diy solar

diy solar

Who is still building DIY batteries

Once I got to 1.5 years of no issues with powerqueen 12v 200ah batts, I stopped DIY on batts. Takes too much time from the rest of projects. Now that they are down to $475, (or like $450 for lightly used returns) I don't see myself going back unless I get into EV mobility packs at some point. We have six now, and will likely pick up another 4 in a month or so. Not even messing with server rack batts. The powerqueens are working fine for our shed, and our Lightning charger.
 
Brucey said:
How many 12V 200Ah batteries are you running?
Click to expand...

six total, two in the shed that have been going for close to two years, running a 9k btu mini-split, and now these 4 for the truck charger project. We'll likely add another 4 here by March. I don't have to tell you all, how much time it saves.

Just checked prices, and it looks like they are up a bit. $509 for the new, and $484 for the "lightly used". Looks like the used 200ah are sold out, but the 100ah are in stock at $218 per. I have one of those too, and had it in a ryobi Link box rolling mobile generator that would power my Rigid table saw off a Roarbatt 2000watt inverter. I really just got lucky in the beginning of my solar journey in picking cheap, but right with powerqueens and Roarbatt inverters. We have a 4k Roarbatt inverter in the shed, only because we oversized it so the fans rarely come on, as it's my G/F's art studio.

PXL_20240129_164536649.jpg
 
Last edited:
OffGridForGood said:
Just need a brake form bender with the removable sections - to allow the sides of the box to fold up without interferrance with the brake. A 36" model would be enough, but I don't own one. I have a regular 10-foot brake, without the removable sections.
Click to expand...

Only a 10 footer? Jeez. This alone should justify a segmented brake and a TIG welder just for these! :sneaky:


Regards,
Tool Junkie
 
I have the 4 foot pan brake along with press brake for the 100 ton press. I purchased the finger brake and press brake from SWAG. The finger brake was needed when I built the stainless shower pan for my truck camper. Had to fab up a special bracket for the press with a 50 ton jack on the side to use the finger brake, it was too long to fit in between the uprights. Already had the TIG, used it to weld the stainless.

1706575663919.png
 
A lot of sizes available from SWAG - I see a nice 30" finger brake that would work in my press with two x30 ton... :unsure:
{darn you, I was trying not to spend money!}
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zwy
OffGridForGood said:
A lot of sizes available from SWAG - I see a nice 30" finger brake that would work in my press with two x30 ton... :unsure:
{darn you, I was trying not to spend money!}
Click to expand...
As a tool junkie, ya gotta get a fix periodically!
Im upgrading a mig welder I have to a double pulse unit for aluminum work inside and outside. Its a very interesting process. Way beyond a normal mig welder. It never stops!
 
Zwy said:
Just think of the battery boxes you could make, it would allow you to build a battery bank bigger than Tim.
Click to expand...
You make it sound like Tim is a pretty big fella. Do we have a new phrase now in the DIY Solar Forum lexicon?

“Bigger than Tim” -gigantuous
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Zwy
42OhmsPA said:
Threw this together quick while I sit in another pointless meeting, might be helpful.
View attachment 192171
Click to expand...
IIRC, 18650 has the 304Eve @$109 and that's preorder but when I try to add more than 9 cells to the Ezeal cart, it reverts back to 1. Does that indicate Ezeal only has 9 304Eve cells?

Just seen that Ezeal has bulk pricing. Has anyone given that a try?
 
Kornbread said:
IIRC, 18650 has the 304Eve @$109 and that's preorder but when I try to add more than 9 cells to the Ezeal cart, it reverts back to 1. Does that indicate Ezeal only has 9 304Eve cells?

Just seen that Ezeal has bulk pricing. Has anyone given that a try?
Click to expand...
There was an additional discount on the 304s from 1865 when I added them to my cart.
I was able to add 16 of the 304 from Ezeal to my cart earlier.

I haven't looked into bulk pricing.
 
Is it possible to build a DIY battery bank which can communicate with another battery bank in parallel?

For example, I have 1200ah of EG4 lifepower batteries connected to a EG4 communication hub - I'm thinking of DIYing my own second battery bank. By my calculations, for another ~1200ah of batteries to add, I would save $6,000 (about 36%) after all costs are factored in if I DIY'd the second battery bank.

I'm trying to decide if it's worth my time to figure it all out.
 
Shinzul said:
Is it possible to build a DIY battery bank which can communicate with another battery bank in parallel
Click to expand...

Yes, but you need the same BMS

Shinzul said:
For example, I have 1200ah of EG4 lifepower batteries connected to a EG4 communication hub - I'm thinking of DIYing my own second battery bank.
Click to expand...
Not sure if the comms hub supports bms'es other than eg4
Shinzul said:
By my calculations, for another ~1200ah of batteries to add, I would save $6,000 (about 36%) after all costs are factored in if I DIY'd the second battery bank.
Click to expand...
At those numbers, your charge and discharge rates will be extremely low, and comms maybe not be needed so bad.


Shinzul said:
I'm trying to decide if it's worth my time to figure it all out.
Click to expand...
Probably not, alternative option would be replacing the EG4 BMS in the eg4's by a different one, then also using that BMS for your diy builds
 
42OhmsPA said:
Threw this together quick while I sit in another pointless meeting, might be helpful.
View attachment 192171
Click to expand...

I think those cells are still too expensive. I've been testing a number of 12 volt, 100ah batteries and I am pulling close to 105 ah out of each one. Most of them I bought for $167 each. And that was buying them one to three at a time and that includes shipping, but not tax. That includes a BMS and case and assembly. It seems like these cells should be more like $100 /kwhr or less. I thought I read that they were dipping below $100 in bulk. What do they cost if bought directly from China ??
 
Dave911 said:
I think those cells are still too expensive. I've been testing a number of 12 volt, 100ah batteries and I am pulling close to 105 ah out of each one. Most of them I bought for $167 each. And that was buying them one to three at a time and that includes shipping, but not tax. That includes a BMS and case and assembly. It seems like these cells should be more like $100 /kwhr or less. I thought I read that they were dipping below $100 in bulk. What do they cost if bought directly from China ??
Click to expand...
They are likely reject 105ah cells in the pre-made, hopefully not pouch cells. They aren't user serviceable and I wouldn't run them in series for 48V.

Here's a quote I had a couple days ago for 280Ah new old stock cells from China, they apparently sold out so I didn't do the math.
Screenshot_20240130-190832.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
SF Bay Area Process add DIY Off-grid Solar besides current NEM 2 Grid Tied system
2
Replies
31
Views
728
再生可能 エネルギー
再生可能 エネルギー
kolek
Deciding to DIY my solar battery was one of my worst mistakes ever
7 8 9
Replies
166
Views
6K
Daddy Tanuki
Daddy Tanuki
B
Longevity and DIY Service / Maintenance
Replies
15
Views
551
Danke
Danke
D
Are my inverters able to handle my battery bank?
Replies
5
Views
385
DIYrich
D
G
Does Ah equal discharge Amps for BMSs?
Replies
2
Views
169
zanydroid
Z
Back
Top