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

[diugo]

Originally Posted by mcarling

Somewhere between slim and none.

Nope, I've been watching the 160Ah's since last summer, and Balqon always seems to have exactly six of them available. Balqon is always desperate for cash---especially at year's end---so I suspect they'll find six more soon, even if they don't actually exist

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by diugo

Nope, I've been watching the 160Ah's since last summer, and Balqon always seems to have exactly six of them available. Balqon is always desperate for cash---especially at year's end---so I suspect they'll find six more soon, even if they don't actually exist

The webpage showed 32 in stock when I looked yesterday.

[diugo]

Originally Posted by mcarling

The webpage showed 32 in stock when I looked yesterday.

Did you mean 32 of the 700Ah's? They always show 32 of those in stock. I am talking the 160Ah's here

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by diugo

Did you mean 32 of the 700Ah's? They always show 32 of those in stock. I am talking the 160Ah's here

There is a chinese proverb which translates to "The most faded ink is clearer than the sharpest memory." I have learned to not rely on perfect memory.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by mcarling

Somewhere between slim and none.

My wildly speculative guess is that this clearance sale is consequence of deckofficer having noticed that they had shipped him old product.

Sounds right to me.

[CharlieJ]

Regarding the Littlefuse LDC series of fuses; I found a LDC400 suitable for a single 4/0 conductor in the engine room for $713. Breaking the bank up into 200Ahr batteries of four cells in series and protecting each battery with a Class T fuse and fuse holder (about $120) for five batteries and 1000Ahr will cost $600 in OCPD.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by CharlieJ

Regarding the Littlefuse LDC series of fuses; I found a LDC400 suitable for a single 4/0 conductor in the engine room for $713. Breaking the bank up into 200Ahr batteries of four cells in series and protecting each battery with a Class T fuse and fuse holder (about $120) for five batteries and 1000Ahr will cost $600 in OCPD.

Charlie,

Check out the L17T series fuses. These are 100,000 AIC rated even for DC use, come in sizes from 70A to 1200A, and are used in the telecom industry. A L17T 400A fuse runs about $89.00 here... Still have not found a suitable fuse holder for them but that can easily be over come..

[CharlieJ]

Maine Sail
Thanks...they look good.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by CharlieJ

Maine Sail
Thanks...they look good.

I began looking for alternatives to the Class T's a while back when quoting a Li job and found those. I forget whether or not I figured out of they'd fit a class t holder or ANL etc. but IIRC they would.

[diugo]

Great find, Maine Sail. The L17T's are much more economical than the LDC's. But, I am wondering if their very fast acting speed might be an issue with inductive loads, whereas the slower LDC would result in fewer nuisance blows.

[deckofficer]

Balqon without any prompting refunded me $280.

Note from Balqon Corporation:
Dear Mr. Lemke, I would like to offer a refund of $280.00 for your battery purchase as recognition of inconvenience our delayed shipment may have caused. We confirm that batteries shipped meet our standards and are covered under five year warranty. Thanks for your patience. Samra/CEO


I guess they will be my future supplier of lithium cells.

[mcarling]

Thanks for sharing that deckofficer! Let us know how the batteries are working for you.

[deckofficer]

I might be cycling them on some inverter loads, sawing up trees on my property with the electric chain saw. Never been a fan of the gas chain saws, and the running of 400' of electric cord is a hassle and drops the power of the chain saw. The real test will be in my electric kayak next Spring, hoping for 30 nm on each pack at 80% DOD.

[chala]

Originally Posted by diugo

Divide 48 volts by 0.001 and you get 48,000—

You should also include in your calculation the impedance of the battery (internal, terminals, etc resistances)
Google: fault current (AIC)

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by diugo

Great find, Maine Sail. The L17T's are much more economical than the LDC's. But, I am wondering if their very fast acting speed might be an issue with inductive loads, whereas the slower LDC would result in fewer nuisance blows.

According to the engineer I spoke with the trip time delay is very similar to the Class T fuses we've been using for years. I told him what I had been using and that I just needed the same performance in a higher AIC fuse.

Nuisance trips have been a non-issue with Class T as well as ANL & MRBF's. I have been fusing starting banks for many years and never had a single nuisance trip. I won't make any guarantees on an electric drive system but for large in-rush loads like starter motors I know Class T, ANL and MRBF's work fine and was told the L17T's are similar to the Class T's in trip time delay..