Re:Using old laptop batteries to build homemade powerwalls
by burger_moon on Wednesday March 21, 2018 @01:15PM
(#16640235)
You could build that in your garage with a concrete block or 3/8 steel box and a fire retardant system. Hell you could probably even just buy a sufficiently large gun safe if you didn't want to build something. Actually even a metal fire cabinet for storing acetone and such chemicals may be sufficient but if someone were interested would need to research this further of course.
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Re:Using old laptop batteries to build homemade powerwalls
by aphextron on Wednesday March 21, 2018 @01:42PM
(#16640535)
Or you could just hire an electrician and buy new batteries so you don't have to worry about burning your house down. Lithium battery packs are perfectly safe to keep in your home when used and maintained properly.
It's not even so much the DIY aspect of this that's an issue, as much as it is people thinking it's OK to use old batteries. It's not. These are not deep cycle lead acid batteries. LiPo cells have a very definite cycle lifetime, beyond which their internal resistance grows to dangerous levels. Using them beyond that is just reckless and irresponsible.
Re:Using old laptop batteries to build homemade powerwalls
by jsight on Wednesday March 21, 2018 @02:21PM
(#16640946)
Even new cells of this type have some risks, especially when the charge controller and wiring are all home-brew. Risk mitigation via physical barriers isn't at all a crazy thing to think about.