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Seplos Mason DIY Kit - Ancillaries - Advice

Makia2023 · 2023-10-17T07:27:26Z

Hi all and thanks in advance for any assistance, I wondered if someone with experience of the Seplos Mason 280L or 280 could offer advice on what ancillaries I should purchase for my planned install. Although Fogstar (the retailer I am using for the Mason) have been helpful with general questions, it has been difficult to get an exact list of what I need to buy (and from where) alongside their systems. The inverter I plan to use - Sunsynk 8K-SG01LP1-EU 8.8kW Ecco Hybrid 1Ph Inverter (tradesparky.com) I believe for my planned system of 3x SEPLOS 15.2kwh packs all I need is the following: 150 amp - fused isolation switch between batteries and inverter 4* Positive Copper Cables 95mm2 (M8 lugs or seplos connectors? How long should they all be?)4* Negative Copper Cables 95mm2 (M8 lugs or seplos connectors? How long should they all be?)Earth between all sets A diagram of how to wire these would be useful as I can't find one as yet!? Can anyone link me to the cables with the correct "ends" assuming i go for the 280L on wheels? If somebody has a diagram or picture with explanation of their system then that would be very useful to ensure I get the correct bits. I plan to order later this week subject to having all of the required information. I do have a professional electrician stood by to do the final install of the system to include commissioning however I plan to have everything built and set up ready for just a check over and final connection to the board.

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HughF

(@hughf)

Honorable Member Member

Joined: 4 years ago

Posts: 489

18/12/2023 4:55 pm

@transparent I've ordered a 1S LFP charger from ali, 25a, so that gives me a bit more power compared to my bench PSUs at work. I need to get my Eltek Flatpack setup to output 3.65x16... not too difficult to do.

Off grid on the isle of purbeck
2.4kW solar, 15kWh Seplos Mason, Outback power systems 3kW inverter/charger, solid fuel heating with air/air for shoulder months, 10 acres of heathland/woods.

My wife’s house: 1946 3 bed end of terrace in Somerset, ASHP with rads + UFH, triple glazed, retrofit IWI in troublesome rooms, small rear extension.

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Transparent

(@transparent)

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18/12/2023 5:09 pm

Ah... OK.

I'd misunderstood.
I thought you were looking for a solution which would arrive before Christmas.

Is a dedicated 25A 1S charger from AliExpress any cheaper than buying a generic power supply with 25A output (also from AliExpress)?

Save energy... recycle electrons!

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HughF

(@hughf)

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Joined: 4 years ago

Posts: 489

18/12/2023 5:29 pm

It did appear to be cheaper, yes. Ideally I'll have something up and running before xmas, but it's not the end of the world if I don't. I've got until March/April time to get this pack all installed in it's new location, along with a domestic rewire and consumer unit change.

Off grid on the isle of purbeck
2.4kW solar, 15kWh Seplos Mason, Outback power systems 3kW inverter/charger, solid fuel heating with air/air for shoulder months, 10 acres of heathland/woods.

My wife’s house: 1946 3 bed end of terrace in Somerset, ASHP with rads + UFH, triple glazed, retrofit IWI in troublesome rooms, small rear extension.

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Makia2023

(@makia2023)

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Posts: 72

Topic starter 19/12/2023 6:25 pm

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Makia2023

(@makia2023)

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Joined: 3 years ago

Posts: 72

Topic starter 19/12/2023 6:28 pm

Text disappeared but I've made a start on mounting hardware and making up matched length cables. Here we are on 35mm welding cable. Rest will be in 25mm. Rather than run in conduit I will be making up a locked Perspex cover for the cabling/battery section. May have to remount everything about a foot higher, but will see if I can fit the rest in with room for batteries below tomorrow.

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Transparent

(@transparent)

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19/12/2023 8:55 pm

Can you explain the need for a locked perspex cover please?

I only cover bare battery terminals/connectors when there is a risk that I might cause a short-circuit by something metallic falling against them.
Otherwise I leave copper busbars etc open to the air.

You seem to be heading in the opposite direction...
... putting a perspex sheet between yourself and the high-current cables, which are insulated anyway

... and then fitting a lock too 😲

Save energy... recycle electrons!

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Makia2023

(@makia2023)

Trusted Member Member

Joined: 3 years ago

Posts: 72

Topic starter 19/12/2023 9:10 pm

@transparent I keep my children in there at night. Little fingers. Like 45 of them in total (fingers that is).

Previous suggestion was conduit for the single insulated cables but if it's overkill I won't bother.

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Transparent

(@transparent)

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Posts: 3178

19/12/2023 9:26 pm

I think you're being over-anxious on the possible risks.

The reason that we can work on these batteries without being a qualified electrician is that they're below 75v and hence classed as Extra-Low Voltage (ELV). You won't feel anything at all if you place a finger across a +ve and -ve terminal.

I can quite see that you'll want to avoid your 4½ children short-circuiting the connections with a steel ruler to "see what happens".
So you need some barrier to keep them away.

But they're not going to be hurt by 52v DC.

Save energy... recycle electrons!

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HughF

(@hughf)

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Joined: 4 years ago

Posts: 489

20/12/2023 9:12 am

Just an FYI, yes you can easily assemble the 280L when in vertical mode.

Blown up the BMS so I’ll need to sort another one, but I’ve got this far. Wouldn’t be more than half an hour away from buttoning it up if I hadn’t fried the BMS 🤦‍♂️

Off grid on the isle of purbeck
2.4kW solar, 15kWh Seplos Mason, Outback power systems 3kW inverter/charger, solid fuel heating with air/air for shoulder months, 10 acres of heathland/woods.

My wife’s house: 1946 3 bed end of terrace in Somerset, ASHP with rads + UFH, triple glazed, retrofit IWI in troublesome rooms, small rear extension.

👍

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Makia2023

(@makia2023)

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Posts: 72

Topic starter 20/12/2023 9:32 am

How???????

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MisterB

(@misterb)

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Posts: 139

20/12/2023 11:13 am

@makia2023

are you putting a heating element in the case? i was an 'early adopter' of the 280L some months back and suggested some changes to Seplos, a couple of which they added. The one thing mine is lacking was a heating pad, so ive added an external one (reptile tank) via a 240v temp controlled device. At the moment i also added an insulated plywood casing around the 280L but it now looks ugly and having thought it through further, i dont think its actually necessary on the basis that the Seplos heater doesnt come with a recommendation to add insulation!

My thoughts were that if the Seplos heating element is internal then adding an external one would achieve the same effect ...??? Happy to hear of anyone else's thoughts? i could then also add just one piece of rigid insulation on the rear to 'direct heat in one direction' and cut heat losses.

My battery is in an external unheated utility room, hence the desire to add some form of case heating.

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Transparent

(@transparent)

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Posts: 3178

20/12/2023 11:47 am

Here's the relevant section of the EVE 280k LiFePO4 specification for cell temperature:

Even in an unheated utility room, it's unlikely that your cells' temperature will fall below 0°C in the UK.

A mains-fed reptile heat mat also seems wasteful of precious energy.
Haven't you got another readily available source of low-level heat nearby?
The fan outlet from your inverter(s) can't be that far away!

@makia2023 - I too await hearing @hughf's epic tale of how his new Seplos BMS has departed this life...
... and whether he intends replacing it with another of the same model.

Given a free choice, I'd probably be opting for one by JK with inbuilt 2A active balancing.

Batrium and Victron would offer even better balancing and SoC monitoring, but at higher price.

PS. I've just noticed that Fogstar have stocks of the JK PD2A16S-20P, which has similar size profile to the deceased Seplos BMS in Hugh's Mason box.

That model offers 200A charge/discharge capability and 2A integral active balancing.

The long rectangular format would make it simpler to fit in place of the existing unit.

The £190 price tag includes, fixing bolts, cables, JK's 110mm external touch screen...
... and unlimited support from this enthusiastic forum over the Christmas break. 😋