Author Topic: batteries  (Read 6466 times)

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spacecase0

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batteries
« on: May 12, 2015, 10:46:10 AM »
all my batteries are getting old
went to transmit on my HF backpack setup when it was overcast and I just did not have enough voltage for full power out
if I am in full sun with the solar it works just fine,
but not in the shade anymore
even the batteries that run my house lights and radio are showing signs of not working well without the sun at full brightness
I should replace them all, but don't have the cash to right now.

this gets me wondering what all of you have planned for the long term when new batteries are just not for sale
because that might be the kind of solution I should be thinking about

AD

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Re: batteries
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2015, 01:26:09 PM »
Space

What are you running now?
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spacecase0

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Re: batteries
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2015, 04:00:08 PM »
AGM lead acid at the moment, all at least 5 years old

mousewizard

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Re: batteries
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2015, 04:26:10 PM »
http://www.starkpower.com

LiFePo batteries will last a lot longer.  But exeventually we will all be reduced to operating only when power is being generated directly.  I hope to have mine last at least ten to fifteen years.
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Tempstar

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Re: batteries
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2015, 08:04:56 PM »
Looks like the pouch batteries come in just under $60 for the same amperage.
I have to do something as well, I have a mixed bag of SLA units that are nearing the end of their life, plus the backpack 897 project needs lightweight power. Ahh, to be independently wealthy....
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mousewizard

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Re: batteries
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2015, 05:54:36 PM »
Neither of the above come with battery management systems.  The cells need to be monitored individually and charge/load distributed accordingly.  Without that, say hello to my leetle lithium fire. Starkpower units have bms's built in to each one. Finding a pre-built bms for a custom application is difficult.

Just so you know.
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Tempstar

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Re: batteries
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2015, 08:01:30 PM »
Thanks for that Mouse. Anyone want to donate some nickel-iron cells to the cause?
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spacecase0

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Re: batteries
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2015, 08:06:59 PM »
LiFePO4 should not light on fire like the lithium ion
and I know that I need to build the balancing system for them,
it should still be way less price than the completed setup,
but it is a risk to go that route

mousewizard

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Re: batteries
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2015, 07:31:21 AM »
LiFePO4 doesn't light on fire while just sitting there like Lithium ion can, but it can still get to that point under heavy charge / discharge conditions when a cell goes bad. At the very least extremely hot. Hence the need for the bms.

So you get what you pay for. Especially with batteries.
There are always times when a house and truck loaded with antennas is considered an asset by the neighbors.

GreekMan

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Re: batteries
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2015, 12:42:40 AM »
spacecase, have you forgotten the A123 systems batteries?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg434K0gHeQ

spacecase0

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Re: batteries
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2015, 08:22:46 PM »
I have seen lots of batteries like the A123 systems
I have no way to order one from A123 systems though,

now thinking about this one
http://www.amazon.com/Bioenno-Power-applications-wheelchairs-photography/dp/B00PGTOHJK/

spacecase0

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Re: batteries
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2015, 06:00:36 PM »
finally made up my mind
just ordered some LiFePO4 batteries
http://www.electriccarpartscompany.com/10Ah-32V-35C-br-32L-05W-53H-in-br-82-12-135-mm-br-9-oz-255-g-br-Bestgo-Power-Pouch-Cell-br-EV-LiFePO4-Lithium-Pouch-Battery-br-Model-BP-HK-10E_p_274.html
I hope the specifications are as good as they look
12 years of 80% daily discharge use to 90% capacity should mean that I will never have to replace them in my life
plan on using them for my main lighting and radio
charging in the day from solar, lights at night, radio use anytime,
and connect them in parallel when not in use otherwise to balance them (looks like every 6 or so cycles would be enough)
airmail shipping is a good deal of the price, but still seems worth it.
I still wonder how much the cell balance boards they sell cost, but looks like I would have to request a quote and I am not sure I care that much.

mousewizard

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Re: batteries
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2015, 07:48:41 AM »
Cell balancing is critical to getting the life span you are expecting here.
There are always times when a house and truck loaded with antennas is considered an asset by the neighbors.

spacecase0

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Re: batteries
« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2015, 04:04:50 PM »
right now I plan on cell balancing by connecting them in parallel when not in use,
they seem to drift voltages slow enough for that to work if you do it more often than every 6 cycles,

the shunt regulators that many people use just limit voltage to the max. charge voltage and that is how they balance the cells,
but you are suppose to shut off charging before your current hits zero (1/10C) at the recommended charge voltage,
and the shunt regulators can't do that, some cells will get more of a charge than they should for long life

the switched cap. balancing would not have that issue at all, but may systems for sale don't say how they work,

might just charge them in parallel...
or set up 4 separate solar panels and charge each battery on it's own
I am still thinking about what system works the best