Batteries and Battery Monitors

[David Floyd]

I have been working on a series of four articles on Batteries and Battery monitors based on my experience researching them and fitting one on Floydtilla.co.uk

 

They are now complete and can be read in the correct order at:-

 

Part 1 – Battery Monitors Why I wanted one https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/01/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-1-why-we-needed-one/

Part 2 – Battery Selection https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/07/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-2-battery-selection/

Part 3 – State of Charge and Lead Acid Batteries https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/14/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-3-the-state-of-charge-soc-calculation/

Part 4 – Shunts and Monitors https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/21/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-4-battery-monitor-the-shunt/

 

I hope you find this useful

 

Thanks

 

 

David

[Tony Brooks]

10 minutes ago, David Floyd said:

I have been working on a series of four articles on Batteries and Battery monitors based on my experience researching them and fitting one on Floydtilla.co.uk

 

They are now complete and can be read in the correct order at:-

 

Part 1 – Battery Monitors Why I wanted one https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/01/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-1-why-we-needed-one/

Part 2 – Battery Selection https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/07/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-2-battery-selection/

Part 3 – State of Charge and Lead Acid Batteries https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/14/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-3-the-state-of-charge-soc-calculation/

Part 4 – Shunts and Monitors https://floydtilla.co.uk/2022/03/21/batteries-and-battery-monitors-part-4-battery-monitor-the-shunt/

 

I hope you find this useful

 

Thanks

 

 

David

 

Hm, a quick scan seemed to show no warning about just how big the lies are that the amp hour counting can be, and how they encurage the wrecking of batteries unless the boater fully understands their limitations, how to set them up, and how to re-calibrate and synchronize them.

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Hm, a quick scan seemed to show no warning about just how big the lies are that the amp hour counting can be, and how they encurage the wrecking of batteries unless the boater fully understands their limitations, how to set them up, and how to re-calibrate and synchronize them.

 

Maybe Mr Floyd is not himself aware of the facts ?

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Maybe Mr Floyd is not himself aware of the facts ?

 

That may well be the case but his style seems to be authoritative and that could well lead many boaters to act in a less than sensible way. He knows  the forum because he posted here and the other Tony's battery primer etc. has been around for years. I suspect too much reliance on Victron data and marketing and not much broader research.

 

I am also not too happy with his rested voltage to state of charge table, despite the rider he gives. In my view it is better to give conservative figures that are less likely to cause damage across a whole range of Lead acid battery types, technologies, and temperatures.

 

[robtheplod]

interesting read, thanks

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

That may well be the case but his style seems to be authoritative and

 

I wonder what is actual knowledge and experience is ?

 

In one paragraph he says :

"Lithium based batteries for example have almost 100% of the battery’s capacity available"

 

And then later says :

 

Typically they can be discharged down to 10-20% of their capacity.

 

No mention of needing special charging regimes and management systems, and no mention of charging to 80%

 

It would appear to be an example of "a little knowledge being a dangerous thing"

[Tony Brooks]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

I wonder what is actual knowledge and experience is ?

 

In one paragraph he says :

"Lithium based batteries for example have almost 100% of the battery’s capacity available"

 

And then later says :

 

Typically they can be discharged down to 10-20% of their capacity.

 

No mention of needing special charging regimes and management systems, and no mention of charging to 80%

 

It would appear to be an example of "a little knowledge being a dangerous thing"

 

You can say that but I could not possibly. I did try to imply that could be the case.

 

I just hope he has sufficient integrity/care for other boaters to pull those pieces until he has done more research and/or asked for advice.

Edited March 25, 2022 by Tony Brooks

[MtB]

37 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

No mention of needing special charging regimes and management systems, and no mention of charging to 80%

 

It would appear to be an example of "a little knowledge being a dangerous thing"

 

Extensive information on the Marine How To and Nordkyn Design sites, including this gem from the former:

 

Wallet Burns:

 

Since opening this article to the public we have now had what I consider a rather high number of LiFePO4 owners contact us who’ve ruined LiFePo4 batteries (not all marine based). In almost all of these cases of destroyed LiFePO4 batteries the resounding tone I hear come through is;

 

“But Rod, People on the internet made it sound so easy?“

 

 

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Extensive information on the Marine How To and Nordkyn Design sites, including this gem from the former:

 

Wallet Burns:

 

Since opening this article to the public we have now had what I consider a rather high number of LiFePO4 owners contact us who’ve ruined LiFePo4 batteries (not all marine based). In almost all of these cases of destroyed LiFePO4 batteries the resounding tone I hear come through is;

 

“But Rod, People on the internet made it sound so easy?“

 

 

 

For anyone interested who hasn't spotted it, there's a new (and very thorough, as expected!) article from Rod here:

 

https://marinehowto.com/drop-in-lifepo4-be-an-educated-consumer/

 

"In summary, do your homework, purchase carefully, avoid direct from China imports when you can,install your system safely, use good quality charge equipment and you will be happy for many, many years and thousands of cycles."