Can I charge LifePo Battery Bank with this 12V Li-Ion charger?

st4rgut

Hi all, I'm switching from Flooded Lead Acid to LifePo and I just received some 3.2V LifePo4 cells in the mail from Aliexpress that are 3V on average. I'm following Youtuber Will Prowse's guide on how to top balance the cells, and he recommends fast charging undercharged cells using a 12V charger before balancing the pack (mine will consist of 16 cells in series for 48V bank) to speed up the process. I have a Li-Ion Battery Charger lying around and was wondering whether it would do the trick? I've read Lifepo4 is a type of Li-Ion, but I just want to be sure. I included a picture of the charger below . Much appreciate any help.
  

mcgivor

When top ballancing all the cells are connected in parallel, then charged with a 3.65V charger, this is a long process which some try to speed up by series connecting and using a higher voltage charger, however when  speeding up the process, there is the risk that a single cell could go over voltage causing damage, this can happen rapidly, faster than one can monitor with a single meter.

Usually the cells are shipped at the same state of charge, my recommendation is to be patient, this will  reduce the possibility of causing damage, a single cell charger is cheap insurance as it is specifically designed for the task, one like this 

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32873459297.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.6cf434922qad9X&browser_id=90e59b5c648e4700a42b374cf480c00b&aff_trace_key=49e67c2ec657419d8a9afb2ad6391a7b-1615790202680-09108-UneMJZVf&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=wdxnex4lo0ecaqeu178962debc14cecad1ca8843f4&gclid=&_imgsrc_=ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB12MrHdjfguuRjSspaq6yXVXXae.jpg_640x640Q90.jpg_.webp

st4rgut

Thank you, I ordered a variable power supply

st4rgut

I only have enough bus bars to parallel charge 4 cells at a time. Would top balancing still work the same if I parallel charge packs of 4 and then connect them together in 16S configuration?

mcgivor

Having all in parrallel would be the better method to achieve ballance between all cells, because the current involved with ballance charging is low, #10 gauge  copper wire could be used in place of bus bars, connect the charger diagonally at opposite ends of the string.