UPDATE: They now send out non-conductive washers for the PCB screws. There is an issue with the PCB mounting screws that can cause a possible short in the BMS. They notified me of this and I noted it a couple times in the video @8:00 and at the end during my conclusion. They are working to resolve this. This is so far the best kit I have found. Its easy to build, and with cell prices, the way they are there is no better time to DIY! Be sure to watch the price 23:23 comparison segment in the video near the end. You will be SOCKED!! Get the kit here and tell them Nate sent you to get a discount! YIXIANG 280AH DIY www.alibaba.com/product-detail/YIXIANG-EU-Warehouse-Lifepo4-Battery-DIY_1601116528532.html

Thank you, Nate, we will continue to strive to provide our customers with the best quality products

Received mine today. Busbars and bolts broke through the bag. Shit everywhere. They need to package and secure them better. If you order the wheel kit, they just set the wheel box in there to bang around. Stupid. That's one of the reasons I didn't order wheels. Andy's garage ordered his with wheels. One broke out of the box and was slamming around in the case like a baseball, but heavier I'm just glad there's zero damage to mine. I've seen the horror stories with other companies. The shipping box looked in perfect condition (very rare these days) with the battery encased in the typical, dense foam that most battery cells ship are shipped in. I noticed that the one, potential, problem screw on the PCB was left off. Kudos to you for catching it. Cells are coming Saturday. Woo Hoo!

@natesdiysolar

8 күн бұрын

Did they give you non conducive washers for the pcb screws. Yea, I saw Andy's video.. I made note of those bags as well in the build video. I'll screenshot your comment to them. They really need to fix that. I would use non conducive washers on all the pcb screws. What Cells did u get.

@rtsrts2317

7 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar It has the metal washers. But I placed my order over a month ago. So probably before you let them know about it. Cells are LF280K V3. The "new'' version from 18650store.

@natesdiysolar

7 күн бұрын

@rtsrts2317 nice. I'm getting another box w casters next week, so ww shall see

That's an awesome kit. I need to try one of these.

9:11 Either use Nylon screws or nylon standoffs

LOVE your videos - Many thanks! I'd like to build 3-4 of these battery kits and use them with either an EG4 18KPV inverter, or a Sol-Ark 15K-2P hybrid inverter. Do you think I should have any concerns about this new JK BMS being able to communicate well and interoperate with these inverters, or vice-versa? I can't get either inverter manufacturer to definitively say they support the new JK BMS, or any version of the JK BMS for that matter. Do you think I will run the risk of losing any important functionality with either of these combinations? THANKS!

@natesdiysolar

23 күн бұрын

Unfortunately, I do not have a good answer for you as I am also wondering about the same issues. I'll tell you what I do know. If you can get the comms to work, the battery will tell the inverter how to charge it. Andy from off grid garage has some good videos on connecting the jk inverter bms to victron systems. I will attempt to connect to my mpp solar inverter at some point. The eg4 inverters seem to require battery communication, so if that's what you are planning on doing, please check with the seller if there is a user or stand-alone mode that does not require comms. If so, it should be fine just going based on voltage.. that's what I'm doing now.. both seplos and the jk bms. I would start with reading the jk Inverter Bms manual. I will try to get a page up on my website in the coming days with a link to the manual. Sorry, I don't have a better answer at this point. My buddy is currently building the same batteries with the eg4 18k . Send me an email, and if he ever gets it working, I'll let you know.

@tquinn63

21 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar It is hard to imagine why the battery manufacturers and the inverter manufacturers don't just establish a communication standard/protocol for the base functions of a BMS. As a software engineer, I can assure you that it would save massive time and money for both sides and it would promote increased sales because they could avoid making all prospective customers worry about incompatibilities and shoulder the burden of uncertainty and risk. I suppose some inverter manufacturers that ALSO sell/make batteries might think it works to their favor to keep their BMS protocol proprietary and force customers to buy everything from them. I'm frustrated though by any inverter company that claims they are battery agnostic but doesn't publish their BMS communications protocol at minimum. The result is that the inverter company needs to be wildly better than its competitors if they effectively force you to buy wildly overpriced batteries to work with their inverters. It sounds like there is blame on the other side too. Why doesn't the company making the JK BMS do everything possible to work with the top 20 inverter manufacturers worldwide ensuring communications compatibility? Do you know who makes the JK BMS? I don't think it is Yixiang. Thanks for your thoughts...

@natesdiysolar

21 күн бұрын

@tquinn63 funny, you should mention that.. I am a software developer as well, lol.. I have also thought the same thing.. both Seolos and JK have made efforts to support popular invetrer brands.. about 5 of them.. DYE : GroWatt : Victron : SME.. these are what I see in the Seplos app currently. JK is made by Jikong www.jkbms.com. I recommend checking out this page from Andy's off grid garage.. he's got the most info in one place.. links to manuals and software for both BMS. off-grid-garage.com/battery-management-systems-bms/

I noticed the optional caster wheels. Can these units be safely used vertically once built? I want them to stand up against a wall vertically rather than flat horizontally . Thanks!

@natesdiysolar

26 күн бұрын

They are producing a vertical unit. I don't have any details on it currently. I would not stand up the horizontal box upright as the cells are not supported on top. These boxes are made to be stacked..

@rtsrts2317

25 күн бұрын

I understand that they can be used vertically. At least that's what was said on another channel.

@tquinn63

9 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar I did find vertical units from some of their competitors, but I've heard what sounds like a legitimate concern when going vertical with these types of cells. That is vertically, the cells would be subject to significant and inconsistent weight and compression from the cells above them, likely allowing differential expansion based on their positions in the stack. To avoid this possibility and eliminate a potential point of failure, I'm willing to stay horizontal.

@natesdiysolar

9 күн бұрын

@tquinn63 Yes, this is about the only concern there would be. That said, I do plan on doing a review and testing of theirs once it's available. Thanks for the info.

This is the best battery box on the market at the moment together with the ELL DIY battery box with JK Inverter BMS, but both are not perfect yet. I don't like that the communication cable between the batteries placed on top of each other runs through the touchscreen in both boxes. ELL should fix this in the future. Also, two main plus and minus terminals would be better as one in ELL DIY battery box, just like Yixiang battery box has. Second PCB connectors in Yixiang battery box are not needed, the JK Inverter BMS has sufficient active balancer integrated into it.

@natesdiysolar

27 күн бұрын

Yes they certainly could use improving. I wanted to try the pcb connectors and see how fast I can balance a pack. Even with the JK bms it took a day or so.. way faster then the seplos lol.

@natesdiysolar

27 күн бұрын

Was it the ELL that had that junky bus bar to breaker configuration.. I do not like that.. give me a nut and bolt any day..

@tiborchren

19 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar Yes, ELL cut the busbar width in half when going into the breaker. They should extend the end of the thinner busbar and then bend it back so that the busbar end cross section would be the same. But ELL basically follows the comments and improves their products based on what the community needs or wants.

Seems to me there could be a temperature issue with these batt boxes. The cells are compressed together and the box is not vented, once that temperature builds up it will be difficult to lower it without forced ventilation like a desktop computer? and even then the cells will not cool easily because they are so tightly packed together. I see from the 280Ah+ spec sheets that cycle life is halved once temps get up to 45C compared to 25C. Is this an issue or am I worrying unnecessarily...

@natesdiysolar

20 күн бұрын

Although ventilation holes would be a nice feature, it would not necessarily be for heat build-up. These types of cells generate very little heat themselves, if any. These cells are very commonly sealed in some type of sealed container like in EV cars, and they are sealed cells that do not vent unless some extreme rare circumstance (safety feature) and if that happens, the cells are probably ruined. The BMS will actually create more heat than the cells will, and that's only under high sustained loads. But even the BMS is designed to dissipate this heat. I would be more worried about outside environmental factors and ambient temp than I would the internal heat. In fact, if you are in a cold climate, it's recommended to keep the cells warm. I have a heated battery build video if you want to check out. Hope this helps. I actually thought about doing a video using PC fans and a temp controller, but this would be if you were going to keep the battery in some closet outside with direct sunlight heating up the cabinet. My batteries are in the garage, and I have an ac unit to keep the equipment cool, and the bms reports 30c max when the garage is at 89 to 92 degrees ambient temp... its actally cooler inside the box according to the BMS. The BMS has 4 temp sensors that will shut down the battery if the temps get too high. I'm talking 60 to 70c, and this is factory default.

@ricardophelps6323

20 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar Okay that's interesting to know. My RE Cabin is air conditioned as I am in the South of Portugal it gets to 35 C similar to Florida. My current FLA batts are just outside the cabin in the shade and they tend to mimic the air temp around them so do get up to 40 C on occasions. Seems when I replace them with LFP I can get them inside and keep the cabin at 25 C max. Would they stack okay without the lids on? that would help dissipate any excess heat quickly. I would need x3 units about 45KW, with shipping would be less than €6K which is comparable with FLA. No worries about the cold here min is 10 C.

@natesdiysolar

20 күн бұрын

@ricardophelps6323 There are alignment holes where the feet would prevent them from moving, so I suppose you could, but no reason to do so. I would be worried if something got in there... and caused a short. I have a 12v LFP outside as well in the shade, and it's been fine. I'll do a capacity test on it after the summer. Try with the lid on and monitor the temps.

@ricardophelps6323

18 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar yes I believe your right we do have a lot of Gecko lizards here and they can get anywhere it would be an accident waiting to happen.

These Box have defects leading to shock and short circuit and possible damage to the BMS. You should know it. Greet Leszek

@ParagonDIY

26 күн бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/hqyZ2NGkZM20qbQ.html

@PhilippeCJR

26 күн бұрын

You need to explain details, otherway your statement doest make sense...

@natesdiysolar

26 күн бұрын

If you are referring to the screws on the PCB, I mention that very clearly in two different times in the video. The manufacturer is resolving this by using non conducive washers on the PCB screws. I'll put this in pinned comment as well. There is more than one company using these PCBs.

@PhilippeCJR

26 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar clear 👍

Buy yourself a torque wrench for doing up electrical fittings. You will strip them out

@natesdiysolar

12 күн бұрын

Yea I need to get one.. any recommendations..

15:22 THAT cell missing one post?

@natesdiysolar

26 күн бұрын

Yes lol good catch. It's a spare that I had.. next video, I will show what happened ..

So I just ordered three of these these come with the batteries as well right end up costing me around $1,700 and That's for three of these.

@natesdiysolar

22 күн бұрын

What.. $1700 each if ordered with cells, most likely. They do not come with cells.. they should ask you if you wanted cells.. 3 empty cases would be around $1700. They ship the cells separate. There is no way you're getting 3x complete batteries for $1700

@ronbown3836

21 күн бұрын

@@natesdiysolar That's what I thought.

Surely the bare minimum the manufacturer could do ie the bms board screw potential short would be to send an insulated washer. This looks bush league, cheap price isn't everything when it comes to power packs!

@natesdiysolar

25 күн бұрын

They told me they are now sending the insulated washers. I agree that expecting us to do it is silly. They also said they moved the location of the screws . Still a bandaid, in my opinion, I'd like to see a redesign of the pcb. I have another box coming.. we shall see. It's really the cell prices that make DIY attractive now, not necessarily the box.

Put the sticky on the plastics.

@natesdiysolar

Сағат бұрын

Actally, that's a great idea.. it crossed my mind after the build was done.

Their prices were all over the place when I purchased. No consistency. They advertised $419. They quoted me $429 plus all the associated shipping, fees and other BS. $608+ some other mystery fee of $17.65 they charged me a day later. Not exactly cheap, but whatever.

@natesdiysolar

26 күн бұрын

Yes, they do quote the non shipped price. First box, I ended up paying $800! I was fairly pissed about that.. anytime you buy on Alibaba, you will get those fees. You end up paying around $550 total these days, and I think that's fair, considering you get a BMS and a quick and easy solution.

@rtsrts2317

25 күн бұрын

$500-550 TOTAL is what I would expect to pay for these. It's a fair price considering the options from the other guys isn't really plug n play. One quote I received ended up closer to your $800 price. I had to negotiate for the price I got. Anyway, good video. Still waiting on mine to arrive.

@natesdiysolar

25 күн бұрын

@@rtsrts2317 where did you order from.. @rtsrts2317 so the 800 price was from the first box I got last year.. different company... Other companies are now selling around 550 as well, but you have to build the thing. So currently, I think these guys have the best deal iv seen.

@natesdiysolar

25 күн бұрын

@rtsrts2317 yikes yea I agree. 550 is what the price is now.. the 800 was from the first box last year, and yes, I felt ripped off, and that was for a "you build it" kit. Those should be even cheaper, say 450 to 500 as you have to build it.

@natesdiysolar

25 күн бұрын

Where did you ship to.. that's the largest factor. And if u get the caster wheels, I think that's an extra cost..

It must be horrible to have so many batteries.

@natesdiysolar

23 күн бұрын

Lol. It's a struggle..