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People Are Using Recycled Laptop Batteries To Power Their Homes (vice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the diy dept.

New submitter gooddogsgotoheaven writes: DIY Powerwall builders from around the world are harvesting old laptop batteries and turning them into powerful batteries capable of supplying energy to their entire homes. "It's the future. It's clean, simple, efficient and powerful," Jehu Garcia, one of the most popular powerwall builders, told me. He and people like him are deciding for themselves what the future of alternative energy will look like, instead of waiting for technology companies to shape it for them. "The end result is being able to rely on something I not only built myself but understand the ins and outs of to power some or all of my electricity in my home. That is inspiring," Joe Williams, another powerwall builder, told me.

6 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. IDTS by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Jesus. Nope, nope, nope. Dying in a fire isn't my preferred way to go.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:IDTS by sycodon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I have had more than double the number of batteries for my laptops than I have had laptops.

      Battery lifetimes seem to be about a third of the computer.

      Where are they getting perfectly good batteries that are "recycled"?

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  2. Not that I know about electricity by keith_nt4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But this seems to be a really, really bad idea. Just on the face of it.

    --
    "UNIX is very simple, it just needs a genius to understand its simplicity." -Dennis Ritchie
    1. Re:Not that I know about electricity by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Nothing wrong technically if you know what you are doing, but I question the value return on all the effort and cost including the lifetime and maintenance requirements considering you are starting with used batteries many of which are already in the late aging phase. It seems to lean more toward enthusiast and hobby value than it does practical value. And that's OK.

    2. Re: Not that I know about electricity by keith_nt4 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Good thing I have slashdot commenters to know this stuff for me. So ya. What guy this said...

      by burtosis ( 1124179 )
      The problem with using laptop batteries is not the batteries, the tesla uses them. The problem is the smart battery circuitry needed to monitor currents and voltages, balance cells, thermally monitor strings (or ideally individual cells), gas gauge, and safely disconnect problem cells from the system. The major advancement in the tesla is the amazing cooling/heating system and the ability to rewire itself to stop using problem cells. Simply wiring up a bank of unmonitored cells is a disaster waiting to happen. The vast majority of home hobbiests lack the knowledge and wherewithal to implement proper battery safety. The packs in the stock photos, if lithium cells, are a disaster in the making. Disclaimer: have designed smart battery circuits for lithium batteries used in actual products.

      --
      "UNIX is very simple, it just needs a genius to understand its simplicity." -Dennis Ritchie
  3. Sounds good on the surface but by burtosis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The problem with using laptop batteries is not the batteries, the tesla uses them. The problem is the smart battery circuitry needed to monitor currents and voltages, balance cells, thermally monitor strings (or ideally individual cells), gas gauge, and safely disconnect problem cells from the system. The major advancement in the tesla is the amazing cooling/heating system and the ability to rewire itself to stop using problem cells. Simply wiring up a bank of unmonitored cells is a disaster waiting to happen. The vast majority of home hobbiests lack the knowledge and wherewithal to implement proper battery safety. The packs in the stock photos, if lithium cells, are a disaster in the making. Disclaimer: have designed smart battery circuits for lithium batteries used in actual products.