CANBAT CLI100-12LT Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery LiFePO4 User Manual
- June 5, 2024
- CANBAT
Table of Contents
CANBAT CLI100-12LT Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery LiFePO4
This user manual was created by Canbat Technologies Inc. and contains important information relating to the proper care and maintenance of your lithium battery. This manual only applies to Canbat lithium battery products. It does not apply to other lithium batteries or chemistries. Please read through the guide in detail before installing and using your new lithium battery. Reading this guide in its entirety will help you achieve high performance and a longer life from your lithium batteries. Should you have any questions concerning safety precautions, installation or the use of your Canbat lithium battery, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +1 778-358-3925
SAFETY
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are safe to use indoors and outdoors. However, as with any electronics, safety measures must always be taken. Please follow the instructions within this user manual for safe handling and operation of your Canbat lithium batteries.
- Always wear protective gear when handling batteries
- Use a wrench with a rubber coated handle
- Do not place any objects on top of batteries
- Do not place batteries on a metallic surface
- Check that all cables are in good condition
- Make sure all cable connections are properly tightened
- Install and remove batteries using the lifting handles provided
- Keep sparks, flames and metal objects away from batteries
- Have Canbat MSDS on the premises
- Have a fire extinguisher of the following type: a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powdered graphite, copper powder or soda (sodium carbonate) on the premises
EQUIPMENT
The following equipment may be required to install your battery:
- Protective Gear; gloves and eye protection
- Wrench with insulated/rubber coated handle
- Voltmeter
LiFePO4 BATTERY BASICS
Basic Construction
Canbat LiFePO4 battery packs include two main components:
- Grade A individual cells assembled inside an ABS plastic or a steel case. Depending on the battery’s model, the cells are either cylinder or prismatic. Cylinder cells are used in smaller battery packs while prismatic cells are used in larger battery packs.
- An internal BMS (Battery Management System) to protect the battery from misuse. The BMS protects against over-charge, over-discharge, low-temperatures, high-temperatures, short-circuits, high-voltage and low-voltage. The BMS also helps in balancing the individual cells.
BATTERY INSTALLATION
Battery Connections
To maximize battery performance and ensure safe operation of your battery, use
the appropriate cable size and tighten connections using the proper torque
value. It is recommended to use a washer. Canbat lithium batteries’ include
free bolts and washers. Refer to the data sheet for your particular battery’s
torque value and the size of the included bolts.
Cable Size
Choose the appropriate cable size based on the expected load of your system
and the length of the cable (refer to the table on the next page). Allowable
Ampacities for copper cables rated at 167°F (75°C) operating at an ambient
temperature of 86°F (30°C).
Torque Values
Terminal connections should adhere to the appropriate torque values for the
specified terminal type to provide optimum electrical conductivity. Refer to
the data sheet for your particular battery’s torque value. Over- or under-
tightening the connections can result in terminal breakage, overheating and/or
terminal melting. Use a rubber handled or insulated wrench when making
terminal connections to avoid an external short circuit.
Terminal Protection
Battery terminals may be covered with a plastic cap to prevent an external
short circuit. You can also install a piece of plywood on top of the battery.
This is important if your batteries are exposed, as opposed to being in a
battery box or a compartment. Terminal protection is also important when
recycling your battery. Please always cover the terminals prior to disposing
your battery to a lithium recycler.
Battery Orientation
Canbat LiFePO4 batteries can be installed upright or on their sides. Please
ensure the battery is fastened if installed in a moving vehicle, such as in an
RV or a boat.
Series or Parallel Connections
When connecting batteries in series or parallel, please follow these
guidelines:
- Make sure each battery is within 50mV (0.05V) of each other before putting them in service. This will minimize the chance of imbalance between batteries. If your batteries get out of balance, the voltage of any battery is >50mV (0.05V) from another battery in the set, you should charge each battery individually to rebalance. Canbat 12V LiFePO4 batteries support series connections up to 4 units. 24V, 36V and 48V lithium batteries do not support series connections.
- Size batteries in parallel accordingly: The capacity of batteries (rated in amp hours) when connected in parallel is increased by the multiple of the batteries connected (2x, 3x, 4x, etc). However, the current ratings (discharge and charge) for parallel batteries is only increased by 75% of the multiple of the batteries connected (1.5x, 2.25x, 3x, etc). For example, the CLI100-12 is a 12.8V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery. The battery is capable of discharging 100A continuously. When connecting two in parallel, the maximum continuous discharge increases to 150A. Canbat 12V, 24V and 36V LiFePO4 batteries support parallel connections of up to 4 units. Canbat 48V LiFePO4 batteries support up to 14 to 20 units in parallel, depending on the model of the battery. Always refer to the battery’s data sheet of your specific battery model.
- Please reference Canbat LiFePO4 Charging Instructions document for series and parallel charging.
Specifications for CLI100-12 Batteries in Parallel
Battery Quantity| v| 2| 3| 4
Voltage| 12.8| 12.8| 12.8| 12.8
Capacity (Ah)| 100| 200| 300| 400
Max Continuous Discharge Current| 100| 150| 225| 300
Peak Discharge Current| 200| 300| 450| 600
Rec’d Charge Current| 50| 75| 113| 150
Max Charge Current| 100| 150| 225| 300
| | | |
BATTERY STORAGE
Some people use their LiFePO4 batteries seasonally such as while camping in the summer or while ice fishing in the winter. It is common for some people to store lithium batteries during the off-season. When storing LiFePO4 batteries, it is important to store them properly to ensure they do not get damaged and to keep them at peak performance for many years ahead. Based on the temperature and length of time, here’s a summary of how to store your LiFePO4 battery:
- Recommended storage temperature: -5 to +35°C (23 to 95 °F)
- Storage up to 1 month: -20 to +60°C (4 to 140 °F)
- Storage up to 3 month: -10 to +35°C (14 to 95 °F)
- Extended storage time: +15 to +35°C (59 to 95 °F)
It is highly recommended to store lithium batteries indoor during the off season. LiFePO4 batteries have a low self-discharge rate of 2% a month. This means that when a lithium battery is stored, it’ll lose 2% of its charge capacity every month. In order to prevent a higher rate of discharge, we recommend disconnecting all power draw from your batteries. When you store LiFePO4 batteries, it is important that you store them with a state of charge (SOC) of 50% or higher. A higher state of charge is recommended when storing for an extended period of time. If you want the battery to retain a good level of charge after the storage period is over, you should charge them to 100% and store them in that fully charged state. There are major consequences if you store your LiFePO4 battery without a charge. Because of the 2% self-discharge rate, the battery can become over-discharged. The level of discharge can potentially go below what the BMS can protect. This is why it is very important to charge your lithium battery before you store it. It is highly recommended that you also store the lithium battery at room temperature, especially when storing them for an extended period of time. Refer back to the above information to see how long you can store LiFePO4 at various temperature ranges. Over-discharging the cells due to storage without a charge can cause permanent damage and void your 10-year battery warranty. The Canbat built-in BMS logs all activities performed on the battery including storage. Every charge and every discharge is recorded, along with various other factors, such as temperature.
BATTERY DISCHARGING
Discharge Temperature
LiFePO4 batteries generate a fraction of the heat of other lithium chemistries
when discharging, making them very safe. LiFePO4 batteries can safely
discharge between -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F). All Canbat LiFePO4 come with
a BMS that protects the battery from low and high temperatures. If the BMS
disconnects due to low temperature, the battery must warm up for the BMS to
reconnect. If the battery disconnects due to high temperature, wait until the
temperature reduces. Please refer to your particular battery’s data sheet for
BMS low temperature and high temperature cut-off values.
Discharging your LiFePO4 Battery
LiFePO4 batteries can be discharged up to 100% of their capacity. However, to
optimize the performance of your LiFePO4 battery, and to avoid the BMS
disconnecting the battery, we recommend limiting the discharge to 80%. Please
refer to your battery’s data sheet for the maximum rate of discharge for your
specific battery model.
Discharging Rate
Most Canbat LiFePO4 batteries can be discharged continuously at a rate of 1C.
For example a 12V 100Ah battery can output 100A continuously until it is fully
discharged, which would be in one hour. Similarly, a 12V 200Ah Canbat LiFePO4
battery can discharge 200A continuously until it is fully discharged. Each
battery also has a peak discharge rate, which is usually 2 to 3 times the
continuous rate. The peak discharge only lasts for 3 seconds. Please consider
both the continuous discharge rate and the peak discharge rate of your battery
when deciding on the inverter size. Always refer to your battery’s datasheet
this information. They are referred to as Maximum Continuous Discharge Current
and Peak Discharge Current. If you need any help with this, please contact us
and one of our experts will be happy to help.
BATTERY CHARGING
When to Charge your LiFePO4 Battery
If LiFePO4 batteries are not fully discharged, they do not need to be charged
after each use. LiFePO4 batteries do not get damaged when left in a partial
state of charge (PSOC). You can charge your LiFePO4 batteries after each use
or when they have been discharged up to 80% (20% SOC). If the BMS disconnects
the battery due to low voltage, at 100% depth of discharge, remove the load to
reconnect the battery circuit and charge immediately. You must use a LiFePO4
battery charger in order for the BMS to reconnect.
Charging Temperature
Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries generate a fraction of the heat of other
lithium chemistries when charging, making them very safe. LiFePO4 batteries
can safely charge between 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F). Canbat Low Temperature
series (LT) can be charged between -20°C to 45°C (-4°F to 113°F). The LT
series has a built-in heating system which activates when the temperature
reaches the freezing point. It works by warming up the lithium cells to above
freezing and only then would the BMS allow in the charging current. LiFePO4
batteries do not require temperature compensation for voltage when charging at
hot or cold temperatures. All Canbat LiFePO4 come with a BMS that protects the
battery from under-temperature and over-temperature. If the BMS disconnects
due to low temperature while charging, the battery must warm up for the BMS to
reconnect and continue charging. If the battery disconnects due to high
temperature, the BMS will not allow the battery to recharge until the
battery’s temperature is reduced. Please refer to your particular battery’s
data sheet for BMS low temperature and high temperature cut-off values.
Charging with Lead-Acid Chargers
Most lead-acid battery chargers can be used with LiFePO4 batteries as long as
they are within the appropriate voltage parameters. AGM and Gel algorithms
typically fall within the LiFePO4 voltage requirements, but you are still
required to check the charging algorithm of your specific charger. The voltage
for flooded battery charging algorithms are often higher than LiFePO4
requirements, which will result in the BMS disconnecting the battery at the
end of the charge cycle and may result in the charger displaying an error
code. If this happens, it is generally good practice to replace your charger.
Since the BMS protects the battery, using lead-acid chargers will not damage
the battery. Please refer to Canbat’s Lithium Charging Instruction document
for complete charging guidelines. Important: If your battery’s BMS disconnects
due to low voltage during discharge, the battery’s voltage will read 0V. In
this case, a lead-acid battery charger may not be able reconnect the BMS and
recharge the battery. This is because a lead-acid battery charger requires a
voltage reading to start charging. A LiFePO4 battery charger is required to
reconnect the BMS, as it is designed to charge at 0V. This is why it’s always
recommended to use a charger designed for LiFePO4 batteries.
BMS OPERATION
All Canbat LiFePO4 batteries come with a BMS, which protects against: Under and Over-Voltage/Current – during charging and discharing Temperature Extremes – low and high temperature cut-off Protection from Shorts – internal circuit If the BMS disconnects the battery due to voltage or current limits, you must remove the load to reconnect the battery. If the BMS disconnects the battery due to temperature limits, you must wait for the temperature to adjust to reconnect the battery. While short-circuit protection protects the battery’s cells, it still may produce a spark and damage your cable or bolt, so it is best to avoid short circuit conditions.
BATTERY RECYCLING
Terminals must be covered with a protective cap or non-conductive tape prior to battery disposal to a lithium recycler. Dispose of LiFePO4 batteries at an authorized lithium recycling facility or send it to Canbat and we will recycle it for free.
References
- Best Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries | RELiON
- Canbat Technologies Inc. - Lithium & sealed lead acid battery manufacturer