Batteries can provide electricity to a home. This isn’t just speculation; it’s a reality proven by a citizen who has been collecting batteries since 2016. Gublux, as he recounts in the forum, began building a shed to house both the batteries and the charge controller. And little by little, the project took shape until it became a reality: a homemade Powerwall capable of supplying an entire home with electricity entirely from scratch.
He recounts how the batteries from laptops that no one wants and end up throwing away are a treasure trove for him
Gublux’s invention involves powering his home with recycled batteries, as he explained in a forum. He recounts how the batteries from laptops that no one wants and end up throwing away are a treasure trove for him. As he explains, the battery cells can efficiently manage the energy received from solar panels to then power his house or car. The user shared his experience on the Second Life Storage forum, explaining how he successfully carried out this self-sufficiency experiment. This has inspired many to want to undertake a similar project.
Taking solar factors into account, the user has continued to increase the storage capacity
As many might be thinking, when there’s no sunlight, there’s a serious problem because the batteries don’t charge as much as expected. We’ll get to that in a moment, but the point is that after verifying that the batteries were working and storing energy, he welded them together to house them inside a wooden structure he built specifically for his small power plant. Taking solar factors into account, the user has continued to increase the storage capacity, exceeding 1,000 welded batteries. Incidentally, the user hasn’t reported any cells swelling or catching fire. And at the end of 2024, he announced plans to install new, more powerful solar systems.
The owner is open to helping others who want to take on this challenge and become independent from the electrical grid
The shed, or small wooden cabin, is located about 50 meters from the main house. It’s where the homeowner stores the batteries he uses to power his home. He already had a solar installation to help reduce his electricity bill, but recycling batteries completely changed everything. The construction process of this homemade power plant, made with laptop batteries, has been shared on various forums, and it has truly surprised many with its performance. Furthermore, the owner is open to helping others who want to take on this challenge and become independent from the electrical grid.
This entire project aims to achieve independence from the electrical grid by using old laptop batteries
The user’s progress has been applauded. After a few adjustments to get the system working, the user claims to have recycled over 1,000 batteries, noting that by the end of 2024 they will install a total of 24 440W solar panels, the energy from which will be collected by these battery cells. This entire project aims to achieve independence from the electrical grid by using old laptop batteries.
The user claims not to have changed a single cell
As Gublux explains, the project has gradually developed into what it is today. From 2016 to 2024, the project operated continuously for eight years. It’s a way to use renewable energy through repurposed materials that, if not properly recycled, can have a significant (negative) environmental impact. The user claims not to have changed a single cell, and the intention is to maintain or expand the project to continue achieving total self-sufficiency. Furthermore, through forum posts, anyone genuinely interested can ask questions and receive answers from Gublux. The user is happy to help others along the same path.