Who is still building DIY batteries

[WolfbaneAries]

1 8s 24v lifepo4 using 280ah cells and daly bms.
Then another
Then combined them to make a 16s 48v
Then another...
Then another...

Besides the difference in price, I just enjoy building everything I can myself and having a deeper understanding of how it works so as to maintain and repair in the future.

Correct me if I'm wrong but from the prices I've seen, building a battery yourself is a fraction of the price of buying one. The EG4 48v 280ah battery is $4000, the one I just built myself costed $1600. Granted the cells have come down in price but even the first one I built costed around $3300 which is still quite a difference from $4k.

What is the best value out there for lifepo4 batteries other then building them yourself?

 

[Brucey]

1 8s 24v lifepo4 using 280ah cells and daly bms.
Then another
Then combined them to make a 16s 48v
Then another...
Then another...

Besides the difference in price, I just enjoy building everything I can myself and having a deeper understanding of how it works so as to maintain and repair in the future.

Correct me if I'm wrong but from the prices I've seen, building a battery yourself is a fraction of the price of buying one. The EG4 48v 280ah battery is $4000, the one I just built myself costed $1600. Granted the cells have come down in price but even the first one I built costed around $3300 which is still quite a difference from $4k.

What is the best value out there for lifepo4 batteries other then building them yourself?

Probably the newer basic SOK rack mount without display, comms or UL listing, but Bluetooth for BMS info, 7 year warranty, $1299.

SOK 48V 100Ah PRO Server Rack Battery - User Serviceable

SOK 48V Server Rack Battery: 4000+ cycle life, UL1973 & UL9540A certified, UL9540 pending, Built-In Smart BMS, 10 year warranty & support!

www.currentconnected.com

Or the eg4 lifepower 4, 5 year warranty, but has battery comms and UL listing, $1359.

 

[timselectric]

Never

Probably the newer basic SOK rack mount without display, comms or UL listing, but Bluetooth for BMS info, 7 year warranty, $1299.

SOK 48V 100Ah PRO Server Rack Battery - User Serviceable

SOK 48V Server Rack Battery: 4000+ cycle life, UL1973 & UL9540A certified, UL9540 pending, Built-In Smart BMS, 10 year warranty & support!

www.currentconnected.com

Or the eg4 lifepower 4, 5 year warranty, but has battery comms and UL listing, $1359.

Those aren't even close to the diy price.

 

[Brucey]

Never

Those aren't even close to the diy price.

No I wasn't suggesting that.

Just answering Wolfbanes question: What is the best value out there for lifepo4 batteries other then building them yourself?

Perhaps it was rhetorical.

 

[timselectric]

No I wasn't suggesting that.

Just answering Wolfbanes question: What is the best value out there for lifepo4 batteries other then building them yourself?

Perhaps it was rhetorical.

I missed the "other than building them yourself" part.

 

[Bill_A (aka Scat)]

34 Envision 304 B cells and 2 EEL battery boxes on their way ?
Just over $4000 for 30kwh of battery, $0.13 per kwh

@Quattrohead When you ordered the EEL battery boxes how did you pay, Credit card or Paypal?
I am considering ordering their 52.2 16Kwh (actually 15,872Kwh) for $3,079.99 each

51.2v 16Kwh EEL Server Rack LiFePO4 Battery Pack Home Power Solar Energy Storage System

Revolutionize your power infrastructure with the 51.2V 16KWh EEL Server Rack LiFePO4 Battery Pack. Designed for efficiency and reliability, this high-capacity pack delivers seamless energy storage for server applications. Harness the power of lithium iron phosphate technology and elevate your...

eelbattery.myshopify.com

 

[Quattrohead]

I paid with a credit card.

 

[Bill_A (aka Scat)]

I paid with a credit card.

Thanks

 

[Bill_A (aka Scat)]

I had built a 8s 280AH and did the whole DIY thing. Saw Ray Builds Cool Stuff on YT showing the Apexium DIY box, and really liked what I saw. I've been building the 16s 280 REPT / Apexium rig and love what I see and my experience with purchasing over email with the REAL Jenny Wu was spectacular, that's who Ray has used consistently and has always been honest. I drove to Houston and picked up this all from their U.S. Stock. No shipping charges! I am blown away as these cells were all closely balanced already with 13@ 3.295v except for 3. They were 3.293, 3.293, and 3.294. Can't beat that! These cells were very clearly brand new, Grade A cells, and not a relabel. Spent entire week charging them to 3.450 and making sure they have rested and saturated well.

By the way, I paid with PayPal on Saturday and picked up on Monday evening. No slow boat from China for your mystery prize! If you are in the market and you want to be sure you are dealing with the proper Jenny Wu (she has many imposters on AliBaba), then I can message you her email address or watch Ray's excellent videos where he explains in wonderful detail, and also verbally shares her email.

I am wondering if anyone on here has tried the new? '100balance' 5A active balancers I see on Amazon now. Curiosity, as I contemplate using one on my old 8s.

@tialiden How did you pay, credit card or PayPal?
Was the payment thru theire website?
Thanks
Scat

 

[JJJJ]

Currently in the design phase (one of the best parts of a project) on a portable system. More to follow later. This will be another 8s battery which lines up with my other builds.

Just love it when the coffee kicks in and the ideas start to flow. Love the DIY project phases.

 

[Rednecktek]

Teaser.. bottom right shelf...

 

[JJJJ]

Is that your new production? Looks great!

 

[Rednecktek]

My laptop decided to tell me "Charge the battery? USB? Frak that Sh!te!" yesterday morning so my thread got derailed a bit.

 

[tialiden]

@tialiden How did you pay, credit card or PayPal?
Was the payment thru theire website?
Thanks
Scat

PP (I chose F&F).

 

[Alkaline]

@Quattrohead When you ordered the EEL battery boxes how did you pay, Credit card or Paypal?
I am considering ordering their 52.2 16Kwh (actually 15,872Kwh) for $3,079.99 each

51.2v 16Kwh EEL Server Rack LiFePO4 Battery Pack Home Power Solar Energy Storage System

Revolutionize your power infrastructure with the 51.2V 16KWh EEL Server Rack LiFePO4 Battery Pack. Designed for efficiency and reliability, this high-capacity pack delivers seamless energy storage for server applications. Harness the power of lithium iron phosphate technology and elevate your...

eelbattery.myshopify.com

Buy the white case it comes with active cell balancer, do not buy cells from EEL they are grade B cells which they claim as grade A.

That being said I really like the white box and black handles, nice storm tropper look:

EEL V3 48V 16S Server Rack Battery DIY Unit 280 BOX 51.2V Stackable Ty

Specification Battery Type:280/302Ah CellMaterial: Stainless SteelCommunication: CANBUS and RS485(accept both)BMS: 48V 16S Seplos BMSNominal Voltage:51.2VCurrent 100/150/200AWarranty:2 YearsBattery Pack Type: StackableOEM/ODM: AvailableWeight:29kgSize:415*700*263mmStackable Type:up to 14...

eelbattery.myshopify.com

This with some grade A cells would be around $3200.00

 

[Bill_A (aka Scat)]

Buy the white case it comes with active cell balancer, do not buy cells from EEL they are grade B cells which they claim as grade A.

That being said I really like the white box and black handles, nice storm tropper look:

EEL V3 48V 16S Server Rack Battery DIY Unit 280 BOX 51.2V Stackable Ty

Specification Battery Type:280/302Ah CellMaterial: Stainless SteelCommunication: CANBUS and RS485(accept both)BMS: 48V 16S Seplos BMSNominal Voltage:51.2VCurrent 100/150/200AWarranty:2 YearsBattery Pack Type: StackableOEM/ODM: AvailableWeight:29kgSize:415*700*263mmStackable Type:up to 14...

eelbattery.myshopify.com

This with some grade A cells would be around $3200.00

Thanks for the information of "do not buy cells from EEL they are grade B cells which they claim as grade A"
I did some calcs to see what they were charging for the cells:
EEL battery box with only BMS no batteries $669.99
The EEL 48Volt Battery Box 15Kwh with BMS and batteries
$3,079.99
- 669.99 EEL battery box with only BMS no batteries
--------------
$2410.00 16 batteries
divided by 16
-----------------------
$150.00 for each battery

I think that is to much when today 09-29-2023 the 304Ah are $135.00 each
at https://www.18650batterystore.com/products/eve-lf304-grade-a-cells-3-2v-lifepo4-304ah-battery

I would like a battery box that is stackable and that I could add any bms with display and com ports to.
also the option to buy a cart to stack them on.
Thanks again
Scat

 

[a619]

Do these EEL boxes use Seplos BMS? What's the advantage of getting these over Seplos DIY boxes. It appears that Seplos ones are cheaper.

Edit: Actually looks like EEL offers 'free' shipping, so cost comes out to be very similar to what Seplos is offering.

 

[solarHandyman]

I went DIY because it's at least 1/3 extra in price to buy pre built server rack batteries. Plus you have to buy a battery lift to get them in the rack if you want to go vertical or work by yourself on the system. DIY you can achieve more energy storage in a similar foot print and those 2 cell boxes from China are way easier to carry around the house.

 

[Alkaline]

Do these EEL boxes use Seplos BMS? What's the advantage of getting these over Seplos DIY boxes. It appears that Seplos ones are cheaper.

Edit: Actually looks like EEL offers 'free' shipping, so cost comes out to be very similar to what Seplos is offering.

EEL batteries are grade B with re-lasered QR codes or they have the B on the qr code, you won't be getting a test report with those.

18650 has grade A cells they will happily give you the test report.

Other places that have grade A include Ezeal and sun fun kits.

That being said the shipping is not included with 18650 and last time I checked was 15-22/cell depending on where you are.

Recommend getting the eel case and looking for cells else where, if its grade B you want you can get them for around $75-$80.

 

[a619]

EEL batteries are grade B with re-lasered QR codes or they have the B on the qr code, you won't be getting a test report with those.

18650 has grade A cells they will happily give you the test report.

Other places that have grade A include Ezeal and sun fun kits.

That being said the shipping is not included with 18650 and last time I checked was 15-22/cell depending on where you are.

Recommend getting the eel case and looking for cells else where, if its grade B you want you can get them for around $75-$80.

My question was about the battery box and not the cells.

 

[tialiden]

Thanks for the information of "do not buy cells from EEL they are grade B cells which they claim as grade A"
I did some calcs to see what they were charging for the cells:
EEL battery box with only BMS no batteries $669.99
The EEL 48Volt Battery Box 15Kwh with BMS and batteries
$3,079.99
- 669.99 EEL battery box with only BMS no batteries
--------------
$2410.00 16 batteries
divided by 16
-----------------------
$150.00 for each battery

I think that is to much when today 09-29-2023 the 304Ah are $135.00 each
at https://www.18650batterystore.com/products/eve-lf304-grade-a-cells-3-2v-lifepo4-304ah-battery

I would like a battery box that is stackable and that I could add any bms with display and com ports to.
also the option to buy a cart to stack them on.
Thanks again
Scat

I bought 16 brand new EVE 280s 2 weeks ago from U.S. warehouse stock, drove to Houston and picked them up, $115/cell w/copper busbars and nuts incl. And of the 3 tested so far they each have tested over 280AH from 3.45v. Valid QR codes. Grade A. Apexium 48v 280 DIY case kit (basically the Mason kit) for 600, 205 for the ebc a40L Charger/tester, and $54 for the cable that goes from case to Inverter. That was $2,700 total.

As a comparison, I had a quote from Seplos direct (from China) of Mason 48 DIY 200A BMS 3.0, LCD, BT, $475, 2M 50mm2 battery cable $60, (16) 'Grade A new 280AH cells' $99/e ($1584), RS485 Adapter $10. but add the month? wait and $456 for shipping! = $2585.00. That's w/o the EBC A40L tester. And of course, as always we would be at their mercy to actually provide new cells as promised.

 

[Quattrohead]

Do these EEL boxes use Seplos BMS? What's the advantage of getting these over Seplos DIY boxes. It appears that Seplos ones are cheaper.

Edit: Actually looks like EEL offers 'free' shipping, so cost comes out to be very similar to what Seplos is offering.

Yes the Seplos BMS is used.
My 'advantage' is I prefer the EEL battery connector, nothing more.

 

[Alkaline]

Yes EEL uses sepolos, but if you want the latest v3 you have to order to the V3 version (its the white version I posted a link to which has black handles). which also comes with the nEEy balancer, looks like a nice setup with the only thing lacking being a 200 amp breaker, and maybe the option for some fire arrestor tubes like EG4 has.

I'm going to be ordering the V3 version today, I'll let you know what happens, I have 16s REPT cells.

 

[Alkaline]

Ordered! Eel V3 white box with the NEEy active balancer and 200A sepolos BMS V3 200A + Bluetooth.

$789.00 was my total, yes its high, but I already have 16s grade A Rept 280s and they aren't getting any younger!

Total spent so far was $2490 for the Rept cells form SFK

14.3 KW battery for around $3,300.00 only thing I don't have is a breaker for the 200 Amp... may need to mod the EEL case lets see!

 

[JJJJ]

A HUGE benefits of DIY is design flexibility. My 24V system could be shifted to 48v with a few cells, updated BMS and inverter/charger.

Who knows, perhaps 48v will become outdated in a few years. If so, a DIY system can readily adapt.