Charging Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (Lifepo4) is different than charging other ordinary batteries. There are a few things to keep in mind when charging LIFEPO4 batteries. Below we discuss a few of the most important tips:

How Do I Charge Lifepo4 Batteries?

That's something we frequently hear from our customers. The solution is straightforward: use a LiFePO4 battery charger, of course. When charging LiFePO4 batteries, make sure you're not using a charger that was designed for lithium-ion batteries with a higher voltage than what is required by LiFePO4.

We occasionally get asked if a lead-acid battery charger can be used to charge lithium iron phosphate. Yes, as long as the voltage settings are suitable for LiFePO4 batteries. But this is not advisable. Consider sticking to the original battery charger that comes with your battery.

Inspecting The Lifepo4 Battery Charger

Before you use a LiFePO4 charger, make sure all of the wires are insulated and free of breaks. To guarantee a good connection and maximum conductivity, make sure the charger terminal connections are clean and properly fitted with the battery terminals. Please refer to your battery's datasheet for recommended torque settings based on your specific battery.

Guidelines For Charging Lifepo4 Batteries

LiFePO4 batteries should not be recharged after each usage if they are not fully discharged. LiFePO4 batteries do not get destroyed when left in a partially charged (PSOC) state. You may charge your LiFePO4 batteries once after use or after they have been run down to 80% DOD (20% SOC).

Remove the load and charge the LiFePO4 battery as soon as possible if you notice the BMS has disconnected. The BMS disconnects the battery due to low voltage (less than 10V).

Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (Lifepo4) Battery Charging Temperature

You can safely charge LiFePO4 batteries at temperatures ranging from 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F). LiFePO4 batteries do not require voltage temperature compensation when charging at high or low temperatures.

All SP Power LiFePO4 batteries include a built-in BMS that protects them from low and high-temperature effects. If the BMS disconnects as a result of low temperature, the Lithium Battery must first warm-up before the BMS may reconnect and accept the charging current.

If the BMS disconnects as a result of high temperature, the battery must cool down before the BMS will accept charging. Please see your battery's datasheet for specific cutting-off and reconnect values for when the BMS is disabled due to high or low temperatures.

The charging and discharging temperatures for our SP series lithium batteries are -20°C to 60°C. Cold-weather rated SPP Low Temperature (LT) Lithium Batteries are produced for cold regions.

The LIFEPO4 batteries have a built-in heating system that draws power from the charger's USB connection. No additional parts are needed. The entire process of warming and charging is completely seamless.

When charging is attempted at temperatures below 0°C, the heating system activates automatically and shuts off automatically when it's no longer needed. The heating system draws power from the charger rather than the battery, ensuring that the lithium battery does not discharge itself thus keeping you powered.

Simply insert the SPP lithium battery into the LiFePO4 charger and the internal heating and monitoring systems will handle the rest.

Charging Of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (Lifepo4) In Parallel

When connecting LiFePO4 batteries in parallel, be sure they are within 0.1V of each other before turning them on, to minimize the chance of battery imbalance. If you're charging 12 V LiFePO4 batteries at 14 V – 14.2 V, you should use a charging voltage range of 14V – 14.2V

It is recommended that you fully charge a LiFePO4 battery before connecting it in parallel. Before putting them into service, make sure each battery is within 0.1V of the next. If you are charging your 12V LiFePO4 battery, the charging voltage must be between 14V and 14.2V.

If you are going to charge 24V batteries in parallel, the voltage should be from 28V to 28.4V. Charging 36V lithium batteries in parallel necessitates a voltage of 42V – 42.6V. The voltage required to charge 48V LiFePO4 batteries is 56 V - 56.8 V.

Charging Of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (Lifepo4) Battery In Series

Before putting batteries in series, check that each battery is within 50mV (0.05V) of the next one before plugging them in. This will reduce the chance of having an imbalance between batteries. If your batteries are out of balance, the voltage of any battery in the group is greater than 50mV (0.05V) from another battery in the set; you must charge each battery individually to rebalance them.

To avoid imbalance, you may charge each battery on its own at specified intervals. To guarantee that the cells remain balanced while charging LiFePO4 batteries in series, use a multi-bank charger that charges each cell separately. If you'd rather charge the system as a whole, you can also utilize a LiFePO4 24V battery charger or a LiFePO4 48V battery charger.

Precautions To Take When Charging Lifepo4 Batteries

When working with LiFePO4 batteries, always take the following precautions to avoid causing injury to yourself, others, and the environment:

• -Use gloves and eye protection when handling batteries
• -Keep batteries away from open flames and excessive heat
• -Avoid overcharging batteries; only charge them to the voltage specified by the manufacturer
• -Do not discharge batteries below the voltage specified by the manufacturer
• -Never short-circuit batteries
• -Do not puncture batteries
• -Do not disassemble batteries
• -Never expose batteries to water or moisture
• -Do not drop or throw batteries
• -Be aware of the hazards of lithium batteries before working with them

If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be able to work with LiFePO4 batteries safely and effectively. In addition, you should always consult the manufacturer's instructions when working with any type of battery.

Conclusion

Handling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries should be done with great care as they are powerful energy storage devices. Always ensure that you follow the manufacturer's instructions when working with them. Ensure that you take the proper precautions when handling and charging these batteries to avoid any accidents.

If you have any questions regarding any of our SP Power Lithium products, please feel free to contact us. If you have problems with your current LiFePO4 batteries, you can also engage us for more high-quality lithium batteries with guaranteed quality and an extended warranty.