When you're out in the wilderness, having enough power on hand is a blessing. Avoiding fossil fuels [LithiumSolar] is, as the name suggests, a fan of other technologies – building a 3.5 kWh solar generator that is robust and suitable for outdoor use.
Construction begins with 18650 lithium-ion cells that come from a recycler and are packed in outdated modem batteries. After 390 cells are harvested, the best 364 are selected and assembled into plastic holders to create a 14S26P configuration. A spot welder is used to weld the package together, using XT60 connectors as the main bus connector, albeit in a very unusual configuration. Balance cables are attached to a 14S battery management system to keep things in check. The huge package is then installed in a sturdy Craftsman toolbox along with an MPPT solar charging module and 1500W inverter for power.
The build video is a great resource for anyone interested in building custom 18650 packs or battery solar panels. [LithiumSolar] does an excellent job of clearly explaining each step and the reasons for part selection along the way. Of course, we've even seen solar-powered spot welders in a neat dovetail on this project – which would be useful if you had to recreate this setup somewhere on site. Video after the break.
[Thanks to Keith O for the tip!]
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