LiFePo4 - what components required?

Look to the radio control aircraft world for charging information on these batteries.

We have been successfully and safely charging the Lithium Polymer batteries for a decade. Early on things were a bit hairy and there were some fires but the industry made some tweaks to the chemistry and we collectively came up with a technique of "balance charging" by monitoring each indivudal cell voltage.

Most modern aircraft chargers support LiFePo4 technology and operate off 12V.

OK, I currently have 4 Golf cart batteries. Cost me $320.00 that's giving me 464 Amp Hours.

I can swap them out with two of http://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12v-300ah-lithium-ion-battery/ then I'll have 600AH for just 7,000.00

Salvo wrote:
Have you looked at SmartBattery SB50?

They have all the current sharing electronics already installed.

http://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12-volt-lithium-ion-batteries/12v-50ah-lithium-ion-battery.php

You need to add extra electronics with the batteries you listed. Have you seen this?

http://www.electriccarpartscompany.com/1-60-Batteries-Per-BMU-br-EV-Battery-Management-System-BMS-br-Custom-Built-LIGOO-B51A-br-1-1000-Batteries_p_340.html

Hopefully I am still young enough to go RV'ing when those become Surplus Telecom batteries for sale.

Id like to see some CURRENT pricing on a setup.

Id like to see some CURRENT pricing on a setup. Yeah, lots of chatter about everything but cost.

Hi Phil,

The stark power are rated to be usable down to -30 C (-22 f). That's NEARLY good enough for me. Now if I did not have a beer budget.

The first link that Salvo listed above shows some excellent Lithium RV batteries in standard automotive physical sizes with all charging control built right into the case so that standard RV chargers can be used.

Here's another link for Lithium RV batteries in standard automotive physical sizes with all charging control built in:

http://www.starkpower.com/spnews/energystoragebatt/

rexlion wrote:
For those who are wondering, LiFePO4 is Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry. Considerably safer than the "lithium ion" (a generic term, in this instance probably Lithium Cobalt Oxide) batteries we hear about in the news lately, burning up the hoverboards.

But my only experience is with the 3V LiFePO4 cells I use in one of my flashlights. Each cell is charged in its own charger bay. No help for what the OP is doing.

While LiFePO4 batteries "may" consider "safer" they still demand the utmost respect when it comes to charging/discharging current/voltage..

They are still basically fire crackers waiting to go off if you do not follow the rules properly. That is the reason for battery management systems that are critical..

Personally, if you HAVE to ask on a Internet forum for advice on these, you ARE way over your head.

One must ask the question as to why you think you want to go this route..

To save weight?

To save on size per Ahr?

Spend more money?

Or to just sound so cutting edge "cool" when someone asks about your battery system?

Honestly, the weight savings over cost, size, Ahr capacity is just not there.

Two pairs of 6V GC batts will cost $320 and deliver just under 500 Ahr of capacity..

LiFePO4 batteries to get that capacity is going to cost a small fortune, example.. HERE is one for $100, has capacity of.. "Lead-Acid Replacement Range: 10-14(Ah)"

To get the 600 Ahr you desire you would need 60 of these batteries at a whopping $6000!!! Granted there most likely higher capacity examples but I really don't feel like digging any further..

Buy some solar panels, several AGMs and call it a day while pocketing the money you saved by not buying LiFePO4s..

Have you looked at SmartBattery SB50?

They have all the current sharing electronics already installed.

http://www.lithiumion-batteries.com/products/12-volt-lithium-ion-batteries/12v-50ah-lithium-ion-battery.php

You need to add extra electronics with the batteries you listed. Have you seen this?

http://www.electriccarpartscompany.com/1-60-Batteries-Per-BMU-br-EV-Battery-Management-System-BMS-br-Custom-Built-LIGOO-B51A-br-1-1000-Batteries_p_340.html

For those who are wondering, LiFePO4 is Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry. Considerably safer than the "lithium ion" (a generic term, in this instance probably Lithium Cobalt Oxide) batteries we hear about in the news lately, burning up the hoverboards.

But my only experience is with the 3V LiFePO4 cells I use in one of my flashlights. Each cell is charged in its own charger bay. No help for what the OP is doing.