LiFePO4 300wh Milwaukee Packout Power Station

[Douglas S]

I've been moving all my camping stuff to packouts. I have mounting plates on top of my drawer system and it makes loading up the 80 for a weekend of camping super simple.

I wanted a way to charge phones and run my diesel heater (also being mounted in a packout) and Milwaukee doesn't make a power station that quite fit my needs so I decided to make my own. I have totes full of old wiring supplies I've accumulated over the years that don't meet my standards for vehicle wiring anymore so I figured this would be a way to use up some of that at the same time.

Bought a set of four 25ah topband prismatic cells from batteryhookup over a year ago, just got around to putting it all together. Cells are epoxied in place, fuse box is screwed down and expoxied. BMS is an aliexpress special, same with the usb outlets and main power switch, powerpole ports are from powerwerx. The double powerpole is for power out, vertical stacked is for charging.

Happy with it overall, will run the diesel heater for 8 hours on high which is more than enough for a weekend of shoulder season camping.

 

[peesalot]

Will the BMS regulate input from solar ?

 

[Douglas S]

Will the BMS regulate input from solar ?

No, it just protects the battery (high/low voltage, charge rate, etc.) and I also use it to monitor the battery through an app on my phone via bluetooth. I could still charge via solar using the powerpole input but would require a charge controller before connecting to the box.

 

[peesalot]

nicely done.

 

[ntsqd]

I presume that you're charging at home using the Victron charger shown. Where did you find the matching connector?

 

[Douglas S]

I presume that you're charging at home using the Victron charger shown. Where did you find the matching connector?

Yes, it came with a couple different ends that attach to its connector (which I think is proprietary?) - battery clamps and ring terminals. I cut the ring terminals off and replaced with a powerpole.

 

[ntsqd]

It appears to be the same connector, other than color, that NOCO is also using on their chargers. I need another of those connectors, but to get it I have to buy a $16 pigtail? Unless I find a more reasonably priced source I'm going to cut them all off and use 2 pole Weatherpacks.

 

[Douglas S]

Next step is a companion “module” for vehicle and solar charging. Have a Renogy 100w folding panel on the way.

This time I used pvc strips with tee nuts pressed into the backside and then epoxied down. Seems like a nice way to mount without drilling through the packout which is problematic as nothing can protrude. Time will tell.

 

[e9999]

Nice!
(aren't these Victron controllers supposed to be mounted vertically and with good air circulation - IIRC- ?)

 

[Douglas S]

Nice!
(aren't these Victron controllers supposed to be mounted vertically and with good air circulation - IIRC- ?)

That is what the instructions say. I’ll have to see how it goes, would be pretty easy to add some venting or a small fan to the enclosure.

 

[ntsqd]

A tiny box fan or two would be a good idea down here. Not sure if it'll be necessary up your direction. FWIW I've found some pretty small panel type air filters on mcmaster.com just for keeping system like this from sucking in a bunch dirt & debris. Not sure how small they go, though.

 

[peesalot]

Is that a POE for Starlink ?

 

[Douglas S]

Is that a POE for Starlink ?

Not a POE injector, no. Just has the same form factor. DC to DC LiFePO4 charger.

 

[ntsqd]

Path Of Exile?

 

[Douglas S]

Works well. Doesn’t get too warm I don’t think but I’ve ordered some parts to ventilate the enclosure anyway.