KD4UPL
New Member
I recently bought 3 Kilovault HLX+ 12 volt 100 Ah batteries for my camper. AltE was running a super deal on them. Now I know why. Apparently Kilovault went out of business.
The batteries clearly state their Bulk and Absorb voltage is 14.0 volts. The instructions say to charge them initially to 14.1 or 14.2 before combining them in parallel which I have done with a solar charge controller that is programmable to that voltage. The instructions also say that the float should be 13.4 volts or lower.
I'm now realizing that this voltage is rather low compared to just about every other LiFePo4 battery out there. The stock solar charge controller (Go Power GP-RVC-30-MPPT) and power converter (PD4500 series) in my RV both have Lithium settings but they are too high. The solar charge controller Lithium setting is 14.4 volts bulk-absorb and 14.0 volts float. The converter's Lithium setting is 14.6 volts and near as I can tell it just stays there.
I've also been looking for a DC to DC converter to use between my truck's trailer charge wire and the batteries. Some of these I'm finding are also 14.6 volts.
Apparently 14.4 or 14.6 is "standard" lithium charge voltage. Does anyone know why the Kilovault wants only 14.0? Will 14.6 hurt the battery? I'm guessing since the battery's HBCO is 14.6 that having a charger that high will just shot off the BMS. That's now what I want.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
The batteries clearly state their Bulk and Absorb voltage is 14.0 volts. The instructions say to charge them initially to 14.1 or 14.2 before combining them in parallel which I have done with a solar charge controller that is programmable to that voltage. The instructions also say that the float should be 13.4 volts or lower.
I'm now realizing that this voltage is rather low compared to just about every other LiFePo4 battery out there. The stock solar charge controller (Go Power GP-RVC-30-MPPT) and power converter (PD4500 series) in my RV both have Lithium settings but they are too high. The solar charge controller Lithium setting is 14.4 volts bulk-absorb and 14.0 volts float. The converter's Lithium setting is 14.6 volts and near as I can tell it just stays there.
I've also been looking for a DC to DC converter to use between my truck's trailer charge wire and the batteries. Some of these I'm finding are also 14.6 volts.
Apparently 14.4 or 14.6 is "standard" lithium charge voltage. Does anyone know why the Kilovault wants only 14.0? Will 14.6 hurt the battery? I'm guessing since the battery's HBCO is 14.6 that having a charger that high will just shot off the BMS. That's now what I want.
Thanks for any help you can provide.