I was hoping that ChatGPT would come up with some resource out there where they discuss these odd geometries.
There is, for example what they call, snake layout. It puts 8 or 16 cells into series while leaving the remaining + and - beside each other for convenience. Other layouts use square bus plates to common 4 adjacent terminals of 4 cells and then run the series links around the outside. it was seeing these "kits" which made me realise there may be some more mathematically clever things I could do. These kits where for bigger batteries and... the collection of cut and drilled bus plates, in bare unplated copper was £250! As much as half my battery!
I'm not sure I need any of this, as you can see cabling is fairly messy and I have plenty of room. The plan, by the way, is to tidy that up with cable ties. A plastic sheet will fit over the cells and the BMS, breaker, etc. etc. will sit atop of that. The box will be closed, but not sealed. The whole thing exists in the garage where the only combustable item except the box it's in, is the wooden table it's sitting on. Unless the flames get up to the roof joists, it'll be fine. THe garage is detached, if it burns to the ground the house will be completely fine.
i have 16 bars. I can create 8 pairs. I just need to either measure and order 7 more for putting them in series, or I make 7 jumper links.
For space I think I need two rows of pairs. Basically as they are in the photo, but rotate each odd cell and put 2 links to make them a pair. Then starting in teh top left, series them left to right, down a row and right to left. Leaving the + in the top left and the - in the bottom left.
It's just that bus bars are hard to find, and will most likely take 2 weeks from china. I suppose I best stop talking rubbish and order some.