On 4/28/2020 10:25 AM, [email protected] wrote:
"https://github.com/offgridsystems (github resource repository)
Tim Economu's qualifications and background are impeccable, you couldn't ask
for a better collaborator on a project like this.
"
Hello all,
Just wanted to respond to a couple of comments in the last archive, and
maybe introduce myself. I've been an "active listener" on EVDL for
years, and now its nice to be able to give a little back to the active
EV community, so I'm coming out of the woodwork so to speak. If I might
introduce myself, I spent most of the last 30 years designing power
inverters and battery chargers (and being partial owner), of companies
such as Trace Engineering, Xantrex, Magnum, and a slew of smaller
companies doing solar, battery, and renewable energy projects in the
great Pacific Northwest. You might even have one of my inverters in your
RV, boat or house, whether you are offgrid or grid-tied, whether it's
sinewave or not. I've done some conversions, and some work on OEM EV's,
designed my own ground-up custom electric bikes and motorcycles, and am
currently converting all my fossil stuff to battery electric, including
my old Dodge camper van. So far I am about 95% renewable, the last 5% is
mainly my diesel tractor...which I actually have a motor and controller
procured for. I've also done the electrical design for a number of solar
projects, including the 75kw community solar farm at Greenbank Farm on
Whidbey.
It was natural to pick a battery project, since I started out working on
lead batteries many years ago, transitioned to doing nickel chemistries,
then fool cells, and then finally the last 10 year doing lithium cell
based packs. I noticed after Tesla started that not many folks was
taking the patents and doing something more universally germaine, such
as powerwall, bicycle, auto, and marine applications. And thinking that
with computer and EV boom (which I still see coming) there will be a LOT
of used and new 18650 and 2170 cylindrical cells out there in the world.
Also after a few years (and getting generous payoffs from those
aforementioned companies) I decided to open source my project, and give
away the intellectual property, so others can use what they need from it.
To specifically answer some of the questions posted, I'll offer these
comments:
The DKblock is designed for either repurposing used, or new 18650 cells,
and being able to change out the cells easily when worn or failed, and
keep all the rest of the system in place. It was designed to be wireless
for the communications between the blocks and the Pack Supervisor board
to keep the small wire pack wiring to a minimum, for reliability
improvement, and to allow subpacks to be in different locations. I won't
go on and on since you can go look at it yourself because it's open source.
The basic DKblock has 20 cells in a 2S10P configuration. You can use my
plastic parts on ebay (search DKblock) or print your own. Same with the
boards you can make your own, or purchase. Same with the firmware except
it's free, and you can modify if for your own purpose! Right now the
system is only good to about 20 blocks in series, or about 60 blocks
total (3 par strings of 20 blocks each). But I am working on V2 which
will be much more capable in terms of subpack spacing for longer
distances, and more blocks allowed, maybe up to 100 blocks in series,
and a few more features.
The block (Block Manager) does all of the cell management, temperatures,
volts, etc. The Pack Supervisor does all the pack related stuff,
voltage, current, temp, over-under voltage, overcurrent and over-under
temperature control with output relays for control, based on it's own
sensors, and the data coming in from each separate block.
I hope that answers the basic questions about the DKblock, and the
origination. I hope that the introduction does not seem too self
serving, but I know if use something that someone else designed, it is
nice to know who they are, and where they come from, especially when it
comes to batteries. And that is probably not just me. And thanks for the
kind words from Peri and Mr. Sharkey!
Tim Economu, Offgrid Systems LLC, Whidbey Island, renewable power.
https://dkblock922508958.wordpress.com
On 4/28/2020 10:25 AM, [email protected] wrote:
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