jaycocreek
Idaho
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Joined: 12/28/2013
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Cptnvideo wrote:I'm happy with what I do but I'm not saying it is the correct thing to do. The charger part of my 3kw inverter/charger is turned off and the converter that came with my 5th wheel is unplugged. So battery charging (whether plugged in or not) is only done by the solar panels.
I bulk charge to 14.2V, then absorb for 15 minutes, then float at 13.6V.
That's pretty much the way I do it for my truck camper and the converter charger..I am curious why Victron LFP default are what they are (14.2-2hrs absorb-13.5 float)..Everything I read on the net had absorb ion way lower...I wonder what there reasoning is for that...
Lance 9.6
400 watts solar mounted/200 watts portable
500ah Lifep04
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Cptnvideo
Arizona - most of the time
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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My Victron solar controller defaults to auto absorption, but I chose to go with 15 minutes.
Bill & Linda
Arizona
2019 Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 dually 4x4 diesel
Hensley Trailer Saver BD5 hitch
2022 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS
1600 watts solar, Victron 150/100 MPPT controller, GoPower 3kw inverter/charger, 5 SOK 206AH LiFePo4 batteries for 1030 ah
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Microlite Mike
NW Washington State
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Joined: 10/31/2021
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S Davis wrote:My EVE LF280N cells are rated at 3500 cycles from full charge to 2.5 volt cut off and that is at 1.C in a compression fixture. I am not to worried about charging them up to 100% SOC and using the full capacity. From what I understand if you draw your battery down 20% and then charge it back to 100% that is only 20% of a battery cycle.
At 3500 cycles I think for most users they will age out before cycling out, I think there are many more factors that will affect cell life more than using the manufacturer stated capacity.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/QOUDoyyl.jpg)
The bold part is something to really consider with LifePo4 batteries. I think too many people who have converted to LiFePo4 batteries from Lead/Acid chemistries are still hung up on a lot of the "rules" that applied to them. I'm pretty sure that 10-15 years from now my batteries will me a lot more alive than me.![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
As for discharging to 100%, my deepest discharge in 4 seasons was 81% (2x 100ah Battleborns). To me that says my battery bank is "right sized". If one is regularly seeing 100% DOD then I'd suggest adding more solar, running generator more often, or reduce power use if possible. That can come at an inopportune time. Best to always have some "cushion", not for the sake of the batteries but for my personal comfort.
"Knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is looking both directions anyway."
~ Albert Einstein
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Itinerant1
Itinerant
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Joined: 05/23/2017
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Years ago I use to use 14.2v absorb and 13.6v "float". For the past 3 or so years just been using 14.1v absorb and 13.6v "float". 14.1v is the lowest I'll go fo the reason my SOC will reset the capacity to 100% whenever the pack voltage reaches 3.49 to 3.52 V per cell on average.
Packs performing just fine. Depending on batteries/ cells and what bms it has might dictate what voltage is needed for balancing of cells and resetting soc capacity.
If someone wants to use full capacity of the batteries or just partial it won't make a difference as long as the cells stay in some sort of balance with a periodic recharge.
Nothing better than individual choices, one size doesn't fit all.
12v 500ah, 20 cells_ 4s5p (GBS LFMP battery system). 8 CTI 160 watt panels (1,280 watts)2s4p,Panels mounted flat. Magnum PT100 SCC, Magnum 3012 hybrid inverter, ME-ARC 50. Installed 4/2016 been on 24/7/365, daily 35-45% DOD 2,500+ partial cycles.
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3 tons
NV.
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Joined: 03/13/2009
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Agreed…However much of this depends on how and by what means one elects using to accomplish a charge.
Most chargers of lead acid design will have a Float stage, though I see no need to Float except as a means to avoid an extended period at 14.x Absorb voltage…Harvest is my primary charging source of choice, and it’s typically more moderate output is often low enough to negate the need for supervised charging…But as far as the PD goes (used for occasional ‘attended’ cell-balancing function), upon the completion of 14.x cell-balancing (as witnessed per Victron BMV 712, current holding at zero…), thereafter, I discontinue use of the PD.
3 tons
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StirCrazy
Kamloops, BC, Canada
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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Im not sure I like the way they call charging to 100% overcharging, its not. overcharging is when you exceed the voltage that gives you 100% charge.
I just spent the last 10 days on the island and never got below 96% and was back up to 100% before 9am every day. I have no issues going to 100% on my solar charger as I am camping and it is always drawn down that night so in my mind I am not storing it. the last day I turned off my panels and left it at 97% and turned a light on for the entire drive from pender Island to kamloops, was 96% when I got home ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes") but I'll leave it there till the night before I go camping again and top it off, or if I have a deicent drive I will just leave it and turn the solar on so it charges while I travel. I have my solar charger set to 14.4V charge and 13.6 float and so far I am very impressed with the setup.
2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumberqueen WS100
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3 tons
NV.
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Joined: 03/13/2009
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“Im not sure I like the way they call charging to 100% overcharging, its not. overcharging is when you exceed the voltage that gives you 100% charge.”
Once the end of charge voltage performs it’s near sudden vertical ramp-up (indicating having achieved max charge holding voltage, but still not yet at 100% SOC), the absorption current then begins over time to taper down until the current eventually cuts out which then indicates cell absorption complete, or 100% SOC - thus, voltage alone just tells part of the story…Higher voltage will help expedite the absorption phase, but if too high can come at the cost of unnecessary cell degradation…3.65v per cell is typically the recommended upper limit, but (if programmable) in my view 3.55’ish is better…Beyond current cutout there’s no need to float a LFP…
As far as 100% SOC goes, the $64k question should be “100% of what??”…An actual load test might reveal more actual amp/hrs that the mfg’s spec, in the case of my drop-ins, 7% more…
3 tons
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time2roll
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Way too much thought is put into getting 100%. This is another bad hangover from FLA batteries. Skip the headache.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
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3 tons
NV.
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Joined: 03/13/2009
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time2roll wrote:Way too much thought is put into getting 100%. This is another bad hangover from FLA batteries. Skip the headache.
Agreed, not much point except for occasional cell balancing…
3 tons
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StirCrazy
Kamloops, BC, Canada
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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time2roll wrote:Way too much thought is put into getting 100%. This is another bad hangover from FLA batteries. Skip the headache.
yup. thats why I just let the charger do its thing with a custom two stage configuration. I figured I am getting all the life I need from the absurdly shallow discharges it will normaly be subjected to.
Steve
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