Solar PV battery options

bullit_dodger · 06-01-2023 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072688#Comment_120072688

I've been giving that very idea a lot of thought, and while it certainly would be convenient to us end users if the "grid was the battery", it doesn't really help the case of smoothing the load throughout the day. It's sort of like us chucking our exports over the fence and letting the grid sort it out. Hawaii is a good example of where solar has "gone too far" :-) When EV's become mainstream and we adopt V2G wider, then we'll be in a better position, but for now I think batteries are the way to go. I realize people may have different opinions there, and that's cool.

I for one applaud that massive bank you have. Thinking the same myself, although perhaps not 40Kwhr - more like 20Kwhr.

slave1 · 06-01-2023 11:51AM

The grid is not a battery, it does not store our exports, it just distributes at easy profit

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 12:34PM

Hi All,

I had intended to order batteries back in October/November but one thing led to another and funds ended up being required for going up/down the chimney :).

I am now ready to order, ordering 32PCS of these. Price is about 2900 euro after vat for the lot. Was going to wait for an offer but it may not come and it will could end up prolonging the whole thing, or the money may end up being spent elsewhere again so not going to hold off.

I am also ordering a Sofar ME3000 to London from tradesparky, my uncle lives there and will bring over in February when he is driving back to Ireland for a few weeks.

What amperage BMS do I need, I am assuming 100A (48V) will do as the Sofar can only charge at 65A anyway, and it is better to slightly oversize the BMS. Does anybody have a link to reputable supplier of AE?

Cheers.

slave1 · 06-01-2023 12:54PM

Might be an idea to get battery cables from the sparky place while you are at it, you'll need two sets, one from SOFAR/DC isolator to BMS and one from BMS to battery pack. If you know you cable runs you might get away with just a single set (one black, one red).

Lots use Seplos BMS on here, I have the 100a and as you said it's 65A so can't see an issue.

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073556#Comment_120073556

Cheers, do you have a link to the supplier you used? Was hoping they would be on AE.

slave1 · 06-01-2023 01:00PM

I got mine in a convoluted way through Facebook (which I don't use) and a phone call, better off through Ali, other's may follow with links

unkel · 06-01-2023 01:17PM

@Evd-Burner - "funds ended up being required for going up/down the chimney :)"

I know exactly what you are saying. I sold a load of batteries, including all the batteries from my car 😮 to pay for the Christmas 😁

You've done your research, all good. All reasonable prices. Lots of knowledge in the forum with the CALBS / ME3000SP combo. And for that reason I would suggest going Seplos BMS. Personally I'm no fan of it, but several forum regulars have loads of experience with these which will greatly help you if you have any issues getting started. PM @championc, he might even have a spare one you could buy

Geeyfds53573 · 06-01-2023 04:11PM

Do wait a week or two there will be sales for the Chinese new year and get a Bluetooth Seplos while you are at it for remote app.

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 06:11PM

Do you have the Bluetooth one? If so any links to where you got it and what the advantages are?

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 06:31PM

What do you all think of this?

US $464.94 40%OFF | LiFePo4 Battery Case 48V DIY Kit Box 16S 150A 200A BMS BT CAN RS485 to Inverter For EVE 280Ah CATL 304 LF 280 Stack type no cell

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqXaP9s

Would make building easier me thinks, I know it will costs me and extra 500 but it would be much mote portable and I could save about 100 to 150 on other tools and parts i wouldn't need.

Would likely not go with calb cells though if I went this case route.

E30M3 · 06-01-2023 06:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075378#Comment_120075378

Shipping is saucy on top!

con747 · 06-01-2023 06:37PM

Duty and vat as well maybe.

unkel · 06-01-2023 07:43PM

Yep duty and VAT too plus customs charges. That adds another 35% or so. On the price plus shipping!!!

I'd rather double the battery for not much more. Also if you want to expand, you'd have to buy the same again, needlessly spending money on another BMS. With just cells, you can parallel them and use the one and only BMS, no matter how big you go

But if you're really keen, Andreas from the off grid garage has built and reviewed several of these

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPDpCfAc_t8

Jonathan · 06-01-2023 07:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073683#Comment_120073683

Red Arrow no longer then? 🚗

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 07:55PM

Screw that case then, will stick with the CALBs. Without the extra 35% I'd consider it worth it.

I love this boards group for all the great active advice. Helps make much better informed decisions.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075681#Comment_120075681

I've Googled, but I still have no idea what the Red Arrow reference means :P

unkel · 06-01-2023 08:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075681#Comment_120075681

Oh no, the Red Arrow is fine, NCT appointment by the end of next month. Couldn't refuse the offer on the batteries though and this gives me the opportunity to do something new, it is after all a hobby these days. Thinking a PHEV battery pack would be perfect for it. Should fit easily enough as I have loads of space, the limited capacity is no problem as this is and was and will be a small range car. Which suits me fine. And of course the most important thing - cost. The Red Arrow must stay a low budget EV. The big benefit of PHEV packs is that they are of no interest to people building power walls, so they are the only type of lithium car batteries that are decent value for money.

If anyone hears of one for sale for a very reasonable price, please contact me. Any PHEV pack considered, but ideally a BMW pack out of a 530e / 740e. These are high voltage, but have 6 internal packs in series, which I would split up to 3 in series and 2 in parallel, for a voltage that is suitable for the car and also for my current on board charge point. Which is anywhere between 120V and 240V really

spose · 06-01-2023 08:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120073579#Comment_120073579

have bought from AE and direct from seplos…link below. Would recommend going direct to seplos. In the event of any issues have better chance of them replacing it than you do with AE.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Seplos-50A-100A-150A-200A-24V_1600246972725.html

championc · 06-01-2023 09:23PM

The best solution for battery cell monitoring is to use the Seplos-MQTT script and combine that with all other data into HA or Node-Red.

Why would anyone want two, three, more apps and dashboards. Keep everything in the one

Geeyfds53573 · 06-01-2023 10:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075378#Comment_120075378

wow a €16 box from Homebase would do you 😂 - I have seen the Bluetooth Seplos for sale on Ali I don’t have one - but ask when buying direct from Seplos

Evd-Burner · 06-01-2023 11:36PM

I have placed the order for 32 x CALB cells. Worked out at 2838 euro in total. I know I could probably get further discounts if I waited for new year specials etc but I also think if I am to wait that the delivery could likely take longer and the longer I do without the more I have to pay for electricity etc.

So decided to bite the bullet and just go for it, now to order everything else :P

unkel · 07-01-2023 12:27AM

That's really not a bad price now. Sale price would have saved you maybe €140 more tops. You have about 60 days to figure out how it all works 😁 Best of luck!

And think of it like this. For what you are spending for your 20kWh in top notch cells, you could barely get a premade 5kWh battery now...

Evd-Burner · 07-01-2023 12:38AM

When I have the battery in I will have 4.5kWp solar and 20kWh batteries for less than 8000. DIY is the way to go for lower payback.

With current prices I'm looking at about a 5 year payback in total. The savings are almost paying off the loan repayments.

No other investment could I get those kind of returns. My electricity will be around a 1000 year for 2 adults with a lot of working from home, up to 6 kids at any one time (blended family) and 2 electric cars.

Will eventually have more solar, more batteries and heating by electricity with even less than 1000 a year in electricity only. This stuff gets addictive :)

randombar · 07-01-2023 08:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120076300#Comment_120076300

Soooo do you have a sample config.yml for the Seplos MQTT, I think I've the data being sent to HA :D

randombar · 07-01-2023 09:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079630#Comment_120079630

Scratch that found the configuration.yaml

https://capture.dropbox.com/G4VfaqngGzVDJOGI

Need to figure out a way of combining configuration files now without having to split them up into the master.

jkforde · 07-01-2023 09:51PM

is this legit? unfortunately common sense says no

unkel · 07-01-2023 09:57PM

@jkforde - it would help if you added a link to that. Now it's just a screenshot and we have no idea where that came from

jkforde · 07-01-2023 10:03PM

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005005120006164.html

graememk · 07-01-2023 10:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120080086#Comment_120080086

0 feedback.. not a good sign

unkel · 07-01-2023 10:32PM

Bogus. I've fallen for that a few times. Very little risk, you'll get your money back from AliExpress, but it could easily take 3 months. Best bet for decent value brand new Pylontechs is adverts.ie

Mr Q · 08-01-2023 11:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120075378#Comment_120075378

I priced these recently on Alibaba. Worked out at 650 Euro each delivered including all customs and fees with a 200A BMS.

But I priced for 2 so not sure how much for just one.

Solar PV battery options

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