We Built a 32 KWh Off-Grid Solar Battery (and it WORKS)

[@dc1544]

I built 4 of those and saved so much money. great job.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! Yeah I also saved a bundle of cash. So much so I want to build another 2 of them once I get my inverters upgraded. 👍🏻

[@sobanidrees2999]

​@@FarmsVilla you should had uploaded a breakdown of each item also is that BMS is pre programmed ??.

[@typxxilps]

be aware that you are violaitng the warranty terms of EVE LFP cells . German users were warned by EVE that the warranty regarding capacity and cycles will get lost if you stack the cells flat. The valve has always to be on top - nothing else and - as EVE said to us - shown in the manual with a cell in a fxiture upright. and on top: insurance will not pay cause you had violated the obligations intentionally. We have had a case of a lfp battery explosion (50 kWh) size and the house is no longer useable, it has become a ruin. I am talking about LF 280K cells from EVE . The family has lost everything and will not get any compensation.

[@FarmsVilla]

I believe the BMS is pre programmed but for 280 amp cells. I will have to do some reprogramming when I get home before hooking them up to the new inverters.

[@dc1544]

@@typxxilps That is great info. I have 4 banks but do not have that case. Mine are on a shelf. I do understand why they do not want them stacked that way.

[@NCislander]

Late to watching your Battery/Inverter upgrade, Very nicely done. I use the same lithium cells. Incredibly powerful & reliable. MPP Solar, Go with what works for you. Proven to be solid setup. Thanks for sharing.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! Next trip back the new inverters and panels are going up. It’s generator season now. 😳🤣

[@Zirrad1]

Thank you! Enjoyable and informative. However! Everything I've read says to never put washers between the battery and the connections. They reduce the surface area (power does not go through the post), and they aren't rated for the amperage and become a source of over-heating and failure.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! I think. 🤣 now I have to do more research and work around the washers on the batteries. Got conflicting info on the washers and went with the info from Seplos but a few people have made similar comments so now I’m having to rethink this. 👍🏻

[@fredlox9088]

​@@FarmsVilla He's right, do not put washer between cells and busbar. When I bought my first Seplos kit 2 years ago, they provided copper washers, but few month later I bought new kits and they were no washers. I did lot's of test and research and th best way if without washer (even more if the washers are not in copper as it will increase the resistance a lot !)

[@FarmsVilla]

@@fredlox9088 thanks for your comment. It has confirmed the decision I was leaning towards based on the comments I have received so far. It means more work but at least I won’t burn the house down. 🤣 I’m also going to be adding smart active balancing to both batteries so not too much of a train smash as I have to remove the nuts anyway.

[@garethevans9789]

@@FarmsVilla Aluminium washers would be more suitable (match the bus bars) and easier to get. I'd also add a drop of Locktight to the nuts (the current isn't running through them). Great video BTW, big battery banks are too damn expensive, and that kit looks decent. With a few tweaks, it can be suited for a boat installation.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you. I'm thinking of using lock nuts. I was impressed with the kit once I got over my disappointment of no washers or instruction manual. 🤣 Really solid steel used for the casing and it all seemed to fit together very well. Seplos do the same kit but in a horizontal version that would be more suitable for a boat install I would think.

[@miloszenko]

Greetings from Poland. Great job 😀

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! Greetings from Italy. 😊

[@craig5365]

The washers always go on top of the busbar. Otherwise, the washers carry ALL the current before it gets to the busbar. The washer spreads the pressure from the nut onto the busbar, also helping the nut from coming undone with, for example, split washers, where vibration is present to stop the nut or bolt rotating

[@typxxilps]

washer adds resistance if not mounted on top.

[@garethevans9789]

I'm suprised they didn't use lock nuts with the kit.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thanks for your comment. I think I have concluded that I will be removing all the washers when I get home. 😊 Thankfully the batteries are not connected to the inverters yet.👍🏻

[@FarmsVilla]

That makes sense! I will remove the washers when I add in the balancers next trip home.

[@errcl65]

Torque (i use 5.5nm) and blue loctite all the nuts. Sharpie to mark the nuts for future inspection. No washers on any bus bars.

[@kevinmatthews2620]

it always impresses me how you manage to run 2 houses off of your modest system,kudos to you, hopefully the new batteries will give you a sensible safe buffer :) :)

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you Kevin! I hope this upgrade will make a huge difference especially during winter. It should also allow us to relax our energy monitoring duties a whole lot too. 😁👍🏻 Especially when I upgrade the inverters to 12kw and use the existing system exclusively to run the borehole pump, pool and spa.

[@ErickandJennyInSpain]

Hi, can you put up a link to the site you bought everything from. Thanks

[@FarmsVilla]

@@ErickandJennyInSpain if you go and watch my next solar battery video the links are on that one. 👍🏻

[@p.goonan7569]

Excellent video. Look forward to inverters installation.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! Based on all the comments on this video I have a bit more work to do on the batteries before I hook them up to the new inverters. 👍🏻😊

[@Sidicas]

14:58 No, what goes between the batteries is there to prevent the cells from wearing through each other when shaken like in an RV. Not really needed for a home setup but you never know if you might repurpose them someday.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thanks for clarifying. still learning about these kits. 👍🏻😊

[@rdvanbuuren]

Looks like there was a spark around 38:50. Any idea what it was caused by?

[@FarmsVilla]

@@rdvanbuuren no idea. I didn’t see a spark so will have to go and watch now. 😊

[@1mrgraphix]

I hope you post a contract for the battery box soon as I have 32 cells needing boxes. I am in the USA and hard to find that are not over priced thanks great job with the batteries

[@FarmsVilla]

@@1mrgraphix Thank you! I will be putting out a short video hopefully tonight with contact details for the batteries as well as the inverters. 👍🏻

[@markc1662]

Great video and information. Please provide links to the batteries, cases, and inverters. Thanks!

[@FarmsVilla]

@@markc1662 thanks Mark. I will add the links to the video description in the near future

[@Premier-Media-Group]

yes, please!

[@FarmsVilla]

@@markc1662 mark I am about to drop a short video that will give you all the details you need. 👍🏻

[@a2cryss]

I was looking into the rack mount version of this because I read that vertically stacking the cells was not good because the bottom cells would be compressed unevenly compared to the top cells.

[@FarmsVilla]

I Have had conflicting advice on this from a lot of different people. Too late now these are the ones I have 🤣

[@rozarijorodin]

Hello... old inverter no need communication with LFP battery and BMS... you just need LFP battery with good BMS and plug it in... If you need any help in the future, let me know where I can contact you...

[@mindbender50]

Have problems replying in comments here so this may be a re-post .. Watch andys off grid garage and look for neey .... 4 amp balancer.. The rest are cheap or insufficient 1 amp will not keep up 4a and up will do fine.. I use 4 amp.. Dont go cheap on this tool.. Also the unit you have I believe has a passive balancer which will takes months if at all to initially get you up to balance and that's if it can overcome the balancing when charging/discharging process... Andy is the best resource...

[@FarmsVilla]

Yeah I watch Andy quite a bit. Although he almost put me off this Seplos kit. 🤣 I think I will be trying a few different balancers over the coming months to see which one work the best.

[@mindbender50]

@@FarmsVilla the seplos kit is fine andy is a bit dramatic :)

[@FarmsVilla]

@@mindbender50 so far I think the Seplos kit is great. Andy is very dramatic! 👍🏻🤣

[@DCAutogen]

I got the Neey 10amp balancer. Great unit. As I have 4 of these kits, I wanted to top balance ASAP. $500 to make sure all 64 cells where balanced prior to commissioning gives you peace of mind.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@DCAutogen yeah I have just purchased 2 balancers but they are only 1 amp. Think I will need to get higher amp balancers in future. Was lured into the 1 amp balancers as they have Bluetooth and an app. 😳😂 they were only £50 each so not a major train smash. I will leave them balancing for a few days before hooking them up to my new inverters. Hopefully they should balance in that time as all the cells are within a few mv of each other.

[@chrisstrachan23]

I'm curious Boet...Where in Italy is your farm? I'm in Sardinia and am considering doing my own DIY solar project.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@chrisstrachan23 down south in puglia. Closest airport is brindisi

[@cyberjunkynl]

Thanks for the video very inpiring, but I myself would not wear a watch with metal band with prying through the bus bars at the end to avoid risk of shorting stuff... Or am I to cautious?

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! You make a very good point actually. 👍🏻😊 Duly noted.

[@mindbender50]

I think you missed the heat transfer gummy blue pad that goes between the BMS Aluminum heat sink and the case.. Your suppose to remove the BMS then place the blue gummy pad on the aluminum radiator then reinstall.. this helps the BMS disperse heat from the electronics. Also I think you are suppose to put a long yellow insulating sheet lengthwise in between the two 8 cell rows to separate the cells.. The blue casing on the cells can easily wear off and the shielding is actually a cell conductor that can be dangerous..

[@FarmsVilla]

@@mindbender50 thanks for your comment. I did place the epoxy separator between the 2 banks of cells. I will check for the blue pad between the BMS heatsink and case when I am home again before I connect the batteries to the inverters. These are Seplos kits rebranded and did come more assembled than the seplos kits so hopefully the heat transfer pad is already installed. 👍🏻

[@mindbender50]

@@FarmsVilla I have the same setup exactly... mine did not have the blue pad in place(and the BMS was already installed) hopefully its not a problem for you to get the pad in if its missing.. Also I had to use a active balancer to get the cells top balance afterwards otherwise a single runaway cell was shutting down the whole battery prematurely.. One battery can charge faster and hit the 3.55v bms high voltage cutoff but the others lagged behind(were still at 3.3v) so I was not getting full capacity till I did this.. I used a neey active balancer and set it to balance when over 3.45volts and had a Wanptek High Power Laboratory stabilized power supply charger. I set the charger at 56v 20 amp current and let it run till the bms tripped.. Then I let the bms reset and set the charger to 56.8volts(3.55 per cell) and current limited to 70ma's it trickle charged for a day and the neey balancer brought them into top balance at 56.8..(no bms trips occurred since the trickle charge was so low the individual cells had no chance to run away before the balancer corrected). Then all cells were at the same point on the charge curve and all synced .... Also you need to set up the BMS parameters to your liking in the software with a pc.. Hope this helps..(sorry for long winded reply I went through all this heartache to get mine going)

[@FarmsVilla]

No need to apologise! Your info is very helpful so thank you. I will certainly look into everything you have shared and make sure I get the cells perfectly balanced before getting them all hooked up. I will need to do some research into the neey balancer as I assumed the BMS would take care of this. Guess I also need to get hold of a decent power supply charger as well. 👍🏻

[@FarmsVilla]

@@mindbender50 I need to pick your brain. 😊 currently looking into active balancers. I have an option of going for a 1amp or 5amp balancer. The 1 amp has Bluetooth and an app. 🤣 do you think it will be ok to use a 1amp balancer on these batteries?

[@vpchelko]

Finnally I see more or less budget solution - 32 300ah lifepo4 cells with nkon 2400 euro + BMS 100-150 euro + DYI battary box - really nice solution

[@FarmsVilla]

@@vpchelko the cases with BMS came in at around $500 each. I am really happy with them so far. 👍🏻

[@vpchelko]

@@FarmsVilla i.e. the price of a metal box is about 300 dollars - perhaps for aesthetics

[@FarmsVilla]

Also for saving of space. I want to add another 2 in future so giving me a total of 64Kwh. Should take up roughly the same amount of floor space as the existing 25Kwh of lead acid.

[@vpchelko]

​@@FarmsVilla yeas, the space... well, for that you need to get rid of lead batteries,

[@typxxilps]

a deadly mistake cause in germany a family has lost its home after an LFP battery explosion caused by LFP cells treated wrong by build a staple of cells. The valve has to be always on top. Eve warned german owners to treat cells properly. Insurances will not pay in case of any damage. The family is now without a house and home.

[@chrislewis3247]

good work

[@FarmsVilla]

@@chrislewis3247 thanks Chris! Just need to get them connected to the new inverters when I get back home.

[@houseofancients]

These are rebadged seplos diy 280 standing cases and bms Solid stuff.. Using 8 of the rack mount , together with sunsynk/dryer hybrid.. You'll be a happy chappy with these.. Do make sure you top balance the cells before putting it in production, otherwise you'll miss some capacity

[@FarmsVilla]

@@houseofancients yeah I didn’t want the hassle of importing from China to Italy. Customs clearance a duty. Got them from Poland so no issues. Not worried that they are rebadged. 👍🏻

[@JR-xw5dk]

I wonder what the idle draw is for the inverters? There is, was a battery that had screws very close to traces on the two pcbs on top. I donot think your design has that. I am glad you have your energy sorted out. Now time to get an electric car.

[@FarmsVilla]

I will check what the stated idle draw is in the specs and let you know. Real test will be when I upgrade the inverters and connect the batteries in the next few weeks. A small electric car to run into town and to the airport will be a great addition. We hardly go anywhere apart from that so a long range not really important. Hopefully this winter we won’t need to use the generator as much. 😁

[@JR-xw5dk]

@@FarmsVilla I saw where the new 120v or split phase(2 120v) ( I do not recall which) with an idle consumption over 100 ( maybe 110) watts where the older versions was around 70 watts. I hope yours is lower. Also do your new batteries have a pre charge resistor? Where you do not have a high in rush of current. It is my understanding that it can damage the inverter. Some use a large resistor, 48v bulb (with a bulb you know when the capacitors are charged), lead pencil. I have seen one bms will not turn until you have charged the capacitors. I hope things have gone well.

[@HouseboatRenovations]

putting stamped washers on top of the posts would worry me. They are not flat (stamped), and different alloy. The goal is alway contact area with high current. would use a thermal camera after charging / use to loo, for hot spots. Also rings and jewelery are a no-no when doing battery assy.

[@FarmsVilla]

Thanks for your comment. Yeah I didn't even think about the ring or watch when I got stuck in. 😌 Will do better when I take it all apart to remove the washers and install active balancers on my next trip home.👍🏻

[@garethevans9789]

Good point. A wedding ring on a hot day is pushing the resistance needed to pass through the skin. You wouldn't need 50v to become dangerous.

[@FarmsVilla]

Yep I have to lose my cavalier attitude towards electricity. Especially when dealing with the amperage on these batteries.

[@MrSpj007]

Hi i like the video you made but i miss the info where did you buy what i'dd like to see the links thanks in advance

[@FarmsVilla]

Thank you! I will be adding the links in the description shortly. 👍🏻

[@metamud8686]

28:54 you say YS-5 "goes to the positive", but you clearly show it going to the *negative* battery terminal!!! At 29:24 you show us again how it (YS-5) is mounted to the *negative* terminal.

[@FarmsVilla]

Sorry if my muttering to myself confused you.😊

[@bentheguru4986]

The biggest issue I see with vertical stacked batteries is that all the weight above pushes down on the lower ones, that weight is certainly pushing limits. I would stand the pack with loose terminals then tighten afterwards as there will be a fair bit of pressure on the them as the stack settles.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@bentheguru4986 good point! I will check when back but I did compress the cells when they were lying flat. That is why I opted to use the bus bars that came with the kit as they are able to flex.

[@typxxilps]

the manufacturer EVE does not allow that stacked cell design. The valve always has to be on top. Any other build like stacked violate the warranty terms and conditions. THe cell will not achieve the capacity and the cycles. And it will be a risk cause in germany a 50 kWh LFP battery has exploded and destroyed the house fully.

[@Tanker_Wanker]

"Do i look like a scale?" 😂

[@FarmsVilla]

🤣 Exactly! 👍🏻

[@edc1569]

Really hope your watch bracelet isn’t metallic, take off all jewellery when working with these cells. I’d wrap some insulating tape around that spanner, but we all choose what risks we’re willing to take! Looks like a great system.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@edc1569 duly noted. To be honest I didn’t even think about it at the time but have been educated by a number of people making similar comments. 😊 I will try to be better next time. 🤣

[@kevinmatthews2620]

is that a screwfix socket set i spy in the red blow moulded case ?? :) :)

[@FarmsVilla]

Nope Snap-On 😊

[@jakobfindlay4136]

6:53 Huh not just lithium but lithium iron phosphate, decent price plus the safer chemistry

[@FarmsVilla]

@@jakobfindlay4136 yeah I was really chuffed with the price. Kinda wishing I bit the bullet and just ordered 4 to begin with. 👍🏻

[@vpchelko]

I expect to see in video DYI box for 32 cells... these box not cheap

[@pedroorta4426]

How to buy one of these kit?

[@FarmsVilla]

If you watch my next video I give the links and contact details on that one. 👍🏻

[@fpoison]

Which Polish company did you use to order? I'm looking to do the same and I don't wanna risk China :(

[@FarmsVilla]

Hi there I am about to drop a quick update video with all the details on where I sourced the kit from. Should drop in the next half hour or so. it will be a short video giving all the details. 👍🏻

[@mannydelrio1]

Info on where you got them from ?

[@FarmsVilla]

I will be doing a short video in the next few days with details on how and where I sourced the kit. Along with contact details of who I dealt with. 👍🏻

[@JOATMOFA]

@@FarmsVilla You should've told the Polish battery company that you will increase their sales, but you want a commission! (sort of a coupon with your channel name)

[@FarmsVilla]

@@JOATMOFA tried that but they didn’t seem interested. As long as they take care of me when I order the next 2 I will be happy. 😊

[@HybridBattery]

Manuel from Barcelona? Fawlty Towers fan?

[@FarmsVilla]

What gave it away? 🤣🤣👍🏻

[@RedBatteryHead]

Nice kit. Please use HV gloves next time on the busbar stage 😏

[@FarmsVilla]

Not sure if I will use gloves as the voltage is only about 52v. Will remove my watch and ring though. 👍🏻

[@RedBatteryHead]

@@FarmsVilla 60VDC is labeled Deadly 😉

[@FarmsVilla]

@@RedBatteryHead good thing it’s only 52 volts then. 🤣 but I take your point. I’ve never been scared of electricity since I was a kid. Got zapped a few times it has to be said though. 👍🏻

[@pr5991]

When you stand these vertically, the cells will lie on their sides, that is what most annoying, there are serve rack mounts that stack up horizontally and cells stays upright as those were shipped from the supplier.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@pr5991 I’m not too worried that they are lying on their side to be honest. Don’t think it will cause any issues. Hopefully I am not proven wrong in time to come. 😊

[@JOATMOFA]

@@FarmsVilla Nope, nothing wrong with them lying on their side - won't damage anything!

[@FarmsVilla]

@@JOATMOFA that was my thinking. After all people a lot smarter than the internet designed these right? 🤣👍🏻

[@JOATMOFA]

@@FarmsVilla As an electrical engineer - LiFePO4 cells contain no liquid electrolyte which means they are immune from leaking.

[@FarmsVilla]

@@JOATMOFA that’s one of the reasons I went for this type of cell. 👍🏻

[@tombrownca]

Wouldn’t it be advisable from a design standpoint to have air gaps around each battery for a cooling factor? Anyone?

[@FarmsVilla]

@@tombrownca this will have to be answered by someone far smarter than me! 🤣👍🏻

[@tombrownca]

@@FarmsVilla thank you for posting. I learned some things, was educated, by watching!

[@FarmsVilla]

@@tombrownca glad to hear you got something out of the video. 👍🏻😊 stay tuned for the next one when I finally upgrade the inverters and panels and connect to the new batteries. Hope to drop that video,if all goes well, on the 10th of November.

[@odeywilliams7596]

Should have put the busbars directly on the terminals instead of using the washer in between the terminals and the busbars

[@FarmsVilla]

Thanks for your comment. Yeah I've come to that conclusion now. 👍🏻 Also going to add a balancer solution to both batteries so I have to open them up again anyway. I will remove the washers when I get home next.

[@JOATMOFA]

Ah, sarcasm - the international language of intellectuals!

[@FarmsVilla]

Greetings my fellow intellectual! 🤣

[@EGbattEnergy]

Now a 15kwh battery even cheaper. Reasonable price only based on the time you making the purchase

[@FarmsVilla]

I was happy with the price. Having to put it together myself was no issue. Will be looking to get another 2 of them once the whole system is upgraded. Maybe I can get the next 2 even cheaper. 😊

[@sciglassblower]

I would not trust batteries from a company that labels them completely wrong! Voltage is not 304AH, Capacity is not 3.2V and LFP is Lithium Iron Phosphate Not Lithium Ion! I hope they keep working good for you!

[@FarmsVilla]

🤣 I just noticed that after your comment! Incorrect label won't put me off. Will need to see how they perform. 👍🏻

[@JohnnyThomas-ps6mp]

Did it not come with an instruction manual? lol. Oh, wait, he said that 12 times. lol

[@FarmsVilla]

🤣🤣🤣 nope no instruction manual. 13 times now lol

[@mick00000000002]

Just join. You sound Australian?

[@FarmsVilla]

Nope South African. 😊

[@Scat.original]

AS OF 10-16-2024 NO LINKS

[@FarmsVilla]

@@Scat.original if you watch the next short update video the links are in that video

[@anietienssien6643]

Having a chain around your neck while working over batteries may not be a good idea.

[@FarmsVilla]

yeah that seems to be the consensus in the comments. Will do better when I pull the batteries apart to remove washers and install an active balancer. 👍🏻

[@armandvermeulen2947]

You sound South African...?

[@FarmsVilla]

Guilty as charged! 😊

[@typxxilps]

do not build these upright towers if you have a brain you can use. Why ? EVE, the manufacturer of the LF280K and MB31 and more LFP has warned german EVE cell owners to use the cells in such towers cause they violate the rules for any waranty. Read the 18 pages manual. If you ignore the rules you can not achieve the capacity the cells have and you can not achieve the amount of cylces like LF 280 K usual 6000 cycles. The battery will not achieve any way close to that Finally in case of a cell blowing the valve will not work as designed and cause furrther damages. On top of alll the insurance will not pay cause you have violated the warranty obligations. Therefore do not build the upright towers unless you have a cell manufacturer that will allow that. I doubt you will find one cause I had bought such upright power tower when I heard about the news cause in germany a house had exploded after a LFP diy battery had gone off. The house is crap and no one can live there and even the investigation for the cause were close to impossible. I have returned my case (a seplos mason tower) and got my money back cause the manufacturer had not warned the buyers that it would violate the cell warranty. And it is eady to understand cause inside the cell is a liquid electrolyte which you can hear if you turn a cell upside down .

[@FarmsVilla]

@@typxxilps thanks for your comment. It is quite concerning so I will do some more research on this subject. 👍🏻

[@bloodynorahvan2203]

ffs wear some gloves man

[@FarmsVilla]

@@bloodynorahvan2203 why? It’s only 50 odd volts. 😊

[@pr5991]

52v is safe

[@webmastercaribou7570]

Nice job

[@FarmsVilla]

@@webmastercaribou7570 thank you. 😊 I will be digging into them again to remove the washers and add active balancing to both when I get home. 👍🏻