DIY Batteries

[Jonathan on Google Hippisley]

I have built my own 16kWh battery for in the order of AUD5,000 using  EVE prismatic LiFePO4 3.2V, 304Ah cells. In Australia it is classified as a Tier 3 battery, so it can't be in or adjacent to the house, and I didn't even research including in the on-grid circuit. So it is on a private circuit, with its own set of solar panels, and of course it needs its own inverter.

I used second hand solar panels, cables and connectors imported from China, charge controllers mostly from China, and the inverter was from China as well. The total cost of these peripherals was in the order of AUD2,000, bringing the project total to AUD7,000.

After two years of operations and readings taken thrice daily for more than 12 months, I calculate the payback period to be in the order of 5-7 years. The expected battery life is around 10 years, but it's hot over here, so we'll see.