Local solar provider contacted me this week to discuss installation of what appears to be this system. He's coming to quote on 1 May so I'll update this post when I know what he suggests as a package and also what its going to cost. In Australia we have different energy rates dependant on the time of day you use the power. 2pm to 8pm ...peak period ...costs me about 55 cents per kw/hr. The idea is to use the battery power during peak periods. (the highest cost period). Sounds like a plan
LiFePO4 - The future for off-grid battery banks?
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Local solar provider contacted me this week to discuss installation of what appears to be this system. He's coming to quote on 1 May so I'll update this post when I know what he suggests as a package and also what its going to cost. In Australia we have different energy rates dependant on the time of day you use the power. 2pm to 8pm ...peak period ...costs me about 55 cents per kw/hr. The idea is to use the battery power during peak periods. (the highest cost period). Sounds like a planSunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.Comment
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Hi,
Has anyone run across an inverter/charger designed to charge lifepo4 batteries?
Thanks,
Zak
Yes, we have developed a charge controller and bms System special for LiFePo4 and LiFeYPo4.
If you are interested have a look on our website.
www dot ecs-online dot org
If you have any quesions, about it, feel free to ask us
regards
Falko Jahn
ECS TeamComment
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Everyone who uses RC hobby products these days (car/plane) uses power inverters and chargers and most support LiFEPO4. It's not too long until this stuff goes large scale and are offered for off-grid applications. Sometimes, I wish they had used LiFEPO4 for the Boeing Dreamliner 787 rather than Li-Poly from Yuasa.PowerOne 3.6 x 2, 32 SolarWorld 255W monoComment
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Much as I appreciate the reference, Falko, the moderators will see it as a violation of the no advertising, no links policy. If you can restate it as a suggestion for a web search rather than a URL is might be acceptable, but probably not.SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.Comment
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Victron energy also have products for lithium charging and management.Comment
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Regards
Falko Jahn
ECSComment
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My biggest interest in Li at the moment is in following the Boeing 787 debacle. I am sure you have some opinions on what happened.
The design looks like it was done by somebody who did not really understand LiCo and none of the individual cell voltages were recorded, or even left the BMS inside the battery case.
I have much better feelings about LiFePO4.SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.Comment
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Do you mean the original Boeing battery design did not have have cell balancers built into it? After a number of cycles, the cells would get out of balance and, obviously, you get a cell being overcharged and thermal runaway. You'd think that Yuasa or someone with any battery system construction experience would have done cell balancing and voltage monitoring per-cell. There are 13 year old kids playing with RC cars who know that multi-cell packs need balancing.PowerOne 3.6 x 2, 32 SolarWorld 255W monoComment
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Do you mean the original Boeing battery design did not have have cell balancers built into it? After a number of cycles, the cells would get out of balance and, obviously, you get a cell being overcharged and thermal runaway. You'd think that Yuasa or someone with any battery system construction experience would have done cell balancing and voltage monitoring per-cell. There are 13 year old kids playing with RC cars who know that multi-cell packs need balancing.Comment
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Do you mean the original Boeing battery design did not have have cell balancers built into it? After a number of cycles, the cells would get out of balance and, obviously, you get a cell being overcharged and thermal runaway. You'd think that Yuasa or someone with any battery system construction experience would have done cell balancing and voltage monitoring per-cell. There are 13 year old kids playing with RC cars who know that multi-cell packs need balancing.
The protective contactor that disconnects the battery from the charger in the event of over voltage, under voltage or overcurrent is a normally CLOSED contactor opened under battery power. I suspect that this may be what causes the battery to require replacement when it is over discharged, since the protective circuitry (contactor coil) will continue to draw power until the battery is irreversibly drained. Unless it gets to a maintenance facility before then.
The company that contracted the whole battery and charger system and the company that built the charger both sub-contracted the testing to Yuasa, the battery manufacturer, since they had no idea what to test.
Yuasa did not have much if any experience with the use of that size battery in an aircraft where it is subject to large air pressure cycles as well as wild SOC swings.
Finally, the charger supplier was very proud of their patented method of predicting end of charge that meant that they did not have to continuously monitor the battery voltage!!!
Visit PPRuNe (Professional Pilots Rumor Network) for a lot more information and speculation on the whole subject. There are two active threads:
Tech Log - 787 Batteries and Chargers - Part 2 - dog, During the hearing, there was quite a bit of information that was asked for by the NTSB and others.
and
Rumours & News - FAA Grounds 787s - Originally Posted by Spooky 2 Glad to see you won't be riding on 787's soon. What will you be riding that makes you feel secure, safe and without being in danger. How are getting to the airport BTW? For me, 777--nice aeroplane. Or 744, for the vintage feel. No point in incurringSunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.Comment
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Originally posted by bradashAnyone found a good place to buy new batteries?MSEE, PEComment
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I'm looking into buying new batteries
My 3000 Ah battery bank is getting pretty old and will not hold charges for very long anymore, so I have started looking to replace all the AGMs with something else. I was thinking about trying LiFePO4 but have not looked into if it will work with my inverts yet.
Has anyone thought of using a fuel cell?Comment
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I don't have any details but it sounded interesting.Comment
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