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Design Your own
Raw LiFePO4 Cell Battery ​Solar power System!

This is a complete system solution complete with:
  • BMS Protection Features (over/under voltage/over-current/balancing)
  • Low Temperature Cut-off
  • Programmable Charge/Discharge Bandwidth Settings
  • Matched LiFePO4 Cells that will last for ages
  • Low-voltage disconnect options for large inverters
  • Make it as large as you want! Power a small village or home if you want
All at a great price. This is the ultimate DIY LiFePO4 based system and has everything you need for a system that will last at least 10 years. 

A basic 12V BMS Protected LiFePO4 System Schematic:
Picture
Picture

If a single BMS cannot handle the current required by your loads,
Make 3X individual batteries ​and put them in parallel:

Picture

If you wish to run a LARGE inverter (or any load
larger than 2000W), build a 24v/48v System:

Running a solar power system at 12V is pretty illogical when you need to run large inverters. You will spend a TON of money on BMS/Wire/OCPD etc. So to save yourself a lot of time and money, build a higher voltage battery bank. This will allow you to run a massive inverter with a single 100A BMS. Let's think about this for a second...
  1. If you run 12V, a 100A BMS can run a 1,200W load max
  2. If you run 24v, a 100A BMS can run a 2,400W load max
  3. If you run 48v, a 100A BMS can run a 4,800W load max!
On top of that, 320A 48v BMS are easy to find! And cheap (like the one at the bottom of this page) and can power 15,360 watt loads!!

You will also save a ton of money in wire costs alone (hundreds of dollars worth usually). So if you are powering any load that is larger than 2000W, run a higher voltage battery. You will save yourself a lot of time and money.
Picture
Picture
Picture
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How to configure cells in a large battery Bank

If you are building a large battery bank, you should buy larger cells. If the largest size cells cannot do the job, you will need to combine cells in parallel first, then connect them in series. This will allow you to build and manage a large battery bank with a single BMS.

​When you parallel your cells, they need to be nearly the same voltage. If you buy brand-new cells, they will come at the same voltage and you can wire them up like this:
Picture
Picture

Then add a single BMS to manage all the cells:

Picture
Picture

Recommended Charge Profile:

​12V LiFePO4 Battery w/ BMS:
  • Absorption: 14.5V
  • Float: 13.6V
  • Inverter Cut-off: 10.7V-12V (depending on size of load and voltage drop etc)

24V LiFePO4 Battery w/ BMS
  • Absorption: 29V
  • Float: 27.2V
  • Inverter Cut-off: 21.4V-24V

48V LiFePO4 Battery w/ BMS
  • Absorption: 58V
  • Float: 54.4V
  • Inverter Cut-off: 42.8V-48V
    ​
Individual 3.2V LiFePO4 Raw Cell (for individual cell capacity testing)
  • Absorption: 3.625V
  • Float: 3.4V
  • Low voltage disconnect for capacity testing: 2.5V

If you are using a BMS and wish to manually cycle up to 90% SOC:
  1. Do a discharge capacity test with a shunt. Record capacity in watt hours.
  2. Charge slowly up to 90% SOC (take capacity Wh figure and multiple by .9), and while charging, record the voltage right when it hits 90% SOC
  3. Set the absorption for all chargers in system to the voltage you recorded in step 2
5,000+ Charge Cycle Absorption Recommendation
If you want your LiFePO4 cells to last a long time, you can set your absorption to Victron's custom LiFePO4 charge profile recommendation:
  • 12V Battery: 14.1V
  • 24V Battery: 28.2V
  • 48V Battery: 56.4V
You can pull full capacity with the absorption figures above, but the charge rate will be reduced at high SOC.

Cells and BMS that I recommend:

Picture

Click Here For Cells

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Click Here For BMS


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  • Home
  • DIY Solar Packages
    • Vehicle Mounted 12v Systems >
      • The Minimalist (great for small vans and cars)
      • The Classic 400 Watt (RV's, Vans, Buses)
      • 400 Watt w/ Alternator Charging
      • The Off Grid King (Power Anything!)
    • 48V Offgrid System Blueprint
    • Complete 48V Solar Kits
    • All-in-One 12/24/48V Packages
    • Code Compliant 48V Offgrid System
    • Design Your Own Raw LiFePO4 System
    • Grid-tie Systems
    • Other Packages >
      • Solar Trailer
      • 2000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • 4000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • Milk Crate Solar Power System
      • 12v Solar without a Battery
  • Solar Batteries
    • 12V Lithium Batteries
    • 48V Server Rack LiFePO4
    • Raw LiFePO4 Cells
    • BMS
    • Sealed Lead Acid Batteries
  • Solar Components
    • 50-250W Solar Panels
    • 300W+ Solar Panels
    • 48V All-in-one Buyer's Guide
    • Inverters
    • Solar Charge Controllers
    • Battery Chargers
    • Wire and Connectors
    • Fuses and Circuit Breakers
    • Battery Monitors
    • Battery Capacity Testers
    • Automatic Transfer Switches
    • Battery Isolators
    • Tools
  • Plug-N-Play Systems
    • Full Size Systems
    • Ultra Portable Systems
  • Appliances
    • Solar Friendly Air Conditioners
    • 12v Fridges
  • DIY Solar Book
  • Videos
    • Electricity for Dummies
    • Solar Power for First Timers
    • General Solar Education Videos
    • DIY LiFePO4 Video Series
    • Solar Wiring Configuration Diagrams
  • The Forum
  • Help Section
    • How to Mount Solar Panels to a Vehicle
    • How to connect Solar Panels to your Solar Generator
  • Contact Me
  • Policies and Disclaimers