BMW i3, SimpBMS, Victron Multiplus 48v 5000 build
- Thread starter Darkwing
- Start date
New & used Batteries, Solar, accessories, LifePo4 cells & more 5% Coupon "Powerwalls" www.batteryhookup.com
¡Buen día! Estoy buscando todo lo que necesito para empezar el proyecto lo antes posible.
Tengo una batería completa de 60ah.
Cable naranja adicional batería hv bmw i3.
Sistema Carel Simpbms.
Ahora viene la parte más cara y no hace falta que me equivoque. ¿Pueden confirmarme los modelos de dispositivos Víctron que necesito? Observa que darkwing ya ha realizado variaciones en las piezas que se necesitaban antes, como el convertidor de 48v-12V. Gracias de nuevo.
Tengo una batería completa de 60ah.
Cable naranja adicional batería hv bmw i3.
Sistema Carel Simpbms.
Ahora viene la parte más cara y no hace falta que me equivoque. ¿Pueden confirmarme los modelos de dispositivos Víctron que necesito? Observa que darkwing ya ha realizado variaciones en las piezas que se necesitaban antes, como el convertidor de 48v-12V. Gracias de nuevo.
CarelHassink
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2017
- Messages
- 184
Juan,
please do us the courtesy to write in English
kind regards, Carel
please do us the courtesy to write in English
kind regards, Carel
I am sorry, the automatic translator do it bad. I always
write in english
Good day! I'm looking for everything I need to start the project as soon as possible.
I have a full 60ah battery.
Additional orange cable hv bmw i3 battery.
Carel Simpbms system.
Now comes the most expensive part and I don't have to make a mistake. Can you confirm the Víctron device models I need? Note that darkwing has already made variations on parts that were needed before, such as the 48v-12V converter. Thanks again.
I hope you can read this words in english.
write in english
Good day! I'm looking for everything I need to start the project as soon as possible.
I have a full 60ah battery.
Additional orange cable hv bmw i3 battery.
Carel Simpbms system.
Now comes the most expensive part and I don't have to make a mistake. Can you confirm the Víctron device models I need? Note that darkwing has already made variations on parts that were needed before, such as the 48v-12V converter. Thanks again.
I hope you can read this words in english.
Dala
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2018
- Messages
- 524
Ditch the 48V build, use the entire i3 battery as-is with a 400V inverter! https://github.com/dalathegreat/Battery-Emulator/wiki
Dala, i talked to CarelHassink back when i looked into this, but he quite firmly recommended not to. Reason is very simple.
400v dc is A LOT. It will arc badly and essentially become a plasma cutter if you are not carefull. The reason for 48v is that it is safer for amateurs to mess around with.
I will admit that the 400v is way clearer and in theory you could maintain the battery as is, and put an inverter in as the "engine" and charger. And i really like that it is clean, it requires smaller wires because it has less amps (due to more volts) so it is easier to handle and you wouldn't need to change anything on the battery pack.
The 400v ish is the same that photovoltaic inverters receives, so it should be doable.
I have checked your link and it looks fine. My post was made because there is so many details you need to figure out to do things in a reasonable fashion.
If you really want traction on your concept, i think you need to provide diagrams for wiring as the minimum. Recommendation for breakers placing in diagrams and hints of the type will help too.
As stated it will be WAY less work, most likely be quite a bit cheaper, allow you to do 3 phase (the 48/5000 in mine is single phase, can be paralleled out i think), but yours can to it by jut choosing the right inverter.
Also things like wire thickness ie can solar cabling be used and mc4 connectors or will they be too weak etc.
Answer as many of these questions and i tinhk it will make the concept more accessible and approchable.
400v dc is A LOT. It will arc badly and essentially become a plasma cutter if you are not carefull. The reason for 48v is that it is safer for amateurs to mess around with.
I will admit that the 400v is way clearer and in theory you could maintain the battery as is, and put an inverter in as the "engine" and charger. And i really like that it is clean, it requires smaller wires because it has less amps (due to more volts) so it is easier to handle and you wouldn't need to change anything on the battery pack.
The 400v ish is the same that photovoltaic inverters receives, so it should be doable.
I have checked your link and it looks fine. My post was made because there is so many details you need to figure out to do things in a reasonable fashion.
If you really want traction on your concept, i think you need to provide diagrams for wiring as the minimum. Recommendation for breakers placing in diagrams and hints of the type will help too.
As stated it will be WAY less work, most likely be quite a bit cheaper, allow you to do 3 phase (the 48/5000 in mine is single phase, can be paralleled out i think), but yours can to it by jut choosing the right inverter.
Also things like wire thickness ie can solar cabling be used and mc4 connectors or will they be too weak etc.
Answer as many of these questions and i tinhk it will make the concept more accessible and approchable.
@Darkwing how are you getting on with your i3 battery after 3 years?
Mine has been running for 4 years now with no major issues and with a few improvements
On installation i added heat mats behind the batteries in order to keep them at a decent tmeperature in the winter and they are set to 18°C minimum.
2 other changes have happened:
So for batteries manufacturfed in 2017, they may be at 80 - 90% SOH which is still pretty good value.
I've seen these i3 batteries at under £2000 nowadays on ebay and that a whole lot of power for your money
Mine has been running for 4 years now with no major issues and with a few improvements
On installation i added heat mats behind the batteries in order to keep them at a decent tmeperature in the winter and they are set to 18°C minimum.
2 other changes have happened:
- a family of mice appreciated the heating and moved in last winter. They chewed through the main 48V cable insulation and almost shorted the battery! I've since sterilised the interior and rodent proofed it....
- My i3 battery now has a partner. I added another i3 battery and another simpbms and now have 66kWh storage across the bus bar!
So for batteries manufacturfed in 2017, they may be at 80 - 90% SOH which is still pretty good value.
I've seen these i3 batteries at under £2000 nowadays on ebay and that a whole lot of power for your money
OffGridInTheCity
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2018
- Messages
- 3,149
What is a 'full cycle' (Soc or voltage range) for your situation?
Google seems to show BMW i3 are an NMC (Lithium-ion) chemistry.
My own powerwall is 18650 (Lithium-ion) and I'm in year 8 with 2,500 cycles at average 36% DOD... and recently I had an opportunity to test some individual packs. One battery appears to have lost 38% of original capacity = 5.4%/year and another set only lost 12% = 1.7%/year over the 7 years.
Hello Offgridinthecity, i was reading about your latest updates last night. Good to see your system is still up and running.
I make my battery packs cycle every day. They have work to do in order to pay for themselves and they can make a profit in this day and age with time of use tariffs meaning import is cheaper than export
I don't understand why you would not want to use the battery and make it pay. its a commodity
So yes, they will cycle every day. If i don't use the power in the house that day, it'll get exported in the evening for profit
They cycle between 85% and about 25% depending on the day
Your right these are NMC cells. I'm aware they are frowned upon nowadays but they are built really well and I've lots of check and safeties in place.
I make my battery packs cycle every day. They have work to do in order to pay for themselves and they can make a profit in this day and age with time of use tariffs meaning import is cheaper than export
I don't understand why you would not want to use the battery and make it pay. its a commodity
So yes, they will cycle every day. If i don't use the power in the house that day, it'll get exported in the evening for profit
They cycle between 85% and about 25% depending on the day
Your right these are NMC cells. I'm aware they are frowned upon nowadays but they are built really well and I've lots of check and safeties in place.
OffGridInTheCity
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2018
- Messages
- 3,149
I get what you're saying / no judgement from me
I went the route of building an overly large powerwall to get this lower DOD as articles (8yrs ago) indicated much longer life - but of course this is not guaranteed.
NMC type chemistry has worked well for me as well.
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