Thin LiFePO4 Batteries

bikelanta

Adventurer
I’m looking to find a quality source for thin 12v lithium batteries (1-2” thick). 100Ah would be the desired size, though 50Ah could work. Most that I have found are shaped more like typical automotive batteries.

Google shows some results, but they seem to be off brand or not much info is available on them.

Thanks for your help
 

john61ct

Adventurer
You need to buy **cells** in the thickness you desire.

Then put four of them side by side to get 12V, aka 4S

And if you have say 20Ah cells, five rows to get 100Ah, so 5P4S.

Since volume per kWh is pretty fixed, to the extent your bank is thinner, it will need to be taller and wider.
 

bikelanta

Adventurer
Thank you @Verkstad and @john61ct. Any reason I couldn’t put four of those cells together against the front of a truck bed vertically? Attaching them to say a rigid molle panel? Trying to save footprint and bed space.
 

bikelanta

Adventurer
Thanks all. What a rabbit hole to go down researching this method. Hadn’t even thought about the ability to create your own battery using individual cells. The possibilities!
 
Last edited:

slomatt

Adventurer

These are 3" thick, but if you reconfigured the cell layout you could make them about 1.5" tall.
 

dfinn

Adventurer

These are 3" thick, but if you reconfigured the cell layout you could make them about 1.5" tall.

I just bought a set of those to build my own battery from, they should be here in a couple of days. That said, I don't think these are either the smallest or lightest cells out there if that is a concern. I think they are kind of heavy and bulky. I went with them because they are cylindrical which seem like they more durable and less finicky than prismatic (no compression required as mentioned above). And because they were a lot cheaper than some other options as well.

edit: I didn't go with that kit with the BMS, I already had a BMS but that is a really nice price!
 

Herbie

Rendezvous Conspirator

These are 3" thick, but if you reconfigured the cell layout you could make them about 1.5" tall.
Well that's pretty awesome. I've got a space under my van that's just SCREAMING to have a custom-shaped pack stuffed into it. About 4" wide, 32" long, and 5" to 9" deep, depending on where I want to draw a line for mounting hardware. I kinda wish the included BMS had bluetooth, but I can probably make do. That might be my next project...
 

dfinn

Adventurer
It can be purchased without BMS and then you can add your own, with bluetooth. I went with this one:


I think there are some other options out there for less if you don't mind buying from aliexpress
 

john61ct

Adventurer
This CurrentConnected vendor is new to me. I like their verbiage on balancing, written well.

How did you come across them? Any info on their background?

Are they recommended by people you trust with good knowledge / experience?
 

dfinn

Adventurer
I'm really new to all of this DIY Lithium stuff but there's a good forum over at diysolarforum.com and current connected seems to be a trusted vendor over there. Also, I've spoken to the owner Dexter a few times now, actually just got off the phone with him about some BMS settings questions. He's very knowledgable and very helpful. They have a good youtube channel with some great info as well.

Their prices might be a bit higher than some of the china stores on aliexpress but I didn't mind paying a little more for something that was in stock in the US and supported by a US company.
 

Rando

Explorer
The CurrentConnected BMS looks to be the same as the Overkill Solar BMS, which is actually made by LLT Power (and available for less from them):

I have been using the 120A LLT Power BMS for several years and it has worked beautifully. The bluetooth means you don't need battery monitor as it provides a direct readout of SOC/Voltage/Current/Temp etc.
 

dfinn

Adventurer
That does look like the same one. Mine included the USB box but it's entirely possible I'll never use that. I got the 150A version from CC but only because that's all they offered, a 100A version would have been more than enough for my needs.

My cells should be showing up today according to fedex, hopefully I'll be able to test out this BMS soon.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
188,203
Messages
2,903,747
Members
229,665
Latest member
SANelson
Top