Hi all,
Please see below details of my system and what I am doing. I am keen for any feedback and input, I appreciate the interest shown.
I have a SMA 5000TL-20 inverter and 6kW of panels on the house roof. I export 40% of what generate to the grid and get a small cheque from the retailer.
Where I am it is not in my favour to yet have the power wall connected to my house .I currently get a good feed in tariff (48 cents). The feed in scheme is a local state one and has been running for 8 years. It will run out in 2.
A requirement of that agreement i have with my electricity retailer is that i have no batteries connected to that system. Obvious reason you could milk the system;charge at night at 28c and export at day for 48c. Utility and retailers here in Western Australia are still yet to get their shit together and offer attractive peak and off peak incentives.
So instead of waiting I am building a standalone system in my workshop. which will hopefully run a 1600w pool pump, workshop socket outlets and LED lights.
My process;
When I get batteries they come as laptop batteries. I get 1-3 tubs of them.I then sort packs into manufacturer then model of the batt then do the high capacity ones first, ie above 50 Whr per laptop battery pack. Saves a hell load of time only processing batts with the higher capacity first and importantly of the sameconstruction. When you learn how to get into a pack and extract the cellsits good to stay in that mode till you've done all those pack types.
I've just completed my assembly of 15 x 100 cell packs (14 and a spare to change any out for service) with all cells in each pack better than 2300 mAh. I am going to progressively make these cells bigger when i process more cells. Anyone see any issues extending the packs longer than 25 cells long? 30 or 40?
To get to 15 x packs of 100 has taken 4months of processing.
Im very lucky that i have gotten volume batterypacksto be able to do this.Does depend what volume of packs you are able to source.
My testing methodology has changed over time. At first I was testing voltage of every cell and then binning based on voltage. I have since stopped this and bin based on manufacturer and rated capacity. I then test in 6 x Opus charger/testers. Then bin for capacity.
I have graded tested cells into bins as follows;
<1800
1800-1900
1900-2000
2000-2100
2100-2200
2200-2300
>2300 went into the packs. Best i had was 3200mAh cells.
What I've found (going from memory) is;
Panasonic Grey 3000
Samsung Light blue 2800
Samsung Pink 2600
Sony Red (light bluering 2600)
Sony Green G72550
Newer Sony Orange 2500
Panasonic purple 2500
Samsung blue 2400
Cells with rated capacity less than 2300 go into a binssorted by manufacturerand are not tested at this stage. These cells could be potentially sold to recoup costs or for other projects or expansion of system once I see how version 1.0 performs constructed with only cells greater than 2300 mAh cells.
I am yet to decide on the Inverter and other hardware. I am keen to hear thoughts from people.
Early options are ;
BMS
Batrium
Inverter
PIP 4048
Battery pack mounts yet to be decided.
Pictures to follow.
Please see below details of my system and what I am doing. I am keen for any feedback and input, I appreciate the interest shown.
I have a SMA 5000TL-20 inverter and 6kW of panels on the house roof. I export 40% of what generate to the grid and get a small cheque from the retailer.
Where I am it is not in my favour to yet have the power wall connected to my house .I currently get a good feed in tariff (48 cents). The feed in scheme is a local state one and has been running for 8 years. It will run out in 2.
A requirement of that agreement i have with my electricity retailer is that i have no batteries connected to that system. Obvious reason you could milk the system;charge at night at 28c and export at day for 48c. Utility and retailers here in Western Australia are still yet to get their shit together and offer attractive peak and off peak incentives.
So instead of waiting I am building a standalone system in my workshop. which will hopefully run a 1600w pool pump, workshop socket outlets and LED lights.
My process;
When I get batteries they come as laptop batteries. I get 1-3 tubs of them.I then sort packs into manufacturer then model of the batt then do the high capacity ones first, ie above 50 Whr per laptop battery pack. Saves a hell load of time only processing batts with the higher capacity first and importantly of the sameconstruction. When you learn how to get into a pack and extract the cellsits good to stay in that mode till you've done all those pack types.
I've just completed my assembly of 15 x 100 cell packs (14 and a spare to change any out for service) with all cells in each pack better than 2300 mAh. I am going to progressively make these cells bigger when i process more cells. Anyone see any issues extending the packs longer than 25 cells long? 30 or 40?
To get to 15 x packs of 100 has taken 4months of processing.
Im very lucky that i have gotten volume batterypacksto be able to do this.Does depend what volume of packs you are able to source.
My testing methodology has changed over time. At first I was testing voltage of every cell and then binning based on voltage. I have since stopped this and bin based on manufacturer and rated capacity. I then test in 6 x Opus charger/testers. Then bin for capacity.
I have graded tested cells into bins as follows;
<1800
1800-1900
1900-2000
2000-2100
2100-2200
2200-2300
>2300 went into the packs. Best i had was 3200mAh cells.
What I've found (going from memory) is;
Panasonic Grey 3000
Samsung Light blue 2800
Samsung Pink 2600
Sony Red (light bluering 2600)
Sony Green G72550
Newer Sony Orange 2500
Panasonic purple 2500
Samsung blue 2400
Cells with rated capacity less than 2300 go into a binssorted by manufacturerand are not tested at this stage. These cells could be potentially sold to recoup costs or for other projects or expansion of system once I see how version 1.0 performs constructed with only cells greater than 2300 mAh cells.
I am yet to decide on the Inverter and other hardware. I am keen to hear thoughts from people.
Early options are ;
BMS
Batrium
Inverter
PIP 4048
Battery pack mounts yet to be decided.
Pictures to follow.