I am looking for advice on LiFePO4 battery storage voltages for a system that will get intermittent use during the summer and limited use during the winter.
My family owns an off grid camp in Northern New England. I have assembled components for a system using a 24V lithium iron phosphate battery. I have read several postings that suggest that these batteries should not be stored fully charged. One posting suggested that since this chemistry has very little internal discharge during storage that the charging 'float' option should be disabled or set to a voltage low enough to eliminate charging.
We have an integrated charger/inverter. The bulk charge cut off is set at 28.2 and the float is set at 27.0. The low voltage shutoff is set at 24V. I have a battery heating system for the cold weather.
This system will get used a dozen weekends between May and October. Maybe a 2 or 3 times during the winter months. We have generator back up if needed.
My plan has been to just let the system run whether the camp was being used of not. The panels would maintain the battery at full charge year round. There is a minimal power need to run the inverter. In the winter, if it gets cold enough, there will be some load on the system to keep the batteries warm
My question is.... If storage at 'full' charge is detrimental, should I develop a plan to discharge the battery down to say 26 Volts, no load, when we leave the camp and shut the system down??
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
My family owns an off grid camp in Northern New England. I have assembled components for a system using a 24V lithium iron phosphate battery. I have read several postings that suggest that these batteries should not be stored fully charged. One posting suggested that since this chemistry has very little internal discharge during storage that the charging 'float' option should be disabled or set to a voltage low enough to eliminate charging.
We have an integrated charger/inverter. The bulk charge cut off is set at 28.2 and the float is set at 27.0. The low voltage shutoff is set at 24V. I have a battery heating system for the cold weather.
This system will get used a dozen weekends between May and October. Maybe a 2 or 3 times during the winter months. We have generator back up if needed.
My plan has been to just let the system run whether the camp was being used of not. The panels would maintain the battery at full charge year round. There is a minimal power need to run the inverter. In the winter, if it gets cold enough, there will be some load on the system to keep the batteries warm
My question is.... If storage at 'full' charge is detrimental, should I develop a plan to discharge the battery down to say 26 Volts, no load, when we leave the camp and shut the system down??
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.