Who is still building DIY batteries

[Zwy]

Fun, is doing laundry on the 4th day of rain.

And not caring.

It is feast or famine here it seems. A few days of hitting full charge and power heating dump loads after laundry and running the dishwasher, then it's scraping by for days to conserve to power thru 6 days of crap.

 

[B-Mod]

What part of WI are you in? I could always stop by sometime in my travels.

Just a little north of the center of the state, Between Stevens Point and Wausau

 

[Zwy]

Just a little north of the center of the state, Between Stevens Point and Wausau

I've been to Stevens Point a few times, one time I bought a trencher for a skid steer that was a demo unit with less than 100 hours running. 6.5 foot bar, up to 8 inch trench. Guy needed money I guess, paid him $1400 for it, used it all over my yard installing drainage tile and wire, then sold it for $2600 thinking I wouldn't use it again. I was wrong about that, I have to borrow a Ditch Witch from my cousin now who used to be an electrician.

We used to go to Appleton often, had a friend who owned a lakehouse by Waupaca and they had a house in Appleton. Some other friends live in Appleton but have a campground spot by Waupaca, we need to go visit them sometime, great people.

If I'm heading that way I'll be in touch. We travel around here and there with the truck camper when we can find time. Summer for me is busy time of the year, especially when hot and humid.

 

[ScrotpusGobbleBottom]

When I converted a 7 x 14 cargo trailer -> camper, I went with DIY 18650 14s88p (48v @ 260ah) battery. I placed it above the cabinets.....
View attachment 194352

They power a MPP Solar 3048LV (48v @ 3000w) inverter and after 3 years, ~8,000miles, and maybe 50 nights camping - it's worked very well!

However, it's only ~13kwh, we like winter camping, and we prefer the on-board 9,000BTU mini-split heat to heat-buddy. Last week I installed an additional 14s87p (48v @ 260ah) for a total of ~23kwh. This is enough to be 100% electric (mini-split, hot water, cooking, TV, Starlink) for 24hrs in pretty cold temps - e.g. 35F low. We do a 6 x 6 tailgate 'bedroom' which takes extra heat since it's just 18mil tarp.
View attachment 194354


Here's some pics of the 2nd battery install (green one)...
View attachment 194357
View attachment 194358
View attachment 194359


Just got back from our 1st trip with new battery and it looks like a winner. The space behind the lounge chairs was perfect for it. Balanced up nicely with the original 14s. I leave it <3.90v/pack for storage in-between trips.
View attachment 194361

3-4 years ago, I worried a bit about 18650 DIY in a trailer, but it's turned out to be a rock solid choice. And of course, 18650 is higher density power - e.g. takes less space for same kwh as LifePo4.

Not pushing - just showing that 18650 DIY can work A-OK in a trailer

That is beautiful.

 

[ksmithaz1]

If I'm heading that way I'll be in touch. We travel around here and there with the truck camper when we can find time. Summer for me is busy time of the year, especially when hot and humid.

Phht, define "Hot" that far north. . . Now FL is hot and humid. AZ is just plain hot. Sis has a place in N Montana, I want to visit this summer when it is actually "HOT".

 

[Zwy]

Phht, define "Hot" that far north. . . Now FL is hot and humid. AZ is just plain hot. Sis has a place in N Montana, I want to visit this summer when it is actually "HOT".

Does it get hot here? Here is 2023 https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/des-moines/year-2023

Couple that with humidity over 85%, yea, it gets a little sticky.

I've spent a few weeks out in the Mojave with temps above 110°F everyday, then flew back home and just melted getting off the plane.

Come spend June, July and August here. June and July are always pleasant with rain often and high temps with high humidity. I spend all summer repairing air conditioners on equipment and trucks. My busy season starts end of March and goes to 2nd week of November.

 

[Rednecktek]

NICE!
With the price of cells continuing to fall, it is tempting...maybe just one more pack...

Just one more... said EVERY ADDICT EVER!!

 

[Norwasian]

There are plenty of calculations..
But for 15kw semi diy I pay about 2300 USD

Have prices risen, are you using old-style cells, or am I fixing to get gypped? I've spec'd this same capacity (at 48v), including the shipping, at about 3100 USD, via Alibaba, Docan Technology, for the new-style 304Ah cells and an Apexium case...and am nearly ready to order. I'm not in the US, so shipping from China is likely my best option. Still, I have a difficult time believing that the shipping would be the sole difference here.

 

[Rednecktek]

Building batteries is just not fun to me. Ground mounts, panels, pulling wire, hanging inverters is more my style of fun.

Where were you a few months ago!??!!

 

[B-Mod]

Where were you a few months ago!??!!

Not fun in the way I want to do it for others, lol. I am a sparky I get my fill of electrical work everyday, and have a side business also. I do like helping others. I recently helped a co worker out planning his system and start up.

 

[OffGridForGood]

And besides,...Central Wisconsin is pretty darn far from Washington State!

 

[Rednecktek]

And besides,...Central Wisconsin is pretty darn far from Washington State!

My neighbor at the camp made the commute, what's your excuse?

 

[houseofancients]

Have prices risen, are you using old-style cells, or am I fixing to get gypped? I've spec'd this same capacity (at 48v), including the shipping, at about 3100 USD, via Alibaba, Docan Technology, for the new-style 304Ah cells and an Apexium case...and am nearly ready to order. I'm not in the US, so shipping from China is likely my best option. Still, I have a difficult time believing that the shipping would be the sole difference here.

Prices have come down, and I am not us based either

 

[Nobodybusiness]

I am glad to be just about done building batteries, or so I say right now, lol. I am at just over 230kwh, probably add about 30 to 40 kwh more. Building batteries is just not fun to me. Ground mounts, panels, pulling wire, hanging inverters is more my style of fun.

I’m with you.
I built 270KWh of batteries and I’m done.

I could make more to capture sunny days to contend with crap days but so far the capacity I have is good enough.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

Fun, is doing laundry on the 4th day of rain.

And not caring.

You still got to charge them up though.
If you got the panels it’s no big deal..

 

[timselectric]

You still got to charge them up though.
If you got the panels it’s no big deal..

More battery capacity doesn’t require more solar.
As long as you are producing more than you are using.
The batteries will get charged, just might take longer to get to 100%.

 

[Tulex]

More battery capacity doesn’t require more solar.
As long as you are producing more than you are using.
The batteries will get charged, just might take longer to get to 100%.

In the summer, I have more battery than I need, could use about half the panels I have installed/planned to charge them.
In the winter, I don't have nearly enough battery OR panels to charge even the batteries I have.

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

In my case, I have purposely worked to increase my DIY battery to lower average DOD and expand cycles. I'm 18650 but to some degree, this applies to LifePo4 as well. I'm down to a yearly average of 37% DOD which I hope will add 1000(s) of extra cycles. It (bigger battery) also has the side-affect of letting me run my home 2-3 days on a full charge - but really, not sure how useful that actually is as 2-3 days rarely aligns with sun vs cloudy weather. When it's cloudy it's usually 5 or 10 days in a row!

 

[timselectric]

Need more battery........... always. lol

 

[Nobodybusiness]

More battery capacity doesn’t require more solar.
As long as you are producing more than you are using.
The batteries will get charged, just might take longer to get to 100%.

Well not in the summer but winter you do unless you are making more than you can use.

If that’s the case you either don’t use anything or have a crap of panels.

I frequently don’t have enough solar to charge batteries back to full in winter.

First time they reached 100% organically was last week.

 

[timselectric]

Well not in the summer but winter you do unless you are making more than you can use.

That's what I said. lol
my point was that more battery capacity does not require more panels.
Battery capacity only affects time of autonomy.
if you are not producing enough, already.
More capacity isn't the fix.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

That's what I said. lol
my point was that more battery capacity does not require more panels.
Battery capacity only affects time of autonomy.
if you are not producing enough, already.
More capacity isn't the fix.

That’s what I was saying ,if you are using more than you are bringing in like in the winter.

That’s what I was referring too.

I don’t know anyone except maybe 1 guy that has 12 month Solar only consumption.

Don’t know anyone’s batteries that will last from November to February.

 

[timselectric]

That’s what I was saying ,if you are using more than you are bringing in like in the winter.

That’s what I was referring too.

I don’t know anyone except maybe 1 guy that has 12 month Solar only consumption.

Don’t know anyone’s batteries that will last from November to February.

Sorry, I didn't realize that you were just agreeing with me.

 

[upnorthandpersonal]

Don’t know anyone’s batteries that will last from November to February.

Which is why I'm seriously considering building a 1 MWh battery pack at the moment. The way cell prices are evolving, this shouldn't even be super expensive. I could use 10 kWh a day and bridge my winter even with zero solar coming in.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

Which is why I'm seriously considering building a 1 MWh battery pack at the moment. The way cell prices are evolving, this shouldn't even be super expensive. I could use 10 kWh a day and bridge my winter even with zero solar coming in.

Really?

Thinking that would be cost prohibitive?

Just off the top of my head maybe $150,000 for DIY packs.