20kWh SOK Battery Rack Assembly and Connections, LiFePO4 Off-Grid Solar

[@LithiumSolar]

SOK Battery... www.currentconnected.com/product/sk48v100/?ref=lithiumsolar (affiliate links) SOK Rack... Included FREE with an order of 5 batteries Battery rack is fully assembled! Up next we'll complete the off-grid system with a pair of LV6548 inverters. Let me know what you think of these batteries!

[@jasonbroom7147]

Very cool stuff. Exceptional video quality, as usual. The ease with which someone could build a whole-house backup solution just keeps getting easier and easier.

[@OffGridGarageAustralia]

Nice one, Mike. Are you going to cover the front with something to prevent the terminals from being exposed? Like a door...?

[@LithiumSolar]

I'm not sure yet. I will be adding heat shrink to the lugs but there is still a lot of exposed metal. They include rubber covers to go over the posts but can't fit the 4/0 wire through. I might need to make something custom.

[@boomermatic6035]

@@LithiumSolar I asked the same question, I missed you answering it here.

[@davemarshall9925]

I was thinking a plexiglass glass as its to cool to cover up - you want to show it off

[@rickbattle5706]

That is one hell of a nice rack. Looks like a straight up install. Nice job.

[@ShaleAudio]

Pretty slick. We just built a data center backup with 12 of the EG4 but these look solid.

[@LithiumSolar]

Wow almost 62kWh, pretty big system!

[@ShaleAudio]

@@LithiumSolar heh yeah, I did eve cells for diy at my house and have closer to 150kwh there from diy setup, but for UL purposes the eg4 and supporting hardware is useful in business setting. my diy setup is remote from the house in a shipping container but powers the house.

[@sheaton954]

Thanks for this series. Waiting on my SOKs to be delivered! Keep the videos coming!

[@jameshupalo]

4:15 lol, I enjoy boths of you guys. Thanks for another great video.

[@arnecarlsson9740]

Thanks for the detailed description and execution how to install and energize the SOK server rack batteries! I regret buying EG4LL batteries and rack!

[@LithiumSolar]

The EG4 batteries are fantastic as well! It's great to have so many options on the market now.

[@edolson1698]

why?

[@arnecarlsson9740]

@@edolson1698 Why not, and this is my opinion the documentation and support is lacking from signature solar and during the years SOK brand has been very high quality. The tear down of SOK rack battery has shown excellent workmanship. Do you or anybody else want to buy my EG4LL's for a discount!?

[@ad8mustanggt]

@@arnecarlsson9740 Where are you located? I might be interested if you're local to SNJ.

[@1ENDUSER]

@@arnecarlsson9740 - where would you located for purchase of eg4?

[@errcl65]

Did you try the SOK's PC program with the Jakipar. It worked for me. I wonder if they are inter-operable within the 16 group.

[@LithiumSolar]

Yes, the Jakiper software seems to read from the batteries ok. The batteries could possibly have different firmware loaded; however, I would expect the communication protocol to be the same. It would be interesting to try.

[@super2222sd]

@@LithiumSolar can you give me the pinout of the rs232 cable please, currentconnected only ship to the US so not able to buy the cable. Thanks

[@xxonelastliex]

How long were your conductor cables between the batteries?

[@LithiumSolar]

What do you mean how long? They're still connected as of today. A few weeks?

[@xxonelastliex]

@@LithiumSolar I meant the length of the cables in inches

[@Roll2Videos]

Very nice job! This is going to help people a lot. Great tutorial video.

[@loucinci3922]

nice tutorial. I heard that sok rack was somewhat confusing to assemble. You made it look easy. Nice job.

[@ToddDesiato]

Word of advice, get some silicone insulation 4/0 wire that is very flexible. Route your jumper wires around the display and controls so they're not behind the wires. A little extra wire to make it look nice and easy to use doesn't hurt anything.

[@anthonymatherene4224]

Hi what if you have 5 batteries how do you set the ads switches with only 4 switches

[@LithiumSolar]

It's binary so 4 switches gives 16 possible numbers. The switch positions for each of the 16 is listed in the user manual :-)

[@nexusyang4832]

I wonder how easy it would be to make a mount to attach it to a one of those heavy duty upright dolley...?

[@LithiumSolar]

Not very easy to do or to move... I definitely would not do that. Maybe a different caster wheel setup or something if you must move it around.

[@mikebroom1866]

LOL! - "fancy cart" You're not competing with Will, LOTS of us watch both.

[@LithiumSolar]

Everyone assumes Will lol. Current Connected suggests using the fancy cart thing too.

[@Pappy-1]

What brand crimper tool did you use. Looks like a nice crimp on the cables. Maybe do a little video of crimping your lugs unless I missed it in previous videos. Just thought I would give you an idea for some content.

[@LithiumSolar]

Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately, it's a generic brand hydraulic tool from Amazon. The crimps are actually not that good and I have to do each one 3 times to make it look like that. I am in the market for a better tool, just unsure what to get at this point. I need to spend some time researching one of these days.

[@aristidesroman435]

Is setup if good to go offgrip??

[@SlimSh8E]

Just one small blurb I thought of. If you turn the BMS on, hit the Menu button then Enter, I believe you will see the voltages of the batteries. Mine were within tenths of each other upon arrival.

[@davemarshall9925]

Sorry for all of the comments - how long to charge these 4 plugged in to the wall outlet

[@josevargas8073]

Being in parallel, what happens if accidentally someone turns off one the the breakers?

[@LithiumSolar]

Then the affected battery is simply disconnected from the rest. The others will continue to operate.

[@josevargas8073]

@@LithiumSolar Thanks for your reply. I sent you an email about a bussiness consultation.

[@LithiumSolar]

@@josevargas8073 The sentence immediately following the email address reads "I am not available for personal project questions or consultation"

[@josevargas8073]

@@LithiumSolar Oh I'm sorry, I read that but as it's not a personal project and it will be a paid business consultation (sent from company email) I gave it a shot, thanks anyway and I'm sorry again.

[@ygiagam]

Thank you for the very informative and useful information.

[@adon8672]

Does four dip switches mean that four is maximum number of batteries that can be paralleled?

[@LithiumSolar]

You can parallel up to 15 of them with communications. The DIP switches are like binary meaning 4 positions of 0/1's is a maximum of 16 possible addresses; however, one is reserved for the inverter.

[@adon8672]

@@LithiumSolar I see. Thanks for the prompt response.

[@davemarshall9925]

Can you tell me how many solar panels would it take to charge this puppy up? Assuming you selected the right solar panels - I assume larger residential panels and not portable - and does it have a max or limited amounts of power it can receive thru solar? how many hours to charge with great solar panels - again assuming content!

[@atburke6258]

A little of this topic but one for some of your prior reviews..With a 100 amp 12v battery, how do they cope with an inrush power load on the inverter. Example. A frig compressor starts on 17 amps (inrush) and runs on about 1.2 amps. With a single 100 amp battery protected at 1C or 100 amps draw, what happens when it is asked to provide almost twice that (175-200 amps) for a short time to start the compressor? A T Burke

[@LithiumSolar]

The inverter will have capacitors on the DC side to help with inrush. Additionally, most batteries are rated for a temporary surge. For example, the 12V 100Ah SOK is rated for 200A for up to 3 seconds.

[@atburke6258]

@@LithiumSolar Thank you, Sir. A T Burke

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

Was that a rib at Proud Prowse on the battery lift?

[@LithiumSolar]

Current Connected uses a lift in their videos too. Need to get me one eventually I guess.

[@IFlyHeliz]

No Shrink on the lugs?

[@LithiumSolar]

"Arriving Saturday" lol

[@stevevan2462]

So which terminals are best to use to connect to the inverter/charger do you have balanced charging?

[@Stizzymack]

Can other brand batteries fit this rack?

[@pip5461]

Looks very industrial, far more than I would ever need...:) are they compatible with UK's 240v ?

[@LithiumSolar]

This is just a battery. You can hook up whatever inverter you need to suit your country.

[@pip5461]

@@LithiumSolar Tks

[@DIYSolarEnergy]

Nicely done Mike!

[@LithiumSolar]

Thanks! 🙂

[@doingoffgridright]

Nice, helpful video. One watch out is that all positive and negative cables should be the same length to each other. Yes, within a very short distance, there is some flexibility, but overall, that longer black cable on the lower left serving as a positive cable looks both to be a lower gauge (2/0 vs. 4/0?) than the others and significantly longer in length than it should be. I guess you were short a cable during setup and just used this for demo purposes, which is fine, but it does raise the two important points I just mentioned that some people aren't aware of. To the question below on cable length, having this setup myself, those straight cables are probably 9" in length. However, I did mine at 10.5" in length (terminal hole center to terminal hole center), so they would curve a bit and avoid going over the on-off breakers and displays. If you use a one-foot cable, the resulting bend in the wire causes the terminals to crowd each other. Still doable, but you'll want very good terminal covers on each if you do that.

[@RagaiMeena]

would this system connect and work with enphase iq system?

[@offgridwanabe]

That is a lot of KW in that small of a foot print, makes the new stuff more desirable.

[@geofferyromany4634]

Made it look easy even i can now do it.

[@simonpaine2347]

Nice work. Have you looked into busbars? There are some videos detailing the heat and therefore power lost in the daisy chain setup. It can also lead to uneven charging and discharging.

[@LithiumSolar]

Yes. I addressed that in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2HYeZuMrNJ_jZY at the 1:05 timestamp.

[@simonpaine2347]

@@LithiumSolar Thanks, but they are still connected to one another, rather than connected separately to a busbar. That run of cable will get hot depending on how much power you are pulling and pushing, connecting via a busbar will limit the heat and save power.

[@simonpaine2347]

@@LithiumSolar It's also possible that the 2 poles on the batteries are connected in the inside of the battery, so by moving them in line, might not have much effect. David Poz explains why here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4jUe52ifdSKb6M

[@LithiumSolar]

@@simonpaine2347 I'm well aware of how they are constructed inside. There are no scenarios under which the busbar connection method David used is superior to the straight-connect method I used in the linked video above. In fact, I would argue my approach is slightly better. You're welcome to design yours however you see fit, and if you're not sure, I'd encourage you to contact a professional for advice (neither of us are one of those) 🙂

[@simonpaine2347]

@@LithiumSolar I was just trying to be helpful! Daisy chaining is without doubt the easy way to connect, but it's the least energy efficient. Facts.

[@TheRrevn57]

Simple but important question, what are the dimensions, Width, height and depth?

[@LithiumSolar]

The specifications (including measurements) can be found on the Current Connected website (link in the video description).

[@boomermatic6035]

Great video as always. Is there or do you plan on adding covers over the terminals to prevent shorts? Also, it seems like the cables partially block the displays on the batteries, do you see that as an issue?

[@mfr58]

Yes, great battery in most respects, but what can they have been thinking when they put the display where the cables need to run and some coms sockets are also covered !!!!

[@paul.phillips]

I like the enclosed cabinet that Signature Solar sells with their EG4 batteries. It includes bus bars on the sides of the cabinet so there are no cables blocking the displays or ports on the batteries. SOK are very good batteries though.

[@sachab6098]

Sok also sells their own cables that are slightly longer than the ones this guy used. Until now every showcase I've seen has had the cables looped out around the controls. I've been spectating on EG4 as well - I have heard people having trouble with the bus bar, but still a very good system that I might consider in the future.

[@WiSeNhEiMeR-1369]

Howdy L-S, Thanks COOP ...

[@jamest.5001]

I always get the smaller ring terminals, to stock up on, or when I do not know the bolt size, because you can always drill them out, it's better than using washers on them to fix a mismatch, I like temco stuff, never had a problem with their stuff!

[@troyyarbrough]

After watching quite a few of your videos, I am hoping you can answer a question for me. Which server rack battery would you recommend the most? I'm trying to decide between the SOK or the Signature Solar batteries. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[@JohnSmith-ug5ci]

Good video, but these companies needs to make these systems more plug and play and user friendly/simple.

[@lipsee100]

Having just racked up two SOKs the weight is massive,,putting four on that Dolly is asking for trouble,,,,,, I bolted to the floor and again to the wall ,my batteries are,nt going anywhere.

[@LithiumSolar]

Why is it "asking for trouble" to put 500lbs on a dolly rated for 1000lbs? That's half it's weight rating.

[@minutemanprep]

Awesome video!

[@twobob]

very nice rig

[@SlimSh8E]

I have 2 SOK 48v batteries with the MPP LV6548. All is working fine except the communications with the MPP. Getting a 61 communications error. Called Watts24/7 and they say it's the cable. Have tried numerous times to relate my problem with Current Connected who supplied the cable, but no response. Went to the DIY Solar forum and saw that Signature Solar had an issue with their first batch of cables and thinking this case may be the same. At any rate, I think it would be wise to check the cable first (I've checked and re-checked my setup) before even thinking about disassembling everything and sending the MPP back to be tested. Anyone else having this problem or have any suggestions? Thanks for the video and hoping your follow up to this may be of some help.

[@amudlifecrisis]

Very Nice! Well done!

[@dawn1berlitz]

if i could afford something like that it would certainly come in handy during these dreaded heatwave like if the heatwave caused a brownout or a blackout go into basement and switch off the main breaker and start powering up the inverter or get some sort of transfer switch that can automatically switch to inverter if line voltage gets to low or goes out completely

[@Nāmarūpa1]

Start small and work your way up. You learn heaps along the way. Very rewarding to be self sufficient.

[@dawn1berlitz]

@@Nāmarūpa1 i come across sometimes some regular lead acid batteries but these wouldnt be designed for a big setup as they are more of designed to be used in some scooters, alarm panels and UPS units

[@ovchannelag5238]

👍👍

[@MarkPrince1317]

One question 🙋if can answer in next video how many KW solar panels need to charge that battery and it will take how many hours to get 100% charge? Thank you very much for always the best and technical reviews Best regards from Philippines 🇵🇭

[@mondotv4216]

Could you just attach the wheels directly to the rack? Perhaps you’d still need a piece of plyboard in between to provide structural support.

[@korishan]

I'd go the extra mile and take a single bolt loose on all the caster plates, and then fasten the rack to the casters. That way the rack and dolly are one unit. Or, you could drill a hole in the middle and bolt them that way. But that might make a stubby that would get too close to the wheel then.

[@niktak1114]

I'm thinking about ordering 5 of these with the new 5 pack racks in the fall. They seem like the best of the server rack batteries at the moment.

[@5885ronny]

Geil 😎👍😎👍😎👍 Gutes Video

[@Nāmarūpa1]

It's a very nice battery, excellent right of repair characteristics too, but having the display and sockets obscured by the negative cable is devastating design oversight. It was enough to disqualify the SOK for my application since I'm using bus bars. I wouldn't be able to access the ports.

[@MrJmack46]

This got on my nerves too. But since everything else about the battery is good I decided on a U shape bus bars using both the common terminals with the U directed toward the middle of the battery leaving access to the ports and view of the screen. Since we like to keep the parallels equal length I will do it with the positive side just because.

[@5885ronny]

😎👍👍 Gut 👍👍😎

[@mohammedasif1387]

Hello 👋 sir Can u pls this four battery run with solar panels and how many minutes it’s will backup?and sir how many ac I can run in my home pls explain sir and see your video nice video Thank you very much sir

[@hakeemtahir4334]

Good video

[@devadroid5269]

Fun fact, the battery master/# selection is simply counting in binary from 1 upward (1..2..3..)!

[@Ebbrush3]

dont be shy ...grid tie

[@LithiumSolar]

No grid-tie here 🙂

[@KenSorce]

Off-grid prepper. Don't need no stinking grid, got SOK🔋

[@Ebbrush3]

lol

[@rickharold7884]

Fun

[@MAGA_Extremist]

Fantastic I wish I had this!

[@MAGA_Extremist]

@TheCheesePlease 😂

[@MAGA_Extremist]

@TheCheesePlease thanks I like your name too. And I also love cheese!

[@johnmirbach2338]

😁👍👌✌🖖😎

[@lnxpro]

My OCD does not approve that black wire on the positive posts :D

[@LithiumSolar]

Mine doesn't either. It's getting replaced soon, very soon! I don't know why I thought a 10-pack of lugs would be enough.

[@shaystern2453]

sounds like wilbur prowse

[@LithiumSolar]

I don't think I look nor sound anything like Will.

[@AndyMcBlane]

Anyone want to get a container load to Australia? haha

[@LithiumSolar]

Ask them! If they have enough people interested, it might be something they can make happen!

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

the design of the front panel sux... plenty of room to put the LCD screens somewhere else

[@12KenS76]

It triggers me that you used by what look like a slightly different gauge wire and different terminals on that last battery, if you don't have everything you need wait for pieces to come in to complete the video.

[@LithiumSolar]

I'm sorry it bothers you, but no, I do not need to wait for a tiny piece of cable. Lol

[@Chaoddity]

1:45 that looks nothing like iraq

[@LithiumSolar]

I said "a rack" not "iraq" lol

[@Davesivak]

The black positive cable looks terrible 🙂

[@LithiumSolar]

Why yes it does. More lugs will be here tomorrow.

[@paulbradley9912]

Dude I love your tear downs and I admire your knowledge! BUT this video just set my skin on fire!. Not bolting a tower down??? Bad connections between high current units??? The rack has floor mounts but you stand it on a glass dolly?? Double connections on each unit but you only use one?? I hope you were current drawing from the middle and not one end!! I wont dislike due to respect.

[@LithiumSolar]

There's nothing wrong with how I connected them. Sure, you can run two sets of cables up each side if you're concerned. I'm not sure that's necessary though. Also, you're welcome to bolt it down if you'd like. This is a temporary setup for demonstration purposes. It doesn't make sense for me to drill holes in the cement floor and install anchors for something that's temporary. I'm not sure I'd do it even if it were permanent unless I lived somewhere like California that's prone to earth quakes.

[@LithiumSolar]

I should say too that I don't necessarily disagree with the high current concern though. Perhaps it would be better off in this case if both logs were on the same terminal post. Maybe I'll switch it up, will try in the morning.

[@PabloTBrave]

All that free space in the middle and the case and the negative terminals, Comms ports and screen are together and so the screen is obscured ridiculous. Bad design SOK

[@blackswansystem]

Great video 👏