I've built 16 Big DIY Lifepo4 Batteries And These Are The Last Steps

This video is about the last steps as I build these DIY batteries in the boxes I built. There are 17 in total of the wooden box batteries and each has about 14 kWh of capacity. I hope this helps in your project as you figure this stuff out. There is a playlist that shows all the steps along the way and another about making good connections. Come along and please subscribe and don't forget to hit the like to feed the algorithm. Good Luck with your project.

[@coil1002]

You are the Bob Ross of batteries. I love watching your videos. Thank you

[@TheGurthang99]

Miss your videos 😢 God bless you and your family

[@j.badinter988]

You have been my mentor from A to Z for my 15kWh battery project which I finished 1 year ago or so. I followed your recommendation and use the same stuff, same brands, same size cable, etc. Only differences is about the design of the box which I installed vertically and instead of a wood top, I put an acrylic cover and I did not need an Anderson contacter since my battery is next to my inverter and directly connected to it. I have room for5 more batteries. Installing vertically on the wall does not take much room on the floor and the weight of the cells helps for their compression even if I put the same system as yours to compress them. I THANK YOU SO MUCH for your very neat work and good advices.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Oh thank you so much. You have given me a very warm feeling and a good end to my day.

[@hendersonsobers396]

Wishing you a speedy recovery Ray. Glad to see you're pressing on with your batteries build. I've learnt so much from these videos.

[@gtaylor1564]

Thanks for taking the time to post a great video God bless you and your family

[@tomhamilton9140]

Great pride in the construction. 😎👍🇺🇸

[@mohammadsakib9290]

love your work man. Thank you for sharing your knowledge❤.

[@88NA]

Your contents are really helpful. Thank you.

[@mysticwolf2842]

Thanks for putting these videos out there, teaching others how to do something is a good thing. By showing how to build these batteries is not justbteahching but imparting a good piece of wisdom. By going through and watching these videos it shows that you have a tremendous amount one can learn from what you have shown, i have degrees in electronic engineering as well as electrical and i still have learned a good deal from what you have shown in these videos. Thanks bunches.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I am humbled and honored by your comment.

[@mysticwolf2842]

@RayBuildsCoolStuff as a teacher you have a tremendous amount that you can impart to others, even I would take a course from you.

[@danielrossi3465]

Thanks for all your great, no bullshit videos battery jesus :P & greetings from Australia!

[@johnelliff8298]

Ray, I hope we see you again soon. Happy Thanksgiving Sir :)

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I hope so too!

[@JPHER217]

Hey Ray man. Next year EVE has a new inzane lfp battery cell coming. Called the LF560K (628) ah. Weighs 12kg per cell😉 You gotta do a 16s build with them and breakdown. Anyways, Merry christmas and happy new year to you and family.

[@Emerald_Acre_OH]

Hi, Ray! How are you? I hope you are well. I just found your channel about assembling batteries from cells, and wanted to let you know I appreciate your work.

[@mushvig100]

Super

[@earthenergyhex]

Ray I would like 4 of those big batteries. Thanks

[@tiborchren]

I would be very interested to see a video of your all Seplos BMS settings, how the 16 Big DIY battery packs communicate and work together, and how you manage to have the cells balance with cycling with only passive balancing from the Seplos BMS without sometimes using active balancers.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Stay tuned.

[@jamesbsa6450]

Great idea!

[@SiBex_ovh]

Still with Seplos, old king. Now DIY use a JK-PB2A16S-20P

[@brockmajor]

I belive that pilot bit is called a vix bit. Quite nice work there.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

It IS a vix bit!

[@douglasfreeman7303]

Ray, been missing you. Hope you are well.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thank you Douglas. I’m sorry I haven’t been publishing but I’m really doing great. Hopefully I will get something out soon. I’ve been doing a lot of horse stuff and motorcycle stuff but mostly horses.

[@classiccrypto]

Hi Ray, Like your videos. I have learnt allot watching them. I'm a architectural engineer/cabinetmaker and mechanical as my career wandered over the years having grown up on a dairy farm. My brother is a a&p mechanic and was trained building batteries for airplanes. I in the last few years got ALS so I'm not able to do many things but I still have my brains. Just want to thank you for doing these videos... I am just getting into solar but I have always loved electrical.. I should have gone that route instead in the beginning 😓 What is your favorite brand of bms?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I like Seplos for the big batteries and JK for the 12v stuff.

[@classiccrypto]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff Thanks, I know you did a video with them in it but it was a few years back so I wanted to see if you still used them. Awesome vids.

[@chuxxsss]

Morning Ray from cool Australia. I need to find help with my Growatt problem.

[@lezbriddon]

For others playing the game and following along at home, use insulation tape on your tool handles... one of the first things you learn in auto electrics etc and you only make that mistake with a car battery once before you need a change of clothes, so imagine what these bad boy batteries can do...

[@JbVest]

They can vaporize a bus bar in less than a second, Don't ask me how I know 😳

[@MattLoretitsch]

How have I gone so long without that pilot bit? Also, great trick on bending the hinge to solve the binding.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

The trick doesn’t bend the hinge. That would take more force. What it does is to slightly bias the screw in the wood and also it’s location in the hinge towards the side that alleviates the binding problem. It also loosens things a tiny bit so do it conservatively.

[@kevinmatthews2620]

as always Ray a informative video, your last video battery build,has encouraged me to try and source a similar one to yours here in the UK, there is one similar if not the same electronics available from fogstar as a complete kit with cells giving just over 15 kwh of storage but currently out of stock :(, thank you for you inspiration and your using nifting bits to help :) :)

[@john_in_phoenix]

Likely if you emailed Jenny as Ray recommends, they can arrange to have one sent to the UK. Might have to pay duty on it though.

[@aldricoak5186]

Hi Ray, thanks for your time in all the videos you have made. I am learning. Who do you recommend buying EVE LF105 cells from?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I would contact Jenny Wu at [e-mail] Let her know I sent you.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

👍

[@gillianseed4419]

seems like a piece of angle iron across the retention board and tied into the rods could prevent any issues with board flex or the bolts compressing into the wood over time as the batteries swell and contract (its an atomic level force)

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

There are no issues with either of these things. There is a lot of misleading information on the Internet. In this case, it’s not so much that the information was misleading, but that the interpretation of it was. Fear not.

[@peterking1134]

Any Updates? Wish you are well!

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Planning but super busy right now. Thanks for checking in.

[@silverstone7778]

I love your videos. I was looking for the one where you showed how to properly clean the cells terminals to ensure a proper contact. After that I will probably apply MG Chem 847 just to be safe. Can you please link me the video where you showed how to clean the cells terminals? Unfortunately I couldn't find it

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

There is a playlist about making good connections. You will find a couple of videos there. The last one is how to make good connections to the cell with the least effort.

[@MacMcCabe2456]

Any suggestions for building a 36 volt 100 AH battery for my ezgo golf cart ? Thanks. Great videos

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

David Poz learned some lessons about that. Check out his videos on the subject. The first time he tried it it didn’t work out and he made some corrections. He might not be all the way there but it should improve your understanding.

[@marktheunitedstatescitezen185]

Ray , I have a good Question for you , why do you not make any Stand -Up battery Box / Crates for a 16s 3.2v like you build the boxes with the batteries posts up-right , why do you NOT lay you’re batteries down sideways with the battery posts sticking out sideways ? They say the batteries work the same ! If you have time I would love to hear you’re facts on it , because you are 1 of the Top Builders like this !

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Building a vertical battery box doesn’t serve my purpose. If I was wanting to hang the batteries on the wall, I would probably have to do it that way. I’m glad that I don’t. There’s a few reasons. Laying flat. They’re much easier to move with my tractor. I would have to lay it down, if I wanted to swap a Cell out or remove the cells above the cell I wanted to swap. Most important reason is that laying down I can slide them underneath the wall where all of my equipment is mounted. I prefer them laying flat and fortunately that is the configuration that works best for my overall system. It is kind of odd to think about, the bottom cells having 80 pounds of other cells on top of them but I know that they are manufactured that way routinely.

[@GSKWARE]

Do you have a list of components used? I am searching for a BMS. Thanks!

[@PersonalStash420]

What are you doing with the 18 batteries? I am new and I missed that part. The battery box is very nice.

[@reyonwilson9334]

Hello friend I like your videos. Can you please show how to seares 64 pieces liitokala 3.2volt 30Ah into a 48 volt battery? Would really appreciate your help.

[@ComplexSystemsModelingGroup]

What configuration are you using... I wonder anyone ever considered high voltage with lithium titanate oxide cells? Seem excessive yes but cant you imagine the possibilities?

[@AlionLee-xx9yn]

Recently I wanted to buy a Seplos Mason 3.0 DIY box. Is the price cost-effective and competitive?.

[@gregg2560]

I'm a new subscriber & was considering building my own battery. I was wondering if you'd heard of the 18560 battery store? They are a reseller of EVE LiFePO4 cells.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Not a fan

[@gregg2560]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff Ok. I'm new to this & didn't want to make a blunder. Thanks for the insight.

[@Dutch_off_grid_homesteading]

Heya vlog 78/78 I'm back to the future hope you will upload a new vlog soon

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Welcome to the present. So many things have happened this year but I think that soon things will arrive at the new normal.

[@typxxilps]

the apex and the seplos V16 are the same which you can check on the pcb version numbers, but only those V16 boards or what they call the new BMS with display and bt support, or better app support . Those had been released in late september 2022. Work great so far except the weak balancing capabilities . I will have to add a neey 4th generation active smart balancer with the super cap that pushes 4 A from cell to cell. But I bet it will become a mess, the wiring situation with then 32 cables.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Why do you need an active balancer?

[@john_in_phoenix]

Yes, the insistence of using an active balancer has always confused me. Even with "grade B" cells, I have never needed one as long as I top balanced.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@john_in_phoenix exactly but the idea has been loudly supported in some corners.

[@niffrig]

@@john_in_phoenix I think if you are not using matched cells then it might be necessary if one cell runs up 3.65 V faster than the other 16 cells

[@john_in_phoenix]

@@niffrig You should not charge to 3.65v unless you are top balancing.

[@mrknight2039]

You probably have covered this already but what bms do you use and do you have any links. Thanks

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Seplos 48200 or Apex 48200 [e-mail] use my name.

[@zekeboz5533]

Have not seen any inverter updates in awhile.. are you still planning on using them or just building batteries?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Stay tuned. Won’t be long now. A dozen sidetracks pulled me every which way.

[@renewyers4699]

Hi Ray can I ask u the cost of your Seplos BMS and what AMPS it can do.cheers from Aust Vic. Rene

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Delivered to my door the 48v 200a Seplos with Bluetooth costs 270 usd. The original ones I used without Bluetooth were 225. I’ll price the Apex from Jenny Wu next time I need one.

[@anothercasualobserver8764]

Howdy Ray! Do you build these battery banks for others? How would a fella acquire one of these from you? Thanks!

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I hope my videos help others to successfully build their own systems but if I was trying to generate an income I would still be building 10,000,000$ homes. I’ve been placing far more value on time versus money, so I only do the most interesting things I can whenever possible. Being a manufacturer is not on that list. Helping others to gain energy independence definitely is on the list.

[@MariaM-ms1mk]

I want the battery

[@stephan.scharf]

Maybe closed box looks nicer with invisible mounted hinges?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Sure but is it worth the effort? Is it not already beautiful?

[@stephan.scharf]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff HaHa! You are right Ray.

[@silverstone7778]

Why aren't you using the supplied spring washers (I believe they are DIN 127B)? I was planning on using the conical washer DIN 6796 (similar to Belleville washer). Granted the flange nut wouldn't grip as good, but are you allowing for any thermal expansion/vibration if you don't put any spring/conical washer? I find that's weird, since I believe you used (maybe in another video) for the sense wire

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I explain my reasons in the video. I’ve also explained it in several others. Best of luck with your project and keep watching.

[@silverstone7778]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff i probably missed that part 🙄. I think I'll put din 6796 conical washer in my battery though

[@typxxilps]

37:48 how is that nut with the claws called you had used to put the cells under pressure ? I had not seen that before and seems to work perfectly compared to the ordinary nut i have used. Had not seen that before in your battery built videos.

[@typxxilps]

DIN 6930 most likely called claw nut

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

They are called serrated nuts and they are included with all the cells I have purchased.

[@jamesbsa6450]

@typxxilps the special nut with claws to bite into the wood, is called a T-nut.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@jamesbsa6450 oh, silly me! I didn’t go look at the timestamp and so I assumed the wrong thing. Thanks James. Yes that is a T nut and I meant to show on the video that when you install those you drive them in with a hammer. It is best to put a heavy sledgehammer on the inside of the wood box to absorb the blow to help drive the T nut and lessen the stress on the joints of the wooden box. The T nut that I used is for the 3/8 inch threaded rod and required a 29/64 inch drillbit to be perfectly sized. At least that’s my memory of it. I’ll try to remember to confirm that when I’m back in my shop.

[@mwolrich]

Ray, been 6 months since your last video.. even if you have no battery content, we’d like to hear from you 👍✅

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thank you sir. Won’t be much longer. Everything is going well.

[@hicksonb]

Hey Ray, hope all is ok

[@zxrjimmy1]

Miss the videos, hope everything is OK

[@bwilson948]

Where is you project now?

[@peterking1134]

Anything on the build coming our way soon??

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I’m sorry my friend. Life has seriously gotten in the way. I hope it settles down soon. Thanks for thinking of me.

[@peterking1134]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff - I hope things go better for you in the near future!!

[@9111logic]

As a token of “thank you” for all the precious information that you’ve been giving us, here is the almost finished exact replica of your lifepo4 Battery Container built religiously as per your instructions with rabbets, glue and pins. My only small variations are in the six BMS pillars where I have fitted smaller studded inserts one of which protruding enough to avoid contact with the dreaded components on the PCB, and the way I fitted the hidden piano hinges where I used the router in order to embedded them. Once again many thanks, not just for this, but also for all other valuable info about the full construction, charging, testing etc including the usage of the special conductive paste. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGWccpR_h6ymosU

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Effing awesome and thanks so very much.

[@marktheunitedstatescitezen185]

Ray , I have a bulging battery 3.2v 280Ah It was the main negative on a bank of 16s in series AliExpress battery the problem is I’ve bought from different suppliers not sure who it was from and I don’t think it’s really warranted ! “ what can I do with this battery “ ? It’s bulging on both sides and it was under compression when it bulged “ ! I just ripped down the battery kinda like what you do but not on the high skill as you have ! The main negative battery ! Junk ? Once it’s bulging what can be done “ Master of battery banks “ ?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I have no experience with this Mark. Sorry

[@ricardophelps6323]

Can't find your discussion on logic of compression? You seem to go to great lengths to compress the cells but is this really necessary...

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Several times I have discussed why I restrain the battery cells. These cells expand when they are charged, and if we fail to restrain that expansion, they will grow over time. The manufacturer recommends compressing these cells in order to increase their cycle life. The larger problem that I see with allowing them to expand uncontrolled, is that if they are allowed to expand the only thing that will be restraining, that will be the bus bars. I don’t want the bus bars to put force onto the terminals which can cause damage to the cells where they connect to the terminals. Flexible bus bars will not help with this unless you go all the way to using wire cabling instead of busbars. Far better approach that has been proven out time and again by multiple users of the technology is simply restrain the cells so that they can’t continue to grow overtime. Other KZbinrs have experimented with letting them act on their own, but they all come back around to restraining the cells what I do with my cell I have described several times as simply giving them restraint at a level of a warm hug from your mother. Just enough to keep them from growing without actually squeezing them. I use one Newton meter of force on the nuts.

[@ricardophelps6323]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff Okay that makes sense, it's more about not damaging the cell internals due to terminal strain than worrying about if the cells will expand uncontrollably. On the CATL 280Ah spec sheet I have they say to restrain for at least the first 6 months or 180 cycles.

[@fordilac]

It has been awhile my friend, you ok?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I am. Life got, shall we say, interesting. It’s all quite good but has been quite demanding and time consuming. It will settle down soon I think.

[@livingthedream1717]

That is what i cant find😂 can you send it please?

[@jamesbsa6450]

@ray builds cool stuff Thanks again for the amazing build tutorial and yoyr wealth of knowledge and experience, not to mention paitient and kind demeanor. I ❤ the way you take time going into so many details. I learn so much from watching! Ordering the self centering pilot bit set! I didnt know what i have been missing all these years! Would love to help you on your projects or meet up someday 🤠! Would you be willing to email me sometime?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

My email is available on the about tab of my channel.

[@jamesbsa6450]

Ray, the about tab for you in my YT only shows your channel address, I'm about to place an order with Jenny Wu and had a few questions before I order. LMK how I might reach you?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@jamesbsa6450 rayfromtejasatgmaildotcom

[@crinabobo7412]

Hello, have not seen any videos for 6 months? Are you ok? Any updates with price on cells. Seems prices going down very fast.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Nice to see the prices coming down a bit. I just finished the 18th and final battery for the two systems. I expect to be making some more progress soon and will document it when it occurs. Sorry for the delays.

[@crinabobo7412]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff ray Can a Victron Bmv 712 be used to monitor a battery and have no BMS for the cells. Charging amd discharhing being controlled 100% by Victron Products, like charge controllers and battery monitor?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@crinabobo7412 you will definitely need a BMS

[@RolandOfGileadOnYT]

Nooo, the hinges should go on the inside! :)

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

😂😂😂

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

If you put them on the inside and do it in a way that it would actually open, then the small door would also need a limiter or it would flop all the way open onto the power cable. I thought it through.

[@RolandOfGileadOnYT]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff That box is nice, having the other flange on the inside would look even better! :) Don't show this to woodworkers. :p :p

[@basspig]

I'm just flabbergasted it where people get the money to build these batteries. I built just three of them and I had to finance it because it was 11,000.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

The price of one Tesla power wall battery and they have a little less capacity.

[@pau1phi11ips]

@basspig I'd need to use finance to build one tbh, never mind 16!

[@kevinwaller4871]

When are you going hot?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

When I come up for air. I am involved in so many different things right now and so many things have happened in the last year. It’s just crazy.

[@user-cc8xc5ec6o]

Good day to you Ray. I don't understand why youtube "unsubscribes" me at times and why it doesn't show me as a subscriber when I comment, anyway i'm back again and resubscribed. I just received 16 LF280K cells from Docan, and although I specified EVE manufacture, the cells only have "Docan Power" labeling. The QR scans to read 04QCB76840700JD690006272, however the numbering beside the QR code differs with the last 4 digits being 5813, not the 6272 that the scanner attributes to the QR image. I haven't been able to get the internet to tell me what those codes mean. Did your EVE manufactured cells have EVE labeling? Do you think I have been sent clones?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

There are no such things as clones. There are only a very few manufacturers of these prismatic cells. The layout of the terminals and location of the relief valve are identifying features. Did you work with Jenny Wu?

[@user-cc8xc5ec6o]

Yes, I did buy through Jenny after hearing you speak well of your dealings with her. I was just surprised to not see any evidence of the manufacturer EVE. Did any of your EVE cells have any EVE labels?@@RayBuildsCoolStuff

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@user-cc8xc5ec6o no, not from any supplier.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

If you look back at the videos I did on cells from EEL SFK and others, you will see that the only labels are applied by the reseller, not the manufacturer. This applies to the cells from EVE and CATL.

[@hugzy3200]

Hello. Hope all is well. Im about to buy 4 cells from jenny wu and im trying to ask if the cells are compressed and tested at factory but she only says the cells are tested from eve factory. Price is 50€ per cell ship to door.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I test my own cells and haven’t had a problem with Jenny’s cells. Sounds like a great price.

[@gleno2008]

Hey Ray is jenny wu still legit? I got the email from your video, snd I'm talking to her love your work man , your a fantastic person , and , watching your videos, helps me relax,. Great to see your videos ars so interesting

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Jenny Wu is still a wonderful person. Hard working and honest and focused on helping people get what they need.

[@hrenes]

I hope you will nor take 'to fire it up' too litterally :)

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@CET675]

What that heck are you doing this early

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Old men get up early or maybe Ben Franklin was right about the whole early to bed and early to rise thing. I'm going with the old man hypothesis.

[@CET675]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff well, either way enjoy your future self.cheers

[@CET675]

I just want to say thank you, I live just down the road from you in the Alamo city. Since I started watching your channel. I have learned how much patience I have to have watching your videos. It took a little getting used to.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I guess people have gotten used to it or gone elsewhere because I don't hear as many complaints. I watch Mortzke on youtube and he turns wrenches on old cars for 2+ hours in his videos and my wife and I still enjoy sharing his world. I admit I'm not as entertaining as him!

[@typxxilps]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff I had to search for that mortzke shop you will not find or might find a motorbike repairshop in Eichenzell , Germany. That channel you might meant is spelled with a S instead of a Z so MORTSKE. I had found that channel only due to another small channel who had thanked the mortzke repair channel also spelled with a Z like you did and so I was able to find that smaller channel which added the keyword repair , so I was able to find the mortzke repair channel via youtube search and I know it must be the right channel cause you mentioned 2+ hours videos and that channel seems to have only such long videos. Will check it out later even though none of these cars do exist here nor existed here. but it is about learning skills from the ground

[@capfisher6626]

Why no videos as of late ??? 10/27/23 3-months ???? WTF Bruh???

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I’m sorry bud. Life has gotten in the way.

[@titlepower]

WHERE IS BOB? THIS VIDEO DESCRIPTION STARTS WITH "THIS IS ABOUT THE LAST...." COINCIDENCE?

[@ONWOTE]

Hello Ray, this is ONWOTE, a manufacturer of PoE and Wireless Security Camera Systems. We sincerely invite you to join us to install and test our camera system. Security is everyone concerned about and you can make an honest review for your viewers. I have emailed you more details and am waiting for your reply. Thanks

[@livingthedream1717]

Hi Ray, is there a way to communicatie easy? I have a few questions for you about building my own solar system. Do you have facebook or instagram?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

If you go to my main page and look at the about information, you will find my email address.

[@livingthedream1717]

Thats what i cant find😂 can you send me your email please?

[@livingthedream1717]

Hi Ray, did you recive my email?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

@@livingthedream1717 sorry, the address is [e-mail]. Not sure how the typo occurred.