otrfun wrote:
It's a common fallacy that a so-called "Lithium/Lifepo4 Approved" converter must be used to charge Lifepo4 batteries. Absolutely, not true. I posted this in another thread:
. . . arguably one of the better general-purpose, non-programmable charging platforms for a lifepo4 (as long as no charge/equalization mode exceeds 14.6v) is a 3-stage *lead-cell* 13.2v/13.6v/14.4v converter. It 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.
. . . 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.
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.
I don't think it is absolutely true, in fact I agree that you can get by without one but should you... I think you can but only long enough till you can figure out exactly what you need then do the switchover. There are going to be some things you can't do properly without a constant voltage that is high enough, but here is my switch up. If you have enough solar, and your solar capacity is large enough to keep everything charged, then who cares about the charger on the converter... turn the breaker off, you don't need it. Then later when you decide you want to spend money you can change it out.
People seem to get hung up on this, but really, it's a couple hundred dollars, you're spending a couple K on batteries is it really a stretch to get a proper converter for them?
I look at this more as what do I need to get the maximum life out of that battery. I don't care if it will last for 15 years, I want 20 out of it. but when I was first looking into getting LI batteries most manufactures were saying to run your converter on a "Gell" setting as it is closest to a LI profile until you get a proper charger.
2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumber Queen WS100
