Best Charge Controller Settings For 48V LifePo4 Battery?

st4rgut
st4rgut Registered Users Posts: 36 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I just finished connecting my 48V 100Ah16S LifePo4 battery pack to a 60A Renogy Rover Charge Controller, and am wondering whether I should change the default settings Renogy has for lithium iron batteries.

Over Voltage Disconnect: 16.0 V
Charge Limit Voltage: 15.5 V
Equalizer Charge Voltage: 14.4V
Boost Charge Voltage: 14.4V
Float Charge Voltage: 14.4V
Boost Charge Return Voltage: 13.2V
Low Voltage Reconnect: 12.6V
Low Voltage Disconnect: 11.1V
Boost Time 0MIN
Equ-Time 0MIN

I'm a bit mystified by these settings. Why is Boost time 0 minutes? Will this skip the boosting stage? What is "Boost Charge Return Voltage"? If anyone could vouch for the charging settings above or recommend their LifePo4 charging settings I'd really appreciate it.
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2021 #2
    Those settings would be charging the cells to 100% then holding them there until the sun goes down, this is hard on them likely resulting in shorter lifespan. The terminology used by Renolgy  (rebranded Epever ) is confusing to say the least, normally the 3 stages are referred to as bulk, absorption and float, but since all of them are set at the same value results in essence a single stage charging.

    The zero minutes wouldn't make any difference whatsoever because float is the same value.

    The boost charge return voltage  is commonly referred to as recharge voltage, this would be called upon when a battery is disharged below a given voltage typically when in float, which is normally not a 100% SOC value, so in essence that value has no meaning.

    These settings are not what I would recommend unless there is no concern for how long they will last and maximum storage capacity is a priority, a BMS would be essential to protect the individual cells from overvoltage.

    This link to Battleborne has their recommendations for Epever controllers with their batteries which have an internal BMS https://battlebornbatteries.com/setting-up-the-epever-solar-controller/

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  • jtdiesel65
    jtdiesel65 Solar Expert Posts: 242 ✭✭✭
    #3
    st4rgut said:
    I just finished connecting my 48V 100Ah16S LifePo4 battery pack to a 60A Renogy Rover Charge Controller, and am wondering whether I should change the default settings Renogy has for lithium iron batteries.

    Over Voltage Disconnect: 16.0 V
    Charge Limit Voltage: 15.5 V
    Equalizer Charge Voltage: 14.4V
    Boost Charge Voltage: 14.4V
    Float Charge Voltage: 14.4V
    Boost Charge Return Voltage: 13.2V
    Low Voltage Reconnect: 12.6V
    Low Voltage Disconnect: 11.1V
    Boost Time 0MIN
    Equ-Time 0MIN

    I'm a bit mystified by these settings. Why is Boost time 0 minutes? Will this skip the boosting stage? What is "Boost Charge Return Voltage"? If anyone could vouch for the charging settings above or recommend their LifePo4 charging settings I'd really appreciate it.

    Just to be clear. You have a 48v battery? The default settings shown are for a 12v battery.

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  • st4rgut
    st4rgut Registered Users Posts: 36 ✭✭
    #4
    yup i have a 48v battery. I configured it to 48V in USER mode, and Renogy told me it just multiplies above settings by 4.
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