Has Anyone Built their own FogStar Battery ?

[EuroTrotters]

Fogstar Energy 12V DIY Kit (Envision Grade B 315Ah)

The Fogstar Energy 12V DIY Kit with Envision Grade B 315Ah cells includes everything needed to assemble a 12V Fogstar battery, including the case, LiFePO4 cells, accessories, and BMS.

www.fogstar.co.uk

As If I haven't got enough to do !

 

[growly_bear]

Me!

I wanted a shallow battery. I bought 4 x 280ah cells from Fogstar. A 200a bms from KBD in China (the Fogstar didn't have the heater control). You'll need specific tools like a low Nm torque wrench and a charger to top balance them in parallel too.

Would I do it again?
No!

Happy to help if you need it

 

[growly_bear]

Me!

I wanted a shallow battery. I bought 4 x 280ah cells from Fogstar. A 200a bms from KBD in China (the Fogstar didn't have the heater control). You'll need specific tools like a low Nm torque wrench and a charger to top balance them in parallel too.

Would I do it again?
No!

Happy to help if you need it

I've just reconsidered...

Yes I would do it again as I wanted to fit it in it's original location and it it be invisible to keep the interior standard. The invertor is inside a seat base as is the B2B

 

[Raul]

Here is mine without their box, as at the time they didn't have them yet.
This is december 2023

 

[Raul]

Fogstar Energy 12V DIY Kit (Envision Grade B 315Ah)

The Fogstar Energy 12V DIY Kit with Envision Grade B 315Ah cells includes everything needed to assemble a 12V Fogstar battery, including the case, LiFePO4 cells, accessories, and BMS.

www.fogstar.co.uk

As If I haven't got enough to do !

Go for it, it's rewarding and gives you an idea of how they put together. Also fully serviceable, and configurable by you.

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[EuroTrotters]

Go for it, it's rewarding and gives you an idea of how they put together. Also fully serviceable, and configurable by you.

do I need a heater though ?

 

[Lenny HB]

do I need a heater though ?

Not if you are using Victron kit as standard settings won't charge below 5°.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Not if you are using Victron kit as standard settings won't charge below 5°.

all Victron

 

[Raul]

do I need a heater though ?

I never needed heaters since 2019. Batteries are inside the van and all chargers set not to charge below 4C. I can't think of a situation in the van that will require heaters. And if you do, the charging current needs to be considerable to allow the heaters optimum working time. Most of that charge current if is from winter solar, may never be enough for the heaters to turn on.

 

[EuroTrotters]

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[Raul]

It has a 40Ah battery

 

[EuroTrotters]

It has a 40Ah battery

I read it as 512 div

 

[growly_bear]

I never needed heaters since 2019. Batteries are inside the van and all chargers set not to charge below 4C. I can't think of a situation in the van that will require heaters. And if you do, the charging current needs to be considerable to allow the heaters optimum working time. Most of that charge current if is from winter solar, may never be enough for the heaters to turn on.

To add to this as our lifestyles can be vastly different, I can see why heaters could be beneficial.

This winter, over a period of around 6 weeks, the SOC fell (EBL left switched on). With low temps the battery temps fell to less than 5oC and so I couldn't charge. If I'd wanted to go away I'd be stuck until they had warmed up.

Heaters would enable me to charge them. Even though the battery is inside the MH, it's surprised me how quickly their temperatures do fall, and remain cold.

 

[Raul]

Every time the temperature falls bellow 2C in the van, the victron VRM sends me a notification email, I have set this in my VRM account. No dramas, as I get in the van I put the diesel heater on, within minutes, the charging is enabled. I do have 700Ah (8.96KWh) and not worried until I hit 12% SOC.
My monitoring alone takes 20W 24/7 365, so it does deplete, but my van gets used even in cold weathers.
Yes we all differ in use, and without heaters may not suit everyone.

 

[growly_bear]

Every time the temperature falls bellow 2C in the van, the victron VRM sends me a notification email, I have set this in my VRM account. No dramas, as I get in the van I put the diesel heater on, within minutes, the charging is enabled. I do have 700Ah (8.96KWh) and not worried until I hit 12% SOC.
My monitoring alone takes 20W 24/7 365, so it does deplete, but my van gets used even in cold weathers.
Yes we all differ in use, and without heaters may not suit everyone.

Your system sounds great! I'm much more low tech and to measure my SOC I lean out of my bedroom window and connect with bluetooth to the Victron shunt!

I'm still in my first year of learning Lithium, but I'm surprised that the thermal mass of the battery heats up so quickly to be able to charge. After an hour of Truma combi my cells were still not warmed through (my battery is inside an inside enclosed space with an heater air pipe passing by).

I'd like to know how many Ah would be needed to heat up the battery to a safe temp (from themselves) to be able to use the B2B, and compare this to how long I'd need to drive for. I use my MH to take my daughter to school...

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[oldiesontour]

A quality BMS(same as used by fogstar) with heat facility and Bluetooth can be bought for around £65 heat pads are £4 ISH the cells can be bought for around £200- £250 perfectly pre balanced the case can be a simple ply box and arranged to fit available space .My 2 x 320ah. We're circa £300 each ,1 -2 hrs to assemble and fit(both are heated and BT.
So I see no advantage of buying a kit

 

[Sewdhull]

So long as you get reasonable parts and have enough about you to wire and bolt some things together you'll be fine making a battery and saving a fortune.
Take extreme care to do it right tho.