Lithium Batteries

[JABURKHOLDER]

I’m sure this has been asked, I was too lazy to look.

Can lithium batteries be stored inside your house ?

[AZ Traveler]

Jerry,

Yes. I would only charge them in a safe area, the fire risk is very small but they are not easy to extinguish when on fire.

[JABURKHOLDER]

Thanks
I live in a “cold” area, NE Ohio. The RV will be in outdoor storage. Solar does no good in the winter with snow covering the panels and I don’t want the batteries to shut down then in spring figure out how to jump start them, then charge them. I don’t have a charger for lithium batteries so I want to just store them in the house till spring, reinstall, then let the Solar do its thing.

[mlh]

Lithium batteries unlike led batteries discharge very slowly. There should be no problem storing them in your camper if they are unhooked.
Lynwood

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER

Thanks
I live in a “cold” area, NE Ohio. The RV will be in outdoor storage. Solar does no good in the winter with snow covering the panels and I don’t want the batteries to shut down then in spring figure out how to jump start them, then charge them. I don’t have a charger for lithium batteries so I want to just store them in the house till spring, reinstall, then let the Solar do its thing.

Jerry,

Regular charger will work on lithium, but won't get it to 100%.

[JABURKHOLDER]

Originally Posted by mlh

Lithium batteries unlike led batteries discharge very slowly. There should be no problem storing them in your camper if they are unhooked.
Lynwood

I believe I read that under 45 degrees they need heat. Heat will not be available. After some time below that temp, they shut down and will require a jump start. I just want to avoid all that. I’m real familiar with flooded batteries. Lithium is new to me. I just don’t want to screw up two, $1000 batteries.

I know it seems like I’m saying the same thing over and over. I just don’t want to screw up.

[AZ Traveler]

Jerry,

I have run lithium for a year now. They are fairly simple and straight forward. They store well in cold weather and discharge well, they just don't charge well in really cold weather but there are easy things to do to solve that.

Unless you intend to camp a lot in 0 deg temps it is easy.

[JABURKHOLDER]

Thanks all. Maybe I’m overthinking this.

[Daryles]

Excellent article on lithium batteries

How to find happiness with lithium batteries
https://www.solacity.com/how-to-keep...tteries-happy/

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Excellent article on lithium batteries

How to find happiness with lithium batteries
https://www.solacity.com/how-to-keep...tteries-happy/

This is a great read. I now have some concerns.

1. Keep the battery temperature under 113 Fahrenheit (under 85F if possible) – This is by far the most important!! This is the tough one. That battery compartment gets hot in 100 degree days.
2. Keep charge and discharge currents under 0.5C (0.2C preferred)
3. Keep battery temperature above 0 Centigrade when discharging if possible – This, and everything below, is nowhere near as important as the first two
4. Do not cycle below 10% – 15% SOC unless you really need to
5. Do not float the battery at 100% SOC if possible. An issue when on shore power.
   
6. Do not charge to 100% SOC if you do not need it. Another issue on shore power.

My takeaway is don't store at 100%. So I've been doing it wrong for a year? My rig is parked on my property and plugged into shore and solar on.

[Daryles]

#3, not necessarily. You CAN discharge at or below freezing, you just must NOT charge them at freezing temperatures.
I have a FLA battery, battery switch and Lithium battery heaters wired to the FLA battery for freezing temperatures.

[Todd & Mary]

My lithium batts have a 3% per month self-discharge rate. so, after 6 months in storage they will only have discharged 18%. I would check them every month just to be safe. As long as you don't charge them, I wouldn't be afraid to store in the house.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

This is a great read. I now have some concerns.

1. Keep the battery temperature under 113 Fahrenheit (under 85F if possible) – This is by far the most important!! This is the tough one. That battery compartment gets hot in 100 degree days.
2. Keep charge and discharge currents under 0.5C (0.2C preferred)
3. Keep battery temperature above 0 Centigrade when discharging if possible – This, and everything below, is nowhere near as important as the first two
4. Do not cycle below 10% – 15% SOC unless you really need to
5. Do not float the battery at 100% SOC if possible. An issue when on shore power.
   
6. Do not charge to 100% SOC if you do not need it. Another issue on shore power.

My takeaway is don't store at 100%. So I've been doing it wrong for a year? My rig is parked on my property and plugged into shore and solar on.

My concerns are 1,5 and 6. How much battery life span am I loosing by leaving them plugged in in 100 degree weather.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

My concerns are 1,5 and 6. How much battery life span am I loosing by leaving them plugged in in 100 degree weather.

Good questions. How about you ask the authors? They have a Contact Us page (https://www.solacity.com/contact-us/) that seems to offer the capability. It will be interesting to know the answers as we too have hot days that exceed the "limits".

[AZ Traveler]

Lithium has been around for a few years now with relatively few issues. Appreciate the early adopters that paid the higher prices and paved the way. The research I did before buying indicates they all do not have the same specs.

It is easy to overthink these things. I am sure we will learn more in the next few years but other than adjusting your charging set up there is not much different from maintaining a LA battery. Your BMS will keep you from charging a battery that is too cold.

[LeftOverParts]

Seems for shore power, if you have the Li button on the converter, you could revert back to the non-Li option.

However, if your solar is directly connected to the battery, and it’s sunny, you would get to 100%. Will have to research if the MPPT settings can be changed to float less than 100%.

I also recall that it’s not good practice to leave the panels generating power but disconnected for long periods but will have to confirm this too - maybe the answer is to cover them???

[Foldbak]

I spoke the my dealer today. He said not to worry about the heat unless it's 113 outside. Even then the reduced lifespan is nominal. Same with the 100% SOC and remaining plugged into shore. He suggested that when on home shore power to disconnect the batteries.