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

[Barra]

Hi guys - great thread.

Ive spent a few hours wading through alot of it today as im hoping to switch to Lifepo4 house batts in a couple of months as my house agms died over winter im told. Boat is in france so im going to have similar issues dealing with the locals as lagoon4us will in croatia i would say (maybe worse as you cant tell a frog anything when it comes to sailboats!).

So my set up at the moment is -

1.mastervolt inverter charger combo which im pretty sure can be set to bulk and maintenance volts ok as per Terry says above (where are you at by the way terry? im in wollongong if your nearby id buy you a beer to pick your brains)
2. 300 watts solar going to 600 with a 20amp regulator so need a new regulator (which i probably need anyway for the new batteries right?)
3. no smart regulator on the alternators yet which are just standard 60amp hitachis


Then im thinking add 4 x 100amp batteries and an as yet to be decided BMS/ monitoring but thats as far as ive gotten at this stage. still need to work out what to do for alt charging, solar, best way to disconnect for overcharging (really worried about that one) etc so will be following this thread with alot of interest...

cheers
barra

[downunder]

Barra,

Are you talking 400 AH bank or 100ah? Don't think a 100ah pack would be large enough use of your solar.

As cells are 3.2V need 4 (400ah/100ah) to give you the 12V pack

[Barra]

Yep 4 x 100ah batts to give a 400ah bank at 12.8 volts is what im after to replace 540 ah agm bank that wasnt enough before it died

[deckofficer]

Barra, if you refer to them as cells (as that is how you buy them), then there won't be confusion. So you are getting (4) 400 a-hr cells like Maine Sail?

[deckofficer]

These (4) 400 a-hr cells in series is your 12 volt 400 a-hr battery.

[Barra]

no sorry for confusion i am wanting 4x 100 ah cells to make a 400ah bank.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Barra

no sorry for confusion i am wanting 4x 100 ah cells to make a 400ah bank.

That would be a 3.2 volt @ 400 a-hr if in parallel or 12 volt @ 100 a-hr if in series.

[Barra]

yeah my bad 4 x 400 thanks!

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Barra

no sorry for confusion i am wanting 4x 100 ah cells to make a 400ah bank.

4 x 100ah cells will give you a 100ah bank as each cell is 3.2V

Cheers

Note your correction now

[deckofficer]

This is (4) 100 a-hr cells in series for a 12 volt 100 a-hr battery.


These are Maine Sails cells, (4) 400 a-hr cells for a 12 volt 400 a-hr battery.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

DIY, i'm sure

l

I'm sure now that Lagoo.... can help you

l

I am sure you have some expertise and experience but this is not useful advice.

LiFeO4 is happening and it sure looks to me to have some real advantages, some of them, safety over LA. If you don't suceed in shutting down this thread we should in time have a path foward.

Would welcome any positive contribution.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by Barra

Yep 4 x 100ah batts to give a 400ah bank at 12.8 volts is what im after to replace 540 ah agm bank that wasnt enough before it died

Sounds good Barra. 400AH of LiFePO4 will give you more usable capacity than 540AH of AGM.

However, I agree with the point above that 600W of solar will be a lot for this size battery bank. Even the 300W you have now is large for this size battery bank.

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by downunder

I am sure you have some expertise and experience but this is not useful advice.

LiFeO4 is happening and it sure looks to me to have some real advantages, some of them, safety over LA. If you don't suceed in shutting down this thread we should in time have a path foward.

Would welcome any positive contribution.

Is safety, not a concern, we have about how many I can't count "Thinking this is the same Battery In Your Fathers Oldsmobile"

I spent over 7 years on various of Volunteer Fire Departments between WA. State and Dallas Texas.

The carnage I can't get over...all from some that thought they new what they were doing; to some that just got in the way; all the way to those that didn't know what they were doing, and invloved those whom were not involved.

I believe that LI-Ion is the way but ...

I'll even post videos if ya want.

People that don't/can't understand, shouldn't be allowed to either deal in it, or be cheerleaders.

If ya really want this technology.

Lloyd

[downunder]

Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937

Is safety, not a concern, we have about how many I can't count "Thinking this is the same Battery In Your Fathers Oldsmobile"

I spent over 7 years on various of Volunteer Fire Departments between WA. State and Dallas Texas.

The carnage I can't get over...all from some that thought they new what they were doing; to some that just got in the way; all the way to those that didn't know what they were doing, and invloved those whom were not involved.

I believe that LI-Ion is the way but ...

I'll even post videos if ya want.

People that don't/can't understand, shouldn't be allowed to either deal in it, or be cheerleaders.

If ya really want this technology.

Lloyd

Quote: I believe that LI-Ion is the way but ...

This thread as I see it is all about using LiFeO4 batteries safely as a house bank.

Quote: People that don't/can't understand, shouldn't be allowed to either deal in it, or be cheerleaders.

Leave it to you to lead the way.

The contributions of those in this thread to safely chart a way foward is terrific.

Why would we not want this technology. It has moved a long way in the 3 years I have been researching it.

[noelex 77]

Gentlemen it's time to stop the personal attacks.
I have removed a number of posts that added nothing technical. This a great thread about batteries. I don't want to see it degenerate into mindless bickering that helps no one.