A 12-Volt battery made up of 4x 280Ah cells can store around 3.5Kwh! Thats enough power to charge a cell phone 175 times or run a 1500-Watt space heater for about 2 hours.
The battery enclosure I use in this video is made by SFK but I purchased my cells from China. This enclosure is heated, it can keep the cells warm in freezing temperatures. Most people do not use heated batteries but if you are planning on running your battery in sub-zero temps it would be wise to use a heated battery as doing so could damage your cells.
Check out the Where to Buy Cells page for more info about cells and cell buying tips.
LiFePO4 cells should always be managed with a BMS. The BMS protects the cells and ensures safe operation of the battery. There are many types of BMS, I use the JK BMS because it has a built-in 2-Amp active balancer.
This image shows the JK 4-8S BMS installed.
Parts
- SFK-KIT-V4BH (Heated Edition)
- SFK-KIT-V4B (Basic Edition)
- JK BMS JK_B2A8S20P
Tools
- ZKETech EBC-A40L Capacity Tester 0-5v 40a Charge/Discharge
- Klein Tools CL800 Digital Clamp Meter
- Klein Tools J63050 Cable Cutter
- Klein Tools J203-8 Needle/Long Nose Pliers
- Milwaukee Wire Stripper Combination Pliers
- Electrical Crimper & Cutter Hand Tool, 8"
- TEMCo TH0006 Hydraulic Electrical Cable Lug Crimper Kit
- Weller D550 Dual Heat Prof. Soldering Gun
- Full Size Hot Glue Gun, 150 Watts Glue Gun
- Brother P-Touch Pro Label Maker (PT-H111)