Old EPSolar Tracer with 12V LiFePo4 Battery Settings

[davehopes]

I have an EPSolar Tracer that was used to charge house lead acid batteries, however I’m in the process of hooking up my lithium battery and I’m not sure if I need to get a new charge controller. The tracer has three battery options:

1. Gel
2. Sealed
3. Flooded

It has no option for lithium due to the age. While I’m waiting for a new charge controller can I use any of the above settings with the lithium battery? I’ve attached the spec for each battery type:

 

[jasonhc73]

Set it to Gel, and you will be "OK".
But, if you don't directly monitor it, the charger will overcharge the battery.
What chemistry of lithium are you getting?

Why Gel setting? You never equalize a Lithium-based battery. Equalize is not balancing, it is for lead-acid only.

If you have a BMS that you can set up, you don't need a different charger. The BMS will shutdown charging at the voltage you set.

 

[davehopes]

Thanks for the quick response!

Yep, I have a BMS that disconnects the battery when a cell reaches 3.65V. Does this mean I’d be better off using the Lead Acid setting?

That’s good to hear. Can the charge controller be damaged by the lithium cell being disconnected while charging?

 

[jasonhc73]

Thanks for the quick response!

Yep, I have a BMS that disconnects the battery when a cell reaches 3.65V. Does this mean I’d be better off using the Lead Acid setting?

That’s good to hear. Can the charge controller be damaged by the lithium cell being disconnected while charging?

Do not use any setting that can turn on Equalization.

As for disconnecting while charging, well yes, anything can be damaged by doing that. It's not the disconnecting that does the damage, it's the arching that does the damage. If you have a switch flip it off. I've "arched" my giant bank probably a dozen times because of no switch.

Can you adjust the setting of your BMS?

 

[tictag]

But, if you don't directly monitor it, the charger will overcharge the battery.

Why do you say this? At a 14.2V 'Boost voltage', a LiFePO4 will never fully charge, which is fine, most people don't, but I don't understand why you believe this charger will overcharge it.

Totally agree about equalisation.

For OP: additionally, a Lithium-ion battery does not require a 'float'; once the CC/CV charge is done, the charger should switch off. I've not heard of a battery being damaged by an ongoing 'float' voltage but it might be worthwhile checking with your battery manufacturer.

 

[jasonhc73]

Why do you say this? At a 14.2V 'Boost voltage', a LiFePO4 will never fully charge, which is fine, most people don't, but I don't understand why you believe this charger will overcharge it.

It's the chart he has.


But most importantly, it's the only setting that does not do equalization.

 

[tictag]

@jasonhc73, no that value is just the SCC's 'emergency cutoff', you know, if everything went wrong. In normal operation, it would never deliver such a charge voltage, this is configured with the 'Boost voltage' parameter (aka 'Bulk stage'), and 14.2V would likely only charge a LiFePO4 battery to maybe 90% i.e. 3.55V per cell.

Yes, I do agree about this being the only workable charge profile for this SCC i.e. the only one without an equalisation stage. But it will never over charge the battery, quite the contrary in fact. And the BMS will likely shut the battery down at 3.65 - 3.75V per cell first anyway.

@davehopes, personally, I'd recommend getting a designed for Lithium-ion SCC ... but, if this just isn't an option, your tracer will work safely on the Gel setting (though, as already mentioned, check with you battery manufacturer about the 'float' voltage).

 

[jasonhc73]

@jasonhc73, no that value is just the SCC's 'emergency cutoff', you know, if everything went wrong. In normal operation, it would never deliver such a charge voltage, this is configured with the 'Boost voltage' parameter (aka 'Bulk stage'), and 14.2V would likely only charge a LiFePO4 battery to maybe 90% i.e. 3.55V per cell.

Yes, I do agree about this being the only workable charge profile for this SCC i.e. the only one without an equalisation stage. But it will never over charge the battery, quite the contrary in fact. And the BMS will likely shut the battery down at 3.65 - 3.75V per cell first anyway.

@davehopes, personally, I'd recommend getting a designed for Lithium-ion SCC ... but, if this just isn't an option, your tracer will work safely on the Gel setting (though, as already mentioned, check with you battery manufacturer about the 'float' voltage).

Does the boost mean the same as bulk?
I don't know, all we have is this chart.

 

[tictag]

Yes, 'Boost' = 'Bulk'.

Well, strictly speaking 'Boost' is actually referring to:

• The voltage at which the Bulk stage finishes (CC) and
• The voltage at which the Absorption stage is maintained (CV)

Edit: Added clarification.

 

[Napalm]

Yes, 'Boost' = 'Bulk'.

Well, strictly speaking 'Boost' is actually referring to:

• The voltage at which the Bulk stage finishes (CC) and
• The voltage at which the Absorption stage is maintained (CV)

Edit: Added clarification.

I also have an EPsolar 20amp MPPT solar charger.. and want to get the Mecer 200ah Lithium (Lifepo4) battery. They got very specific settings.

I'm not sure how to set it though. as there are so many settings on EPsolar and the provider of the Lithium has different wording. (so i'm worried to buy it.. and i don't want to damage it)

Epsolar 2210an has these options : (custom is an option). The charger is lithium compatible (i'm guessing on item 4 - User)
Mecer Lifepo4 200ah

Mecer only mention Bulk of 14.6v, Floating of 13.6 and charge voltage of 14.6v. Nominal Voltage of 12.8. Cutoff of 10v.
But how would i set that on my MPPT. My MPPT has Boost, over voltage, Equalize, Boost Reconnect, Low voltage. Discharge limit voltage 10.6, Boost duration.