Lithium facts in practice

[T1 Terry]

It's the understanding as a result of learning that costs little yet is priceless that makes all the difference About the only easy way to make a comparison for that bit is, buying a border collie pup doesn't mean you have just purchased a champion sheep dog. The cost of training it yourself is minimal, the knowledge and patience to do it is priceless. Setting up and using a lithium battery pack goes along the same lines, without the knowledge you need someone to build a fail safe system to protect the battery, then you are paying for someone else’s time and knowledge and that rarely comes cheap.
The private forum has the needed information but comes with a condition that what you learn is for your personal use, not to be shared or published outside the private forum, that is the one that seems to create a brick wall for most 4 x 4 enthusiasts, well all the ones that have contacted me so far anyway.

[Cuppa]

It's the understanding as a result of learning that costs little yet is priceless that makes all the difference About the only easy way to make a comparison for that bit is, buying a border collie pup doesn't mean you have just purchased a champion sheep dog. The cost of training it yourself is minimal, the knowledge and patience to do it is priceless. Setting up and using a lithium battery pack goes along the same lines, without the knowledge you need someone to build a fail safe system to protect the battery, then you are paying for someone else’s time and knowledge and that rarely comes cheap.
The private forum has the needed information but comes with a condition that what you learn is for your personal use, not to be shared or published outside the private forum, that is the one that seems to create a brick wall for most 4 x 4 enthusiasts, well all the ones that have contacted me so far anyway.

I understand that Terry. I have probably taken it as far as I can given that I recognise the need for the knowledge & understanding but don't possess it myself, & am unlikely to until such time that I need to replace what I have. If you are interested you can see what I've been saying to folks at http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/s ... or-camping

If anyone on that forum (which is actually a pretty good forum) expresses an interest to learn more, would it be ok for me to give them your email address? If not how should I direct them your way.

Oh & if I've made any booboos in what I've written there, feel free to let me know so I can correct it.

Cuppa

[T1 Terry]

It all looks fairly good advice Cuppa. The only bit that might help clear up some confusion, all lithium technology batteries are li-ion, just as calcium, flooded, agm, gel, starter, deep cycle are all lead acid batteries, it's just the way they store and release their energy, I won't even attempt to explain how that happens with Li-ion batteries here, the eyes would roll and everyone would nod off
LiFeP04 or lithium ferrous batteries are the safest of the breed, they don't burst into flames, tortured they will release a vapour a bit like boiled petrol but it dissipates or settles out into droplets as soon as it cools. The battery is stuffed if you torture it that far, it's the electrolyte boiled away, there is only about a tablespoon in each cell packet and you can't replace it. The alloy of these metals combined make them unaffected by water where pure lithium reacts badly in water, you can dead short it or shoot a hole through it and all that will come out is this boiled electrolyte vapour.
The ones that caught fire in the Boeing 787 were lithium manganese, nearly as unstable as lithium polymer (LiPo) they need to have your full attention when charging them and if you very fast discharge them, they suffer thermal runaway and burst into flames if you stray outside the safety zones even a little bit. Lithium ferrous don't do any of these things, but a big wander outside the safety zones will kill them, just like a lead acid battery, but no explosive gas is produces, just the quick dispersing petrol like vapour but it is flammable while in the vapour stage just the same.

I have a line up of quite a few people who are waiting to get on the private forum, I avoid putting too many on at a time because that personal help through the understanding part gets lost if there are too many at once, lost a quite few in the early days that way so I avoid it where possible these days. You are welcome to put the serious ones in contact with me if you want but it may take a while before I can really help them much unfortunately, even the boss here is still in the line .

[Cuppa]

Thanks Terry.

[bellett65]

Just read your thread on the Nissan forum.One thing I did notice was no one running around with stakes and crucifixes. Nobody seemed to jump and be vermintally negative. I would like to thank you for your time and effort in placing it there.

Peter

[Mrcoolabah1au]

You better hire a secetary to get rid of the back log terry ok

[dapope]

You better hire a secetary to get rid of the back log terry ok

Laxative.....clears anything......

[nut17]

Well we did end up being away for eight nights and although there was very little sun we did get up to 10 Amps from the solar at times. However, we did ration use a little and the vehicle charge regime accompanied by a 2 - 3 hour drive every other day meant that we only went below 50% SOC (voltage still at 13.23) once while we were away. Cell balance is still constant and virtually perfect within two decimal places. It is even after 15 months difficult to get around in your head that you CAN take these batteries down to low SOC - The pampering of lead acid technology is a difficult culture to break free from. Ideally, (For NZ solar conditions) my battery capacity is spot on for our requirements - what need to occur as a doubling of my solar capacity from the current 330w to around 600 which would give some reasonable charge - even under poor winter conditions.

Good friends up the road from us have just fitted an identical battery to mine and are running virtually identical charging regime that I started with. That is they have 300w solar and Blue Sky Solar Boost 2000e MPPT controller, 25 Amp C-Tek and 30 Amp Sidewinder DC - DC charger. I will follow their progress with interest to see if the Sidewinder survives the Lithium demand in their van At this stage the installation has only just been completed and tests show all is working as it should.

Watch this space.

Cheers Chris

[nut17]

Almost a year has gone by since the last post here during which we have had about 120 nights away in the van "off grid" The Lithium battery has now entered the third year of its life and is still performing as expected - exactly as it did when first installed. I am intending to increase my solar array later this year and will have to upgrade my controller at the same time as my existing one is at full capacity (25 Amp). I am going to have to remove my existing panels and rearrange them to accommodate the extra ones (more bloody holes in the roof ) I am looking at the possibility of fitting 3x 250w panels. Any suggestions on a suitable controller?

Cheers Chris

[dapope]

Pl60 or dingo. Program to whats needed