240v Battery Charger for Lithium Upgrade

[Busman]

All you need is a charger/inverter where you can set the absorb voltage and time, thats all we do.
We set them the same as float, time shortest possible, battery does not know the difference.
More expensive than an ebay cheapie but worth it.
I certainly would not buy a balancer off ebay, too important a piece of gear, get something with quality.

[T1 Terry]

I had a recent upgrade requirement of the same and a certain Mannumite recommended this unit.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-IC5 ... 1231847298
Seems to be working well so far, I am very impressed with its response time whilst charging. Turning things on /off, shading panels intermittantly whilst its charging, etc, the amps going in vary quickly in response -keeping the voltage exactly where its supposed to be.

Running 1120Ah of AGM, will be going to Li soon enough

Thanks for the recommendation Bagmaker, I am tossing up with the Projecta and a Sterling ProCharge Ultra, which I have been informed has a lithium setting. I thought I had a major problem but all is good now but all suggestions will go into memory for future reference

Have supplied and fitted many of the Projecta IC range as well as modified to suit our battery protection system for those that already had them. The Sterling Pro Charge does have a lithium sett as do many mains chargers and solar controllers these day. They each copy one another for their setting yet none of them really understand just what is required for a lithium battery charger. It is not about battery terminal voltage but rather cell voltage, keep the cell voltages within their safe zone and the terminal voltage looks after itself. That does not work in the opposite direction because the cell voltages only add up to the terminal voltage and there is no guarantee the cell voltages will remain identical, think of how many combination of 4 numbers will add up to the same 14.4v that many seem to think it ok for lithium..... if any of those combinations contain a number higher than 3.6v that cell will be damaged, the higher the number the greater the damage.
If the charging equipment is not looking at the cell voltages and stopping in a cell goes above 3.6v then it is not really a lithium battery friendly charger, simply relying on the batteries BMS to take care of the problem is not a solution as they can't talk to one another, but it is an easy out for the charger manufacturer.... it's all in the fine print and usually towards the end where you have gone cross eyed or nodded off to sleep before you get that far

T1 Terry

[Mrcoolabah1au]

So which one do we buy

[T1 Terry]

So which one do we buy

The Projecta IC range go from an IC700 which is a 7 amp charger, IC1000 is a 10 amp charger, IC2500 is a 25 amp charger, IC3500 is a 35 amp charger and IC5000 is a 50 amp charger and these are the ones we fit most often.

[Mrcoolabah1au]

Ok will start to look

[nut17]

I have been running a Projecta IC5000 on my 600 AH LiFePO4 pack for the last two years. I have it set to the "Gel" program with bulk and absorption voltages at 14.1V. This unit is only used as a secondary charge source and is powered by a 1200w PSW inverter from the Jeep. My primary charge source is 1200w solar via an 80 Amp MPPT controller which has the bulk and absorption voltages set at 13.8 V and the float at 13.3 V. Since changing to these charge protocols my cell balance has stayed very static with only a little tinkering about twice a year. My battery pack had it's 5th birthday in April this year and appear to be performing as well now as the day they were installed.

Cheers
Chris

[nut17]

the IC5000 has a "supply" setting for LA batts when connected full time to the grid
13.8v -perfect!

You are right !! I don't know why I did not twig to that option. However I am not too keen to have a constant 50 Amps at 13.8 V still being delivered once the battery is topped up which is what I understand would be the situation with the power supply setting.

Cheers
Chris

[T1 Terry]

the IC5000 has a "supply" setting for LA batts when connected full time to the grid
13.8v -perfect!

You are right !! I don't know why I did not twig to that option. However I am not too keen to have a constant 50 Amps at 13.8 V still being delivered once the battery is topped up which is what I understand would be the situation with the power supply setting.

Cheers
Chris

The 50 amps is available all the way to 13.8v, it doesn't apply 50 amps and then stop suddenly at the 13.8v mark but starts to taper the charge rate as the 13.8v is approached. For this reason the Gel 14.1v bulk and charge control via cell voltage monitoring is preferable if a fast recharge is the aim, the charge control will cause the IC5000 to drop into float mode after the second cell over 3.6v alarm is sensed stopping any repeat over voltage attempts but also not hold the battery at 13.8v indefinitely if the charger is left on, I think the Gel float setting is 13.6v and the long term maintenance is 13.3v if the float voltage is sensed to be continuous for a set period of time with no increase in current for that period. In other words, the battery has been charged but not used.

T1 Terry

[nut17]

Thanks Terry. Will leave it on the Gel setting

Cheers
Chris

[exscott]

Wow informative civilised discussion on lfp, I might become a regular hear I am sorry.
It's hard to believe theres still no 240 charger with customised settings for lfp but I have heard the projector is popular. One thing I did read on there user manual though was if the power requirement was above the rated output in power supply mode it would go back to charging setting, surely this would happen pretty often with lfp. Also can't imagine sitting at 13.8 for days would be healthy.
Scott