DIY or BUY: Save Thousands With a DIY Lithium Battery

🎁 Free diagrams: cleversolarpower.com/free-dia...
📖 My best-selling book: cleversolarpower.com/off-grid...
Link to cell suppliers USA warehouse: goaff.pro/djypbj
Link to Server rack: cleversolarpower.com/go/EG4
Link to 12V BMS: cleversolarpower.com/go/BMS12...
Link to 48V 16S BMS: cleversolarpower.com/go/BMS24...
Welcome to my video where I take you through an in-depth comparison between building your own batteries and buying them off the shelf. This video is packed with insights and real-world cost analyses that will help you make an informed decision on whether to DIY or purchase ready-made battery solutions.
In this video:
- I start with a comparison of a small 1.2kWh battery, showing you the cost breakdown between sourcing parts for a DIY build versus purchasing a pre-assembled battery.
- I then move on to medium-sized 5kWh server rack batteries, comparing the DIY assembly costs with the price of a commercial server rack battery.
- For those looking into large-scale storage, I analyze a massive 100kWh battery system, revealing the significant cost benefits of DIY in this scale.
- A comprehensive cost comparison table will visually demonstrate the price differences across these three scales, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of DIY in larger setups.
- I also discuss important factors like warranty considerations, the time and technical knowledge required for DIY builds, and the tools needed for assembling a battery pack.
- Finally, I'll share my personal recommendations for cell suppliers and server racks, ensuring you have access to quality components for your DIY projects.
This video aims to provide you with all the necessary information and comparisons to choose confidently between building your own battery system or investing in pre-built options. Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting, you'll find valuable insights here.
00:00 Introduction
00:51 1.2kWh Battery
01:50 5kWh Battery
02:43 100kWh Battery
03:50 Battery Comparison
04:50 Considerations for comparison
06:00 Disadvantages of DIY
07:24 Cell Suppliers

[@cleversolarpower]

🎁 Free diagrams: cleversolarpower.com/free-diagrams/ 📖 My best-selling book on Amazon: cleversolarpower.com/off-grid-solar-power-simplified 💵Use coupon code: clever6 to get 6% discount for Litime batteries: cleversolarpower.com/litime (cheaper than amazon)

[@davidwright1752]

There are many videos on building your own batteries. This video is quite good the other advantage of building your own is you can replace dead cells if necessary.

[@cleversolarpower]

Exactly, the DIY route is 100% serviceable.

[@imnguyen6658]

Thank you! Great and easy to understand content.

[@cleversolarpower]

Thanks, glad you liked it

[@MainEventMinistry]

This is a fantastic video, thank you!

[@cbinett]

Your BMS cost is too high, you can buy a nice JK BMS 100A-16s for less than 90$USD. Same for an 4s one for under 60$USD. But i'm in sync with you, for small project, way better to buy it than DIY.

[@cleversolarpower]

Yes, you can get cheaper BMS'es. Like I said in the video, you won't get support from cheap BMS'es, so I recommend going a bit more expensive so you get the support and proper documentation.

[@ricardofranco4114]

I bought my lifepo4 battery for $175. It's a redodo 12v 100ah lifepo4 battery. After that, each battery was $185. They were on sale 2 weeks ago.

[@cleversolarpower]

Yup, Redodo is another good one.

[@quartamile]

Thank you!!! Great education

[@cleversolarpower]

Glad it was helpful!

[@goofykl9]

Thanks for the info, I DIY my system, 3 * 280AH 12v units.

[@cleversolarpower]

That's a decent battery! 10.7kWh of storage.

[@taqarii2456]

thanks again

[@andersonk-stones272]

What about the cables, enclosures and clamps?

[@cleversolarpower]

No need for extra cables because you use the busbars. Enclosures is the racking that I have included. Clamps are not required because they will not get their 8,000 cycles anyway because of calendar aging of the cells.

[@herbertvonsauerkrautunterh2513]

I use jakiper.. pretty good

[@Emphasis213]

He doesnt calculate the wire harness, terminal lugs fuses and protective box.

[@cleversolarpower]

The wire harness is included in the price. Terminal lugs are not included, because you need them with server racks too. Fuse is not included, protective box is not needed when placing on battery shelf. Watch the end of the video where I talk about it.

[@berns1853]

My jbd BMSses of 150 Amp kost only 85 with bluetooth. Running smooth on 4 system for over a year.

[@cleversolarpower]

Yes, you can get jbd BMS'es cheaper. But don't expect support when you need it.

[@berns1853]

@@cleversolarpower Just like your fuses of 15€ probably. U are sponsored?

[@cleversolarpower]

@berns1853 Unfortunately I'm not 😀

[@sergelajeunesse1392]

Thank you, Very informative description and understanding of the differences, But i would like to know even though you give comparison prices between 2 different suppliers, Do you really believe that (Made in CHINA) products are as good as USA or Canada made ? Thank you your content is very well done 👍

[@xstatic981]

I would challenge you to find a supplier of Lithium iron phosphate cells, made in America or Canada that will sell to the general public. China owns the VAST majority of lithium chemistry cell production and does it well - so much so that the government there has regulations controlling cell quality to protect China's national brand.

[@Emphasis213]

Tesla uses Chinese cells in many of their vehicles. It is true;China owns 60-70 percent of the li ion market.

[@cleversolarpower]

I don't know about any battery cells made in the us. So that doesn't leave us with many options. The cells in china are of great quality if you have a good source. The cells are made by only a handful of companies which go through rigorous inspection.

[@sergelajeunesse1392]

Thank you for the info. It's just that from past and present experiences, i find that many products that are (MADE IN CHINA) have many 'POOR' standards of quality's. So this is my concern...@@cleversolarpower

[@sun-sea-solar]

I really want to try and make my own lifepo4 battery

[@cleversolarpower]

Try it, it's not that hard if you have basic knowledge of electricity. If not, then don't do it 😉

[@dc1544]

spot on except these do not average 48V, they average 52 volts. so 14.56kw. I have 4 of these banks. I average 13.5kw as I do not use 100% of capacity. I agree I saved huge amounts of money building my own. When I bought mine I saved almost $16000. Prices are lower now. Mine have been up and running for over a year now and I bought mine 1 year before I installed them.

[@cleversolarpower]

Yes, your battery would have saved you quite some money. How did you house the cells? Did you use a battery shelf? I have used 3.2V per cel, so 3.2V x 16 cells x 280Ah=14.336kWh. For the server rack, I used 3.2V x 16 cells x 100Ah= 5.12kWh. Did i calculate with a 3V cell somewhere?

[@tstatus1206]

think i seen some of them 51.2v from a reputable brand for 800 now

[@cleversolarpower]

The good brands are $1149 now. I wonder which brand you are referring to.

[@MayanMe365]

But labour hours, tools and consumables are also costs to be considered

[@cleversolarpower]

True, I haven't accounted for this.

[@TabooRevolution13]

My blue batteries bulged in the cold weather...

[@cleversolarpower]

Did you charge them while freezing?

[@leafnutz2341]

Except the cheap batteries are likely relabeled B cells and not really grade A.

[@cleversolarpower]

True, you have to find suppliers who deliver grade A cells. I have mentioned them in the video.

[@FirstLastOne]

I can surmise that English isn't your strong point but in all fairness, NOBODY is BUILDING their own batteries. What you should be stating is building your own array of battery cells or packs and piecing together a BMS and other equipment needed to do the job of a prebuilt unit like a EG4 rack mount unit.

[@cleversolarpower]

Thank you for clarifying that 🙃

[@dimensionsofhell]

You're comparisons are very skewed towards DIY. Premade is ready to run, where as you are not counting for Wires, fuses, kapton tape, and safe storage (case), etc.

[@cleversolarpower]

Check the end of the video where I talk about this. I could have used cheaper BMS'es but didn't. The comparison is not skewed in any way. It's an objective view of the costs.

[@victorreece9256]

wow cheap cells

[@cleversolarpower]

They are good 👍

[@teknosql4740]

Yoi are not making battery, you just assembling existing battery

[@cleversolarpower]

Yes i am. I'm not making a potato battery.

[@teknosql4740]

@@cleversolarpower you are not making any battery, you just making battery pack from existing battery