Lithium battery choices

Shadowcatcher · May 2017

My Lifeline 150AH is starting to lose capacity and I am starting to contemplate a Lithium battery and two 100AH's pop up through Alibaba The LiFePO4 at about $400 and the Li(NiCoMn)O2 at about $200. I have also written to Progressive Dynamics about converting my PD 4045.
The problem is I have no idea what the difference between the two are with regards to longevity etc.

Raj174 · May 2017

Hi Shadowcatcher,
I don't have any experience with Li(NiCoMn)O2 cells but, I have been using LiFePO4 cells for about a year with my system and they have performed very well. You don't have to get them through Alibaba though, I bought mine from Electric Car Parts Company. They are in Utah. They have a selection of prismatic cells from 72AH to 400AH. They also custom build battery banks to your specs. I'm sure they can answer any questions you have. This is their website.

http://www.electriccarpartscompany.com/Prismatic-Lithium-Batteries_c_1.html

Rick

jonr · May 2017

Generally, I've seen little to no data about longevity in terms of years. 3650 cycles does not mean 10 years.

Shadowcatcher · May 2017

I have looked through Electric Car Parts Company website, note they are using Chinese sourced batteries. I likely have another season or two with the Lifeline but wanted to start the process. i did find that Progressive Dynamics make a Lithium replacement head unit for out PD4045.

Estragon · May 2017

With another season or two, I would use them. This is evolving technology and two years could make a big difference. If you do decide to go lithium, please do tell us how it works out.

Raj174 · May 2017

Then you may want to take a look at Relion LiFePO4 batteries. Here are a couple of links.

http://www.batterypoweronline.com/main/news/progressive-dynamics-forest-river-rv-and-relion-battery-partner-for-lithium-battery-system/

http://www.relionbattery.com/lithium-applications-and-services/recreational-vehicle-batteries

Rick

Thom · May 2017

What is the lithium equivalent of my battery bank ? I have 7 years on my battery's now. System is listed below.

Thanks Thom

Raj174 · May 2017

The LFP equivalent would be 280 to 300 amp hour at 12 volts or about 67% of the capacity of a flooded lead acid bank.

westbranch · May 2017

Rick , what are the (charge) max SoC% and (depletion) min SoC% for your capacity equivalence? Assuming no added days of redundancy for no-sun days?
thanks.

Raj174 · May 2017

@westbranch
Although it is generally accepted that a range of 90% to 20% is preferred with LFP, I find it challenging to routinely charge my LFP bank this way. Over the last year I've tried various absorb settings, too low and it takes too long, too high and the voltage comes too close to the top of the charging curve. So I have settled on a range from 98% to about 30%. This assumes a very close top balance.

Rick

westbranch · May 2017

thanks for that explanation, though a bit different than the~20% to 90%, your comparison is still based on using ~ 70% capacity per day, so no autonomy in the calculation... good hands on knowledge.

Raj174 · May 2017

Yes, no autonomy, just a small cushion. If I could afford it, I would have a 400AH bank. But, who wouldn't.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

I posted once about Battleborn Batteries LiFePO4 drop in replacement batteries, and I know see our hosts are a dealer. After several emails and a phone call with the manufacturer, I've decided I'm going to give them a shot as soon as I finish wearing out my current AGM's. The BMS/balancing is built in, only come in 12v 100Ah but they're working on other configurations.

They have been SPOT ON with customer service. I've received friendly, detailed answers to every question I asked. They even stated they have a pro-rated warranty after the full three year warranty is up. The nice gentleman I spoke with (can't remember his name) stated their capacity/life tests are 100% - 0% SOC with a continuous 100A draw for 3000 cycles, to 80% capacity remaining.

He stated that larger parallel strings are less of a problem than LA due to such low internal resistance. They have an existing customer who is using 5 parallel strings (I'm sure with very good bus bars) and has had very little balance issues. The inter-string balancing is already taken care of by the built-in BMS.

Here is link for our host selling them: https://www.solar-electric.com/battle-born-bb10012-100ah-12v-lithium-battery.html

PS: They do use Chinese-sourced cells but they are assembled and tested in Nevada.

Dave Angelini · June 2017

Did you compare with the Simpliphi in the store here? American made and BMS is the plus, the negative is neither have communication for Soc or So life.

mvas · June 2017

nickdearing88 said:

... The nice gentleman I spoke with (can't remember his name) stated their capacity/life tests are 100% - 0% SOC with a continuous 100A draw for 3000 cycles, to 80% capacity remaining ...

RE: Battle Born test

What is the voltage at 100% SOC?
[edit] Appears to be "charged to" 14.4 Volts.

What defines 0% SOC at a 100 amps draw?
Is there a specific voltage?
[edit] Yes, it is 11.8 Volts.

Does the 100 Amp test actually run for 1 full hour ( 100 Amp Hour = 100 Amps x 1 Hour )
[edit] Nope, appears to be about 54 minutes.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

mvas said:

nickdearing88 said:

... The nice gentleman I spoke with (can't remember his name) stated their capacity/life tests are 100% - 0% SOC with a continuous 100A draw for 3000 cycles, to 80% capacity remaining ...
RE: Battle Born test

What is the voltage at 100% SOC?
[edit] Appears to be "charged to" 14.4 Volts.

What defines 0% SOC at a 100 amps draw?
Is there a specific voltage?
[edit] Yes, it is 11.8 Volts.

Does the 100 Amp test actually run for 1 full hour ( 100 Amp Hour = 100 Amps x 1 Hour )
[edit] Nope, appears to be about 54 minutes.

Right. I'd love to see my AGM's match that 54 minutes.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

Dave Angelini said:

Did you compare with the Simpliphi in the store here? American made and BMS is the plus, the negative is neither have communication for Soc or So life.

Yes, I did but the Battleborn pricing is better and they appear to have stellar customer service. I would like to play with prismatic cells and a custom BMS in the future, but until then, I think these would be a good way to start.

Reed · August 2017

We are at 4.5 years with a 9+ kW-hr LFP battery suite (48 V nominal) on 5th wheel and 1.25 years with 4.5+ kW-hr LFP suite on a 19' Roadtrek. We have been delighted with systems. Equivalent lead acid would have probably been 800 and 400 pounds respectively for the two systems. 800 pounds would have been more than the specifications of the front bay of 5th wheel and the rear axle of pick up tow vehicle. There would have been volume to put in equivalent lead acid in Roadtrek. Chinese and Koreans seem to be the main manufacturers. A Chinese- Korean consortium has plans to build an LFP plant in Chile. Chile apparently has about 50% of easily recoverable lithium and Chilean government desires that Chile be more than a mineral extraction nation.
Ree and Elaine

OldMan · March 2018

nickdearing88 said:

I posted once about Battleborn Batteries LiFePO4 drop in replacement batteries, and I know see our hosts are a dealer. After several emails and a phone call with the manufacturer, I've decided I'm going to give them a shot as soon as I finish wearing out my current AGM's. The BMS/balancing is built in, only come in 12v 100Ah but they're working on other configurations.

PS: They do use Chinese-sourced cells but they are assembled and tested in Nevada.

Therefore, they're Chinese batteries. I'm getting mine from Shenzen Lithpower. two 120AH batteries for roughly $1500, including shipping. Sounds better than a grand or more, each. BMS installed. I wanted bigger but after chasing around like a rat with a piece of cheese in a trap, I have been forced to conclude I won't be building my own, therefore, this is what I can afford. I wish it was economically feasible, but it's not happening.

dogman · March 2018

I have been running 6 Simpliphi 3.4 48 volt batteries and they appear to be working very well. I start using them about Jan 3 2018. I have a Tri-Metric battery monitor and a Magnum BMK battery monitor, they both agree on the battery SOC. I also have another utility company type meter counting the KWH used, looking at the number of KWH used and the battery voltage seems to disagree with the other two monitors for SOC, I have a sense that the batteries my be under rated. Also just recently Simpliphi discontinued the 3.4 and have a 3.5 KWH spec, I suspect that they just rebranded the same battery.

Has anyone else had this experience ?

Has anyone else been using these batteries long term, Years?

I use them down to 50-70% SOC each day and by noon they are fully charge again. I have 18 220 watt panels on one charger and 9 310 watt panels on the 2nd.

Lithium battery choices

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