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

[diugo]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

According to the engineer I spoke with the trip time delay is very similar to the Class T fuses we've been using for years.

Great to know, thanks. The 100kA AIC is really impressive, and the price is very reasonable.

[diugo]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Balqon without any prompting refunded me $280... I guess they will be my future supplier of lithium cells.

That was a major solid, matching their current discount for the older cells. Now get to work testing them!

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by diugo

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I noticed that Balqon's $99 160Ah clearance specials have been "out of stock" for a couple of days now. I didn't want them shipped during the pre-Christmas crunch, so I held off on ordering them!

What do you suppose the likelihood is of them finding some more?

They arrived here yesterday that was quite a deal. how does one know how old they are? the serial number is 120202-Y93928,

Just FYI, Winston was/is in a lawsuit, maybe just FUD, but might be issue.
5 year warranty means squat when company doesn't exist anymore.

[mcarling]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

how does one know how old they are? the serial number is 120202-Y93928, ....

I guess that means 2012 February 2nd. We could corroborate that if several other people with Winston batteries were to post their serials numbers.

[diugo]

That's great news, nimblemotors! Relatively fresh batteries, just in time for putting them under the xmas tree.

How long did Balqon take to ship them? How much did they charge for shipping?

[deckofficer]

Picture of my serial numbers on page 45 of this thread.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by diugo

That's great news, nimblemotors! Relatively fresh batteries, just in time for putting them under the xmas tree.

How long did Balqon take to ship them? How much did they charge for shipping?

Shipped them out the next day, i'm in california, so it was close, $80 to ship them I think. If 120202 means feb 2, 2012, than that is good.

Bob, which post number was it? Pages don't help,mine differ.

I'd also mention regarding balancing and charging and bms, that if you connect batteries serially you can only get the capacity of the weakest cell.
So once you find the weakest cell, you can use its voltage to determine when the pack is full or empty. i.e. discharge until that cell is empty, charge until that cell is full. Thus no fancy bms needed. You must first equalize them all of course, discharge them all first before connecting in series (ie bottom balance)

[diugo]

Thanks Nimblemotors, next day shipping was surprisingly fast! Did you receive TS-LFPs or the newer WB-LYPs? Were they shipped by UPS? In a wooden box? Sorry for all the q's, curious minds wanna know.

Bob's post of pix was #667.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by diugo

Thanks Nimblemotors, next day shipping was surprisingly fast! Did you receive TS-LFPs or the newer WB-LYPs? Were they shipped by UPS? In a wooden box? Sorry for all the q's, curious minds wanna know.

Bob's post of pix was #667.

My guess is they are trying to clear out ALL STOCK before the end of the year, might just be accounting. SO-LYP160AHA, yes UPS, no wood just foam padding.
They look new, haven't checked capacity yet.

So if Bob's numbers were april 10, 2010, then these must be feb 2 2012.

JackB

[diugo]

Thanks JackB.

I have one last question for you and Bob: did you get a UPS tracking number by email before your cells arrived---or did they just show up? Since I'm in an RV and can't receive delivery directly, some notification would be better.

[deckofficer]

I got UPS tracking, number sent via email.

[nimblemotors]

Originally Posted by diugo

Thanks JackB.

I have one last question for you and Bob: did you get a UPS tracking number by email before your cells arrived---or did they just show up? Since I'm in an RV and can't receive delivery directly, some notification would be better.

yes email of tracking from both ups and balqon. almost too good, I've ordered batteries from other places and they take your money and don't respond for a week or more, then take even longer to ship, etc, etc, thus my take they need to clear out before end of year, or end of something.

[deckofficer]

I've wired the (2) 4 cell packs. Pack #1 has some tight voltages, I'm pleased with it. Pack #2 had one cell reach 4.18 volts before the others were fully charged, so stopped charging.

Pack #1 5 hours after charging
Cell 1 3.38 volts
Cell 2 3.37 volts
Cell 3 3.45 volts
Cell 4 3.45 volts

Pack #2 1 hour after a 1 hour charge (stopped early due to one cell going too high)
Cell 1 3.37 volts
Cell 2 3.51 volts
Cell 3 3.33 volts
Cell 4 3.34 volts

After 10 minutes dropped from 50 amp to 32.8 amps


Dropped to C 0.1 after 42 minutes.


The errant cell.


The two packs

[hellosailor]

Some states have a business inventory/property tax, which is levied on all business property or inventory or assets, etc. as as January 1st. So if anyone knows what Cali law is on this, for businesses, that might explain the clearance.

Or, someone is trying to get rid of assets before they are seized in a legal action.

These things happen.

Given all the advantages to lithium, I can't see why anyone would have to "clearance" batteries at literally HALF the amp-hour-cost of common AGM batteries, much less wet cells.

This may be the wrold's best battery deal but there is something terribly unusual going on. You know, like "Divorce sale, must sell boat. Screw the spouse, I'll take fifty bucks, they get half."

Hope y'all are getting lucky, but do be careful, you know what landlubbers say about "If it sounds too good to be true..."

[deckofficer]

How do I get these cells in pack #2 balanced without a BMS? As soon as I turned the charger back on, it starts at 50 amps and within 15 seconds the #2 cell was fast approaching 4.0 volts from the 3.51 volts resting.