MidNite Brat with LiFePO4 battery?

[beltweathers]

I've been using the MidNite Brat on a few projects and it's been brain dead easy to install and has been working great.

I recently bought a 12.8V 300 AH LiFePO4 battery from Renogy (https://www.renogy.com/12v-300ah-co...ithium-iron-phosphate-battery-w-self-heating/)

Looking on their FAQ, MidNite says that they don't "support" it on the Brat, but does that mean it doesn't work at all? Other posts online say it charges the same as lead acid batteries, but at a lower bulk voltage to extend life, but I haven't seen any posts specifically about the Brat.

If the Brat can support LiFePO4 batteries, then what settings should I set it to? Thanks for helping a newbie out!

 

[sunshine_eggo]

I've been using the MidNite Brat on a few projects and it's been brain dead easy to install and has been working great.

I recently bought a 12.8V 300 AH LiFePO4 battery from Renogy (https://www.renogy.com/12v-300ah-co...ithium-iron-phosphate-battery-w-self-heating/)

Looking on their FAQ, MidNite says that they don't "support" it on the Brat, but does that mean it doesn't work at all? Other posts online say it charges the same as lead acid batteries, but at a lower bulk voltage to extend life, but I haven't seen any posts specifically about the Brat.

If the Brat can support LiFePO4 batteries, then what settings should I set it to? Thanks for helping a newbie out!

You probably already know this, but for anyone that stumbles across this, it's a PWM controller, so the 60V max only applies when on 24V battery. You need to limit your Voc to ~20V-ish, i.e., use "12V" panels, and only in parallel.

I don't see that it uses temperature compensation, so that's good for LFP.

Set to sealed profile #2, S1-4 OFF and S1-5 On will charge to 14.4V and float at 13.5V , which is a pretty decent profile for LFP.

 

[BaylentheSky]

You probably already know this, but for anyone that stumbles across this, it's a PWM controller, so the 60V max only applies when on 24V battery. You need to limit your Voc to ~20V-ish, i.e., use "12V" panels, and only in parallel.

I don't see that it uses temperature compensation, so that's good for LFP.

Set to sealed profile #2, S1-4 OFF and S1-5 On will charge to 14.4V and float at 13.5V , which is a pretty decent profile for LFP.

Hi SE, can you please elaborate a bit more on the temperature compensation and how it's bad for LFP? I have an Eco-Worthy PWM and not sure if it has temperature compensation but it does display some kind of temperature that I thought is just ambient or internal temperature and not that of the battery. This is the one I have:

ecoworthy_12V_24V_30A_solar_charge_controller_PWM | ECO-WORTHY

ECO-WORTHY 20A 30A PWM LCD Display Solar Charge Controller can automatically manage the working of solar panel and battery in the solar system. Easy to set up and operate. Suitable for charging the DC lamp and phone, etc. It’s convenient to open and close the load by the switch. Over-current and...

www.eco-worthy.com

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Hi SE, can you please elaborate a bit more on the temperature compensation and how it's bad for LFP?

Because the charging voltages for LFP do not change with temperature.

I have an Eco-Worthy PWM and not sure if it has temperature compensation but it does display some kind of temperature that I thought is just ambient or internal temperature and not that of the battery. This is the one I have:

ecoworthy_12V_24V_30A_solar_charge_controller_PWM | ECO-WORTHY

ECO-WORTHY 20A 30A PWM LCD Display Solar Charge Controller can automatically manage the working of solar panel and battery in the solar system. Easy to set up and operate. Suitable for charging the DC lamp and phone, etc. It’s convenient to open and close the load by the switch. Over-current and...

www.eco-worthy.com

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0253/9752/6580/files/30A_PWM_LCD_Display_Solar_Charge_Controller_Manual-min.pdf?v=1727331803

"Internal temperature"

 

[beltweathers]

You probably already know this, but for anyone that stumbles across this, it's a PWM controller, so the 60V max only applies when on 24V battery. You need to limit your Voc to ~20V-ish, i.e., use "12V" panels, and only in parallel.

I don't see that it uses temperature compensation, so that's good for LFP.

Set to sealed profile #2, S1-4 OFF and S1-5 On will charge to 14.4V and float at 13.5V , which is a pretty decent profile for LFP.

Thank you!