LiFePO Batteries ???

[tpenfield]

RE: LiTime . . . My replacement battery should be delivered today

I did not think it would come this quickly.

 

[tpenfield]

FedEx delivery person just showed up . . .
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My replacement battery . . . !!!

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Now I have something to fill out the rest of my day.

They also delivered the case of special beer that I ordered.

 

[Scott Danforth]

are those tire tracks from the fed-ex truck?

 

[tpenfield]

Quick update . . .

I ordered another battery box to match the ones in the boat, because who wants to look at mis-matched battery boxes? It took over a week to be delivered, so installing the 3rd LiTime battery will be on the docket for next week.

I installed a toggle switch so that I can chose when to charge the LFP batteries from the alternator. Mostly this would be done while cruising back to home port when the battery bank is looking depleted after a day at the sandbar. I think this will work out better than the voltage related controls/settings that I had previously. Those settings are still in place, but the toggle switch is the master.


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I think the inverter will be happier with 3 batteries in the house bank (total of 300 Ah)

 

[tpenfield]

Quick update . . .

While the system has been doing its charging thing while the boat lives on the mooring, I have noticed a few over voltage situations from the solar charging (via the DuoRacer controller). From what I can tell, the over voltages are brief, ( maybe a few seconds or less) and show up on the Xantrex Inverter as a fault. Not sure if it forced the LiFePO4 bank into protection mode (or not).

One of the geniuses on the DIY Solar forum suggested that the DuoRacer may be causing the over-voltage once the LiFePO4 batteries reach full charge and shut off their charging, and just for an instant, the DuoRacer has current with no place to go. (seems like a plausible explanation). . .

As a test, I have connected a BFC (big capacitor) to the circuit to absorb any rapid change in voltage. I'll see if it makes any difference over the next few weeks . . . i.e. if over voltage situations are remedied.

Keeping up with the changes, here is my latest diagram of the system for your viewing pleasure .
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Summary of changes:
- SPST switch for DC-DC activation
- Removal of Alt/Batt isolator
- Capacitor for House Bank (LiFePO4)