Automatic balancing and capacity testing for integration of BMS and solar system, e.g., plug and play solar systems with battery backup and generator

[rodstucker57]

After recently watching multiple videos produced by Will Prowse on solar battery voltage balancing and capacity testing for DIY batteries using LIFEPO4? cells, I am intrigued with the potential to build a cost effective solar power system including integrated solar PV and PV-T panels to optimize solar power efficiencies and associated costs including a generator back up for off-grid/zero-net energy homes. This allows for using as much as 90% of solar energy while optimizing solar panel production efficiencies in contrast to 20%-25% energy efficiency of cost effective solar panels.

I am also intrigued with SUNDRUM'S PV-T Harvester Technology integrated with heat pumps to provide HVAC for super insulated ICF homes using concrete as a latent energy form of energy storage including integration of two stage radiant energy heating, cooling and ventilation using fan coils to eliminate condensation and provide a year round conditioned environment for solar batteries to optimize life cycles.

For many of us novices in battery technologies which are constantly changing and improving in technology and pricing, could solar battery cell balancing and capacity testing be economically integrated into a DIY 48V series battery system for motorhomes and super insulated ZNE homes that only require 2kw-5kw solar power systems? It appears that capability in conjunction with blue tooth monitoring and routine maintenance of battery cells could optimize life cycle.

Could a 48 V series battery bank be built to provide 72 hrs of back up power for ZNE homes and charging EVs? What would be the ideal trade off for size of battery bank and integration of a backup generator using natural gas or gas/diesel? I would prefer to use solar battery banks for ZNE homes.

I am very impressed with the Fortune LiFePO4 cells that Will recently show-cased and tested on You-Tube. Yet I see Will currently has SOK 12V batteries posted on his web-site.

 

[John Frum]

Hard to separate the wheat from the chaff but...
Cells should be top balanced as part of the battery assembly process.
The battery BMS should maintain this top balance during the battery's service life.

How many watt hours will be required for 72 hours of backup power?

 

[rodstucker57]

If we say the above scenario is for a 5kwh solar power system that is routinely managed via a BMS that weekly or monthly monitors top cell balancing and tests battery capacity to optimize life cycle, and hypothetically suppose that a solar power system includes weekly charging of an EV, a 5kwh solar power system for a super insulated ZNE smart home would produce 25kwh during a 5 hour solar production day. That would appear to produce 75 kwh during a 72 hr (3 day) period. Did I do the math correctly based on the information provided?

However, since battery cells do not always function properly as eloquently portrayed in Will Prowse's interview with the CEO of Battle Born Batteries, my primary objective is whether or not a BMS can be developed that initially conducts cell balancing and battery capacity testing as part of a plug and play solar power system. That BMS could then be programmed to conduct weekly or monthly top cell balancing and battery capacity tests for the purpose of optimizing life cycle. This could include notification of maintenance when a battery cell is not performing properly.

 

[rodstucker57]

Just found a (Big Battery) "Husky 48V battery that is made in the USA from Prismatic LiFeP04 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) Cells which gives it longer cell life! With a 100Ah and 5.3kWh this powerful battery is by far one of the best and most cost-efficient batteries on the market!" It weighs about 100 lb. and comes with rollers.

It is plug and play - it can be hooked up and used w/o balancing the battery cells or conducting a capacity test. It includes blue tooth and will eventually be provided with a smart phone app. There is already a You Tube video produced by "Average Joe" in which he merely hooked it up right out of the box - very impressive.

The Husky 48V 100 Ah 5.3 kWh battery is sold by Big Battery. Big Battery also sales/wholesales a 48V KONG - LiFePO4 - 233Ah - 12kWh beast for under $4,000. Both of these 48V batteries come with a 10 year warranty.

There are also many other 48V batteries and solar power system kits available for plug and play via Shop Solar Kits:

https://shopsolarkits.com/?c1=GAW&source=prospecting&cr2=search_-_us_-_dsa&kw=all_pages&cr5=530522258327&cr7=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxJqHBhC4ARIsAChq4asG0Li2uS5QD7bc8FHi45_tiAEHxuXaMGf3qeKFg6Y-L4SVHBa2Op8aAg6lEALw_wcB

Hence, it would appear that these plug and play 48V batteries come with all of the bells and whistles a home owner could want including cell balancing and capacity testing conducted by the manufacturer and 10 year warranties for "no maintenance batteries". I am assuming these 48V batteries also come with a BMS. I will learn more once I contact Big Battery.

For the DIY geeks, I am sure that they will eventually tear these batteries down and check them out including balancing the cells. One can only hope that Big Battery will send Will Prowse (even though he is primarily a mobile battery specialist) one of each of these batteries to do a You Tube video for DIYers (and regular homeowners/contractors that merely want to use it as a plug and play back up battery in conjunction with inverters/UPS for solar NZE homes).