gaveupontv
New Member
Yesterday I bought 4 CATL 3.2v 302ah from solarsupplyhouse. I pre-ordered them, they should actually be in stock in a week or so. Chris (good guy to deal with) said he'd keep me up to date regarding if the schedule sped up or slowed down. I also got a battery box and connection kit. I followed Will's advice and got a OverkillSolar BMS 120a with the bluetooth module. Everything else is Renogy (panels, 60 amp CC MPPT, Renogy One moniter). I understand Renogy is not really top of the line, so I'll be getting different brands after this depending probably on advice from others. I purchased a 1200 watt Victron invertor with all kinds of potential features, most of whom I know nothing about. I plan to get the $200 Victron shunt (don't remember if this comes with monitor screen, if not I'll get that too) I don't have tons of money, so I'll have to use the Renogy 60 amp CC, and I don't know if it makes a difference who makes the PV's but I'll stick with them for now too. Renogy has motion detectors and door/window switch which I am very interested in getting working with the Renogy One, I'm in a bad area (another project needing attention) and my trailer had been broken into a year ago and EVERYTHING stolen, propane bottles, batteries, bedding, tools, even the cushions and the toilet. On a trip to McDonalds of 1 hour, I came back to find someone had cut the lock to my new Honda generator and taken it. This was Saturday.
Back to the subject at hand- my batteries soon to arrive. I have a lab power supply (think its 5 amp) and I was planning on getting a Victron charger
Its about $200. It has 30 amps, is "intelligent" with single outlet. I guess it charges the entire pack at once. It sounds like it should work but if anybody has a better charger could you suggest one?
I would think top or bottom balancing (you just pick ONE not both?) would be done before batteries are assembled or is it all done after taped together and bus bars attached?
Can anybody point me to information either written or video of the whole setup? I'll keep looking for one here, it seems its partially covered in multiple places and I pick up something in everything I read or watch. I watched Will bottom balance (empty cells NOT below a certain voltage with heater gun) so the batteries fill up equally.
I don't know what I don't know right now. Even one of (the many) questions I asked would be helpful or a pointer of where I can learn more would be great. This is pretty much all new, but I have a lot of tools (even a oscilloscope that I've never opened) and its all very interesting. I'm sure there is everything I need to know on this site (somewhere)
Thanks in advance!
Back to the subject at hand- my batteries soon to arrive. I have a lab power supply (think its 5 amp) and I was planning on getting a Victron charger
Its about $200. It has 30 amps, is "intelligent" with single outlet. I guess it charges the entire pack at once. It sounds like it should work but if anybody has a better charger could you suggest one?
I would think top or bottom balancing (you just pick ONE not both?) would be done before batteries are assembled or is it all done after taped together and bus bars attached?
Can anybody point me to information either written or video of the whole setup? I'll keep looking for one here, it seems its partially covered in multiple places and I pick up something in everything I read or watch. I watched Will bottom balance (empty cells NOT below a certain voltage with heater gun) so the batteries fill up equally.
I don't know what I don't know right now. Even one of (the many) questions I asked would be helpful or a pointer of where I can learn more would be great. This is pretty much all new, but I have a lot of tools (even a oscilloscope that I've never opened) and its all very interesting. I'm sure there is everything I need to know on this site (somewhere)
Thanks in advance!
