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A 16S DIY battery kit for pack builders: steel case, smart BMS and the full accessory set for 280Ah-class prismatic LiFePO4 cells — supplied as a kit, assembled by you, branded by you.
A Kit, Specified Like a Component — Not a Finished Battery
This page is for assemblers, solar installers, and distributors who build their own 51.2V packs: you source the cells, we coordinate the case, BMS and hardware around them. Sixteen 3.2V prismatic cells in series give a nominal 51.2V pack; with 280Ah cells that is about 14.3 kWh of nameplate energy — the workhorse size for home solar storage and off-grid systems. What this kit is not is a finished battery: no cells are inside unless you order the tier that includes them, and nothing on this page should be read as a ready-to-install product.
The kit is supplied in three tiers. The market uses loose words like “complete kit” for all three, so we define each tier by what is physically in the box:
| Tier | What is in the box | What you supply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Case-only kit | Steel case plus accessory set: series busbars, sampling boards or balance harness, insulation set, main terminals, protection hardware, fasteners | Your cells and your own BMS |
| 2 — Case + BMS kit (standard offer) | Everything in Tier 1, plus a fitted 16S smart BMS and display. This is the configuration meant when a listing says “Battery Case + BMS + Accessories (Cells Not Included)” | Your cells |
| 3 — Complete kit with cells | Everything in Tier 2, plus 16 matched Grade A cells of the model confirmed in your order | Assembly only |
If you only need the protection board itself, see our standalone smart BMS boards. If you would rather not assemble at all, the same capacity exists as a finished product in our 51.2V 280Ah LiFePO4 battery range.
Reference Standard Configuration
The table below is the reference build most buyers start from. It is a starting point for a written specification, not a locked catalogue item — the next section lists what can be changed.
| Item | Reference configuration | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | 16S (16 × 3.2V cells), 51.2V nominal; ≈14.3 kWh with 280Ah cells | Fixed by the kit design |
| Case format | Horizontal steel case, rack-mountable / stackable; standing floor format as an option | Option — see matrix below |
| Case size, reference range | Horizontal ≈ 680–770 × 410–447 × 250–270 mm; standing ≈ 412–450 × 260–270 × 815–825 mm | Reference range across mainstream market cases of this class — exact drawing confirmed per order |
| Cell layout | 2 rows × 8 cells, with compression end plates | Fixed by the kit design |
| BMS (Tier 2/3) | 16S inverter-type smart BMS, 150A or 200A continuous class, CAN inverter communication, Bluetooth monitoring | Brand family and model confirmed per order |
| Main protection | 250A-class fuse or circuit breaker in the main path | Confirmed per configuration |
| Display | LCD / touch display fitted on with-BMS tiers; not included in the case-only tier | Tier-dependent |
| Main terminals | P+ / P− terminal pair, 300A class | Confirmed per configuration |
One honest note on case dimensions: published sizes for cases in this class differ by several centimetres between makers — and sometimes between a maker’s own channels — because some quote the bare body and others include terminals and handles. That is why we quote a range here and fix the exact case drawing, with its measurement basis, in your order confirmation instead of printing a single number we would have to walk back.
Configuration Options — Nothing Is Locked
| Dimension | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supply tier | Case-only / Case + BMS / Case + BMS + cells | See tier table above |
| Case format | Horizontal stackable; standing floor format with casters; custom dimensions for volume programmes | Custom sizes are an OEM item, confirmed per project |
| Cells fitted (Tier 3) | EVE LF280K / LF280K V3, CATL 280Ah, Hithium 280Ah, REPT 280Ah | Terminal form confirmed against the physical batch |
| 314Ah upgrade path | The same case family also accepts 314Ah-class cells | See the FAQ and the compatibility section |
| BMS family | JK inverter BMS (active balancing, CAN inverter protocols) / JBD (passive balancing, UART-RS485-CAN options) / Daly (classic passive or active-balance lines) | Category options — the brand and model in your kit are confirmed in writing per order, never assumed |
| BMS continuous current | 100A / 150A / 200A class | Size from your inverter and load profile, not from the cell label |
| Balancing | Active 1A or 2A, or passive balancing depending on BMS family | Active balancing earns its cost on large 280Ah cells |
| Communication | CAN (inverter), RS485, Bluetooth app monitoring | Name your inverter model so the CAN protocol match is confirmed, not hoped for |
| Display | Touch display (4.3-inch class) / LCD / none | “None” applies to the case-only tier |
| Heating pads | Optional add-on | Not standard fit. Add them if the pack will charge below 0 °C; this is separate from BMS low-temperature charge protection |
| Fire-suppression unit | Aerosol suppression unit on some configurations | Optional, availability confirmed per order |
| OEM appearance | Case colour, your logo and labels, rating plate, manual and packaging | See the OEM / ODM section |
Cell Compatibility: The 280Ah-Class Footprint
The kit is built around one cell footprint family. 280Ah and 314Ah prismatic cells from the major makers share it — roughly 174 mm long, up to 72 mm thick, and up to about 207.5 mm tall including terminals:
| Cell | Capacity | Size (L × T × H, mm) | Terminals |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVE LF280K / LF280K V3 | 280Ah | 173.7 × 72.0 × 207.5 (incl. terminals) | Welded M6 stud, single or double-hole versions |
| CATL 280Ah | 280Ah | 173.9 × 71.7 × 207.2 | M6 laser-welded stud |
| Hithium 280Ah | 280Ah | 174.7 × 71.65 × 207.11 | M6 stud (DIY-market version) |
| REPT 280Ah | 280Ah | 173.93 × 71.55 × 207.23 | Published sources conflict (M4 vs M6) — confirmed against the physical batch before busbars are drilled |
| EVE MB31 / CATL 314Ah / Hithium 314Ah | 314Ah | Same footprint family (173.7–174.3 × ≈71.7 × ≈207.2) | M6 stud versions |
The compatibility rule is mechanical, not commercial: a cell fits if its footprint falls inside the family above and its terminal form matches the busbar drilling. Capacity class alone is not a mechanical standard — cells sold as “280Ah” can differ by several millimetres between makers. Send the exact cell model with your enquiry and the match is confirmed in writing. If you are still choosing cells, our guide on choosing LiFePO4 cells for pack assembly and the 280Ah / 314Ah prismatic cell range are the right starting points; cells are also listed on our cell wholesale page.
What Is in the Accessory Set
- 15 copper series busbars — a 16S pack needs one link per cell junction, i.e. series count minus one; the count follows the format, not a marketing bundle
- BMS connection busbar set — the main-path links between cell block, BMS and terminals (a separate set from the series links)
- Sampling boards ×2, or a balance-wire harness — the two market forms of the same job: routing the 17 sense taps (B0–B16) to the BMS in order
- P+ / P− main terminals, 300A class
- 250A-class fuse or circuit breaker for the main path
- Display (with-BMS tiers)
- Carry handles ×4 on horizontal cases
- Insulation set — epoxy / fibre sheets between cells and case, EVA pads between cells
- Fastener pack — terminal bolts, case and lid screws
Exact counts of insulation pieces and fasteners follow the bill of materials of the case in your order and are listed in the order confirmation — makers vary these counts widely, and we would rather confirm ours in writing than copy a competitor’s packing list.
Assembly: Sixteen Cells Into a Working 51.2V Pack
- Check the cells before anything is bolted. Compare resting voltage and internal resistance across all 16 cells, and bring them to a common state of charge. A spread you ignore here becomes the imbalance you chase for the life of the pack.
- Insulate first. Epoxy or fibre sheets between the cell block and the steel case, separators between cells. Steel cases and prismatic cell cans must never rely on the cell’s own film alone.
- Set the 2 × 8 layout under even compression. Fit the end plates and strap snugly and evenly — prismatic LFP cells want moderate, uniform compression, not maximum force. Torque values come from the cell maker’s manual for your exact cell model and are stated in the kit documentation; there is no universal number, and anyone who gives you one without naming the cell is guessing.
- Land the sampling connections before the power path. Fit the sampling boards or balance harness from B0 upward and verify every tap reads in sequence before any busbar carries current.
- Bolt the series busbars in order — 15 links, polarity checked twice. Work cell 1 negative to cell 2 positive and onward, checking polarity at every step with a meter, not by eye.
- Wire the BMS main path and protection. B− to the first cell’s negative, P− out to the load terminal, fuse or breaker in the main line, then the P+ terminal. Confirm the BMS wakes and reads all 16 cell voltages before the lid goes on.
- Supervise the first full cycle. Watch per-cell voltages on the app or display through the first charge. A cell that runs away on cycle one is cheap to fix on the bench and expensive to find in a customer’s installation.
- Close up and record the build. Note the cell batch, BMS model and settings on the build sheet. That record is what makes warranty discussions and repeat orders simple.
A necessary word on who should do this: a 51.2V 280Ah pack stores about 14 kWh and can deliver very high fault currents. Assembly belongs with trained technicians using insulated tools. If your operation does not have them, buy the finished battery instead — it is the honest recommendation, and the finished range is in our energy storage battery line.
Where a 14 kWh DIY Pack Earns Its Keep
- Home solar storage under your own label — installers and distributors building private-label ESS for residential solar, the main use case for this format; see also our home energy storage and solar energy storage pages
- Off-grid power — cabins, farms and small commercial sites where the pack is serviced locally and a locally assembled unit is easier to support than an imported finished battery
- Assembler production lines — workshops turning imported cells into certified-local-content packs for their market
- Backup and hybrid projects — telecom, agricultural and small-industrial backup builds assembled around a locally stocked case and BMS platform
OEM / ODM: Your Brand, Your Specification
The kit format exists for buyers who sell under their own name. OEM options cover case colour, logo and rating labels, manuals and packaging; configuration options cover the BMS family and current class, terminal arrangement, display, and — on Tier 3 — the cell model the kit is built around. For volume programmes, case dimensions can be produced to a project specification rather than taken from the standard range.
Our role in that process is coordination: requirements are confirmed in a written specification, matched against manufacturing partners’ production, and the agreed checkpoints and documents are handled on the export side. The specification confirmed in your order document is what binds the shipment — not this web page, which is why every variable item above is marked “confirmed per order”. Start from our OEM & ODM coordination page or the OEM / ODM RFQ checklist if you want the full document list.
What to Send Us for a Quotation
- Tier — case-only, case + BMS, or complete with cells
- Cell model — the exact cells you will fit (or ask us to supply them under Tier 3)
- BMS current class and inverter model — so continuous current and the CAN protocol are confirmed against your actual inverter
- Case format — horizontal stackable or standing, and any dimensional constraint of your installation or rack
- Quantity and destination — a sample kit for evaluation, or your expected regular volume, plus the destination port
One logistics advantage worth planning around: Tiers 1 and 2 contain no cells, so they ship as general cargo — no lithium-battery dangerous-goods freight. Many buyers ship kits by standard freight and source cells on a separate, optimised route; Tier 3 ships as regulated lithium cargo like any cell shipment. Exact packing dimensions and weights for your configuration are stated in the quotation.
Related reading before you enquire: the BMS selection guide for sizing the board, our 51V rack battery series for the finished-format alternatives, and the full range on the 48V LiFePO4 battery page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this case also take 314Ah cells?
Yes — that is normal for this format, not a stretch. 280Ah and 314Ah cells share the same footprint family, and mainstream cases in this class are rated for cells across the 280–314Ah range (some to 330Ah). Confirm your exact 314Ah model — EVE MB31, CATL 314Ah, Hithium 314Ah or another — when you enquire, because terminal form, not capacity, is what the busbars are drilled for. A dedicated 314Ah kit page is part of this same series.
Do I have to buy the BMS from you?
No. Tier 1 is case-only precisely for buyers with their own BMS platform. What we would ask is which board you plan to fit: the case’s BMS mounting position, display cut-out and protection hardware are arranged around a board class, and it is cheaper to confirm that fit on paper than to discover it on the bench.
Which BMS brand will my kit have?
The one confirmed in your order — deliberately. JK, JBD and Daly class boards are all in the option set, with different balancing types, current classes and communication options, and the right choice depends on your inverter and price point. Rather than printing a brand here and substituting later, the brand, model and settings are written into the order specification. If inverter communication matters, name the inverter model in your enquiry.
How much freight volume does a kit take?
On the reference case sizes, one horizontal case occupies roughly 0.07–0.09 m³ before palletising; standing formats pack differently. Exact packed dimensions and gross weight for your configuration come with the quotation — case weights vary too much between steel gauges and formats for a single honest number here. Remember Tiers 1 and 2 carry no cells, so they move as general cargo.
Can you supply the cells as well?
Yes — that is Tier 3: 16 matched Grade A cells of the confirmed model, supplied with the kit for your own assembly. If you prefer to source cells separately, our 280Ah / 314Ah prismatic cell range covers the compatible models, and Tier 1 or 2 keeps the case side independent.
Is a heating pad included?
No — heating pads are an optional add-on, confirmed per order, and we say so plainly because some listings imply otherwise. Add them if the finished pack will be charged below 0 °C. They are a different thing from the BMS’s low-temperature charge cut-off, which is a protection setting on the board itself.
The DIY Kit Series
This page is the 51.2V 280Ah model in an eight-model DIY kit series: 12.8V 100Ah / 280Ah / 314Ah (4S), 25.6V 280Ah / 314Ah (8S), and 51.2V 100Ah / 280Ah / 314Ah (16S). Each model gets its own page because the cases, cell families and assembly details genuinely differ — the 280Ah and 314Ah models here share a case family, while the 100Ah models use a different cell format altogether. The other seven models in the series: the 51.2V 314Ah DIY kit, the 51.2V 100Ah DIY kit, the 25.6V 280Ah DIY kit, the 25.6V 314Ah DIY kit, the 12.8V 280Ah DIY kit, the 12.8V 314Ah DIY kit and the 12.8V 100Ah DIY kit. The full product range is on Products.
Request a quotation for this kit: Start a DIY-Kit-48V280 inquiry · WhatsApp: +86 159 8945 0735
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