Stu77000 Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 So I have some odds and ends lying around from an old setup put together for charging AA, AAA batteries and walkie-talkies in the bush. Never got around to using it. Anyway, I want to use it now for the same including a laptop but just at home. So for a small setup like that would you choose a BlueNova or Freedom Won Lifepo4 battery? Also, the BlueNova is 13V, would that make a difference when connecting a NiteCore D4 battery charger to the Load connector of the Charge Controller Go easy on me, I'm new to this. Quote
Irocmaster Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 The NiteCore D4 can work between 11 to 13.8 volt with no issue. Just check that your charge controller can be set to the spec for the battery you are using. if the BMS disconnect charging (full battery)some charge controllers can overvolt on the load connector. Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 3, 2022 Author Posted May 3, 2022 10 minutes ago, Irocmaster said: The NiteCore D4 can work between 11 to 13.8 volt with no issue. Just check that your charge controller can be set to the spec for the battery you are using. if the BMS disconnect charging (full battery)some charge controllers can overvolt on the load connector. Thanks, had to Google what BMS is..... It's a really old and cheap charge controller so not sure it can do that. A Steca Solsum 6.6F 6A as seen in the picture below. I have been looking, and for the price some other batteries can give you 3 times as many Ah compared to a Lifepo4. Dilemma. Question - does the Lifepo4 have the longest lifespan (I have read up to 15 years) of most batteries on the market? Quote
Irocmaster Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 Hi yes LIFeO4 have a very long life if use correctly. Do not overcharge or discharge them and they will outlast lead acid batteries easy. 12V LIFeO4 batteries are 4 cell units with a nominal voltage of 12.8V, full charge voltage 14.4V and max discharge to 11.2 V. LiFeO4 batteries have a BMS to balance and protect the battery from overcharge / discharge. Most BMS's can not handle short circuit condition. Your charge controller are the normal PWM type and have no way to change settings for deterrent types of batteries. Normally they can not tolerate a disconnected battery condition while a solar panel is connected and supplying power. LIFeO4 battery BMS will disconnect it self when full or over voltage are reached. Only the charge circuit will disconnect on full or overvolt. The discharge circuit will disconnect at low voltage to prevent over discharge. Hope this help Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 3, 2022 Author Posted May 3, 2022 23 minutes ago, Irocmaster said: Hi yes LIFeO4 have a very long life if use correctly. Do not overcharge or discharge them and they will outlast lead acid batteries easy. 12V LIFeO4 batteries are 4 cell units with a nominal voltage of 12.8V, full charge voltage 14.4V and max discharge to 11.2 V. LiFeO4 batteries have a BMS to balance and protect the battery from overcharge / discharge. Most BMS's can not handle short circuit condition. Your charge controller are the normal PWM type and have no way to change settings for deterrent types of batteries. Normally they can not tolerate a disconnected battery condition while a solar panel is connected and supplying power. LIFeO4 battery BMS will disconnect it self when full or over voltage are reached. Only the charge circuit will disconnect on full or overvolt. The discharge circuit will disconnect at low voltage to prevent over discharge. Hope this help Thanks very helpful, the parts I understand. Would it be advisable then for me to get a new charge controller? Quote
Irocmaster Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 Yes some of the newer PWM controllers have settings for different battery chemistries and not to expensive. Stu77000 1 Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 3, 2022 Author Posted May 3, 2022 2 hours ago, Irocmaster said: Hi yes LIFeO4 have a very long life if use correctly. Do not overcharge or discharge them and they will outlast lead acid batteries easy. 12V LIFeO4 batteries are 4 cell units with a nominal voltage of 12.8V, full charge voltage 14.4V and max discharge to 11.2 V. LiFeO4 batteries have a BMS to balance and protect the battery from overcharge / discharge. Most BMS's can not handle short circuit condition. Your charge controller are the normal PWM type and have no way to change settings for deterrent types of batteries. Normally they can not tolerate a disconnected battery condition while a solar panel is connected and supplying power. LIFeO4 battery BMS will disconnect it self when full or over voltage are reached. Only the charge circuit will disconnect on full or overvolt. The discharge circuit will disconnect at low voltage to prevent over discharge. Hope this help Would you know if this charge controller has the ability to change the settings for different types of batteries? How would one know this? https://www.sustainable.co.za/collections/mppt-charge-controllers/products/epsolar-xtra-3210n-30a-12-24v-mppt-charge-controller-with-lcd-display Quote
Irocmaster Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 Yes will work and it is MPPT charge controller better than PWM type. Compatible with lead acid and lithium-ion batteries. Stu77000 1 Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 4, 2022 Author Posted May 4, 2022 Quick question. If you had to choose between these two charge controllers, which would you take. Epsolar Xtra 3210N 30A 12-24V MPPT Charge Controller with LCD Display Victron SmartSolar 75V-15A MPPT Charge Controller Quote
Irocmaster Posted May 4, 2022 Posted May 4, 2022 Epsolar have a lcd and the Victron not, Victron faster to power point but I experience a problem with slow regulation when BMS disconnect charge. (on load side) Did not had the problem with Epsolar to date. Quote
Chris Louw Posted May 4, 2022 Posted May 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Stu77000 said: Quick question. If you had to choose between these two charge controllers, which would you take. Epsolar Xtra 3210N 30A 12-24V MPPT Charge Controller with LCD Display Victron SmartSolar 75V-15A MPPT Charge Controller I use the Xtra 3415N-XDS2 as a second mppt on Pylontech batteries with no problems. Just buy the cable to connect to a PC for programming. Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 4, 2022 Author Posted May 4, 2022 Thanks, will go with the Victron then, has all the bells and whistles and ease of use. Quote
Stu77000 Posted May 6, 2022 Author Posted May 6, 2022 So I just replaced my lead acid alarm battery with a BlueNova 13V 8Ah "alarm battery". The price was painful compared to what one usually pays for a lead acid, but we have had enough of the alarm system beeping a 2am in the morning waking everyone up due to bad battery, and with more blackouts probably on the way, I thought the BlueNova should last 3 times as long as they can supposedly drain right down to 5% and not have any affect on performance. Was it a good idea? Quote
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