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Solar PV battery options

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Comments

  • #992
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    I don't have a hybrid inverter, I'll be looking at a Sofar3000 like yourself so no too concerned on inverter/battery chat.

    I would like the BMS to let me know what battery SOC is though...

    Making the battery purchase tomorrow



  • #993
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Is this the BMS to go for along with the Oye 16pack 200amp 3.2v LiFePo4 pack?


    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002853398573.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.2.62f66c8fuag2oe



  • #994
    DrPhilG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,907 ✭✭✭✭DrPhilG


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117941115#Comment_117941115

    None of those AliExpress BMS will give to you full communication with a Solis inverter. Not sure about the Sofar.



  • #995
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117941048#Comment_117941048

    Bms- inverter communication is very useful, I'd nearly say essential for a easy life, especially with the sofar in default mode, saves a lot of headaches as it's only guessing the SOC.


    It's workable, ran it for 6 months, but then put in a bms that can communicate.



  • #996
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Okay, I'm sold so on the seplos bms, any handy recommended place to purchase?



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  • #997
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    ..and is this the guy, 200amp seems overkill if my bottleneck is the Sofar 3kW max in/out but I can't see a 100amp version?

    https://www.seplos.com/sale-13706728-48v-150a-16s-lithium-iron-phosphate-lifepo4-bms-monitoring-system-battery-management-system-with-lcd.html



  • #998
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    I don't have one but @championc knows more and there is someone in the UK that imports them too and has them in stock.


    (Found him on the sofar automation Facebook page)



  • #999
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Thanks for all the replies, so what BMS do you use as we will end up with a very similar setup as I'll be using a Sofar3000 also?



  • #1000
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117941900#Comment_117941900

    I went for the zeva BMS, I didn't know about the seplos one when I ordered it.



  • #1001
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    'suppose I can be the seplos guinea pig then, zeva was the one Phil went for too from memory



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  • #1002
    championc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,454 ✭✭✭championc


    Rather than installing my Seplos now, I'm waiting for my second 26 batteries to arrive and I'll do the whole lot at the same time, as I plan to make my pack into a 16s2p setup like the Dr, rather than going with two separate strings.



  • #1003
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    Zeva is Australian and the guy is about to shu the company down. But seems like a good piece of kit. The Aliexpress options were DALY and HEYO. Is Seplos superior to both? From a quick glace it seems that Seplos can speak the CANBUS protocols for a number of inverters and Pylontech.



  • #1004
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    AliExpress.PNG

    For the fence sitters, PWOD has a great sale on: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002312465259.html

    oye also goes on sale tomorrow at 1287: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001083766967.html

    I suppose there isn't anything to choose between the two and I should go with PWOD?



  • #1005
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117942731#Comment_117942731

    the communication is key to making life simple.

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117942746#Comment_117942746

    Mine x2, unkel was from pwod, phil and championc was from oye i think - and they all came in the same kind of box with the same packaging, final leg was ups.. i dont think there is much difference in them.



  • #1006
    irishchris
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,276 ✭✭✭irishchris


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117942746#Comment_117942746

    Pwod by looks of it has eu stock and fast shipping too. Great price compared to recent times



  • #1007
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    I am a bit sceptical because the delivery time is the same as Oye: Nov 30th.


    BTW I tried to buy the batteries from the PWOD store for 1274 (after Store coupon and Aliexpress coupon). But the amount to pay came to €1034 instead of 1274. Anyone else have this happen to them? I'm afraid the customs bit is getting dropped somewhere and I might end up being liable for it. Or am I looking a gift horse in the mouth?



  • #1008
    irishchris
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,276 ✭✭✭irishchris


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117943572#Comment_117943572

    I had a look and adding to my basket it mentions -271 price adjustment and states "the order has been adjusted to reflect a later collection of vat by the customs"



  • #1009
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    Yes that's what I was afraid of. But I contacted the seller and they say that the price is inclusive of EU customs duties. So are they going to collect the rest later? Gonna send a screenshot to them and ask.


    Update: Made the purchase. Delivery expected: Nov 30.

    Post edited by garo on


  • #1010
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    And the race is on, will Garo's 16 get here first or my 32?????????

    Still have to tell herself I'll be gutting part of the Utility room for the Sofar and batteries😬



  • #1011
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117944517#Comment_117944517

    Did you decide whether to go for 2 separate strings or make one pack paralleled (16s2p)?

    If the paralled you need extra busbars



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  • #1012
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    I haven't decided yet being honest, I also need to look at space and it looks like a config of 32 end to end may not work if I parallel...



  • #1013
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    Lol! Tell her you are building resilience against power cuts and price rises. Plus doing your bit for the environment.

    I was sooo tempted to go 32 but at 4.8kWp I just cannot justify it. My grid import for Dec and Jan combined averaged 10.8 kWh at the day rate. So 10kWh hits the sweet spot. Maybe when I switch to electric hobs and a heatpump.



  • #1014
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117944839#Comment_117944839

    Jumping on this, I will likely go for 16s2p setup, with that in mind should I message seller and get some more bus bars and screws?

    How many would I need and to demonstrate my ignorance would likes of this from AMZ do to make my own?

    EsportsMJJ FEVERWORK 3mm x 15mm x 250mm Copper T2 Cu Metal Flat Bar : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science



  • #1015
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    My strong preference in the first option due to length restrictions on bottom option. (I know only 26batteries in image, ignore, there will be 32 and lengths are correct)

    Is 2.3m option a runner for 16s2p?

    I don't want to get two BMSs as in the next year or so I'll be moving half the batteries to another location to link in with future layout (another array/hybrid inverter)


    battery layout.JPG




  • #1016
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Also, where did ye guys sort your cables from, preferably fine strand cables for manageability?



  • #1017
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117944934#Comment_117944934

    So I messaged seller on AE and they said they will ship 32 bus bars and 32 sets of screws.

    Is that enough?



  • #1018
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 66,678 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Yep that should be enough if you can connect them all like in your diagrams. In my case I had to fit them in a pattern that fitted in the steel cabinet, so I had to use a couple of cables. I used standard automotive cables, which have a 110A rating, which is plenty


    I ordered 32 more batteries a few weeks ago. Might sell the 16 I currently have if anyone interested, they can PM me with an offer

    My ads on adverts.ie:

    https://www.adverts.ie/member/5856/ads



  • #1019
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117945387#Comment_117945387

    For the cable, Amazon. Can also get terminals/heatshrink there too for them.

    To run a single pack with paralleled pairs of cells, (ie your making a 400ah battery instead of 200)

    You need a pair of bars to make a 400ah cells then you need another 15 to join them all together. So about 47? Bars.

    Be wary of having 2 separate inverters with batteries. It's very likely they will "fight" each other.

    Eg you put the kettle on, each inverter sees that load, so they both respond by generating 2.5kw, then they see a 2.5kw excess and they both shut off.

    I'm not saying it's impossible but it's not straight forward either - I have heard of one person in the UK that has done it with 2 me3000's the second one is a full "manual" mode, and controlled externally via node red. The drawback is there's a bit of a delay for the second inverter to kick in to take up the slack.



  • #1020
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 7,064 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    Cable something like this :

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battery-Starter-Welding-Flexible-Meters/dp/B07KM3HWBY/

    Making your own bus bars should be fine too. I don't see any issue in it.



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  • #1021
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Thanks for those replies, I messaged Seller to add an additional 15 bus bars for free, don't ask won't know.

    I'd rather use pre-made for first venture out into DIY setup.

    Two inverters and two sets of batteries is a 2022+ concern



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