LiFePO4 charging question

[TimtheToolMan]

The book that came with my LiTime 100ah battery says to bring it down to 50% SOC for storage. The range for 50% per the book is 13.15 to 13.2 I currently have my battery at 13.16, so I will stop bringing it down more. The book also says to recharge after 3 months of storage. This will bring me to the first of March. Will solar charge it back up from 50% SOC? At this time it will be warm enough to put the battery back in the trailer and let the solar do it's thing.

LiTime states on their site for storage:

• Less than 30 days: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
• 30 to 90 days: -10°C to 35°C (14°F to 95°F)
• More than 90 days: 15°C to 35°C (59°F to 95°F)

The 3-month recharge recommended by LiTime really is not clear but with some interpretation on my part, I'm guessing that they really are saying if voltage is significantly below 50% recharge it to 50%. They told me last week that there is no need to fully charge them and discharge to 50% at 3 months (they had an error in an online document that is being fixed).

There is a wide range in what is OK so there is no major gain in getting real close to 50%. For example, Battle Born says to recharge at one year, when in storage, but to charge to 100% before storage. This is far from ideal but, as you are finding out, is very practical. Following your LiTime instructions are fine and will likely provide noticeably longer longevity than following Battle Born instructions--at least on this topic.

Do what you can to keep battery well above 20% SOC in storage to avoid depletion risks.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

@reubenray If you purchased the NOCO charger, I would consider keeping the battery at home until you need it. This will make it easier to watch, charge and have no concern about temperatures. The NOCO 1A will charge a 100Ah battery 1% per hour so is easier to partially charge than solar. Say at three months battery was at 40% SOC (it is your call if you want to charge it then and if you were using it maybe in a month then you may want to wait to charge it and fully charge before use).

Fully charge the battery, after storing, before use to balance battery cells. Solar or 1A NOCO will work well for this.

Storing LFP Battery Guide

When charging for a limited period of time I like to use a cheap timer ($8.50) that shuts off at about the right time, so I do not have to remember to remove charger. It is great that it can turn off in the middle of the night.

Changes to original post:
removed discharging with timer note
cheap timer link was changed to one that is not a time of day but an hour count down style

 

[huntindog]

LiTime states on their site for storage:

• Less than 30 days: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
• 30 to 90 days: -10°C to 35°C (14°F to 95°F)
• More than 90 days: 15°C to 35°C (59°F to 95°F)

The 3-month recharge recommended by LiTime really is not clear but with some interpretation on my part, I'm guessing that they really are saying if voltage is significantly below 50% recharge it to 50%. They told me last week that there is no need to fully charge them and discharge to 50% at 3 months (they had an error in an online document that is being fixed).

There is a wide range in what is OK so there is no major gain in getting real close to 50%. For example, Battle Born says to recharge at one year, when in storage, but to charge to 100% before storage. This is far from ideal but, as you are finding out, is very practical. Following your LiTime instructions are fine and will likely provide noticeably longer longevity than following Battle Born instructions--at least on this topic.

Do what you can to keep battery well above 20% SOC in storage to avoid depletion risks.

A look inside a Battle Born reveals that they a very differrent than the others. They stand behind their batteries with a 10 year warranty. They have done extensive testing on them.
I am good with following their recomndations, as they are the ones standing behind it.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

A look inside a Battle Born reveals that they a very differrent than the others. They stand behind their batteries with a 10 year warranty. They have done extensive testing on them.
I am good with following their recomndations, as they are the ones standing behind it.

I recently slightly dug into the warranties from different manufacturers and have a better feeling that I might really get support from Battle Born versus most of the cheap alternatives when problems arise. Take this very much with a grain of salt, due to my limited experience.

I would like to see a detailed comparison of how well customers are actually fully supported and without a lot of effort when issues occur. Will the manufacture bend the warranty in your favor or do what they can to avoid much if any compensation. I am impressed that Battle Born has promptly answered detailed questions with understandable and useable replies! I feel that it is valuable that users understand not only the undebatable strengths of LFP but importance of avoiding some common conditions. Reading Battle Born's impressively short and readily understandable warranty is a good place to start before using batteries. Spend time to see what Battle Born describes as normal verse extreme. I do not expect even Battle Born to bail me out when they have clearly stated what is not covered under warranty.

Buying a battery and assuming that I will get a 10-year life when I blindly use it, may not go well.

 

[reubenray]

@reubenray If you purchased the NOCO charger, I would consider keeping the battery at home until you need it. This will make it easier to watch, charge and have no concern about temperatures. The NOCO 1A will charge a 100Ah battery 1% per hour so is easier to partially charge than solar. Say at three months battery was at 40% SOC (it is your call if you want to charge it then and if you were using it maybe in a month then you may want to wait to charge it and fully charge before use).

Fully charge the battery, after storing, before use to balance battery cells. Solar or 1A NOCO will work well for this.

Storing LFP Battery Guide

When charging for a limited period of time I like to use a cheap timer ($8.50) that shuts off at about the right time, so I do not have to remember to remove charger. It is great that it can turn off in the middle of the night.

Changes to original post:
removed discharging with timer note
cheap timer link was changed to one that is not a time of day but an hour count down style

I ordered this Amazon.com for the LiTime battery. It was on a Cyber Monday sale. The battery will be kept in my garage which has heaters if needed to keep the temperature up. The heaters are mainly for when I work in the garage and to keep my wife's plants warm.

 

[huntindog]

I recently slightly dug into the warranties from different manufacturers and have a better feeling that I might really get support from Battle Born versus most of the cheap alternatives when problems arise. Take this very much with a grain of salt, due to my limited experience.

I would like to see a detailed comparison of how well customers are actually fully supported and without a lot of effort when issues occur. Will the manufacture bend the warranty in your favor or do what they can to avoid much if any compensation. I am impressed that Battle Born has promptly answered detailed questions with understandable and useable replies! I feel that it is valuable that users understand not only the undebatable strengths of LFP but importance of avoiding some common conditions. Reading Battle Born's impressively short and readily understandable warranty is a good place to start before using batteries. Spend time to see what Battle Born describes as normal verse extreme. I do not expect even Battle Born to bail me out when they have clearly stated what is not covered under warranty.

Buying a battery and assuming that I will get a 10-year life when I blindly use it, may not go well.

A few years ago, I ran my BBs down to zero somehow. One battery would not wakeup . BB replaced it with no issue. They even let me upgrade it to the then new heated version.
IMO, they are a solid company and a pleasure to do business with. Everyone I have talked to on the phone is very knowledgable, and they speak perfect english

 

[dryfly]

There would be nothing wrong with using the lights except that in most of the newer ones, they are all LED lights that pull very little current. I'm guessing that if I turned every single light on in the trailer it would still not quite be as much current draw as the one 12VDC heater.

As a side note, I turned on every LED light in the trailer and coupled with the items that contribute to parasitic drains the electrical system is pulling 7.5 amps. I did not expect that.

 

[triplethreat]

As a side note, I turned on every LED light in the trailer and coupled with the items that contribute to parasitic drains the electrical system is pulling 7.5 amps. I did not expect that.

I've got a large triple axle Momentum 394M which is like the 395M only no 1/2 bath in the garage area. There are lots and lots of overhead LED lights in the trailer and while I've never tested my theory, I'd still say that the heater I mentioned will pull more current than all the lights on at the same time. The heater is so easy to use.....connect one thing, place a small fan to blow on it, then let it eat......to the tune of 15/16 AH draw.

 

[dryfly]

I've got a large triple axle Momentum 394M which is like the 395M only no 1/2 bath in the garage area. There are lots and lots of overhead LED lights in the trailer and while I've never tested my theory, I'd still say that the heater I mentioned will pull more current than all the lights on at the same time. The heater is so easy to use.....connect one thing, place a small fan to blow on it, then let it eat......to the tune of 15/16 AH draw.

No doubt. No way you're going to find a trailer with LED's that will pull as much as your heater. But, I would have guessed the all LED's turned on at one time in my trailer would have pulled maybe 3-4 amps. Next time you are doing nothing, check out the drain with all you lights turned on. With a trailer as large as yours I'd be interested.

 

[TimtheToolMan]

A few years ago, I ran my BBs down to zero somehow. One battery would not wakeup . BB replaced it with no issue. They even let me upgrade it to the then new heated version.
IMO, they are a solid company and a pleasure to do business with. Everyone I have talked to on the phone is very knowledgable, and they speak perfect english

I just ran across someone today with LiTime batteries and the BMS would not wake up and this less than six-month-old barely used battery was not covered by warranty. LiTime says that it was because camper had a leveling system and they will not warranty campers with jacks. All campers have jacks and at least a front jack. I read through the correspondence between customer and LiTime so I confirm the accuracy of this statement. They clearly know that customer has a Lippert Ground Control 3.0. What a disaster!

It is great to hear that Battle Born supports their customers so well!

@cdamer see huntindog post above