Pylontech battery teardown and test.

[@kevinmatthews2620]

as always a fascinating video there Nick :)

[@fredflintstone1428]

Brilliant video.

[@pervaizakhtar4143]

hi nick just curious , whats happening in the background with the 18650 batteries setup please thanks

[@nicholashowell]

If you mean the flashing LEDs, it just the BMS messages passing down the line.

[@michaeldepodesta001]

You are inspiringly brave!

[@nicholashowell]

You think so? It's all pretty low voltage stuff. If I was dismantling a Nissan Leaf battery pack...now that would be brave. 😨

[@jonathancooke542]

Great video. I have an extra 2000 with the GUI interface, it is showing that cell 10 is .2 volts lower than all the others, I suspect it needs replacing. Did you find a suitable replacement cell?

[@nicholashowell]

Not as yet. There aren't many Extra2000 around.

[@draamirsaud]

@@nicholashowell i have 2 battery's perfect working condition extra 2000 2.4kw

[@peterraymond1853]

Working my way through modules.. Did you ever find replacement cells or preferably packs. My Ex2000 s are newer with touch screens , so i am keen to find more detailed info on them. Im in Australia..

[@nicholashowell]

@@peterraymond1853 I couldn't find replacement pouches.

[@peterraymond1853]

@@nicholashowell buggar

[@peterraymond1853]

I can see that my next job is to take a DEAD one and get a bit more aggressive with the packs.. There must be a way of buying new type cells and configure as an emulation of each pack with 2000w and 12V Challenge, is can you buy new cells that give that same energy density and fit in that pack volume.. I fear that the lot need to be replaced otherwise the new cells in a pack will pull the older cells down faster

[@nicholashowell]

@@peterraymond1853 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWnOi4eLq5Kkq68si=yXQkIEwmX3ErpIGH

[@patricklyons7683]

Good stuff, eighty percent still in these batteries. Have a carbon monoxide extinguisher near you if the lithium went up, you could stifle the oxygen & potential fire taking hold.

[@chrisgroothoff2611]

I have been given 5 of these batteries, 4 are in reasonable shape and with a bit of work may still be of some use. Balancing all the cells has been quite a challenge. The 5th battery is completely stuffed. All 4 packs look like balloons. Did you manage to find some replacement pouches or battery packs? The issue I have is to do with the RS485 comms. Do you know what the RS485 pin outs are. I am assuming that it is possible to cascade the RS485 to allow the batteries to operate in parallel - setting the dip switch appropriately.

[@nicholashowell]

Unfortunately I haven't managed to find any replacements as yet but I'm still looking. Here is a link to the manual, it might give information about the RS485 in there. www.nuvisionenergy.co.uk/image/data/Solax/Manuals/Solax%20ZTE%20Battery%20Manual.pdf

[@chrisgroothoff2611]

@@nicholashowellThanks, I have a copy of that manual and all it tells you that when you connect the batteries in parallel that the you can cascade each interface or use a concentrator box and make sure that you set the ADD switch accordingly. It does not identify the pinouts, but it does for the RS232.

[@chrisgroothoff2611]

@@nicholashowell I have asked Pylontech if it is still possible to get battery packs. They respond that they no longer make the cells or have any packs - used ones are the only option. I would like to change the parameters - do you know what the default access code is to change the settings?

[@nicholashowell]

@@chrisgroothoff2611 I'm still looking for an old pack but nothing as yet. I'm afraid I don't know the access code.

[@leighhoggarth]

Did this loss of capacity show it's hand by the SOC value being erratic when being discharged? I've 3 of these exact batteries and lately I'm getting sharp drops from 40% > 20% (cutoff point) but it only happens when run in a bank. On their own they all perform fine??? None of the packs appear swollen & it still does this after being left on balancing for 24+hrs.

[@nicholashowell]

In the case of this battery it would show (on the green LEDs) as full and after just a short time of discharging it would show the red LED (alarm) and the BMS would shut off the power. The other batteries would all continue as normal. In your case it sounds like one of the units may have lost more capacity than the other 2. On their own they would all appear to work fine. If you could capacity test each one separetley and see how much they differ, that might yield a clue.

[@RoelofDeJager]

Thanks for the video. Did you have this battery connected with an inverter for BMS? If so what was the setup?

[@nicholashowell]

No. I didn't use a BMS just an intelligent balance charger so that I could see the level of each of the cells in the block.

[@gabrielirlanda]

Thanks, did you discharge it everyday this past 8 years? I have in mind buying the UP5000 but I would use it just in temporarily outages from 4 to 12hr every month, not everyday.

[@nicholashowell]

Yes, mine was cycled daily.

[@Denis198612]

Nicholas Howell, kennst du das Passwort von den Pylon Extra 2000 um ins Menü zu kommen.Wollte die Uhr stellen aber der will immer ein passwort haben

[@nicholashowell]

Entschuldigung, aber ich weiß es nicht.

[@ellyli4567]

Thanks for the video, Nicholas. I don't know too much about the electricity, but the seller told me that my 6 US2000 are dead without even looking into them so that I can buy more new batteries from them. luckily I found your inspiring video, it seems possible to fix it. I only found ISDT Q8 max on Amazon , is it similar to T8 smart charger that you have? how can I connect the smart charger's battery output to the individual pack since there are 1 positive, 1 negative and 1 balance cable? on the input of T8, can I use a normal adjustable lab power supply (AC to DC from 1-60volt)? thanks in advanced

[@nicholashowell]

The ISDT Q8 max is very similar to T8 and should be fine. I think each of the blocks in a US2000 is 5S so you would need to make up a balance lead to connect the balance cable to the Q8. However, if you have a bench supply with 1-60 V, you might be able to just try and charge the battery without having to use the Q8 at all. I think there are some other videos on KZbin showing how to revive a US2000 using a bench supply.

[@ellyli4567]

@@nicholashowellThanks for quick reply. I have tried to use the power supply directly charge the US2000 by connecting the orange/black socket but it didn't work. can I directly connect the power supply to the 16v pack via orange/black cable without using balance cable? or it's safer to use a smart charger to balance it like you did? I am so afraid that it will cause a fire😅

[@nicholashowell]

@@ellyli4567 You can charge each 5s block without the balance lead if you don't charge it too high, maybe try 3.2v per cell (3.2v x 5 = 16v per block). If you do each of the 3 blocks like that and then put the battery back together, maybe that would be enough to get the battery to switch on. Once it is on then you can charge it normally.

[@ellyli4567]

​@@nicholashowellI am charging first 5s pack with bench power supply and it seems working, cool! I set 0.9a and 16v , I am wondering if it's safe to set the current a bit higher like 2amps ?

[@nicholashowell]

@@ellyli4567 2 amps would probably be ok but keep an eye on it. If it starts to swell or bulge then one of the cells is bad.

[@gabrielirlanda]

Hi, will it be the same if I leave the emergency kit (inverter + lithium battery 5,12kw) turned off and turn it on in the outages? (around 12 times per year 8hr each outage), than leaving all the kit turned on constantly? bearing in mind the batteries will be fully charged every day but used 12 times per year approx only. It is an expensive kit and want it to long last the best as is possible, but what I don't know is if I don't use the battery (turned off) the kit will be deteriorated the same as if it is turned on.

[@nicholashowell]

If you leave the battery turned on for long periods it will slowly discharge because the internal BMS will draw a small amount of power from it. It would be better to have it switched off until you need it but it is also not advisable to leave it at 100% state of charge for long periods. If you are going to discharge it once a month then it's probably ok but if it might sit for several months at 100% state of charge then perhaps it would be better to only charge it to 80 or 90%.

[@gabrielirlanda]

@@nicholashowell thanks a lot.

[@gabrielirlanda]

Sorry, if there is not any outage I would have to do the monthly routine of discharge, would you recommend to discharge it to 20% and then charge it back to 100%? (Monthly routine), or could it be discharged at 0% or 5%? Then charged back to 100%. And when I have installed the kit should I charge it full 100% to balance the cells or whichever charge it has from factory I should use it? (Ie. 96%, 88% etc)

[@nicholashowell]

@@gabrielirlanda If you are using a US5000 then I think (it says in the manual that) you can discharge down to 5%.

[@gabrielirlanda]

@@nicholashowell I purchased a Ritar 5,12kw new model white case 6000 cycles, don't know how true that is... in the first run is it advisable to charge it at 100% first for balancing the cells or should I use it as it is from factory?

[@timo6048]

Hello Nicholas Howell, can and will you replace the damage part of the Us2000?

[@nicholashowell]

My battery is not a US2000, that is the newer model. This old battery is an Extra2000. I will try to replace the pouch when I find another old unit to use for spares.

[@timo6048]

@@nicholashowell ok thanks, the extra 2000 is from Effekte, Effekte is the General Importeur from Pylontec. The Oldenburg Pylontec User the Name Effekte. Perhaps it is the same?

[@shaunparsons3659]

What does the battery leakage smell like? Best analogy?

[@nicholashowell]

I can't really say, it's a chemical smell. Sorry, that's the best I can do.

[@shaunparsons3659]

? @nicholashowell Thanks. Is it possible to choose a closest match to either sweet, sour, fruity, acidic, rubbing alcohol, etc?

[@nicholashowell]

@@shaunparsons3659 I can't honestly remember now, it was too long ago. Do you suspect you have a leaky cell?

[@shaunparsons3659]

@nicholashowell I do suspect battery pack degradation, but my pack has only been in service for 4.5y and the batteries only register 870 cycles this far.

[@richardharrison6680]

It would not be a pretty solution, but you could soldier a couple of flying leads to the board and have a remote set of lifepo4 cells totalling more than 40ah (wouldn’t need to be pouch cells as long as the battery chemistry is the same) mounted externally. Perhaps on mini Anderson plugs and a small wire for the bms. It would give you a cost effective quick solution that could be changed at a later date once the elusive mythical spare pylontech has been found. It’s clear you know what you are doing so not beyond you. I too was expecting the pouch cells to be double sided taped together😂.

[@nicholashowell]

Yeah I've considered this. I also have a 24v inverter lying around so I might connect the packs as 2 x 7s in parallel and use that for a while.

[@AndrewStockley]

@@nicholashowell I'm a bit new to this, as always with newer/niche tech we have great need of the early adopters who blaze a trail! We've had solar with a 2.4kWh battery for 3y now, working well but wanted to increase our storage. I bought 3 older Pylontech batteries second hand, 2 are working fine but one of the discharges much more quickly than the others so I'm guessing there's a faulty cell and a pouch to remove as in your video. Does that sound reasonable?

[@nicholashowell]

@@AndrewStockley if it discharges quickly, it's either really out of balance or has one or more cells that have degraded. If it's an original Extra 2000 probably degraded cell(s).

[@AndrewStockley]

Thank you.

[@jacktar4421]

Thank you!

[@maurizioDidì]

Excuse me but are Pylontech life-po4 or li-ion? Thank you

[@nicholashowell]

They are LiFePO4.

[@luisdavidgarciasocon2636]

Me estan ofreciendo estas baterias como nuevas segun la empresa ¿que tan verdadero es esto? ¿Crees que ya sean usadas o realmente son nuevas?

[@nicholashowell]

Si las baterías son Extra2000, es poco probable que sean nuevas. Son bastante viejos ahora.

[@ghosbit]

Buongiorno ho installato una batteria pylontech da un mese, ma dopo qualche giorno ha iniziato a fare la pazza, bruciandomi l'inverter. Ho cambiato L'inverter bruciato, pensando che il problema fosse altro, ma ho scoperto che il problema è la batteria che scollegata, ora il mio impiantino funziona perfettamente

[@jasonbourne7171]

If i use 16 prismetic cell to make 48 v battery pack and use to chage is upto 3.5 veach cell and drain it to 2.5 v it is safe to usr it without bms :)

[@nicholashowell]

Is it possible? Yes so long as you check it regularly. Would I advise it? No. You can get a BMS for not much money and the protection for both yourself and the cells is worth it.

[@jasonbourne7171]

@@nicholashowell thank you so much nichol can i use daly bms for it ? So daly bms cut voltage is 3.65 and i will set inverter max volt to 3.5 even though it not reach to 3.65 double protection to save my cells i am not expert in it please guid me i am doing right? Your little help will save from loss :)

[@nicholashowell]

@@jasonbourne7171 I think the Daly BMS should work fine. If you are not going to charge to 3.65V then you should periodically check that your cells are still balanced because I think the balancing only happens when the cells are almost fully charged.

[@markwilliams5654]

My electric unicycle is 15 cell I've cut it open to replace 2 bad cells

[@nicholashowell]

Was that LiFePO4?

[@markwilliams5654]

Hobbyking mite have cells they are difficult to soldier

[@nicholashowell]

Thanks. I just checked them out. They don't seem to sell large capacity LiFePO cells.