Quote:
Originally Posted by mark.tuccillo
Does anyone have the Bank Manager installed on their boat to parallel LFP and lead batteries. The concept seems sound, assuming the system is properly designed and has no software bugs.
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The concept is not only sound but also very smart and simple not to say elegant.
My take is that it will actually (from a systems view) improve the functionality of both Lead and LFP.
-Lead longer life due to lower
depth of discharge but there as both a backup and protecting you from BMS shutdowns and killed
alternator and electronic devices.
-Robust technique always assures that there is no voltage difference when connecting the different banks.
-A lot of options on how you can charge and use your new LFP batteries regarding the type of charge algorithm, to what DOD you want to discharge, and even an active selectable level if you want the LFP to be at around 50% SOC when you leave the boat.
I have not found any other system that also just lets you use all your "old existing infrastructure" regarding
charging and basically is a smart add-on product that is easy to install.
If the claimed safest and smartest way to charge an LFP battery to 100% over time will prove to be true it will probably also in that dimension save you a ton of
money getting more cycles from the LFP and avoid the risk of low
current overcharging.
Personally, I will keep my big
AGM bank for bow thruster,
Anchor windlass, and the
electrical furler. Add LFP to the existing lead house bank and when it is time to change the lead part go with the new Lead carbon batteries that promise a lot more cycles as well as not dying after even a 100% discharge.
Doing the math I prefer to buy more LFP capacity rather than to change the
solar and shore chargers as well as to look into a new
regulator for the
alternator.
The inventor is a very accomplished
engineer, and his way of dealing with the possibility of
overheating the alternator is just as brilliant as his other inventions.
A small thermal switch controls the field
current and switches off when the alternator is getting too hot.
I guess the only little thing is that you will have to see the charge lamp coming on from time to time if you want to charge your batteries at a "low
rpm where the alternator is not able to cool enough ( not really the smartest way of using a big
Diesel engine..)
Buy one before
Victron or Mastervolt decides to offer the inventor a big chunk of cash so they can bury his invention and continue to sell us all the "needed" boxes at fantasy prices. I did see that changing my Mastervolt
charger alone is either a new one at 1300 USD or
buying an add-on box so this 24V 60 Amp shore
charger can be used, then the
MPPT controllers and then the alternator....
Well, the little thing even tells you the SOC of your new LFP on its small display.
If this would have been a product designed according to normal industry logic that would have been a small little "ad on" device for some 200 bucks for sure.
I guess you have also seen the DC Air conditioner he has made ..
an accomplishment that was too hard for the industry evidently!
I have bought 2, one for the boat and one for the adventure vehicle on land!