My version of the crate DIY with the $399.00 100ah Battery from Amazon.

[Resident2021]

I was inspired by Wills crate build and this is what I came up with. This will be for traveling in the car this summer and camping off grid. I had the 90w solar kit left over from a travel trailer I had last year it came with a 10A pwm controler, so I just changed it out with the mttp 10A Epever. I also had the crate, but everything else was just purchased for the build. I did a load test using 2- 250W heaters and they ran for 2hr's and 14 mins on a full charge till the inverter started beeping at 10.5v and shut off 30 secs later My chepo amp meter says the heaters and the inverter where drawing 10.6 amps, the meter was on the cable from the battery to the inverter. After the shut down about a miniute I toggled the inverter switch and everything fired back up so I just shut it off. Once off the voltage poped up to 11.1. The PC power supply has a 59a 12v rail and is used with the dc to dc charger while in the house. I used anderson connectors so once in the car I will plug it into the charging system 90a alternator.




1-24Q milk crate 11x13x19 $26.00
1-100ah LifeP04 $399.00
1-600w inverter pure sin $94.00
1-20A dc to dc charger $105.00
1-600w PC power supply (repurposed) $45.00
1-12v power socket $7.99
1-automotive fuse holder $5.99
2-10gauge 12ft jumper cables sets $16.00
1-50 pcs automotive crimp set $10.00
1-Epever 10A MTTP solar charger $49.99
1-90w suit case solar panel $225.00
Total $983.97

 

[Resident2021]

Letting it sit for 1/2hr the voltage was 11.6 and showing 18% capacity. So I fired the charger up and after 15mins it shows 12.6v and 60%. So I guess the battery had some juice left over.

 

[JeffofCT]

Do you have any ideas or ability to test the low temp cutoff?

 

[nafoibot]

Where did you get the battery monitor from and how much?

 

[Mike Jordan]

LFP has a very flat discharge cure. A meter with voltage only, is useless

 

[nafoibot]

LFP has a very flat discharge cure. A meter with voltage only, is useless

LFP <---Sorry I don't know all the internet slang, and i'm looking to monitor the usage and such but not have to pay a 100CDN for a victron one.

 

[Brewman]

I used the cheep alternative.

 

[Mike Jordan]

LFP <---Sorry I don't know all the internet slang, and i'm looking to monitor the usage and such but not have to pay a 100CDN for a victron one.

I feel ya. I was going to link the Acronym page. But LFP is not there either. However it is a shorter acronym for LiFePO4, which is on the page

Commonly used Forum Acronyms & Abbreviations

Solar is befuddling enough! Why use acronyms? Well, we're lazy typists.... :LOL: xSyP - e.g., 2S2P, shorthand for how many cells in Series (S) and Parallel (P). A - Amperes or amps. A measure of current. See warning. AC - Air Conditioning, sometimes A/C. AC - Alternating Current, a waveform...

diysolarforum.com

Here are some tested budget meters, right under the pricey Victron

Off-grid Solar Battery Monitors

Building a vehicle mounted solar power system? Let me help.

www.mobile-solarpower.com

 

[Resident2021]

Do you have any ideas or ability to test the low temp cutoff?

Nothing official but it will get down into the 20's at night for the next 4 days here. I could discharge it and then leave it outside overnight, then try it.
Well after reading some more there is a good chance if I do try to charge it at 32F or below I could kill the battery. Sorry but not going to do that on purpose, try calling the number on the amazon business listing page for global and asking them, or post the question on the amazon listing.

 

[Resident2021]

Where did you get the battery monitor from and how much?

The battery info screen came on the battery.

 

[Supervstech]

I was inspired by Wills crate build and this is what I came up with. This will be for traveling in the car this summer and camping off grid. I had the 90w solar kit left over from a travel trailer I had last year it came with a 10A pwm controler, so I just changed it out with the mttp 10A Epever. I also had the crate, but everything else was just purchased for the build. I did a load test using 2- 250W heaters and they ran for 2hr's and 14 mins on a full charge till the inverter started beeping at 10.5v and shut off 30 secs later My chepo amp meter says the heaters and the inverter where drawing 10.6 amps, the meter was on the cable from the battery to the inverter. After the shut down about a miniute I toggled the inverter switch and everything fired back up so I just shut it off. Once off the voltage poped up to 11.1. The PC power supply has a 59a 12v rail and is used with the dc to dc charger while in the house. I used anderson connectors so once in the car I will plug it into the charging system 90a alternator.


View attachment 37726View attachment 37727View attachment 37728View attachment 37729

1-24Q milk crate 11x13x19 $26.00
1-100ah LifeP04 $399.00
1-600w inverter pure sin $94.00
1-20A dc to dc charger $105.00
1-600w PC power supply (repurposed) $45.00
1-12v power socket $7.99
1-automotive fuse holder $5.99
2-10gauge 12ft jumper cables sets $16.00
1-50 pcs automotive crimp set $10.00
1-Epever 10A MTTP solar charger $49.99
1-90w suit case solar panel $225.00
Total $983.97




View attachment 37730View attachment 37731

depending on the efficiency of your inverter, 2:14 of runtime with a 500 W load should be around 105Ah... nice battery!

 

[Resident2021]

depending on the efficiency of your inverter, 2:14 of runtime with a 500 W load should be around 105Ah... nice battery!

Here is a photo out of the owners manual. The inverter draws .28 of an amp just by itself. Model WZRELB 600w pure sin wave Yueqing Reliable Electric co.,ltd
Yes for my needs seems to fit the bill/aka budget just fine.

Tony

 

[racerbob]

Are you measuring DC Amps with an AC only clamp on meter? I don't see a DC current symbol on that>

 

[Supervstech]

Are you measuring DC Amps with an AC only clamp on meter? I don't see a DC current symbol on that>

You are 100% correct...
his clamp meter is useless to measure dc amps...

 

[Bud Martin]

Are you measuring DC Amps with an AC only clamp on meter? I don't see a DC current symbol on that>

That meter EM306B cannot do DC current reading.

https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/96000-96999/96308.pdf

19.2US $ 58% OFF|all sun EM306B Mini Digital Clamp Multimeter AC/DC voltage Current Resistance Continuity Test With Buzzer Electronic Tester|Clamp Meters| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

GENERAL SPECIFICATION

Display: 3 1/2 digit LCD with a max,reading of 1999

Overrange indication:”1”shown on LCD

Sampling Rate:Approximate 3 times per sec.

Error caused by improper position: Reading 1%

(Note:The conductor should be placed in the center of the area closed

by the jaws to avoid this error)

Sensor:Clamp-shape transformer for AC measurement.

Jaw opening capabiity:27mm

Max.measurable conductor:Diemen.25mm

Battery:3V,CR2032,three batteries.

Operation temperature:0~40 degree C,<75%RH

Storage temperature:-20~60 degree C,<85%RH

Szie:151mmx65mmx34mm

Weight:about 127g(including battery)

 

[Resident2021]

Yes, looks like I was using the wrong meter. I have been on he road as of late and that battery just crapped out. 1 day is was fine and the next day it would not charge past 75% but even at 75% it would only run the 250w heater for 15mins. that is 5 min increments about 1/2 hour apart. This happened in the middle of the night in Flagstaff AZ. So I had to replace it, I bought one local in Flagstaff A Relion RB100 100ah it was a heck of alot more $970.00 I was happy a local company had them in stock, great place Northern Arizona Wind & Solar.
so there you go 400.00 down the drain, lessen learned.

Tony

 

[Supervstech]

Once you get to a good tear down location, you might be able to test the cells, and see what isn’t charging.
It may be as simple as a cell got out of balance, and the BMS is protecting.

 

[Ryen]

I'm 95% done with my build. Has two 12v Battle Born in the bottom crate. Thanks to Will Prowse for the idea.