Battery charger suitability

[W. Factor]

Hello Everyone,
Looking for guidance on if my IOTA DLS90 (90AMP) charger will be compatible with planned lithium upgrade, and if so what about charging a single battery per mfr instructions for initial first charge. We've been off-grid for 6+ years and plan to replace 1000ah (10 x 100V) AGM's with 4, 12.8V, 230ah LiFePo's in parallel. Thanks

 

[chrisski]

Although the specs make it appear so, some users don’t like the charging profile for Iota. I believe the charging voltage is too high.

For a converter, I’d want not higher that 14.1 volts. I have a AIMs 120 v to 75 amp 12 volt converter that I run on the gel setting that is 14.0 or 14.1.

For me, that is too high for a daily charge, I use 3.475 per cell or 13.9 for 12 volts, but this is my cloudy day charger so I rarely use this.

There are other options that have an an adjustable voltage, just not sure who makes them.

 

[Q-Dog]

Your battery should have maximum amps and recommended amps charge rate printed on the side, or in the user manual. I would use less than the recommended charge rate for intial charging ... slower is better to let the BMS balance the cells.

 

[W. Factor]

Knew of IOTA charging proflie issue "back then" It was such that it was recommended to NOT use the AGM module for my AGM's but the "TURBO", which seems to have worked for us. I believe the formula was price + need = IOTA.
The new batteries say 14.4 +or-0.2V charge voltage. The lithium module for IOTA is 14.2-14.4. We're OFF-grid so charger can't do anything without "manual" power-up of generator then charger. Also hoping that with lithium will need battery charger infrequently. Here in southernmost So-Cal the PV does everything most days, AGM's absolutely to be replaced next week. Like everyone, looking to save every $ possible. Safety First of course. Then protect lithium investment.

 

[W. Factor]

Thanks for the links. Continuing the analysis.

 

[dopeassjackson]

I have a Iota charger but not sure on the model. Either way it maxes out at 13.4v. That's really to low for my FLA batteries. There should be a spec on the charger and just match it with your battery or future battery.