AC fast charging for LiPo?

[bernardocolorado]

This is confusing and I feel dumb for not being able to find anything on this topic...

I have a 12V 200Ah LiPo battery in my camper. The camper's own power system only delivers max 15A charge from shore power (it was never designed for LiPo). In winter use when solar is basically useless, I want to be able to plug in directly to AC and fast charge (obviously considering temperature in the winter, likely bringing the battery in house, warming up overnight, then fast charging).

The only solutions I found are things like the Victron BlueSmart IP22 limited to 30Amps. That's better than 15, but not great given that battery should be able to draw 100Amps during bulk.

There's a Renogy DC to DC charger that does 60Amps, but then I'd have to also get am AC to DC converter.

What's the solution? What am I missing?

 

[DiploStrat]

Simply buy an appropriate shore charger or install a decently sized inverter/charger. I use a 2kw Magnum unit - has a 90A charger. (The Magnum allows you to dial back its AC draw from 30A down to10A, so you don't pop fuses.)

N.B. If your camper is sitting in storage, beware of overcharging lithiums. They want to sit at about 50% SOC. The reverse of what we are used to with lead acid.

N.B.2 Most lithium batteries are happiest with modest voltages, so the "Gel" setting on many chargers is fine.

N.B.3 Finally, with lithium, the conventional wisdom is that slow charge is better than fast charge.

 

[john61ct]

I really hope that is not actually LiPo.

Ideally it is LFP.

Link to source?

Good chargers usually cost more than the batteries they charge.

Do you need to fast charge, say in an hour? Or do you have overnight?

Your limiting factor will be the AC circuits you plug into - 110V normal USA style or 240V ? If the latter, which style? How many amps rated?

Great chargers are universal "world input" so they don't care, but there's no point being able to charge at 3000W if your source AC circuit can't deliver that.

If you had two separate source AC circuits then you could design a rig to use both at the same time to charge the same bank, just use half when only one is available.

 

[Alloy]

Who made the battery? There might be charging info available.

If the batteries are drop in (ReLion / Battle Born / SOK) then any lead acid charger is OK.

If it is DIY then a 2 stage (bulk/float) charge profile should be used.

What DiploStrad said about the "Gel" setting is correct......but.....keep in mind drop in Lithium are balanced at 100%. Balancing (matching the cell voltage) is important (every XX months depending on the duty cycle) when/if the capacity drops below 20%. It also prevents cells (in parallel) from working harder than others

 

[Alloy]

I really hope that is not actually LiPo.

Ideally it is LFP.

Link to source?

Good chargers usually cost more than the batteries they charge.

Do you need to fast charge, say in an hour? Or do you have overnight?

Your limiting factor will be the AC circuits you plug into - 110V normal USA style or 240V ? If the latter, which style? How many amps rated?

Great chargers are universal "world input" so they don't care, but there's no point being able to charge at 3000W if your source AC circuit can't deliver that.

If you had two separate source AC circuits then you could design a rig to use both at the same time to charge the same bank, just use half when only one is available.

LiPo and LFP are interchangeable abbreviations.

 

[john61ct]

100% false, and very dangerous statement.

LiPo as a pack descriptor is not even really a chemistry designation, just an ultra low weight packaging technology.

But all the usual chemistries are the very high energy density and also very high fire risk class in the nominal 3.6-3.7V range,

LiPo users would laugh at the idea of using the much lower density LFP at 3.2V nominal, the two are worlds apart.

LFP is much safer for use around human living spaces, especially mobile ones.

Basic background:

"LI" "Li-ion" itself technically is the overall umbrella term, includes all "lithium" "lithium ion" types even covering outliers LFP and LTO, as well as NMC NCA LCO NCO and many dozens of others.

The label LiPo aka "Li-poly" or "lithium polymer" is not actually indicative of a specific chemistry, e.g. LCO as opposed to LMO, and that has been evolving over the years.

It's just the use of a gelled polymer electrolyte and the lightweight casing, basically a packaging technology like the terms "button" "cylindrical" "prismatic"

Now, in pursuit of ever-higher power density the specific tweaking of "LiPo" chemistries have been proceeding independently of the other packaging / form factor

which greatly affects the Voltage vs SoC mapping, how much actual energy capacity resides in which parts of the discharge curve.

Not to mention the HV spec of charging to a max 4.35V rather than 4.2V


This guy is one of the most respected OG among the LiPo user base

Interview mit L&E Battery: Alles was du über Dinogy LiPos wissen musst

In diesem Artikel präsentieren wir dir ein exklusives Interview mit dem Akkuhersteller L&E und sprechen über LiPo-Technologie und mehr!

www.drone-zone.de

 

[Alloy]

100% false, and very dangerous statement.

LiPo as a pack descriptor is not even really a chemistry designation, just an ultra low weight packaging technology.

But all the usual chemistries are the very high energy density and also very high fire risk class in the nominal 3.6-3.7V range,

LiPo users would laugh at the idea of using the much lower density LFP at 3.2V nominal, the two are worlds apart.

LFP is much safer for use around human living spaces, especially mobile ones.

Basic background:

"LI" "Li-ion" itself technically is the overall umbrella term, includes all "lithium" "lithium ion" types even covering outliers LFP and LTO, as well as NMC NCA LCO NCO and many dozens of others.

The label LiPo aka "Li-poly" or "lithium polymer" is not actually indicative of a specific chemistry, e.g. LCO as opposed to LMO, and that has been evolving over the years.

It's just the use of a gelled polymer electrolyte and the lightweight casing, basically a packaging technology like the terms "button" "cylindrical" "prismatic"

Now, in pursuit of ever-higher power density the specific tweaking of "LiPo" chemistries have been proceeding independently of the other packaging / form factor

which greatly affects the Voltage vs SoC mapping, how much actual energy capacity resides in which parts of the discharge curve.

Not to mention the HV spec of charging to a max 4.35V rather than 4.2V


This guy is one of the most respected OG among the LiPo user base

Interview mit L&E Battery: Alles was du über Dinogy LiPos wissen musst

In diesem Artikel präsentieren wir dir ein exklusives Interview mit dem Akkuhersteller L&E und sprechen über LiPo-Technologie und mehr!

www.drone-zone.de

Thanks, I was thinking of LifePo4 and FLP being the same.

 

[john61ct]

Thanks, I was thinking of LifePo4 and FLP being the same.

There is no such chemistry as FLP.

But yes LFP is just the easier TLA for LiFePO4, 100% synonymous

 

[john61ct]

OP please link to your battery. Ideally showing the mfg datasheet