Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
Hello,

I am looking for a charge controller that can charge a LiFePO4 battery. The specific battery is here:

http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo4prismaticbattery128v40ah512wh100arate-1.aspx

I have been looking at various charge controllers (Morningstar, Genasun, Xantrex) and although they do not specifically state that they can charge a Li-ion battery, I was wondering if this would be possible considering this specific battery has a cutoff voltages of 15.2 V and 10.0 V.

The Xantrex C12 charge controller seems to have user adjustable voltage parameters and I was thinking this might be a good candidate since none of the other charge controllers have cutoff voltages near 15.2 V.

Thanks

Comments

  • Urbandialect
    Urbandialect Solar Expert Posts: 107 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries

    13 pound 100amp hour 12 volt battery? That's awesome... most charge controllers charge at 13.5 and bulk charge around 14.5 never reaching the 15.2v to top off your battery, you'll have to plug into the grid to top your battery off every few months or or get a special configerated charge controller, some of these guys on this board know how to go into a pre set charge controller and change the charge settings to the specification of the battery, not all charge controllers are able to manipulated like this but i'm sure it can be done
  • Urbandialect
    Urbandialect Solar Expert Posts: 107 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries

    under tips in the link you posted, it says you should use this charge controller http://www.batteryspace.com/Smart-Charger-10-A-for-12.8V-LiFePO4-Battery-Pack-Worldwide-use-CE.aspx.. it's a grid charge contorller but it tops out at 14.6, so you don't need to hit that 15. 2 mark, so i'd say any decent 12 volt solar charge controller with over charge protection should work
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries

    Welcome to the forum.

    You may find this thread covers many of your questions: http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?t=11893&highlight=LiFePO4
  • RCinFLA
    RCinFLA Solar Expert Posts: 1,484 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries
    13 pound 100amp hour 12 volt battery? That's awesome...

    Actually, that's 40 AH.

    A 14.5 vdc bulk would be fine. That gives 3.62 vdc per cell which is the recommended peak charge voltage.

    Most of the low cost charge controllers have fixed absorb and float levels with slight variation settings for AGM or flooded cells.

    You need to try and find a two stage charger with no float cycle. For these type cells the charge should be terminated when current drops off to about 1% to 4 % AH rating and not floated. With a PV charge controller you need to understand what initiates a new bulk cycle to absorb voltage. You don't really want to do this often. If you want maximum PV power delivery then allow a float feed voltage of 3.3 vdc per cell or 13.2v for the four cell stack.

    You should also periodically check balance voltage between cells from time to time. As they approach the 3.6 vdc during recharging if one or two cells lag behind they should be topped off separately to rebalance charge. These batteries do not take to overcharging and over time the individual cells state of charge will diverge.

    The cells are happy with continous partial state of charge state so it would be better to terminate charge when first cell hits 3.6v to 3.8 vdc.
  • sub3marathonman
    sub3marathonman Solar Expert Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
    Re: Charge Controller for LiFePO4 Batteries
    sumedh546 wrote: »
    Hello,

    I am looking for a charge controller that can charge a LiFePO4 battery. The specific battery is here:

    http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo4prismaticbattery128v40ah512wh100arate-1.aspx


    Thanks

    That battery is $364.50, for 4 x 40ah cells. If you are willing to pay a bit more, you can get 80ah cells, 4 x 80ah, for $450.00 from http://www.enginer.us/products/lifep04_battery.php . I'm not sure if you have to buy the 8 x 80ah package though, so that would need to be checked. Also, I'm not sure if the two batteries are different brands, that would need to be checked too.