DestroyFX
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2021
- Messages
- 64
I did make a lot of research on what part to buy on aliexpress to make a decent and reliable off grid solar setup with the lower cost as possible.
As I see many people buying stuff on aliexpress without making enough research I decided to share what I found work well. I do own most of these components to run my off grid home.
All these products are available for most system (120v/240v - 12/24/36/48v).
Inverter
Reliable Electric : https://aliexpress.com/store/413804
These unit are great for the price, they are also what the name suggest, reliable.
Some of these have issue that have been fixed.
For 3500W and less, you can safely buy that format : https://aliexpress.com/item/1163952530.html
For more than 3500, do not buy a unit that have the same form factor as the 3500W as they tend to die.
Reliable electric did made new unit for high wattage that are bigger, such as https://aliexpress.com/item/32506792817.html
You can find the same product with the name : WZRELB
Do Not buy Reliable inverters if they are on a store other than the Reliable store
I do operate a 3500W watt unit. It's been on since I got it, to power the home (Full size Refrigerator, my workstation, light power tools, leds lights, musical instruments...)
Charge controller
MakeSkyBlue : https://aliexpress.com/store/1759821
These unit have good review and are great for the price so far as long as you stick to these on the official store (extremely important). There is an extremely high amount of ripoff that are 25% to 50% less expensive : stay away from the ripoff as they have an history of dying fast and/or bursting into flame. After receiving a MakeSkyBlue charge controller, be sure to look in the vent in a ~45% angle to see if you can see the brand on the PCB silkscreen. If the marking is not present, don't even test the unit, return it.
Some of the fake units, not only die fast and catch on fire but are also PWM
I do operate 2 x 48V/60A, V119 units.
Get a unit with firmware V118 or more.
BMS
YIT-Element : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5384048
Hankzor : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/911303103
I personally use the YIT one, there cheap, there basic (no BT/Wifi fancyness) but they do there job. Tested low voltage disconnect and high voltage disconnect (the later many times as I got used cells and some where soldered together so I could not top balance them until I get an active balancer).
From many read it look like the Hankzor units are also decent.
Active balancer
If you get new cells, or used cells that can be individualized, don't get one, Watch Will video about top balancing :
If you get used cells that are in soldered pack : do get one.
Hankzor : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/911303103
Specifically that product : https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002617607510.html
That unit work fine and is quite fast. You can hack it to add a switch if you want to leave it connected and flip it on as needed. Do not leave the balanced connected full time, except if you have a switch to turn it on/off, in that case, leave it off 99% of the time. Use it only when needed like when you first get a battery pack or if you don't get enough sun to get the pack balanced regularly by the BMS. That unit make a high pitch noise similar to coil whine. That is normal.
As I see many people buying stuff on aliexpress without making enough research I decided to share what I found work well. I do own most of these components to run my off grid home.
All these products are available for most system (120v/240v - 12/24/36/48v).
Inverter
Reliable Electric : https://aliexpress.com/store/413804
These unit are great for the price, they are also what the name suggest, reliable.
Some of these have issue that have been fixed.
For 3500W and less, you can safely buy that format : https://aliexpress.com/item/1163952530.html
For more than 3500, do not buy a unit that have the same form factor as the 3500W as they tend to die.
Reliable electric did made new unit for high wattage that are bigger, such as https://aliexpress.com/item/32506792817.html
You can find the same product with the name : WZRELB
Do Not buy Reliable inverters if they are on a store other than the Reliable store
I do operate a 3500W watt unit. It's been on since I got it, to power the home (Full size Refrigerator, my workstation, light power tools, leds lights, musical instruments...)
Charge controller
MakeSkyBlue : https://aliexpress.com/store/1759821
These unit have good review and are great for the price so far as long as you stick to these on the official store (extremely important). There is an extremely high amount of ripoff that are 25% to 50% less expensive : stay away from the ripoff as they have an history of dying fast and/or bursting into flame. After receiving a MakeSkyBlue charge controller, be sure to look in the vent in a ~45% angle to see if you can see the brand on the PCB silkscreen. If the marking is not present, don't even test the unit, return it.
Some of the fake units, not only die fast and catch on fire but are also PWM
I do operate 2 x 48V/60A, V119 units.
Get a unit with firmware V118 or more.
BMS
YIT-Element : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5384048
Hankzor : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/911303103
I personally use the YIT one, there cheap, there basic (no BT/Wifi fancyness) but they do there job. Tested low voltage disconnect and high voltage disconnect (the later many times as I got used cells and some where soldered together so I could not top balance them until I get an active balancer).
From many read it look like the Hankzor units are also decent.
Active balancer
If you get new cells, or used cells that can be individualized, don't get one, Watch Will video about top balancing :
Hankzor : https://www.aliexpress.com/store/911303103
Specifically that product : https://aliexpress.com/item/1005002617607510.html
That unit work fine and is quite fast. You can hack it to add a switch if you want to leave it connected and flip it on as needed. Do not leave the balanced connected full time, except if you have a switch to turn it on/off, in that case, leave it off 99% of the time. Use it only when needed like when you first get a battery pack or if you don't get enough sun to get the pack balanced regularly by the BMS. That unit make a high pitch noise similar to coil whine. That is normal.
