Absolutely agree, as long as your use of "them" means drop-ins, or limited BMS.
LFP batteries themselves **love** high discharge rates.
Far higher than lead can ever produce, scientific fact.
100AH Lithium cant handle start up draw
- Thread starter RichieFromBoston
- Start date
LFP batteries themselves **love** high discharge rates.
Far higher than lead can ever produce, scientific fact.
Not the kind of gear considered quality for living off grid when longevity and reliability are important.
Adjustable user-custom setpoints and ability to de-rate output are just starting points.
dreadlocks
Well-known member
Technically LFP batteries w/BMS are easier to charge than others.. you just need one stage, can be dumb as a box of rocks as long as you can set the constant voltage output.. the trick is, you disconnect the charger entirely when its full or put the float voltage low enough its not actually going to take any current once full.
For my BB, most AGM profiles are perfectly adequate for providing a charge current.. it might take a lil bit longer, and might not get it to 100% entirely.. but thats okay, thats not abusive to LFP.. the thing is, my battery will take .5C charge rate.. I can go from empty to full in 2.5h w/a 40A charger, I wanna take advantage of that, and its 4-5x the charger a FLA of same size would need.. so yeah, end up paying more to take advantage of LFP's fast charging capabilities.. not because it required some special magical 12 stage charge fomula.
IIRC, I found setup instructions for Sterling Chargers on BB's page.. even though they support Lithium, they recommended the AGM profile and not the Lithium profile for safety concerns.. because when you put it in lithium mode, it just gets dumber.. not smarter.
For my BB, most AGM profiles are perfectly adequate for providing a charge current.. it might take a lil bit longer, and might not get it to 100% entirely.. but thats okay, thats not abusive to LFP.. the thing is, my battery will take .5C charge rate.. I can go from empty to full in 2.5h w/a 40A charger, I wanna take advantage of that, and its 4-5x the charger a FLA of same size would need.. so yeah, end up paying more to take advantage of LFP's fast charging capabilities.. not because it required some special magical 12 stage charge fomula.
IIRC, I found setup instructions for Sterling Chargers on BB's page.. even though they support Lithium, they recommended the AGM profile and not the Lithium profile for safety concerns.. because when you put it in lithium mode, it just gets dumber.. not smarter.
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67cj5
Man On a Mission
I have an 85A/h DC Starter battery and 3x 115 A/h Deep Cycle batteries @ 1000cca which is more than enough power to run what I need for well over a week without needing to recharge them or the solar connected and each one is good for 600 Cycles and Guaranteed for 5 years, As I said my last Battery lasted for just over 9 years and 8 months and it only died because I left is alone for about 4 or 5 months.
shade
Well-known member
I must be missing something. What does any of that have to do with what he said?
67cj5
Man On a Mission
That big Noco is a 12 stage charger
Wyuna
Observer
Well I personally think lithium LiFePO4 has it’s place in off grid campers, I’m seeing a 80-90 ah draw when I used the induction cooktop for coffee and cooking through the inverter.
Takes as much solar as it can, while on site.
It also takes stuff all time to get to 100% charge when driving to the next camp site.
One of the biggest benefits for me is that it was a 49kg weight saving with the 240ah lithium over the 280ah AGM’s that I had originally brought for the camper.
It was easy for me to convert to lithium, as I planned my system for lithium.
I went with lithium capable Votronic gear, it wasn’t cheap, but most German made expedition vehicles use there systems. We have been travelling for 2 weeks full time and haven’t required to plug in due to low SOC, I’m working off 70% SOC for these batteries, for longer life than 100% discharge.
Takes as much solar as it can, while on site.
It also takes stuff all time to get to 100% charge when driving to the next camp site.
One of the biggest benefits for me is that it was a 49kg weight saving with the 240ah lithium over the 280ah AGM’s that I had originally brought for the camper.
It was easy for me to convert to lithium, as I planned my system for lithium.
I went with lithium capable Votronic gear, it wasn’t cheap, but most German made expedition vehicles use there systems. We have been travelling for 2 weeks full time and haven’t required to plug in due to low SOC, I’m working off 70% SOC for these batteries, for longer life than 100% discharge.
shade
Well-known member
They get so smart go all the way back round to being stupid
Yes Votronic makes good stuff.
Never available in the US, need to import grey market from NZ, zero warranty
shade
Well-known member
I'm guessing that good chargers have canned cycles that require minimal user input, but they also allow manual control for those that want to fine tune the process.
And only what's required not marketing bells and whistles appearing "smarter" than what's plenty smart enough.
Good protection from the elements, shock and vibration, build quality, known to hold up for decades.
Responsive tech support worldwide.
De-rating is as rare as custom setpoints.
Adjustable absorb hold time, ability to be controlled from central BM.
Good protection from the elements, shock and vibration, build quality, known to hold up for decades.
Responsive tech support worldwide.
De-rating is as rare as custom setpoints.
Adjustable absorb hold time, ability to be controlled from central BM.
67cj5
Man On a Mission
Yeah that's my pet hate with the Noco's, It will charge 12v 16v Racing batteries and 24v Lithium and AGM and every other Type out there but they Have no user input or manual override, Which means you either use the pre set program or nothing at all.
Wyuna
Observer
I imported mine from from NZ, the warranty is with Voltronic, I had an issue with my Jupiter panel and it was fixed after I sent it to Germany at my cost.
It was annoying at the time, as it took a far bit of time, but they fix any issue for up to 5 years from purchase.
Even though there was an issue, I’ll most likely look at them for my next MWB sprinter/Crafter van build once we complete our trip in our T6
Their products are compact and work well in van builds.
It’ll be interesting to see how the market develops in the next few years with hopefully lower lithium battery cell/drop in prices and higher voltage systems.
5spd97
Member
FWIW, I recently replaced my two 95 amp/hr FLA house batteries with one 100 amp/hr BB and after a 10 day off grid trip I'm thrilled to death with the change. Saves weight and space, performed much better, and can be recharged with my 45 amp charger in a fraction of the time compared to the old batteries. It's like my 12 v fridge, I'll never go back to an ice chest and I'll never go back to FLA.