Chuck's 18650 14S120P+1 UK Powerwall.

[chuckp]

Slowly moving forward, 11 packs done for my first string.

[diy]qbgjja[/diy]

Waiting for a big batch of cell holders to arrive before I can complete my packs.

 

[chuckp]

Slowly moving forward, 11 packs done for my first string.

[diy]qbgjja[/diy]

Waiting for a big batch of cell holders to arrive before I can complete my packs.

Found 4 more cell holders in the bottom of my bits n bobs box, so pack 12is on it'sway.

 

[chuckp]

Slowly moving forward, 11 packs done for my first string.

[diy]qbgjja[/diy]

Waiting for a big batch of cell holders to arrive before I can complete my packs.

Found 4 more cell holders in the bottom of my bits n bobs box, so pack 12is on it'sway.

Pack 12 completed.

I gotsome purple heat shrink and 're-wrapped the outer row of cells, looks so much neater.
Wish I'd have replaced the sleeves onthe first 11 packs now.

Goingto re-sleevethe next 28 packs though.





So do I redo the other 11 packs or leave them now they are built, would be a lot of hassle to change them now.

 

[jdeadman]

I wouldn't but all depends on how bad your OCD is. You can also get some use out of these packs first and when you need to work on them wrap them then

 

[chuckp]

I wouldn't but all depends on how bad your OCD is. You can also get some use out of these packs first and when you need to work on them wrap them then

Yeah I was thinking that too. Not got an OCD as such but I am a bit of a neat freak.

 

[chuckp]

Nice big box of cell holders has arrived today, time to get my last two packs assembled, that'll be my first 14S40P good to go.

Just need to process about another 150 cells and I'll be good for my second 14S40P.

 

[jdeadman]

Awesome. I'm going to be processing the rest of my cells (2800 ish) in the next few months then I'm going to be building my packs

 

[chuckp]

Awesome. I'm going to be processing the rest of my cells (2800 ish) in the next few months then I'm going to be building my packs

Cool, wish I had that many cells.

Well the first batch off cells are now in 14 40P packs. Yeah my first battery for the powerwall. Need to get the inverter and bms ordered in and then the battery up and running.





I can't wait to see if all powered up.

 

[jdeadman]

Yea got a Wicked deal from another guy going this route and had to abandon it. Cleaned and somewhat processed Finding some heaters and some rusty ones but for the most part pretty good.

 

[Geek]

I wouldn't but all depends on how bad your OCD is. You can also get some use out of these packs first and when you need to work on them wrap them then

Yeah I was thinking that too. Not got an OCD as such but I am a bit of a neat freak.

I'd wait. You may have packs that develop problems over time. Perhaps just re-sleeve when you need to rebuild them.

 

[chuckp]

I wouldn't but all depends on how bad your OCD is. You can also get some use out of these packs first and when you need to work on them wrap them then

Yeah I was thinking that too. Not got an OCD as such but I am a bit of a neat freak.

I'd wait. You may have packs that develop problems over time. Perhaps just re-sleeve when you need to rebuild them.

I've already resigned myself to that, and I've also decided I'm going to house them in a cupboard of some sort, so they are going to be out of sight most of the time.

---

Ok guys, just a quick question to everyone.

Some of you have your Powerwall outdoors while others are indoors, is there a specific reason for putting them outside? Is it just because you don't have the room needed to fit them indoors or is it for a safety issuse?

I'm getting close to starting my install now and want to go down the best route to start. I have plenty of free wall space in the garage and I also have an access path along the outside face of the garage wall, but any housing will need to be narrow as the path is only 1m wide.

 

[jdeadman]

Mine are inside due to being in Canada and it gets &^%&^% Cold here. we can see -40 C for a long time. For my summer camp I have them outside and away from my Camper as it's summer and i tend to beat that wall up as the loads are intermittent and charging is pretty fast. No failures as of yet other than the self inflicted ones

 

[Charly144]

I am placing batteries in a 60x60x180 closed server cabinet and it will be placed in my unheated garage.
I expect it to be very safe then

I wouldnt place it outside, at leadt in my area, vienna

Regards
Karl

 

[chuckp]

Mine are inside due to being in Canada and it gets &^%&^% Cold here. we can see -40 C for a long time. For my summer camp I have them outside and away from my Camper as it's summer and i tend to beat that wall up as the loads are intermittent and charging is pretty fast. No failures as of yet other than the self inflicted ones

Yeah I'm putting mind inside too. I have posted the same question as a poll just curious as to how many are in or out and what the reasons are.

 

[bobbolch]

Mine are inside due to being in Canada and it gets &^%&^% Cold here. we can see -40 C for a long time. For my summer camp I have them outside and away from my Camper as it's summer and i tend to beat that wall up as the loads are intermittent and charging is pretty fast. No failures as of yet other than the self inflicted ones

Yeah I'm putting mind inside too. I have posted the same question as a poll just curious as to how many are in or out and what the reasons are.

Hi chuckpjust joined the group hoping you will be happy to answer a couple of questions. Can I ask what rated fuses you are using? I'm also in UKhow do you go about sourcingyour18650 batterieshere there dosn'tseem to be to much on the UK ebaysite?

Great job with your project by the way really neat!

 

[chuckp]

Mine are inside due to being in Canada and it gets &^%&^% Cold here. we can see -40 C for a long time. For my summer camp I have them outside and away from my Camper as it's summer and i tend to beat that wall up as the loads are intermittent and charging is pretty fast. No failures as of yet other than the self inflicted ones

Yeah I'm putting mind inside too. I have posted the same question as a poll just curious as to how many are in or out and what the reasons are.

Hi chuckpjust joined the group hoping you will be happy to answer a couple of questions. Can I ask what rated fuses you are using? I'm also in UKhow do you go about sourcingyour18650 batterieshere there dosn'tseem to be to much on the UK ebaysite?

Great job with your project by the way really neat!

Hi bobbolch

Welcome to the forum. I'm also relatively new here too. But I will try to help. Thanks for the comment.

Definitely a good place to start is to watch some of AveRage Joe's videos, he has doneexcellent workregarding themethods of fusing and also checkout the FAQ's there is a ton of great information available.

The fusing will mainly depend on how you intend to use your wall. Some builders are as low as 0.5A while others are as high as 5A.

I'm using 3A glass axial lead fuses on the +ve and the cut off lead on the -ve, I was using a resistor lead for the -ve to start with, but due to ordering 1400 5A glass fuses by mistake I decidedto use the leads from those on the -ve instead less resistance.

One thing to be mindful of,using an undersizedfusecan cause voltage drop due to higher resistance. I'veplanned to draw a maximum 500mAper cell, I choosea 3Afuseto keep resistances minimalbut a 2A would be more than adequate.

Bear in mind, that afuse will carrymany times its rated current for a very short period of time. In some cases, more than ten times it's rated capacity. So it'sa real possibility a 3A fusecould allow 30Ato momentarily pass.

Offer watching many YT videos and seeing how the bare fuse wires can sometime glow and melt before blowing i decided to use the glass fuses. At least that way any hot molten metal will be sort of contained should one blow.

I source my batteries from the local pc repair shops and centres, to start with they were a little hesitant to let me have them and I had to apply to the environmental agency for a waste transfer license but it keeps them happy as they can prove they not just dumping them you know H&S bullcrap.

To start with most just gave them to me but now I have to givea few quid for them, everybody wants to make a buck. It is getting harder to source them as I've almost tappedout all the local places.

EBay sucks for used cells/batteries people are charging way to much, the problem is there are those that are prepared to pay the stupid prices asked so they get away with it and even put the price up. Won't change all the timethey have punters paying it. I personallywon't go down that road, if I were to later buy new cellsthat's a different matter.

Anyway sorry I slightly digressoff on a bit of a rant there, where in the UK are you? I'm down in Cornwall.

 

[bobbolch]

Hi Chuck, thanks for taking the time to reply I very much appreciate it. I live up in Norfolk. Have you tried your council recycle center or is that a waste of time as I guess they must already have firms in place for this? Is getting a waste transfer license complicated/expensive and how do you get rid of your faulty cells and the plastic packaging from the battery compartment?

 

[Kaspars Krumins]

Hi Chuck, thanks for taking the time to reply I very much appreciate it. I live up in Norfolk. Have you tried your council recycle center or is that a waste of time as I guess they must already have firms in place for this? Is getting a waste transfer license complicated/expensive and how do you get rid of your faulty cells and the plastic packaging from the battery compartment?

i,m in manchester and have a lot cells to sell for DIY projects if need in uk i can supply whatever you want

 

[chuckp]

Yeah

Finished processing my next batch of cells ready to build my second string of14S40P.





Now I need to crack on with twisting and bending the busbars.

Hoping to get an order in soon for the Batrium and inverter.

 

[jdeadman]

Looking good. I've processed enough to make my first 2 strings of 7s40p. Still have many cells to process but I'm trying to keep each set of 7s perfectly balanced so when I stack them up the entire wall stays balanced.