New garage time!

[fatjay]

You going to paint these?

I wasn't planning to. They're going to have 200+lb batteries just sitting on them.

 

[sodamo]

90kwh, I’m envious with only 57kwh. We use 35-40 per day.
You have a link for those batteries?

I likely would have painted before assembly as I know I wouldn’t after in operation.

 

[fatjay]

90kwh, I’m envious with only 57kwh. We use 35-40 per day.
You have a link for those batteries?

I likely would have painted before assembly as I know I wouldn’t after in operation.

https://batteryhookup.com/products/no-busbars-4-new-eve-3-2v-280ah-lf280k-v3-lifepo4-prismatic?variant=44207384592546

Looks like they're out of stock right now, but they restock regularly. They are local to me, and offer cash discounts if you pick up in person at their warehouse. I got 16 cells, jk bms, and tape for $1500.

 

[sodamo]

Thanks
But I question you actually have 90kwh
48v = 16 cells in series (51.2v 280ah 14.336kWh)
You would need 6x
Still cheaper than what I got. but I am so pleased with LiFePO compared to lead acid.

 

[fatjay]

Thanks
But I question you actually have 90kwh
48v = 16 cells in series (51.2v 280ah 14.336kWh)
You would need 6x
Still cheaper than what I got. but I am so pleased with LiFePO compared to lead acid.

Yes, 6x, that's why there's 6 shelves going into that room. Also they are listed as 280ah, but they test at 304ah which is 15.5kwh, but i just say 15kwh per pack.

I just got an email that 3 sets arrived in port today, so they'll be here in a week!

 

[fatjay]

90kwh, I’m envious with only 57kwh. We use 35-40 per day.
You have a link for those batteries?

I likely would have painted before assembly as I know I wouldn’t after in operation.

The rule of thumb is 3x capacity minimum of your daily use, but ideally 5x. Cloudy days or weeks can wipe out your packs if you don't have enough to spare.

 

[sodamo]

The rule of thumb is 3x capacity minimum of your daily use, but ideally 5x. Cloudy days or weeks can wipe out your packs if you don't have enough to spare.

That would be totally out of my budget. My challenge isn’t battery, but the handful+ days of limited PV charging. Last year about $50 for generator, a bit more this year. Much more than what I have would be overkill. Most days I meet charge parameters mid morning. Gen comes on if I’m approaching 30% SOC. I avoid deep discharge. Can buy a lot of fuel for price of battery.

Normal for us is about 25-35% of battery if full daily charge

I need to read more about your inverters.

 

[fatjay]

That would be totally out of my budget. My challenge isn’t battery, but the handful+ days of limited PV charging. Last year about $50 for generator, a bit more this year. Much more than what I have would be overkill. Most days I meet charge parameters mid morning. Gen comes on if I’m approaching 30% SOC. I avoid deep discharge. Can buy a lot of fuel for price of battery.

Normal for us is about 25-35% of battery if full daily charge

I need to read more about your inverters.

In person cash price for the 15kwh packs is $1200. Which is super cheap compared to buying premade packs.

If they’re lifepo4 cells taking them from 100 to 0 is totally ok.

I’m starting with 45x240w panels but I’m going to put another 90 on the garage roof. That should put me completely off grid.

 

[fatjay]

That would be totally out of my budget. My challenge isn’t battery, but the handful+ days of limited PV charging. Last year about $50 for generator, a bit more this year. Much more than what I have would be overkill. Most days I meet charge parameters mid morning. Gen comes on if I’m approaching 30% SOC. I avoid deep discharge. Can buy a lot of fuel for price of battery.

Normal for us is about 25-35% of battery if full daily charge

I need to read more about your inverters.

Here's some good info for Lifepo4 batteries.

 

[sodamo]

In person cash price for the 15kwh packs is $1200. Which is super cheap compared to buying premade packs.

If they’re lifepo4 cells taking them from 100 to 0 is totally ok.

I’m starting with 45x240w panels but I’m going to put another 90 on the garage roof. That should put me completely off grid.

Impressive system you are building. I have 64 panels, 18.46kw. 3 different sizes in 4 arrays pointing different directions. They feed 4 MPPT charge controllers. This system was installed 2019 so older tech. I only know of 1 person locally with a larger system, 90kwh battery (tesla power wall I think) his large system is to charge his Tesla. But another friend told me that during a particularly rainy period last year he totally lost power, no generator. I should ask about this season.

My manufacturer says life cycle 10,000 cycles at 80% DoD but only 3500 at 100% DoD. My hope is they last my lifetime +.

We have lived totally off grid since 2005. Started with a homemade 12v system built from a HomePower schematic.

 

[fatjay]

Welded on the 3wk inverter. Peaked at over 3500w welding, didn't seem to fade at all. It's supposed to handle surges to 6k.

Got the 4th set of rails made and up. Broke a bit with the magdrill. That was fun, it spun off and went flying when I tried to go to fast and the bit bit. Tomorrow I'll try to get the panels up. The first one takes a bit getting lined up and spaced, but after that they go up quick.

And finished the battery rack. More cells are supposed to arrive tomorrow, I'll head down on tuesday to pick them up. 600lb in the back of the ocean.

 

[fatjay]

5 more up, trying to make hte most of it before the weather turns.

 

[fatjay]

Got started on my bus bars. I gotta say, drilling copper is not how I expected. I was thinking something softer and more malleable, like aluminum. But I feel like it's tougher than steel. Steel is hard, but malleable, but copper is hard, and feels brittle. I was getting a lot more chips than strings than I do with steel.

I got the 4 mount holes for the bars, plus the bar mount itself that I'll mount to the wall. I'm trying to figure out if I should do a vertical or horizontal.

Next I need 24 holes for lugs, and then I have to tap them. Tapping is going to be rough, I can feel it.

 

[murphy1244]

I'm starting on a three-floor garage build, measuring 24x44x35, designed for practicality and comfort. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Ground Floor: 12' high ceilings for vehicle lifts.
• Second Floor: Will house my metal shop and office.
• Third Floor: Split between storage and a man cave, featuring a vaulted ceiling.

Key features include radiant floor heating, two large garage doors, side man doors, and an internal elevator.

I'm doing the excavation with my classic 1953 Oliver backhoe and will be deeply involved throughout the build. Any tips on heating systems or managing such a build would be greatly appreciated!

That sounds great! We love to follow your progress. Start a new thread so we cam follow along.

 

[fatjay]

Came in at 10pm, wife said cold shower. I said i'll fix it.

6 hours later...

I cleaned the boiler, then replaced all filters, rebuilt everything.

Now I have an oil leak at the pump.

 

[fatjay]

So first thing this morning, after working 10pm to 5:30am, I woke up and headed to RE Michals for a replacement pump. I figured taking it apart will do me no good, the gaskets went and I don't have any replacement gaskets, so a new pump is my best bet.

RE Michals had nothing, so they sent me to riley sales. There, I waited in line for 45min, everyone and their mother was there, and there was only one sales clerk. When it was finally my turn, they also did not have what I needed.

Buddy of mine texted me while I was driving home asking for help moving his old boiler out of the basement, he got a new one. Hard water had killed his. I called him up right away and said I'd be there in 15min, i need his oil pump.

Showed up and sure enough, holy ****, exact same thing.

Took the whole assembly, bound to be useful spare parts in there.

It was 1pm by the time i got home, so I took a nap, I was on 3 hours sleep.

 

[EddieWalker]

That's more of a day then I ever what to have!!! Happy it ended with you finding a the pump.

What type of work do you do for a living? You seem more knowledgeable about stuff like this then the average person.

 

[fatjay]

That's more of a day then I ever what to have!!! Happy it ended with you finding a the pump.

What type of work do you do for a living? You seem more knowledgeable about stuff like this then the average person.

Oddly enough, my job and litterally everything else I do, are completely unrelated. I'm in software engineering.

Making some bus bars. Drilling and tapping for m8 screws. Made it 17 before the tap snapped. I can't find my spare, so that's it for tonight. What's the point of buying 2 if I promptly lose one.

 

[murphy1244]

That looks like my bench. Do you use any juice like Tap Magic?

 

[fatjay]

I have cutting fluid I use.

All tapped and ready to go!

Choo Choo.