The lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO 4 battery) or LFP battery (lithium ferrophosphate) is a type of lithium-ion battery using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4) as the cathode material, and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode. Contact online >>
The lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO 4 battery) or LFP battery (lithium ferrophosphate) is a type of lithium-ion battery using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4) as the cathode material, and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) has long been a key player in the lithium battery industry for its exceptional stability, safety, and cost-effectiveness as a cathode material. Major car makers (e.g., Tesla, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota) have either incorporated or are considering the use of LFP-based batteries in their latest electric vehicle
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) batteries are known for their exceptional safety, longevity, and reliability. As these batteries continue to gain popularity across various applications, understanding the correct charging methods is essential to ensure optimal performance and extend their lifespan.
The lifecycle and primary research areas of lithium iron phosphate encompass various stages, including synthesis, modification, application, retirement, and recycling. Each of these stages is indispensable and relatively independent, holding significant importance for sustainable development.
If you''ve recently purchased or are researching lithium iron phosphate batteries (referred to lithium or LiFePO4 in this blog), you know they provide more cycles, an even distribution of power delivery, and weigh less than a comparable sealed lead acid (SLA) battery. Did you know they can also charge four times faster than SLA? But exactly how do you charge a lithium battery, anyway?
Power Sonic recommends you select a charger designed for the chemistry of your battery. This means we recommend using a lithium charger, like the LiFe Charger Series from Power Sonic, when charging lithium batteries.
As you will learn in this blog, there are many similarities in the charging profiles of SLA and lithium. However, extra caution should be exercised when using SLA chargers to charge lithium batteries as they can damage, under charge, or reduce the capacity of the lithium battery over time. There are many differences when comparing lithium and SLA batteries.
Let''s go back to the basics of how to charge a sealed lead acid battery. The most common charging method is a three-stage approach: the initial charge (constant current), the saturation topping charge (constant voltage), and the float charge.
In Stage 1, as shown above, the current is limited to avoid damage to the battery. The rate of change in voltage continually changes during Stage 1 eventually beginning to plateau when the full charge voltage limit is approached. The constant current/Stage 1 portion of the charge is crucial before moving onto the next stage. Stage 1 charging is typically done at 10%-30% (0.1C to 0.3C) current of the capacity rating of the battery or less.
Stage 2, constant voltage, begins when the voltage reaches the voltage limit (14.7V for fast charging SLA batteries, 14.4V for most others). During this stage, the current draw gradually decreases as the topping charge of the battery continues. This stage terminates when the current falls below 5% of the battery''s rated capacity. The last stage, the float charge, is necessary to keep the battery from self-discharging and losing capacity.
Stage 3 is used if the battery is being used in a standby application, the float charge is necessary to ensure the battery is at full capacity when the battery is called upon to discharge. In an application where the battery is in storage, float charging keeps the SLA battery at 100% State of Charge (SOC), which is necessary to prevent sulfating of the battery that therefore prevents damage to the plates of the battery.
Stage 1 battery charging is typically done at 30%-100% (0.3C to 1.0C)current of the capacity rating of the battery. Stage 1 of the SLA chart above takes four hours to complete. The Stage 1 of a lithium battery can take as little as one hour to complete, making a lithium battery available for use four times faster than SLA. Shown in the chart above, the Lithium battery is charged at only 0.5C and still charges almost 3 times as fast! As shown in the chart above, the Lithium battery is charged at only 0.5C and still charges almost 3 times as fast!
Stage 2 is necessary in both chemistries to bring the battery to 100% SOC. The SLA battery takes 6 hours to complete Stage 2, whereas the lithium battery can take as little as 15 minutes. Overall, the lithium battery charges in four hours, and the SLA battery typically takes 10. In cyclic applications, the charge time is very critical. A lithium battery can be charged and discharged several times a day, whereas a lead acid battery can only be fully cycled once a day.
Where they become different in charging profiles is Stage 3. A lithium battery does not need a float charge like lead acid. In long-term storage applications, a lithium battery should not be stored at 100% SOC, and therefore can be maintained with a full cycle (charged and discharged) once every 6 – 12 months and then storage charged to only 50% SoC.
In standby applications, since the self-discharge rate of lithium is so low, the lithium battery will deliver close to full capacityeven if it has not been charged for 6 – 12 months. For longer periods of time, a charge system that provides a topping charge based on voltage is recommended. This is especially important with our Bluetooth batteries where the Bluetooth module draws a very small current from the battery even when not in use.
The full charge open-circuit voltage (OCV) of a 12V SLA battery is nominally 13.1 and the full charge OCV of a 12V lithium battery is around 13.6. A battery will only sustain damage if the charging voltage applied is significantly higher than the full charge voltage of the battery.
This means an SLA battery should be kept below 14.7V for Stage 2 charging and below 15V for lithium. Float charging is only required for an SLA battery, recommended around 13.8V. Based on this, a charge voltage range between 13.8V and 14.7V is sufficient to charge any battery without causing damage. When selecting a charger for either chemistry, it is important to chose one that will stay between the limits listed above.
Chargers are selected to match the capacity of the battery to be charged, since the current used during charging is based on the capacity rating of the battery. A lithium battery can be charged as fast as 1C, whereas a lead acid battery should be kept below 0.3C. This means a 10AH lithium battery can typically be charged at 10A while a 10AH lead acid battery can be charged at 3A.
The charge cut-off current is 5% of the capacity, so the cutoff for both batteries would be 0.5A. Typically, the terminal current setting is determined by the charger.
Universal chargers will typically have a function to select the chemistry. This function chooses the optimal voltage charging range, and determines when the battery is fully charged. If it is charging a lithium battery, the charger should shut off automatically. If it is charging an SLA battery, it should switch to a float charge.
It is very common for lithium batteries to be placed in an application where an SLA battery used to be maintained on a float charge, such as a UPS system. There has been some concern,whether this is safe for lithium batteries. It is generally acceptable to use a standard constant voltage SLA charger with our lithium batteries, as long as it adheres to certain standards.
If using a constant voltage SLA charger, the charger must meet the following conditions:– Charger must not contain a de-sulfating setting– Fast/Bulk charge voltage of 14.7V– Recommended float charge voltage of 13.8V
As a side note, some smart or multi-stage SLA chargers have a feature that detects open circuit voltage (As a side note, some smart or multi-stage SLA chargers have a feature that detects open circuit voltage (OCV). An over-discharged lithium battery that is in protection mode will have an OCV of near 0V. This type of charger would assume this battery is dead and would not try to charge it. A charger with a lithium setting will try to recover or "wake up" an over-discharged lithium battery that is in protection mode.
If you need to keep your batteries instorage for an extended period, there are a few things to consider as thestorage requirements are different for SLA and lithium batteries. There are twomain reasons that storing an SLA versus a Lithium battery is different.
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