A spare, just in case the neighbor borrows one LOL
Who is still building DIY batteries
- Thread starter JJJJ
- Start date
Tims electric doesn’t need to lift it, he pushes the earth down.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
So $55 per cell and then $14 for shipping. $69 is a huge savings over say rept from sunfunkits.
Are they the same quality as SFK?
Or are we just chasing the cheapest cells to compare to the cheapest assembled off the Amazon?
captalfonzo
New Member
Just got 2 apexium boxes. 18650 hade 280 ah for $99. they should be in this week. So guess we'll see how this solar journey go's
42OhmsPA
What's in a title?
Yes but SFK claims to be grade A with test reports, however I would not buy from them based on past shenanigans seen here and removed from youtube.
If it weren't for the 2 month+ estimated wait and way things are in the world I would have ordered them. They also have USA stock for $88 / cell with free shipping.
(gobel power) for anyone interested.
Probably not, we may never know.
I was mainly after best value and seeing what prices from China are doing to hopefully predict where stateside is headed.
I'm not interested in pre-made on amazon until they hit $75 for a 12V 100Ah, then I might consider ripping them apart for the cells.
Yep, if more people knew what they threatened to do to Ray Builds Cool Stuff, bet a lot of people would shop elsewhere.
Unless I missed it in his videos, Ray doesn’t do the full discharge rate test. Just capacity tests.
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
I have tested a number of them so far for capacity (11 so far). So far they are all within 2% of each other. They are testing at 102-103 ah. The variability might be due to the tester. This is more consistent that I expected.
These must have decent quality cells to be so consistent. They are supposed to be prismatic. They are going into two banks of 48 volts. They come with a 5 year warranty.
If I have balance issues, I'll figure it out.
I don't understand what you were quoted. $55 per cell? That figures out to 34 cells? That seems really cheap, but they are unavailable. So that doesn't work. Do those have any type of warranty? Or is it a crap shoot?
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
I'm looking for best value. The cheap batteries I have bought off Amazon and Ebay come with a 5 year warranty and I have found people who have used the warranty to success. But from what I have tested, they seem to be of fairly high quality from a consistency standpoint.
On the other side of the coin is buying them direct from China, assembled, or as cells and hoping for the best. I don't think anyone has any illusions about using a warranty on those cells after a month or so, if that.
In between are the US distributors selling loose cells for DIY. But they seem expensive to me.
These guys says cells can be had for less than $100/kwhr. I would sure like to know the source!
LFP cell average falls below US$100/kWh as battery pack prices drop to record low in 2023
After the trend of falling prices temporarily reversed last year, 14% year-on-year drop in Li-ion battery pack cost recorded by BloombergNEF.
www.energy-storage.news
42OhmsPA
What's in a title?
What C rates are you using to test?
Good luck.
Yes, plus freight. Came out to roughly $70 / cell all in.
Nope but they will be again.
The 305 Ah AESC Envisions from 18650 seemed really cheap too, working great.
Isn't most of it?
I'm not to worried about a warranty.
I'm more concerned with reliability and serviceability.
PotusGobbleBottom
Corn Pop was a bad dude.
That is a wonderful picture.
Tim
Yeah, it's been a while since watching any of his battery videos. Is he posting again since the fiasco?
IIRC, this is the video SFK did not like and their reputed response in the second video.
green mountain boys
Solar Enthusiast
I'm looking for best value. The cheap batteries I have bought off Amazon and Ebay come with a 5 year warranty and I have found people who have used the warranty to success. But from what I have tested, they seem to be of fairly high quality from a consistency standpoint.
On the other side of the coin is buying them direct from China, assembled, or as cells and hoping for the best. I don't think anyone has any illusions about using a warranty on those cells after a month or so, if that.
In between are the US distributors selling loose cells for DIY. But they seem expensive to me.
These guys says cells can be had for less than $100/kwhr. I would sure like to know the source!
LFP cell average falls below US$100/kWh as battery pack prices drop to record low in 2023
After the trend of falling prices temporarily reversed last year, 14% year-on-year drop in Li-ion battery pack cost recorded by BloombergNEF.
Here is some pricing information and sources. If you find anything that needs correcting let me know and I will update.
| DIY 48 Volt Battery | |||||||||||
| Supplier | Cell Type | Amp hours | Cost per cell | Shipping | # of cells | Cost of cells | Kilo watt hours | Busbars | Cost per kw/hr | ||
| Battery Hookup | EVE V3 | 280 | $112.50 | $150.00 | 16 | $1,800.00 | 14.34 | included | $136.02 | ||
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE V3 | 280 | $102.50 | $207.43 | 16 | $1,640.00 | 14.34 | included* | $128.87 | *comes with fexible busbars | |
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE V3 | 280 | $99.00 | $572.55 | 48 | $4,752.00 | 43.01 | included* | $123.80 | *comes with flexible busbars | |
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE V3 | 280 | $95.00 | $1,426.49 | 100 | $9,500.00 | 89.60 | included* | $121.95 | *comes with flexible busbars | |
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE | 304 | $105.00 | $207.43 | 16 | $1,680.00 | 15.56 | included* | $121.26 | *comes with flexible busbars | |
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE | 304 | $102.50 | $572.55 | 48 | $4,920.00 | 46.69 | included* | $117.63 | *comes with flexible busbars | |
| 18650 Battery Store | EVE | 304 | $99.00 | $1,184.04 | 100 | $9,900.00 | 97.28 | included* | $113.94 | *comes with flexible busbars | |
| Sun Fun Kits | EVE V3 | 280 | $98.96 | free* | 48 | $4,750.00 | 43.01 | $48.00 | $111.56 | *shipping over 1 month **flexible busbars cost extra | |
| Sun Fun Kits | EVE V3 | 280 | $98.96 | out of stock | 48 | $4,750.00 | 43.01 | *"competitive freight rates from the Baton Rouge warehouse." | |||
| Sun Fun Kits | EVE | 304 | $106.25 | free* | 48 | $5,100.00 | 46.69 | $48.00 | $110.25 | *free shipping from China **Flexibile busbars cost extra | |
| Sun Fun Kits | REPT | 280 | $93.75 | free* | 48 | $4,500.00 | 43.01 | $48.00 | $105.75 | * shipping over 1 month **flexible busbars cost extra | |
| Sriko *** | Lichen | 272 | $95.00 | $246.16 | 16 | $1,766.16 | 13.93 | No | $144.50 | ***grade B seller | |
| Ezeal | EVE V? | 280 | $105.31 | $239.84 | 16 | $1,684.96 | 14.34 | included* | $134.26 | *busbars included but no description |
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
Thanks for putting this together!
Is the consensus that Sun Fun Kits must be avoided? Are there other good sellers in the US besides 18650?
green mountain boys
Solar Enthusiast
I just put this together because I was having trouble trying to keep all the numbers straight in my head. It is much easier to compare options from a spreadsheet. I am not qualified to answer who is a good supplier and who is not. This list is not made to promote anyone just to compare current options. I am happy to make any corrections if you see an error or add more if you know of any.
captalfonzo
New Member
This is a copy paste from Jenny Wu Docan Tech. EVE LF280K: 104USD per piece, when 32 pcs, 103USD per piece, shipping included to door. I also bought 2 Apexium boxes from her. They where at the door in 3 days. Great coms with her. Easy to purchase. Jenny@docanpower.com
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42OhmsPA
What's in a title?
Did you purchase cells from 18650 as well?
Would you share some side by side photos of the Docan and 18650 cells?
Welcome to the forum.
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