Get rid of lithiums? Stick with lead acid?

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Sounds crazy. Over reacted to covid in 2020 and bought four unused NEC 98 Ah 26 volt lithium batteries. These were, I believe, built for electric cars. Their self discharge rate is almost non existent. Got into lithium specs and have since forgotten almost everything.

For some reason I only bought two BMS boards. Those BMS boards are no longer available and they came with “special” connectors to the lithium batteries.

The past years seem to have been especially rough on my brain. I study forum chats about lithium battery management systems (BMS) and feel way over my head. Now 66 years old and overwhelmed with lots of other challenges. 

My background in electrical work topped out with installing 110/120 volt light fixtures.
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Just fried my panels and Fullriver lead battery array turns ten years old in a couple months. 

    This is not a good time.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Appears possible that the BMS cables are standardized based on ratings of BMS. Looking at some DALY BMS boards and the connectors appear to possibly be the same. 120/150 amp in my case.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Ordered new DALY BMS boards. May as well try to use these lithiums. Especially since my old bank is now almost dead for some bizarre reason (died within an ~ month). 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Now to try to find 32 x 62 solar panels - those will fit my racking. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    What a week:
    Find all batteries have resistance well over 10 and little power when fully charged. Horrible.

    Find all panels have been fried. Likely by flipping wrong switch and back feeding 110/120ac to them. 

    It was a truly miserable week weather wise. Now financial as well. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • WaterWheel
    WaterWheel Registered Users Posts: 387 ✭✭✭
    #7
    softdown,
    how do you have things wired if you can flip a switch and backfeed the panels?
    Of did you just hook wires up wrong?

    Conext XW6848 with PDP, SCP, 80/600 controller, 60/150 controller and Conext battery monitor

    21 SW280 panels on Schletter ground mount

    48v Rolls 6CS 27P

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    That was a theory. All is fine now. CC retired after ~10 years.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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