Some additional information about the Lithium Valley batteries
Quote: “ I have two of these Lithium Valley Batteries so followed those threads with interest. Even though the spec sheet indicated the battery BMS cut off voltage is 14.6 volts ,in reality it is only 14.3 volts. I have confirm this with my own batteries. The issue was with a solar charger which was set up to charge to 14.6 volts. The BMS would kick on at 14.3 volts essentially causing an battery open circuit. This caused the solar controller to also go into a no load situation which resulted in voltages from the controller to raise above 17volts. Keeping charge voltages below 14.2 volts has solved the issues.”
How does this affect battery performance? Is there much storage lost?
14.6V / 4 = 3.65v per cell
14.3V / 4 = 3.575V per cell
14.2V / 4 = 3.55V per cell
I think the retailer of the battery should be doing something about a significant difference in performance of the BMS. It’s causing significant problems with SCCs using the Lifepo4 charge settings they have recommended on units (epever) they have sold with them
I've been experiencing this exact problem. Equipment used:
* Magnum Energy MS2000 inverter/charger
* Magnum ME-ARC remote
* 2 each Lion UT1300 LFP batteries
* Victron SmartShunt
The MS2000 worked flawlessly with the Crown GC2 batteries we had previously, but it does not play well with the Lion LFP batteries -- at least not when set per Lion and Magnum's instructions. I had the charger set for 100% (~100A) -- 50A per battery -- which is what Lion recommends. The charge current was just over 100A (per the ME-ARC). The voltage was 14.1-14.2. The SmartShunt read just 77A and 14.05V. I haven't figured out why there is such a large difference in the current readings.
More significant is that although the batteries' SOC was just 40%, they only accepted a charge briefly and then the BMS opened up and stopped current flow. There was a voltage spike -- the red LED on ME-ARC flashed, and there was "High Battery" fault code: H1 D- 17.2V -- 0A. I could also see the 17.2 volt spike on the SmartShunt app on my phone. That happened a couple more times and then I shut the charger down.
I spoke with a tech at Sensata/Magnum and he had me enter the following settings: 30A AC in / 60Vac dropout (was 80) / 'Custom' charger setting / Absorp done = 100A / Max charge 90% (was 100%) / Max charge time = 1 hour / Final charge stage 'silent' / EQ reminder 'Off' / Absorb = 14.6V / Float = 13.6V (was 14.6V per Lion's instructions) / EQ = 14.6V / EQ done time = 0.1 hours.
He told me to turn the charger on -- when I did, the same thing happened. The batteries took a charge for a while and then the BMS opened up and I got the voltage spike and another fault code. As I recall when it began to charge again it charged for a couple minutes before shutting down.
Also, when charging stops, the 120Vac pass-through in the MS2000 was usually interrupted for maybe 15 seconds. There should of course be 120V at the output at all times. I'm not sure what caused the ATS to open up, unless it was the 'high battery' fault.
I plan to attempt to balance the cells by setting absorb and EQ to 14.0V and letting the batteries charge that way for a few hours (if the BMS will allow it). Then I'll try 14.2V for absorb and EQ for ordinary charge cycles.
Any thoughts and/or theories welcome.