SecondHandPower
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2017
- Messages
- 79
Before taking on the DIY Powerwall,I have to build up my test processto characterize all the cells.
After a couple of weeks getting to know cell behaviors and setting up a basic test station to start practicing my test process, I have realized it is time to move up from my 4 cell Opus to something that will be able to keep up with my "pack whacking" skills.
Have you taken the 10 pack challenge for fun yet ? See the videos and go have some fun.
I can whack the packs and clean a stack of 60 cells in about 15 minutes. I use an 8 oz rubber mallet and it reallymakes the plastic fly,spreading the impact to a larger area of the case while minimizing collateral damage to the cells.
Consideringmy current setup, I canclean 60 cells in 15 minutes then load up my 4 banger Opus tester. Those 60 cells would take about 6.25 days to test if I were to feed it every 10 hours. The maths are( 60 cells / 4 slots * 10 hours ea). I can add some bulk charging to help speed this up, sothat is a baby step I plan to take when my batch of cell holders and TP4065's come in.
While I am waiting for these parts, I have been checking out different designs I could follow to build a more scalable tester and have decided to use MrConstatin's design as a pattern with some small changes to the layout to fit an easy to obtain computer case.
The reference builds:
** Edit**
I have been considering MrConstantin's and MrFercsa's builds, and removed thoselinks, as both are easily found on the forum here. This is an area where you need to do your own shopping and evaluation, and there are many excellent tester builds onthis site that I have reviewed and many more that I have missed. I will keep looking and comparing the parts cost as I go.
Basically I want to test with 32 cell holders and want to havescalability, temperature monitoring anddata logging plus the "standard" feature of charging and discharging. If it is possible for the micro controllerto connect out to the web or to my smart phonefor reporting, thats a bonus. Having a hook to share cell_serial_numberwith a cell handling system (tracking outside the tester) would be a bonus.
**End edit**
My starting point:
I chose a sturdy tower computer case (a 2007 era Dell Optiplex 745) because it has a nice latch that allows one side of the case to open like a big door. There is ample cooling already in placeand space inside for a bigger power supply, the charging board, discharging board, relay boards and Arduino control boards inside, and I did a quick layout with 32 18560's to see how it structure of the case would allow meto add the display and keypad as well.
Also collected a few cables from the computer that Imay be able to use later in the build.
Now, lets build something....
After a couple of weeks getting to know cell behaviors and setting up a basic test station to start practicing my test process, I have realized it is time to move up from my 4 cell Opus to something that will be able to keep up with my "pack whacking" skills.
Have you taken the 10 pack challenge for fun yet ? See the videos and go have some fun.
I can whack the packs and clean a stack of 60 cells in about 15 minutes. I use an 8 oz rubber mallet and it reallymakes the plastic fly,spreading the impact to a larger area of the case while minimizing collateral damage to the cells.
Consideringmy current setup, I canclean 60 cells in 15 minutes then load up my 4 banger Opus tester. Those 60 cells would take about 6.25 days to test if I were to feed it every 10 hours. The maths are( 60 cells / 4 slots * 10 hours ea). I can add some bulk charging to help speed this up, sothat is a baby step I plan to take when my batch of cell holders and TP4065's come in.
While I am waiting for these parts, I have been checking out different designs I could follow to build a more scalable tester and have decided to use MrConstatin's design as a pattern with some small changes to the layout to fit an easy to obtain computer case.
The reference builds:
** Edit**
I have been considering MrConstantin's and MrFercsa's builds, and removed thoselinks, as both are easily found on the forum here. This is an area where you need to do your own shopping and evaluation, and there are many excellent tester builds onthis site that I have reviewed and many more that I have missed. I will keep looking and comparing the parts cost as I go.
Basically I want to test with 32 cell holders and want to havescalability, temperature monitoring anddata logging plus the "standard" feature of charging and discharging. If it is possible for the micro controllerto connect out to the web or to my smart phonefor reporting, thats a bonus. Having a hook to share cell_serial_numberwith a cell handling system (tracking outside the tester) would be a bonus.
**End edit**
My starting point:
I chose a sturdy tower computer case (a 2007 era Dell Optiplex 745) because it has a nice latch that allows one side of the case to open like a big door. There is ample cooling already in placeand space inside for a bigger power supply, the charging board, discharging board, relay boards and Arduino control boards inside, and I did a quick layout with 32 18560's to see how it structure of the case would allow meto add the display and keypad as well.
Also collected a few cables from the computer that Imay be able to use later in the build.
Now, lets build something....