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  • The perfect Aliexpress Lifepo4 order... Well, almost.

    If anyone has been following my posts lately, I've been complaining on how hard it is to get Lifepo4 cells here in the Middle East. While it's pretty easy to get smaller cells online, like Topband 25Ah, or some no-name 13Ah cells, it's a real hassle trying to get the larger cells. I've been...
  • My DIY Portable PSU - Repurposed Li-ion Ebike cells

    Well, it all started out when I saw an Ebike battery pack by the trash can one day while walking home. There were some wires ripped apart, but I though it would be nice to take it home, and repurpose the 18650 cells in it. To my surprise, this was actually a 36v 10ah Li-ion 10s pack using...
  • [Review] Cheap 12v 20Ah Lifepo4 from Aliexpress (with low temp protection)

    [Update] It seems to have low temp charging protection! See my update on this: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/review-cheap-12v-20ah-lifepo4-from-aliexpress-with-low-temp-protection.31939/post-389593 I have recently recieved the 12v 20Ah battery ordered from AliExpress. I got it for $93, and...
  • [RECOMMENDATION] The perfect battery box for DIY 8s EVE 90/105Ah ?

    After a long and frustrating search for a battery box for my DIY 8s pack, I think I've found the best one (for my needs at least). For my solar needs, I am building 2 x 24v Lifepo4 batteries that will be in parallel, each with its own BMS. I'm using EVE LF90K cells. I originally bought some...
  • [Project] Extending EV range by offsetting auxiliary 12v loads using solar

    Well, I have this crazy idea that came up a while ago, and now I'm going forward to implement it. The motivation is like this: We all love solar, many of us like/have EVs. We would love to put some solar power to use in order to extend our EV range. But as some of us know, connecting solar to...
  • WATE 24v 8A Lifepo4 Charger (with a little secret inside)

    Hi there, I just received this 24v 8A Lifepo4 charger that I got from Aliexpress, that will be used for a 24v 40Ah DIY Lifepo4 pack I'm building. This pack will be a replacement for SLA batteries used in a small mobility scooter. The current setup uses a small 24v 2A SLA charger to charge two...
  • Mr. Li 3.2v 40ah Lifepo4 cells from Aliexpress - recommendation and testing

    Hi everyone. Just wanted to share my experience so far with this seller and the cells. Some background: I'm building a DIY 24v 8S Lifepo4 pack for my dad's mobility scooter, to replace the two 12v AGMs. I know that there are other forums for this, but I have learned alot from this forum and it...
  • Nice explanation of common AIO settings (SOL vs SBU etc...)

    I found a nice explanation of common AIO charge/load priority setting (as in MPP/MUST/Voltronic): https://newfield.co.za/2021/09/13/optimising-your-solar-solution/#:~:text=*Please%20note%20there%20is%20a,until%20its%20low%20voltage%20point. At first glance, SOL and SBU look the same, but there...
  • DC-DC Chargers - When do they stop charging?

    Hi. I have a general question about DC-DC chargers. I'm guessing that not all products are alike, but probably work the same: When does a DC-DC charger stop charging the battery to be charged? Is it based on voltage only, or based also on current? For example, if the DC-DC charger sees that the...
  • DC leakage from Grid-tie / Hybrid inverters, a threat?

    Just some thoughts while trying to bring up my system: For European 220-230V single phase AC: I know that when installing an EV charger (EVSE), they sometimes require you to install a (costly) Type B RCD dedicated for the EVSE which can sense DC leakage too. The reason being is that DC currents...
  • Gobelpower.com - these guys are for real!

    I just received my order of 8 x EVE LF105 Lifepo4 cells from Gobel. The order took about a month and half to arrive (to the Middle East, sea shipping, per my request as air freight was too expensive for me). Not bad! They split my order into two packages, I suppose to be within customs weight...
  • JK BMS 200A - One terminal enough for how much current?

    I have the 200A JKBMS for 8S Lifepo. When connecting to the cells, I was wondering how much current one terminal (on each side) could handle? My dilemma is if I should use both terminals on each side with 6 AWG wire each, or if I can get away with using just one terminal with a 4 AWG ? I know...
  • My DC breaker board - OK or redisgn ?

    Hi there. I'm working on my setup for 2 x 24v Lifepo4 (100Ah each) in parallel for a 24v 3k AIO Inverter. I am planning to place this breaker board in a metal enclosure that I already have, so space is somewhat limited. Basically what I have is two 125A DC breakers (one for each battery) going...
  • Using DC optimisers to connect dissimilar panels in series?

    Hey all, I have a somewhat unusual setup and would like to maximize my solar panel output. Currently I have 4x100w panels (2s2p) and 2x455w panels (not in series or parallel). I currently have these connected to a grid-tied microinverter, with 4 separate MPPT ports. But, I now want to connect...
  • Lifepo4 balancing question

    Hi there. I am planning to build an 8S 24v 40ah Lifepo4 pack for a mobility scooter. I am planning to use only 80% capacity as a charge-discharge cycle, for extended pack life. I intend to do this by charging only up to 90% SOC, and discharging to 10%. My question is: Will cell balancing work...
  • Solarman App/Web discrepancy of daily production

    Hi. After much distress with some cheap Aliexpress microinverters, I shelled out some more cash an got a better quality Deye 2000w microinverter that uses the Solarman app and website. I love the amount of detail it gives, but there is one thing that bugs me, and I wonder if others have this...
  • Using only one fuse on a battery with SCC ?

    Hi there. Having seen some of Will's beginner videos and read across his site, I'm a bit confused and would appreciate your help. For example in this video, he uses only one fuse on the battery for the load and the SCC: I understand that you should have a fuse directly on the battery. Is it...
  • Ground-Neutral bonding the inverter, GFCI question

    Hi. I have a 220v AC/12v DC Xijia (CNSPower) 1500w inverter. I'm using it in a portable solar generator setup. The inverter doesn't have ground-neutral bonding, same as most of these types of inverters (Giandel, etc...). The output of the inverter AC socket goes to a small panel box, which...
  • Double post - please delete

    Don't know why the post was sent twice - please delete this...
  • Splitting one panel to two inputs of a micro-inverter, what happens?

    Hi. I have a no-name MPPT micro inverter that is suppose to handle up to 600w. But, it has 2 inputs and each is limited to 300w by the specs. I have a 455w panel, which is too much for a single input. I can confirm that actual open voltage is around 45v and open circuit current is at or above...
  • Mr. McKenic contact cleaner and lubricant -Anyone tried this on DIY battery?

    For my 24v Lifepo4 build, I came across this product: https://mr-mckenic.com/2019/10/23/contact-cleaner-lubricant/ Has anyone tried this on the contact/terminals of their battery? The nice thing about this specific one is that is has (conducting?) lubricant which is supposed to prevent...
  • AIO under-reporting PV amps?

    Hello. I recently got to connecting my PV to my MUST 3kw 24v AIO (PH18-Plus). I have noticed that it's under-reporting PV amps, sometimes as much as 1.5 amps. Overall PV wattage reported also seems to have about 100w missing. How I checked this: 1. Using SolarAssistant, looking at PV amps...
  • JBD BMS 60-80A - Can overcurrent be set by app ?

    Hi. I'm planning a 24v 40Ah Lifepo4 pack. The cells I plan to get state maximum discharge current of 3C. I am considering getting the 80A JBD 8S BMS. my question is can the overcurrent (discharge) protection be set by the app? For example, can I set the 80A to protect at 60A ? Is it common to...
  • Strange crud on new panels - ok to use ?

    I just received 4 x 100w DOKIO rigid (glass) panels. I know that DOKIO is not one of the bigger/well known PV manufacturers from China (as opposed to Longi/Trina/JA etc..), but I got a good deal on them on Aliexpress (11.11 sale) for $106 Shipping included. But I do know that many are happy...
  • Paralleling different capacities - at cell level or pack level?

    Well, it's a long story but I'll try to make it short: After an order fiasco, I'm ending up with 8 x EVE LF90K (90ah) Lifepo4 cells, and another 8 x EVE LF105 (105Ah) cells. I have a 24v all-in-one inverter on order and want to build a battery for it. Although I am a JBD BMS fan, this time I...
  • DIY Lifepo4 battery box disconnect: BMS positive too?

    Hi. I'm building a DIY Lifepo4 battery in a battery box, like this: I will be putting a DC breaker on the top of the battery box, mainly as a disconnect switch, so that when doing maintenance or disconnecting the battery, the terminals won't have voltage (positive side). My question is...
  • Trying to make my DIY setup as safe as possible

    Hi there. I have a small (but a bit complicated) grid-tie DIY solar setup. I have been playing around with solar a bit, just to learn, but now am trying to make my DIY setup as safe as possible, given some constraints. Basically I am using those cheap no-name Chinese micro-inverters (I have...
  • Topband 3.2v 25Ah from BH - Testing and some questions.

    So I saw these Topband at BatteryHookup. Very popular in this forum. The deal was too good so I decided to get me a 4 pack to play with. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with them, but since ordering the 4 pack I ordered another 8. I might build a 12v battery for my UPS, and a 24v for emergency...
  • Where does the load go on this DC circuit breaker?

    Hi. I recently got this type of DC circuit breaker: It's a 2 pole DC breaker, mine is rated for 160ADC, but has same connection drawing as in the picture. I will use it to connect my 24v Lifepo4 battery to my 3k 24v inverter. My question is, where does the load (inverter) go, and where does...
  • JBD Voltage drop when charge disabled?

    Hi. I recently noticed some strange behavior on one of my DIY Lifepo4 batteries, using a 4S JBD: When charge and discharge are enabled, I get the correct voltage at the terminals (using a DMM) as the BMS app states. But when charge is disabled, there is less voltage on the terminals (around half...
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