Alpha Batteries LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Owner’s Manual

Alpha Batteries LiFePO4 Lithium Battery

Specifications

• Brand: Xplorer Base
• Battery Type: LiFePO4 Lithium
• Sizes Available: 80ah, 100ah
• Weight: Varies based on size
• Dimensions: Varies based on size
• BMS Protection: Yes
• Bluetooth Enabled: Yes
• Certification: Not specified
• Charging Temperature: Not specified
• Construction: Not specified
• Ideal Charge Voltage: Not specified
• Lithium Cell Type: Not specified
• Maintenance Free: Yes
• Operating Discharge Temperature: Not specified
• Parallel Connection: Yes
• Product Type: Lithium Battery
• Recharge Cycles: Not specified
• Recommended Charge Current: Not specified
• Series Connection: Yes
• Suitable for use with motor mover?: Not specified
• Suitable for wild camping?: Not specified
• Terminal Layout: Not specified
• Terminal Size: Not specified
• Terminal Type: Not specified
• Voltage Warranty (Years): Not specified

Product Usage Instructions

Getting to know your Battery

The Xplorer Base Li-ion batteries are designed as a replacement for common 12V lead acid batteries. They utilize Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) cells and a unique Battery Management System (BMS) to ensure safety, high current output, and long-lasting performance. These batteries have a cyclic life that is 20 times longer than standard batteries, resulting in cost and energy savings. Additionally, they are up to 70% lighter than SLA (Sealed Lead  Acid) batteries.

Charging

Before first use, your battery will require a top-up charge. To charge the battery, follow these steps:

1. Connect the battery charger to a power source.
2. Ensure the charger is compatible with LiFePO4 lithium batteries.
3. Connect the charger’s positive (+) and negative (-) terminals to the corresponding terminals on the battery.
4. Turn on the charger and set it to the recommended charging voltage for your battery.
5. Monitor the charging process and disconnect the charger once the battery is fully charged.

Storage

If you need to store your battery for an extended period, follow these guidelines:

• Ensure the battery is charged to at least 50% of its capacity before storage.
• Store the battery in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Avoid storing the battery in extreme temperatures or high humidity environments.
• Check the battery voltage periodically during storage and recharge if it drops below a safe level.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues with your battery, refer to the troubleshooting guide below:

Battery current disappear when charging

Problem: The battery current disappears when charging.

Solution: This issue may be caused by a faulty connection or a problem with the charger. Check the connections between the battery and charger, ensuring they are secure. If the issue persists, try using a different charger or contact our support team for assistance.

Alpha Batteries would like to to thank you for purchasing your new Lithium Battery We take the safety and satisfaction of our customers very seriously. Please take the time to carefully read through this owner’s manual.
Our range of Lithium batteries are made to high standards by one of the world’s largest manufacturers You will find the manual useful. If you are unsure or have any questions please feel free to contact a member of our team who will be happy to help you Team Alpha Batteries

WARNING:

Explosion, Electrocution, Or Fire Hazard

• A battery can present a risk of electric shock, burns from high short circuit
• current, fire, or explosion. Observe proper precautions.
• Ensure the cables are properly sized.
• Ensure clearance requirements are strictly enforced around the batteries.
• Ensure the area around the batteries is well ventilated and clean of debris.
• Ensure no heat source near the battery.
• Ensure the battery terminal screws are tightened, (M8 screw torque: 18 N.m).
• Always use insulated tools. Avoid dropping tools onto batteries or other electrical parts. Never charge a frozen battery unless optional heater parts inside.
• If a battery must be removed, always remove the grounded terminal from the battery first. Make sure all devices are disconnected

IMPORTANT

• When installing batteries, leave adequate clearance between batteries.
• When replacing batteries, use the same number and type of batteries.
• Avoid any fall or collision during the installation process.
• Do not remove the battery components. The maintenance of the battery should be carried out by a professional engineer.
• Do not expose the Li-ion battery to heat in excess of 58°C during operation, 60°C in storage.
• Do not incinerate or expose to open ames.
• Do not connect over 4 sets Li-ion batteries in series. Wrong operation will damage the BMS.
• Before series connection, it’s better to make sure fully charge or discharge single battery. The different SOC between batteries may cause the whole group to fail to charge and discharge normally (Reduce the usable capacity of the battery group.
• Before parallel connection, it’s better to make sure the voltage difference less than 0.1V to avoid large current impact .
• Do not connecte in series at the same time connect in parallel

Xplorer Base Li-ion batteries are intended as a replacement for the common 12V lead acid battery. The range adopts Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) cells and unique BMS to provide safety, high current and prominent long life performance, with 20 times longer cyclic life than standard batteries to save cost and energy & up to 70% lighter than SLA batteries The Xplorer base range currently comes in two sizes 80ah and 100AH. The range offers great value and performance and is the entry level Lithium option. Table of specifications for 80ah and 100ah XBL12-80 XBL12-100

CHARGING & STORAGE

Your Battery will require a top up charge before first use The Xplorer Base Li-ion is compatible with common 12V Lead-acid AGM chargers if no Lithium mode is specified on your charge Do not use a charge mode with an equalistation function enabled. Do not keep your battery on float charge. This is not required for Lithium Batteries Do not recharge the battery with split chargers. DC/DC charging is acceptable Chargers that require the detection of voltage at the battery terminals to charge may fail to wake the Li-ion battery from a state of under-voltage protection. Constant Voltage (CV) chargers may result in an inrush of current due to the low impedance of the cells, interrupting the charge. Reset the charger and continue charging normally if the charger trips. The constant current (CC) chargers are strongly recommended. To charge a single 12.8V battery, the maximum charge voltage is 14.6V and the maximum charge current is referred to Table 1. Any inrush current may cause over current or short circuit protection. Once you reach end-of-charge voltage, apply a constant voltage hold at this voltage until the current decays to almost zero. This charges the cells to 100% state of charge (SOC). Refer to below figure for an illustration. Please contact Alpha Batteries should you have any charging questions or if you are unsure Due to the chemistry of Lithium Ion cells, the cells cannot accept as much charge current at lower temperatures without risking permanent loss of capacity. As the cells’ temperature rises during the charging process, they can gradually accept higher currents. To maintain optimum performance and durability of Li- ion battery, the following charge limits based on ambient temperature is recommended. Relationship Between Charge Limits and Temperature

Temperature (°C ) Max Charge Current

• 20 Prohibit charging
• 10 Prohibit charging
  • 0 0.1C
  • 10 Recommended charge current
  • 20 Max continuous charge current
  • 35 Recommended charge current
  • 45 0.2C
  • 55 Prohibit charging

Storage

The 12.8V100Ah Li-ion battery can be stored in an environment with temperatures between -20°C and +55°C and between 10% and 90% relative humidity, non-condensing. For long storage periods at 25°C, charge the battery every 6 weeks. For temperatures above 40°C, charge the battery quarterly. Do not store the Li-ion battery at temperatures above 60°C. Do not keep the battery on permanent charge when not in use. This can pose a fire and safety risk

TROUBLESHOOTING

The Xplorer Base batteries are extremely reliable batteries that provide greater useful life than comparable 12V lead-acid batteries. Despite the high reliability of the 12.8V Li-ion batteries, you may encounter situations where the battery does not operate as expected. These situations are typically the result of misuse, abuse or a non-optimal operating or storage environment. This part details potential issues you may encounter with the Base
batteries and the appropriate troubleshooting procedures.
Charger Trips using Constant Voltage

Problem:

CV charger trips when charging the batteries. This is due to the low impedance of the battery creating a current inrush.

Solution:

Reset the charger and try again. Terminal Voltage Absent or Low

Problem:

Using a multimeter to check terminal voltage shows the terminal voltage is low (<10V). Possible causes for this problem are:
The voltage of a cell within the battery dropped below 2.5 V, causing the microprocessor to enable low-voltage protection.
The battery’s SOC dropped below 5% from either an extended idle period or heavy use, enabling under-voltage protection.
The battery overheated (>60°C), causing the microprocessor to enable over- temperature protection.

Solution:

To resolve situations where terminal voltage is absent or low:

1. Allow the battery to cool and then recheck the terminal voltage.
2. Connect the battery to a charger to wake the battery and recover terminal voltage. (<=30V PV panel can be used to active a deep discharge battery. ) (A 12V VRLA battery can also be used to active a deep discharge battery. )
3. If the cells pack voltage is below 7V, the BMS will not be actived anymore. So it needs to be charged in time after deep discharge. 22 /13 Battery Current Disappears when Charging

Problem:

Battery current disappears when charging. Possible causes for this problem are: The battery overheated, enabling over-temperature protection. Charger voltage is too high.

Solution:

To resolve situations where current disappears when charging:

1. Allow the battery to cool.
2. Reduce charger voltage to 14.2~.14.6 V.

Battery Current Disappears when Charging

Problem:

Battery current disappears when charging. Possible causes for this problem are: The battery overheated, enabling over-temperature protection. Charger voltage is too high.

Solution:

To resolve situations where current disappears when charging:

1. Allow the battery to cool.
2. Reduce charger voltage to 14.2~.14.6 V.

Bluetooth battery APP introduction

This chapter mainly introduce the bluetooth battery APP For IOS device, it can search Bluetooth Li at App Store. For Android device, it can scan below QR code to download APP

RECYCLING

In order to protect yourselves, the environment and to comply fully with the WEEE directive, we suggest you read and fully understand the following information to dispose of your batteries safely;

• Recycle your batteries using the authorised battery collection bins; you can typically find these at local retail outlets such as supermarkets & local recycling centres
• Consider donating any undamaged and working batteries for use by someone else
• If you’ve bought the batteries from a local retailer, take them back, and they will be able to dispose of them safely on your behalf
• If you live near Alpha Batteries bring your used batteries to us and we will dispose of them for you
• Don’t ever throw them in the bin.

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>