I found a new way of powering my solar system for reduced cash.
My plan for the homestead must be accelerated due to ineptitude from DC! While I still plan to build my own LiIon battery bank for the solar power storage needs, I need a bridge to allow me to move sooner. I decided on deep cycle, lead acid cells to be this bridge; due to availability.
Cost of the bridge was a problem to be solved, and I found a way. RV dealers do maintenance on customer's units, and many change batteries yearly to avoid problems on a trip. These batteries are one to two years old!
I found some here:
This is a load I got for just over two hundred dollars! They are voltage and load tested, and are over 13,000 watts of storage....
Unloaded, and racked on my trailer temporarily:
It looks like these will provide about 600 amp hours at 24 volts for my system, to bridge my needs until the LiIon batteries are ready! I need about 25,000 watts, but 13,000 is enough to start.
I must parallel all of them, and put them on a battery conditioner, to tweak them to their optimal condition. Then I will float them until I need them on the homestead!
There should be local equivalents for these batteries, where RV's are serviced. I hope you have as good luck as I have had!
great job!
great investment
They are deep cycle, but if I have enough, they won't have to work so hard.
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I might be also good to add protections in the 2x serial ones, so that you don't blow up seconds. Although for the price you might got those ones, might even not be a big of a worry.
I will isolate each bank with shottkey diodes, so there's no cross feeding; then charge through a second smaller set of shottkey. Since they are deep cycle, I have electrolyte access too.
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👍 looks like U know where to go. Have fun! =) I wish I had access to some stuff like this too. I have thought in the past about doing something similar, but space and time were a limitation to getting cheap stuff.
It does take up some space. But there is space enough on the homestead. The need for power storage will depend on what you intend to power with it. A smaller system that will run lights and charging, and will use less space. My need is more aggressiive, including a small heat pump, So it must be significantly larger!
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Yeah... I would need at least 2-3kw ... so, plenty of space if I would plan it for solar at least.
I understand, smaller systems take less work. Plan from your load back to the panels. I always like to add about half more for unplanned to loads that always seem to creep in! The most common failure is undersized wire, use twice the size you think you need.
Extra storage batteries means that the other batteries don't have to work so hard, so they'll last longer.... 🔋🔋🔋🔋
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That's great info. Never thought most of the problems would be wire failure. Usually, I size things for up to 90/100C temps on max current scenarios, so I don't have to deal with the inefficiency of temperature on the coper. This usually means good wires because of the isolation materials. Just to kind of never have to deal with them again. But I see what you mean... Maybe its overkill to think I as used to thinking, but at least I would never have to worry about wires.
I am really waiting for the new (lithium) car batteries to become cheaper and then those will be the ones we can buy like "dead car" batteries and still have some fun with them. Just because the drops on them in parallel will not be an issue compared with what cars demand... =)
Good stuff mate, keep up showing people your skills.
Hope it helps someone! I prefer THHN wire, the jacket is a little harder to strip initially; but it is very tough stuff.
I'm salvaging LiIon cells from laptop batteries to build into a battery. I have about 10,000 watts here and tested to date! These will be my main storage battery when finished....🔋🔋
A 2000 watt inverter will draw 170 amps at 12 volts, most people haven't dealt with this kind of power; except on their car starter. But this load is constant, so losses in the wire are serious.
Most simple systems are 12 Volt, but mine will be 24 volt; because the current is reduced by half when the voltage is doubled. Some run 48 volts for wire size reduction, but as the voltage increases, the available equipment is sparse. Everything is a trade-off, and you need to pick what works best for you! 👍💗🔋🔋🔋🔋
The RV I added for extra space, has a built in 12 volt system, so I will have both voltages....
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Man... you are teasing mike shitt.... =) stop ittt! 🤣😍😎
ROFLOL! Sorry, I see the numbers all the time....
But higher voltage helps current drain. I will series 7 LiIon cells, to make each battery bank. The BMS (Battery Management System) will share ten banks of cells, that will provide 30 amps at 24 volts. About 35 banks in parallel will provide 1000 amps to run the homestead!
This will give me about 3 days of power with zero input charge. 🔋🔋🔋🔋
Keep on prepping!
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Fantastic storage for the cost.
Yes, I may do this again shortly, twice this capacity would be better. They will be slowly phased out, as the new batteries come online, but for now they will help me to get moved!🚗🔋🔋🔋
Got to outrun the fools running things these days, and get to the homestead before they crash the country!
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