
 
Last edited:
flammafeuer said:
Looks like dstar and noobie, it looks like you got this battery. Do you have any schematics of your setups? I'm trying to figure out fusing between my batteries and bus bar right now, pretty new to battery setups. What are you using?
Click to expand...
The batteries themselves are fused internally and have power switches so the install is a bit cleaner than my DYI batteries
I currently have four batteries paralleled and running to a Lynx distributor. The lynx distributor has a few 100A fuses that I was using with my DYI batteries but for the aolithium I'm just using it as a glorified bus bar. I have two 400 Amp class T fuses sitting between the distributor and my two inverters (one each).

However I'm going to change this and run six batteries to bus bar then from the bus bar to the lynx distributor. I'm going to stick with the 400A class T fuses. I think the main thing to focus on is protection between the full battery stack and the inverters since each battery has protection built into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
aolithium 48v vs. sok 48v rackmount
Replies
8
Views
602
Detritalgeo
Detritalgeo
T
Bus bar
2
Replies
24
Views
1K
Zwy
Zwy
T
Adding batteries to EG4-6500 EX
Replies
7
Views
461
TJOPT
T
Derka181
AOlithium -48v batteries to communicate with All-in-one (pylontech)
Replies
6
Views
1K
Detritalgeo
Detritalgeo
F
Server-style rack help
Replies
8
Views
533
mattleonard
mattleonard
Back
Top