LiFePO4 Converter Change?

time2roll wrote:
I would not want to float an LFP above 13.4 volts. 13.2 - 13.3 is better. I don't know anyone that recommends holding LFP long term at 100% charged.

14.6 is also higher than necessary and is more likely to cause a fault in some lower cost brands from CN that many look at.

This generally gives the standard PD or the PowerMax with adjustable voltage an advantage. Both drop to 13.2 volts for long term.

That is my opinion. Good luck to the OP.

Very much agree, time2roll.

Some may find it surprising, but a 3-stage *lead-cell* 13.2v/13.6v/14.4v converter probably does the best job of accommodating the voltages you've mentioned. IMO, it's arguably one of the better general-purpose, non-programmable charging platforms for a lifepo4 (as long as no charge/equalization mode exceeds 14.6v). Even has the advantage of a 13.2v float and more conservative 14.4v bulk vs. some of the 2-stage 13.6v/14.6v Lithium/Lifepo4 Approved converters.

Claims that a given converter/charger is "Lithium/Lifepo4 Approved" are simply marketing ploys which tell you absolutely nothing about how well or safely it will charge and maintain your lifepo4 battery. The number of stages, and the voltage used by a converter to support each of these stages, ultimately determines how well a given converter will properly maintain (and charge) a lifepo4 battery.

Last, but not least . . . there will always be some debate about the best float/absorption/bulk voltages to use with a multi-stage converter to best charge a lifepo4. However, you'd be hard-pressed to find much debate about the best one, single voltage to both float and bulk charge a lifepo4. Why? Because such a voltage simply does not exist. This is why a single-stage (single/one voltage) 14.6v converter (even though Lithium/Lifepo4 Approved) is the worst possible charging platform for a lifepo4.