LiFePO4 Batteries: Discussion Thread for Those Using Them as House Banks

[ardoin]

After almost 9 years with my LiFePO4 bank and over 3000 cycles it is beginning to lose power. I can still run my boat on solar and wind for up to a week without a generator or alternator. I used HiPoint cells for 1000AH bank (my boat is power hungry). I have loved them even though all of my charging sources are AGM. (there were very few that did LiFePO back then). I can wake up in the morning, turn on the Inverter and run the vaccume cleaner or make coffee with the electric pot, or start the water maker (most of my boat friends can't do that until the sun comes up). I am now contemplating a replacement. Question: Should I stick with LiFePO are is there another technology I should investigate? Thanks

[DeValency]

Originally Posted by ardoin

After almost 9 years with my LiFePO4 bank and over 3000 cycles it is beginning to lose power. I can still run my boat on solar and wind for up to a week without a generator or alternator. I used HiPoint cells for 1000AH bank (my boat is power hungry). I have loved them even though all of my charging sources are AGM. (there were very few that did LiFePO back then). I can wake up in the morning, turn on the Inverter and run the vaccume cleaner or make coffee with the electric pot, or start the water maker (most of my boat friends can't do that until the sun comes up). I am now contemplating a replacement. Question: Should I stick with LiFePO are is there another technology I should investigate? Thanks

Quite remarkable, considering the technology status 9 years ago. LFO cells are still the best and well proven energy storage solution for boats. Guess you are completely off-greed so your original high investment proven the highest return.
Which batteries and bms are you using? What’s your optimal solar input?
The even better news are the present costs and technology level.

[ardoin]

Originally Posted by DeValency

Quite remarkable, considering the technology status 9 years ago. LFO cells are still the best and well proven energy storage solution for boats. Guess you are completely off-greed so your original high investment proven the highest return.
Which batteries and bms are you using? What’s your optimal solar input?
The even better news are the present costs and technology level.

Off grid. I'm using "House BMS" and that has worked well. I have 5 solar pannels, two small on the rail, two med on the bimi, and one larger on the dodger - I'm guessing 820watts and a D400 wind gen. Works great until the wind stops and it rains for a couple days. I figure more vendors are in this business and won't have to do it all myself. I hear "FireFly" may be another option.

[SV THIRD DAY]

LiFePO4 is still the way to go.
I just bought 16-280AH prismatic cells for my new 1120AH LiFePO4 Bank.
Price $330/per set of 4. Shipping to San Diego from China $510.
Under $2000 (after I add a BMS even).

It's a No Brainer folks....

[captNordy]

Hello everyone,

I've been refitting my 'new-to-me' Tayana 48 and it is time to address the batteries for full-time cruising. I'm fairly comfortable with all I've been reading here, but could use some advice as I consider the move to prismatic cells and was hoping if I shared my current layout that could help someone give me some 'hand holding' as I move forward.

You can see my schematic here: https://www.lucidchart.com/invitatio...b-f6273b4b018e

The quick summary:
1. New bow thruster battery up in the bow with a Balmar Duo Charger (b2b charger) so it can receive it's charge from the house bank
2. Lifeline 4d house battery
3. old West Marine starter battery with Balmar Duo Charger so it can receive its charge from house bank
4. New Balmar XT alternator
5. New Balmar MC-614 Regulator
6. Balmar SG200 Battery Monitor
7. Victron Multiplus 12/3000
8. 2x Victron MPPT Solar controllers
9. 660w from solar
10. Westerbeke 7kw Generator

Quick things that come to mind:
1. Where are you buying your cells, BMS, bus bars
2. How do I protect the alternator (Will use MC-614 to ensure it isn't overworked)
3. Do I need to protect to generator?

Thanks for any help, happy to move to a separate thread if that is preferred for specifics like this!

[Mongo_at_sea]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

LiFePO4 is still the way to go.
I just bought 16-280AH prismatic cells for my new 1120AH LiFePO4 Bank.
Price $330/per set of 4. Shipping to San Diego from China $510.
Under $2000 (after I add a BMS even).

It's a No Brainer folks....

Hi,
Where did you order those units from, and what condition do they come in?
Thanks

[AndrewA2]

Originally Posted by Mongo_at_sea

Hi,
Where did you order those units from, and what condition do they come in?
Thanks

These maybe:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...5f8d2fc2Tnn1ty

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

LiFePO4 is still the way to go.
I just bought 16-280AH prismatic cells for my new 1120AH LiFePO4 Bank.
Price $330/per set of 4. Shipping to San Diego from China $510.
Under $2000 (after I add a BMS even).

It's a No Brainer folks....

was that shipping price for all 16 units ?
Sounds about like my 250ah cells .

[Wood]

I orders 8 from the same outfit. $661.36 for the batteries, $327.60 shipping to Boston, MA, plus 11 connection bars and 8 nuts. So $988.96 plus Alibaba trade assurance fee $29.00.

[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

For the BMS, I'm going with the 120A version of this:
https://batteryhookup.com/collection...31523195289732

I am afraid the link is dead. Can you please give me some clues to find that BMS online?

[Bobakers]

Hi all

Due to space restrictions and no longer sourcing 400ah cells I'm looking at the following configuration for a 560ah 12v battery.

Appreciate your feedback/advice as to whether this layout will be effective


Thanks

Bob

[Oceanride007]

Quick one, I have 2 Victron MPPT controllers, a 100/30 and a 75/15, they don't like playing together ie one will go to float far to early, if I boost its Abs voltage and it takes over the other goes to float, Is there a way for them to control better, Issue is that Float is below Battery voltage so that Mppt no longer supplies power. Have 2 Mppt because Solar Voltage is different. These are not Bluetooth devices. Bank is 480Ahr LFP

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Oceanride007

Quick one, I have 2 Victron MPPT controllers, a 100/30 and a 75/15, they don't like playing together ie one will go to float far to early, if I boost its Abs voltage and it takes over the other goes to float, Is there a way for them to control better, Issue is that Float is below Battery voltage so that Mppt no longer supplies power. Have 2 Mppt because Solar Voltage is different. These are not Bluetooth devices. Bank is 480Ahr LFP

This is easily fixed with newer controllers with the built in bluetooth.

A bluetooth dongle is available for the older Vicron MPPT controllers that do not have this facility built in like yours. However, I am not familiar with the non bluetooth units and whether or not the bluetooth dongle permits all the functions of the newer units.

The bluetooth dongle is not very expensive (you will need two of these). I would also purchase the Victron battery Sense unit (also quite inexpensive).

While these items are not expensive, a question to the Victron help line would be sensible before outlaying the money. You want to know if the above hardware will permit “synchronised charging”.

These threads may help:
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...re-223988.html

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...se-228411.html

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Oceanride007

Quick one, I have 2 Victron MPPT controllers, a 100/30 and a 75/15, they don't like playing together ie one will go to float far to early, if I boost its Abs voltage and it takes over the other goes to float, Is there a way for them to control better, Issue is that Float is below Battery voltage so that Mppt no longer supplies power. Have 2 Mppt because Solar Voltage is different. These are not Bluetooth devices. Bank is 480Ahr LFP

the real question is does your bank get fully charged ?
Personally I would set them so that the unit producing the most amps being the one to not go into float first.

[Oceanride007]

^^^
Its all new to me but I am being cautious, Absorb set to 13.7, Float 13.2, No more charge on float as Terminal Voltage is higher around 13.4. So I reckon I'm down about 30 Ahr when First Mppt goes to float, insufficient oompff in the remaining Mppt to get Volts up higher, so when evening comes battery already down about 40Ahr. Of course I can reset it by using software to turn charger off and back on again. But that not solution. My tail current is set to zero. have now Limited my 100/30 to 15 Amps so both MPPT the same, will monitor tomorrow, but probably better to change panels around so that can use single MPPT.