February 24th, 2024
update on the build:
I ordered and received 56 pieces of .25-inch x 1-inch x 4-inch silver-coated 110 copper bars to make the interconnects between the paralleled cells.... (280Ah version 3 cells).... ((I only have 3 more boxes to open (6 cells and so far all have arrived in pristine condition with no damage noted)) of the latest 64 cell batch I received....
it was easier and essentially the same price to have online metal cut the bars to length for me. ($346.11 including sales tax and shipping) it does add up fast...
now I need to make a jig and get some drill bits to get the holes in each of the tinned copper bus bars....
I have a center punch to mark them to keep the drill bit from getting off course.... and a bench-mounted drill press in the garage.... (time is the shortage at the moment)!!!
I now have 56 of the 64 cells (280 Ah version 3 cells)on the shelf using 3 chargers to top balance as I do other things...
I turn the Riden buck chargers off at night as they are not a critical load....
16 cells left to get the initial top balance charge started.....slow but sure
I break all big projects into smaller more manageable projects, and this has always worked to make a huge project less intimidating...
can't never did anything
if you think you can
if you think you can't
either way, you will be right.
the other thing I started doing was adding 25mm long set screws(aka grub screws to each of the cells) as the ones supplied would not be long enough with the .25 inch copper interconnect bars....
I have run into this (issue) in previous DIY builds and never thought about it at first but one would want to get longer grub screws in advance also....I had already purchased them from previous builds so I already had them on hand....!!! thank you...
Presently working on a DC-DC 20 amp 2000-watt charger build also.... slow but sure.....the fusing and wire terminals slowed me some, but I have all the pieces for it now... just a few more connections to hydraulically crimp...
Don't believe any YouTube video that claims it only takes a few minutes.... triple that time and it may be more realistic...
I try to utilize as much DC from the batteries as I can.... it is more efficient than inverted AC power...
So DC light and DC heaters etc make good sense to me as does a DC-DC charger.....