LifePo4 Charge Performance
Thinking seriously about replacing our two GC2's with a pair of 100ah LifePo4's. Hearing a lot of chatter about how lithiums accept a charge much quicker than lead cells. Very familiar with how ou...
Forum Discussion
BLF13 I sent an email to Elite Power Solutions LLC where my Lifepo4 batteries come from and ask the specific question of charging at above freezing temps.
Message: Hello, When the GBS cells get below 32f the bms protects the cells by not allowing the charge to happen but once the cells reach a temp above 32f and start to charge again is there a certain amount of current it should be reduced to and wait till above a certain temp. Example, I have 500ah (20 cells), I can charge at 125a with my Magnum inverter/ charger. Will I harm the cells charging at .25c while they are at a lower temp (say below 40f) or should I reduce the current some?
Response: The system disables charging when any cell is below 32F. No amount of charging is safe below this temperature.
0.5C of lower is the recommended charge rate for longest life. At 125A / 500Ah you are at C/4 so you are well below this limit.
Message: Just so I understand correctly in colder temps above freezing there is no harm in charging at the recommended 0.5c charge rate for longest life of the cells.
Response: Correct
Regards,
Elite Power Solutions LLC
_____________________________
So if I had the ability to charge at 250a there should be no harm on my 500ah battery bank and charging at what I can of 125a certainly won't hurt them.
Message: Hello, When the GBS cells get below 32f the bms protects the cells by not allowing the charge to happen but once the cells reach a temp above 32f and start to charge again is there a certain amount of current it should be reduced to and wait till above a certain temp. Example, I have 500ah (20 cells), I can charge at 125a with my Magnum inverter/ charger. Will I harm the cells charging at .25c while they are at a lower temp (say below 40f) or should I reduce the current some?
Response: The system disables charging when any cell is below 32F. No amount of charging is safe below this temperature.
0.5C of lower is the recommended charge rate for longest life. At 125A / 500Ah you are at C/4 so you are well below this limit.
Message: Just so I understand correctly in colder temps above freezing there is no harm in charging at the recommended 0.5c charge rate for longest life of the cells.
Response: Correct
Regards,
Elite Power Solutions LLC
_____________________________
So if I had the ability to charge at 250a there should be no harm on my 500ah battery bank and charging at what I can of 125a certainly won't hurt them.
