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

[gscriba]

Ah. I'll search the threads further. Thanks again, CNB!

[captNordy]

Originally Posted by gscriba

Undate regarding the Winston 700ah install now approx 6 months in use.
LiFePO4 is amazing! And I'm so greatful to both CNB and Andy Alford for all the encouragement and guidance.
Solar is up with 740 watts fixed over the bimini and another 500 watts in an under/over retracting configuration via harken track and cars. At anchor, 1240 watts. Wiring is complete with the exception of the VEDirect x 3 and VEDirect to USB x 1 cables, which should arrive Monday, 06/15.

Question for those using REC-ABMS and Victron.
I have a new Victron Cerbo GX and Touch 50, but for some reason the Cerbo is not detecting the REC. Battery monitor on the Cerbo is set to "automatic" and should be finding/detecting the REC-ABMS, but no show; states, "no battery monitor found". There are two CAN-bus plugs on the Cerbo, one for the REC and the other has a terminator in it. There is not other hardware yet connected to the Cerbo until the VEDirect cables arrive, but seems to me that should not matter. The Cerbo should still detect the REC-ABMS.
Suggestions? Thank you.

Following closely as I have a Cerbo on the way and the REC-BMS for my LifePO4 install.

[gscriba]

Problem resolved! The REC-ABMS must be plugged into the VE CAN bus, though the manual states to plug into the CAN-bus.
Updated the firmware for both the REC-ABMS, which was old, and the Victron gear.
Works great though I'm now sorting out strange "DC Power" load variation that is confusing. See new thread regarding solar and the Cerbo GX.

[CatNewBee]

Good to hear, you sorted it out.

DC Power is calculated by the difference of all measured power values, Battery, Solar, Inverter, Charger. Everything Non-Victron is summerized there, it can be your house loads, other connected chargers, alternators, wind generators and the like.

[rmarsh3309]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

LiFePO4 is still the way to go.
I just bought 16-280AH prismatic cells for my new 1120AH LiFePO4 Bank.
Price $330/per set of 4. Shipping to San Diego from China $510.
Under $2000 (after I add a BMS even).

It's a No Brainer folks....

Would you mind posting which vendor you used for your cells?

Rich on Pogeyan

[Gmcgyvr]

Does anyone have a PDF of LiFePo4 MSDS?
That’s hazardous material specs for shipping these batteries
Cannot find anywhere on manufacturer’s sites😂

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Gmcgyvr

Does anyone have a PDF of LiFePo4 MSDS?
That’s hazardous material specs for shipping these batteries
Cannot find anywhere on manufacturer’s sites😂

Multiple locations for downloading the msds sheets
They all would autodownload so I am posting Google search
https://www.google.com/search?q=life...rceid=chrome-m

[mitiempo]

Curious if anyone has bought from Lythbattery in China. I have a quote from them for Calb CA180 cells at a good price. They seem to be a solid large company in the same area as Calb.

https://www.lythbattery.com/

[nkarkhan]

Hi all!
I couldn't search this thread .. database error was reported.

I have a promariner 1240p shore charger, proslocharge isolator for agm starter battery and lipo4 (battle born) house batteries. balmar voltage regulator for charging off the alternator.

I set my 1240P charger for AGM profile (14.4 volts) and the charging seems fine. At some point of time when the charger decides that charging is complete it goes into standby mode and stays at 12.9 Volts. My batteries dont start charging again till they drop below 12.9 volts and the charger wakes up.. which is a hassle because then i end up going out with < 20% batteries charged.
Any options? Use the 1240P as a PS? can i set the voltage to say 13.6 and forget about it? both lipo4 and Agm starter will be okay?
Any other fixes?

Cheers!
42i Jeanneau,
Santa cruz, CA

[Talbot]

Contact Battle born. They have a good tech support rep. You may have to change engine start battery to match charging profile

[nkarkhan]

Battleborn guys are ridiculously good. They are responsive and great at handholding.
Promariner 1240P has a custom battery mode and in profile 2 you can set charge at 14.4 and float at 13.6. Keeps the Lipo4 batteries are close to full and all is well.

[newhaul]

Well I had a failure of my pwm controller so I bit the proverbial bullet and purchased a trace MPPT controller. Darn what a difference even this time of year I start producing power at 0700 about 45 min after sunrise. And am fully recharged by 10am with a sunny day . But I only use about 15ah overnight this time of year . Refrigerator doesn't run to much with the temps in the low 40°'s F at night as I shut my furnace off when I'm in bed . Don't need heat then . Did the calculations and I have a 20% increase in power out of controller vers the power in . And yes still just 200 watts at 12v .

[Heath68]

I have 7x 100ah LiPo batteries but would like to add another. The existing batteries are 3years old. I was advised not to add another, is this good advice?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Heath68

I have 7x 100ah LiPo batteries but would like to add another. The existing batteries are 3years old. I was advised not to add another, is this good advice?

Please tell me they are lifepo4 .
Next what was the reason given by the individual?
Now why not just do it ? I assume you are using " drop in's" label the dates of being placed into service and sit back and enjoy the additional power for the next 20+ years.

[Oceanride007]

So are these 12V LFP batteries and you have a 12V system. Wow I've heard talk that any more than 3 parallel paths and instability can occur. If they are drop ins have you ever had individual batteries trip out. Would you/did you, try to balance the terminal voltage before resetting.

Think 4 parallel paths is pushing it, but if you have done 7 why not another.