Energy storage - New gen batteries

Yes indeed it's LFP batteries we are discussing here

Another link for your reading pleasure
Link

Tesla and other electronic vehicle manufacturers tend to use LiCo since it has a much greater energy density; however, it can overheat and catch fire.

Lithium iron phosphate is a completely different chemistry/physics. The different LFP manufacturers themselves use different technologies. The technology is developing and improvements have been made since we went to LFP 19 months ago. From what I have read, the charging rate should be below 0.5 C. We have a 9.6 kW-hr battery bank so we should not charge over 4.8 kW. Since we have a 1400 W solar panel bank and have never gotten more than 1330 W to controller, I strongly doubt that we shall charge at to great a rate.

Have been following a number of fora that are concerned with LFP in boating and RV and have yet to find anyone who is not happy with their use. The only arguments are whether to go with a battery management system or with individual cell balancing. This seems to have been a leit motief for 400 pages and 2000 posts on the Sail and Cruising forum. The same seems to go on at several Aussie fora as well along with Northern Arizona Wind and Solar and the Solar Panel Fora.

Reed and Elaine

Places like Tesla, one of the highest tech car companies in the world, still get fires in their cars from time to time and so does every laptop manufacturer out there. Tesla use titanium shields to protect people, they know the hazards. They have extremely advanced charging and temperature monitoring systems, yet still some catch fire. I think they are the way of the future, but I would not go in without investigating the very real issues and making sure the risk is contained.
I note the smaller batteries they advertise seem to have more built in safeguards than this one, may be a better choice. Not sure.

As kids growing we all survived the hazards of Pb
I agree it's not good in any way shape or form for the human body or animals
Kind of the reason we no longer have Leaded gasoline or Lead in house paints and greatly reduced lead in shot gun shells
Lead aka Pb has it's place as in tire weights, etc..
Remember when you put your fingers in a pool of mercury? Been there done that

I would venture a guess that tens of thousands more FLA batteries have exploded than Li batteries ever will. As a young dumb kid who survived some stupid stuff I dropped a lit match on top of a bubbling FLA. WOW pieces of plastic and******in the air everywhere and even worse the acid destroyed my cloths and my skin.

Not really feasible with a LI battery but I'm sure some young dumb kid will find a way to get hurt or killed with the batteries.

Agreed Li Power Sources do REQUIRE a much better properly managed charging profile. It's not rocket science, just requires a bit more attention to the details.

PS - Almost forgot to add - Yet another good reason to use a completely programmable solar charge controller

Lithium is a health hazard. It is used as a medication adjunct treatment for bi-polar disorders. Manic-depression.

Myself, I like to review lots and lots of comments by users before I commit. For one thing charging amperage MUST be limited with lithium. Not an issue with a huge bank but how about a smaller bank and a crocodile of an alternator in a motorhome?

I would need to do a lot more research. I know aircraft have elaborate thermal sensing of each and every cell.

But! Lithium seems to be arriving and I like it! Lead is hideously poisonous for children. Pb should remain in the ground IMHO.

Is lithium poisoning as big a concern as lead poisoning? What about risk of exposure health wise, short term and long term, if the battery explodes... lead acid vs LIion?

Glad you enjoyed the link

Battery technology is FINALLY changing
Been 100 years or more without much change it's long past time for new energy storage technology
Wonder how many more years the traditional FLA battery has left?

I enjoyed the "U" Tube link - Sure would be nice to find that DEAL
That's the battery (4 or 5KW/hrs of stored energy) would do the job for me

PT
My friend down the road installed 12 of the 4Kw/hr batteries with a really nice BMS in his home made electric car. They replaced 12 Trojan Deep Cycle 12 Vdc batteries. Far less weight far more energy and should last far longer. The price will come down as volume increases

Hi wolfe10,

I was aware that four would be needed. But considering that it would take twice as many AGM batteries the price works out to be nearly the same. The "sticking point" for me before was no one would warranty to -40 temperatures. Theses folks DO!

wolfe10 wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi KJ.

Operating temperature is finally in the range I need. Thanks for posting this.

I could effectively replace the banks with about 5 kwh (400 amp hours) of LI as depth of discharge is 80%.

400 amp-hours

Does the price include battery management?

It looks like it is price competitive with AGM.

Don,

Unless I am mis-reading, that is a 3 VDC battery. You would need 4 in series to make a 12 VDC battery.

That is an interesting site, they have some smaller more self-contained units more in line with the dual AGMs totaling 220 AHs I have been looking at. Price is not competitive, yet, but close enough if I can convince myself they are not a fire hazard I may even try one.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi KJ.

Operating temperature is finally in the range I need. Thanks for posting this.

I could effectively replace the banks with about 5 kwh (400 amp hours) of LI as depth of discharge is 80%.

400 amp-hours

Does the price include battery management?

It looks like it is price competitive with AGM.

Don,

Unless I am mis-reading, that is a 3 VDC battery. You would need 4 in series to make a 12 VDC battery.