8 minutes ago, WannabeSolarSparky said:

R100 extra for the 60V version

Sometimes buying china can be painful and can take a while to get here.

https://www.robotics.org.za/SPS-E305?search=Power Supply

They often get in stock of the more fancy ones, just ask them about stock
https://www.robotics.org.za/index.php?route=product/search&search=Power Supply

So would it be better to get a 60v 5A vs a 30V 10A. I know they supply the same wattage so was not sure it it was better for 10amps or 5 amps. Thanks will check out Robotics.org.za

2 hours ago, Greglsh said:

So would it be better to get a 60v 5A vs a 30V 10A. I know they supply the same wattage so was not sure it it was better for 10amps or 5 amps. Thanks will check out Robotics.org.za

30v will work just fine but the 60v for just R100 extra simply means you can do all 16 in one go if ever needed.

4 hours ago, Energy-Jason said:

I will be happy to get a quote for shipping with our freight forwarders at their cost. I will be happy to do this for the forum members. I am very fluent with the process.

Sincerely

Jason

There is nothing to ship, their stock is already in Kempton Park.

9 minutes ago, jeeva said:

There is nothing to ship, their stock is already in Kempton Park.

That is what I thought as well, they basically charging people for the shipping to get from China to Kempton Park. The problem I have is that the "shipping" cost is not consistent. I was quoted $360 dollars for 16 x 280AH cells and a 280AH DIY kit and inverter cables, the next person with similar quote pays like less than half that.

Edited November 7, 20232 yr by Greglsh

21 hours ago, Greglsh said:

So would it be better to get a 60v 5A vs a 30V 10A. I know they supply the same wattage so was not sure it it was better for 10amps or 5 amps. Thanks will check out Robotics.org.za

Another option is to get a 4A Active balancer if you have no use for the power supply again. 

Put crocodile clips on the active balancer leads. Charge the whole pack up with the inverter to 100% and then leave the active balancer connected for an hour or two and you'll have a perfectly balanced pack. 

Can use the active balancer again for future maintenance. 

6 hours ago, Chris_S said:

Another option is to get a 4A Active balancer if you have no use for the power supply again. 

Put crocodile clips on the active balancer leads. Charge the whole pack up with the inverter to 100% and then leave the active balancer connected for an hour or two and you'll have a perfectly balanced pack. 

Can use the active balancer again for future maintenance. 

Fully agree with @Chris_S Active balancers are the best, instead of purchasing a charger. It's super fast as well. 

9 minutes ago, Dv8 said:

Fully agree with @Chris_S Active balancers are the best, instead of purchasing a charger. It's super fast as well. 

You got the big boy there👍🏻

1 minute ago, Chris_S said:

You got the big boy there👍🏻

Its overkill and I'm impatient. Money I was going to use on a charger decided to invest in the balancer. So I much easier. 

14 minutes ago, Dv8 said:

Fully agree with @Chris_S Active balancers are the best, instead of purchasing a charger. It's super fast as well. 

What active balancer is this, and where you buy and rough cost please. I know the higher the amp rating the more expensive, would a 4A one be okay it would just take time.

Edited November 8, 20232 yr by Greglsh

16 minutes ago, Greglsh said:

What active balancer is this, and where you buy and rough cost please. I know the higher the amp rating the more expensive, would a 4A one be okay it would just take time.

Its the Neey 15A purchased from Aliexpress.

Yes the 4A is fine just limit the current as you get closer to your top balance voltage so the balancer can cope. 

45 minutes ago, Greglsh said:

What active balancer is this, and where you buy and rough cost please. I know the higher the amp rating the more expensive, would a 4A one be okay it would just take time.

4-5A Heltec is fine. If you have a seplos/apexium bms it's best to use AGM voltage settings to do you first balance with an active balancer then switch to lithium/ bms communication. 

Set charge/absorbtion/float voltages the same. Set bms up so protection voltage is 3.65V and 3.65Vx16 for the pack. 

First charge pack to 3.5V x16 you can start balancing when first cell hits 3.5V then gradually increase inverter charge voltage to 3.55 then 3.6V then finally 3.65V all x16 for pack charge voltage. 

The bms will stop allowing a charge once the first cell hits 3.65V

Edited November 8, 20232 yr by Chris_S

 

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzmAvJ1

While waiting for it to arrive I would just use the battery. Passive balancing might even be good enough. 

Saw this as well , how does this look?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005952107700.html?algo_exp_id=b8b1eb3f-ab88-49a7-b504-87a03dcd5ec1-8

Don't know to much about these devices so really appreciate all the advice here.

When you guys order off Alixpress what shipping method do you use, is the Standard shipping safe, does it go via the South African Post office?

3 minutes ago, Greglsh said:

When you guys order off Alixpress what shipping method do you use, is the Standard shipping safe, does it go via the South African Post office?

I use a forwarder, gets delivered to the door. Im pretty sure it will go via SAPO if not using forwarder. 

9 hours ago, Dv8 said:

I use a forwarder, gets delivered to the door. Im pretty sure it will go via SAPO if not using forwarder. 

Which forwarder are you using

Aramex global shopper. Most aliexpress shops won't ship to China so you can use the Hong Kong address

11 hours ago, Greglsh said:

Saw this as well , how does this look?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005952107700.html?algo_exp_id=b8b1eb3f-ab88-49a7-b504-87a03dcd5ec1-8

Don't know to much about these devices so really appreciate all the advice here.

Same device as the heltec. 

So I am extremely torn about this. 

Is the DIY box worth the extra 13K? If taken as the entire kit, it's more expensive than the prebuilt svolt battery packs (14K per 5.1kwh). 

How did most do their diy kits? With or without the box? 

50 minutes ago, Chris_S said:

Same device as the heltec. 

Do all these balancers use a bluetooth apps, does the heltec one also.

1 hour ago, Greglsh said:

Do all these balancers use a bluetooth apps, does the heltec one also.

Those are not Bluetooth. They are more manual and cheaper. 

This is the Bluetooth one

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyBUKh1

Don't want to de-rail the topic, but have a look at this link, found this make of battery watching the Off-Grid Garage YouTube channel and he rates the battery very highly. They even have a link for South Africa specifically. Not sure if they have local presence or support but looks very interesting. I did start a new topic about this battery as well.

 

https://www.gobelpower.com/gobel-sa-13-battery-south-africa_ap25.html

Edited November 9, 20232 yr by Greglsh

I have bit the bullet, and ordered 16 x LF304 cells with their bms. The diy box just seemed too pricey. I will go with something like this for storage https://www.geewiz.co.za/cabinet-wallbox/97506-12v-steel-battery-cabinet-with-wheels-4x-100ah-quad-batteries.html

2 hours ago, Pho3niX90 said:

I have bit the bullet, and ordered 16 x LF304 cells with their bms. The diy box just seemed too pricey. I will go with something like this for storage https://www.geewiz.co.za/cabinet-wallbox/97506-12v-steel-battery-cabinet-with-wheels-4x-100ah-quad-batteries.html

Good choice. Those cells usually test 310Ah+

22 hours ago, Pho3niX90 said:

I have bit the bullet, and ordered 16 x LF304 cells with their bms. The diy box just seemed too pricey. I will go with something like this for storage https://www.geewiz.co.za/cabinet-wallbox/97506-12v-steel-battery-cabinet-with-wheels-4x-100ah-quad-batteries.html

@Pho3niX90 Nice, what do you get with that order of their BMS, please if you can take a picture of all that comes with that order. Would like to see if I could maybe build my own battery box.