LiFePO4 Batteries: Discussion Thread for Those Using Them as House Banks

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by T1 Terry

Just keep an eye on the cell voltages, stop if a cell reaches 3.6v. as soon as you stop charging the cell volage will drop down, it's just the high rate charging that would make it climb rapidly at the end of charging. If you just want to put a bit in to carry you over to the next sunny day, that works fine as well. That is the great thing about these batteries, they don't need to be fully recharged, just enough to cover the amount used until you can charge them again, by what ever method is available.

T1 Terry

Yep we have only gone to 3.30/3.35 max...

Complicating the charge by automatic charges to 100% by various sources seems counterproductive ..

Thanks Terry

Frank.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

YAou don't have to sit with 100% charged banks....

After 40 years of LA batteries this is the toughest thing to grasp about Li.....

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

After 40 years of LA batteries this is the toughest thing to grasp about Li.....

Very low self discharge is another aspect that is hard (but happy) to grasp. One of my 12 volt banks has sat for 4 months and reads 13.55 volts or about 3.39 volts per cell. Try that with lead.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Very low self discharge is another aspect that is hard (but happy) to grasp. One of my 12 volt banks has sat for 4 months and reads 13.55 volts or about 3.39 volts per cell. Try that with lead.

Here in Maine I can let LA batteries sit all winter and not lose much at all... Course in 80F-100F heat forget it....

[Lagoon4us]

Thought i'd post the Winston link explaining the product totally, ours is performing beautifully, cell charge averaging 3.55volts with no more than .02 of a volt difference, cycling about 100 amps per day. At last there's no smell in the boat from LA'S and the arse of the boat has risen.

http://www.everspring.net/IM.pdf

Cheers Frank

[Singleprop]

Document failed to load.
Could be my computer or maybe China censur.

[Lagoon4us]

I just tried and it worked fine?

Cheers Frank

[careka]

are you using the same batt charger that you did before, just adjusting it to give what ?
And will a charger at say 40 amps be to small for a pack of 400amps like you have Frank ?

[SVNeko]

Document failed for me too.

[careka]

worked fine for me, on a mac.

[Lagoon4us]

Yes it may be the Mac part as that's what i use, maybe google to find it?

Initially i just used the solar with a Lithium programmed regulator, then after a while i went into my Dolphin charger and chose a scenario that had no float etc.

I've now installed two latched relays so i can choose whether the charge comes from either the solar or the alternators off main engines (i only use them to bring to 80% charge) or Dolphin 80 amp battery charger to 100%.

I did this so i could self monitor watching the current and the stored amps and deciding which source to use, default is the solar as the GSL MPPT only brings charge to 14.60 max however as the boat has constant loads max charge has sat around 14.10.

The only time i see cells with different voltages is when the cells are at peak but as soon as a load comes on they all jump to within .02 of a volt and if a serious load they go to exactly the same, a serious load being an inverter drawing 100amps for a pot of coffee.

Terry and Dave pretty well nails the situation by simply observing the state of the batteries and allowing the cells to cycle during the night i.e. SOLAR.

i'm now fitting two, two two pole momentery switches connected to each cell so i can check cells 1/2/3/4 whenever i like watching for imbalance.

The experts can pull me apart but you somehow have to move on from fuses.....

I cannot get into the debates regarding Fluke meters, types of fuses and disasterous scenarios that some believe is inherent with this technology but i gotta say i felt so good depositing the gas producing lead acids by the dumpster......

Cheers Frank

[I.Grind]

I could not load document using CF app on iPad, but using "open in Safari" button worked fine.

[careka]

Thanks Frank
but it looks like a lot of work watching charging going on, It has to be like the Lead i have now, takes care of it self, i just look now and then on the V.602S, to se what i have on the bank. I cant be running around checking every cell every time i charge.
Does this system take care of it self, or does it take a lot of "looking afther" work to make sure its OK:

[hellosailor]

"Do not install the terminal connector with violent force..."

I DO do love ChiGlish.<G>
I guess I can't let Arnold Schwartzenegger do any installations, huh?

The file downloads terribly slowly, at 56k modem speeds? so it probably is timing out and failing on many systems.

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by careka

Thanks Frank
but it looks like a lot of work watching charging going on, It has to be like the Lead i have now, takes care of it self, i just look now and then on the V.602S, to se what i have on the bank. I cant be running around checking every cell every time i charge.
Does this system take care of it self, or does it take a lot of "looking afther" work to make sure its OK:

Looking after them is only me being cautious because this is my own installation and also the crap that's been put out about this quite old technology tends to make you somewhat dubious.

I walk past the monitor and look with interest, i check the cells to satisfy myself only. In the 5weeks they haven't drifted a bit so the interest will wane.

The file i posted tells the true story from the manufacturer, but even that will be critiqued to the inth degree by the armchair pilots and barrow pushers. The concept of the thread is for those actually using them, the detractors funnily enough don't own any cells (and probably don't own a boat nor cruise) they are essentially Googlelites and naysayers with little else to do but put people off from having a go.

Cheers Frank.