Some people only use their LiFePO4 batteries during certain times of the year, such when they go camping in the summer or ice fishing in the winter. Several people frequently keep lithium batteries in storage during the off-season. It’s crucial to correctly store LiFePO4 batteries in order to prevent damage and maintain their full performance for many years to come.
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HOW TO STORE LIFEPO4 BATTERIES?
How should my lithium battery be stored? a question we get from consumers all the time, especially during the winter. The answer is based on the temperature and length of time that the batteries are being stored. An overview of how to store a LiFePO4 battery is provided below:
- The recommended storage range is from 23 to 95 °F (-5 to +35 °C).
-20 to +60 °C (4 to 140 °F) for storage for up to one month.
- Storage for up to three months: 14 to 95 °F at -10 to +35 °C
- Longer storage period: 59 to 95 °F (+15 to +35 °C)
Lithium batteries should always be kept indoors during the off-season. Moreover, it is advised to store LiFePO4 batteries at a state of charge (SOC) of at least 50%. If batteries are kept for extended durations, they should be cycled at least once every six months. Discharged batteries should never be kept in storage.
DISCONNECT BEFORE STORING LIFEPO4
Many clients have main switches that turn off the electricity to the batteries. We advise going the extra mile to make sure the batteries are REALLY removed. This is due to the fact that many RVs might still have operating components, such as the C02 sensor, illuminated stereo, or other emergency sensors that might be avoiding the main disconnect button. The main positive and negative wires from the lithium batteries should be physically disconnected before storing the batteries. This will guarantee that the battery does not deplete while being stored and that there is enough charge left in the LiFePO4 batteries for future use. Always use a lithium charger and avoid using chargers designed for other battery chemistries.
The self-discharge rate of LiFePO4 batteries is only 2% per month. This indicates that a lithium battery will lose 2% of its charge capacity per month if it is stored. We advise turning off all power draws to your batteries in order to stop a higher rate of discharge. It’s crucial to keep LiFePO4 batteries at a state of charge (SOC) of 50% or greater when you store them. When storing for an extended duration, a greater level of charge is advised. Charge the battery to 100% and store it in that fully charged state if you want it to maintain a satisfactory level of charge once the storage period is finished.
HOW TO STORE LIFEPO4 WITH SYSTEM
We advise utilizing a battery guardian, which protects LiFePO4 batteries by isolating them from parasitic loads once a voltage of 11.5V is reached, if you are storing your LiFePO4 batteries with your full system, including your charger and inverter. It is advised that you disconnect the main battery connections if a disconnect switch is not already in place. Since LiFePO4 batteries don’t need a trickle charge, the charger can be unplugged while the batteries are being stored.
HOW TO STORE LIFEPO4 IN COLD WEATHER
Extreme temperatures have no impact on lithium cells when the battery pack is not in operation. We do not advise keeping lithium batteries in extremely cold temperatures for extended periods of time as this may result in the ABS battery pack case cracking. Moreover, extreme temperatures above 60°C (140°F) might harm other parts of the battery pack, therefore it’s better to prevent exposure to high temperatures for extended periods of time at all costs. te. Lithium battery storage inside and at normal temperature is always advised.
RISK OF NOT CHARGING BEFORE BATTERY STORAGE
If you store your LiFePO4 battery without a charge, there are serious repercussions. The battery can overdischarge due to the 2% self-discharge rate. The discharge level may fall below what the BMS can withstand. For this reason, it’s crucial to charge your lithium battery before storing it. The lithium battery should also be kept at room temperature, especially if you plan to keep them there for a long time. Review the first sentence of this article to learn how long LiFePO4 can be kept at various temperatures. The cells may become over-discharged as a result of storage without a charge, which might result in long-term damage and void your 10-year battery warranty. All battery-related activities, including storage, are recorded by the Redway Power integrated BMS. The temperature is one of many additional variables that are recorded along with every charge and discharge.
COLD WEATHER PERFORMANCE
There could be capacity loss when LiFePO4 batteries are discharged in extremely low temperatures (below 0 degrees Celsius). For instance, depending on how cold it is, a 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery may only deliver 90Ah, 80Ah, or even 70Ah at freezing temperatures. This is typical of the LiFePO4 chemistry and only lasts a short time. The full capacity will restore when the battery warms back up. A CLI100-12 battery (12V 100Ah) produces roughly 80 amp-hours at zero degrees. The battery can only deliver roughly 70 amp-hours of power at -20 C. Lithium plating, a risky occurrence that can result in short-circuiting, can be brought on by charging LiFePO4 batteries in subfreezing conditions. Because of this, every Redway Power LiFePO4 battery has an integrated BMS that guards against charging in cold conditions. The BMS is also in charge of guarding against additional dangers, such as high-temperature charging, overcharging, over-discharging, and internal short circuits.
COLD WEATHER LITHIUM BATTERY
Check out our Low-Temperature lithium batteries if you want to be able to charge LiFePO4 batteries in cold weather without worrying about potential capacity loss. They are built for China’s chilly temperatures and are cold-weather approved. As low as -20°C (-4°F), the batteries can safely charge and discharge.
How? Redway Power LiFePO4 batteries have an integrated heating system that uses exclusive technology and the charger’s power. No further parts are necessary. Heating and charging are carried out seamlessly throughout. When charging below 0°C is attempted, the heating system automatically begins, and when it is no longer required, it immediately deactivates. The heating system is powered by the charger rather than the battery, preventing the battery from self-discharging. The battery’s internal heating and monitoring systems will take care of the remainder once it is plugged into a lithium charger.
LiFePO4 batteries’ ability to produce capacity can be reduced by discharging them in cold weather. Our unique technology finds a solution to that issue. The heater activates and warms the cells when discharging lithium in subfreezing conditions to ensure maximum capacity is delivered. Temperature has no impact on the Redway Power LiFePO4’s maximum discharge C rating.
Up to 4 units of cold weather lithium batteries can be linked in series or parallel. While parallel connections increase the amperage, series connections increase the voltage. Lithium batteries for cold weather are available online with free delivery throughout China. With China’s best 10-year warranty, the cutting-edge LiFePO4 chemistry and integrated battery management system offer safe and dependable power.
Redway Power is pleased to have created the first and only self-heated lithium battery in China. Our lithium cells are UL approved, guaranteeing safety and dependability in all applications, including off-grid solar, RVs, and ships. Check out our LiFePO4 batteries for cold weather and don’t hesitate to ask us any questions.
Contact us by phone or email at [email protected] if you have any queries on how to store LiFePO4 batteries. Also, we provide 24/7 chat assistance to make sure we are there for you. Our staff of battery specialists in China is always willing to assist!
