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Lifepo4 battery charger

84bronze

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Mar 12, 2021
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Question about what makes a lifepo4 battery charger? I would like to think that any charger that has an open circuit voltage within lifepo4 battery specs would be good to use. If I replace my rv coach battery with a lifepo4 battery will the built in converter work?
 
Question about what makes a lifepo4 battery charger? I would like to think that any charger that has an open circuit voltage within lifepo4 battery specs would be good to use. If I replace my rv coach battery with a lifepo4 battery will the built in converter work?
Most legacy converters can be used but are not optimal
Most if not all of the new "lithium" converters are a complete waste of money.
The best chargers are inverter/chargers.
I can explain why if you are interested.

The devil as always is in the details.
What converter do you have?
What battery are you considering?
To determine the optimal charge rate we need to know the battery capacity.
A typical lifepo4 battery intended for the energy storage application has an optimal charge current between .2 and .33c.
From .1 to .5c rates are usually acceptable but less than ideal.

The battery's manual is a good reference here for the max charge voltage, float voltage and charge/discharge rates.
 
Question about what makes a lifepo4 battery charger? I would like to think that any charger that has an open circuit voltage within lifepo4 battery specs would be good to use. If I replace my rv coach battery with a lifepo4 battery will the built in converter work?
Anything 13.8 to 14.4 will get the job done just fine.

Post the existing converter model for best answers.
 
Anything 13.8 to 14.4 will get the job done just fine.

Post the existing converter model for best answers.
I just wanted a general idea of what would work, thanks. I need to dig into the rv compartment but open circuit voltage is 14.1 vdc and either 35 or 50 amps. I can't imagine what would be any different other than voltage levels and amps
 
I need to dig into the rv compartment but open circuit voltage is 14.1 vdc and either 35 or 50 amps. I can't imagine what would be any different other than voltage levels and amps
14.1 volts is fine.
Its the charge termination that needs to be ascertained.
 
14.1 is fine for charging or even a few days. For long term use or storage 13.2 to 13.6 is better.
 
For a few $$ you can get a battery charge control relay. This would turn the converter off at the desired voltage and back on when needed. Both settings programmable.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383760514786
I didn't know that these existed. Definitely worth the extra safety for not burning up the batteries. Keep the bms from shutting down. The one in the link is 220v input
 
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I didn't know that these existed. Definitely worth the extra safety for not burning up the batteries. Keep the bms from shutting down. The one in the link is 220v input
The one in the link switches 20 amps and 220 vac with a relay. The 10 amp 120vac of the converter should not be an issue.
It runs on 12 volts and switches the relay based on the DC voltage.
 
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