Firmware update for Lithium in the works ?

Started by ClassicCrazy, October 26, 2016, 12:48:37 PM

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ClassicCrazy

Ryan or others ,
It was mentioned in the past that a future firmware update might have the ability to shut off charging from the classic if the battery temperature got below a certain point. This is important for lithiums since they are not supposed to be charged below freezing.

Are there any firmware updates  with this feature on the horizon or should I start relocating my lithium batteries for the winter ?

Thanks,
Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

Westbranch

Larry, where is the site that will drop below freezing?

Reason I ask is that I think the issue is going to be that the charge will not start as the bank is already below freezing vs the temp dropping after a charge has started.
I am assuming that the cells are inside an insulated space and thus will warm up upon being charged, and that release of energy keeps the cells a bit warmer. 
Additionally the cycle will occur daily, keeping them warmer than the exposed environs.

Both my AGM banks, in the basement,  have shown this when being charged and starting at ~ -2* C and warm to +2 or so on a bright Sunny cold ( - 15* C) day...
KID FW1811 560W >C&D 24V 900Ah AGM
CL150 29032 FW V.2126-NW2097-GP2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3Px4s 140W > 24V 900Ah AGM,
2 Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr, NetGr DS104Hub
Cotek ST1500 Inv  want a 24V  ROSIE Inverter
OmniCharge3024  Eu1/2/3000iGens
West Chilcotin 1680+W to come

ClassicCrazy

Right now my batteries are out in a shed which has been above freezing since spring - now coming into winter as the weather cools off - I need to build an insulated box for them , but they could still drop below freezing - if that happens it would be nice to take the charge off them. I may try to use an aux contact to turn some kind of heater on in the insulated box when extra power is available - maybe heat tape or something like that. But haven't gotten around to that yet.

I wish I had a basement to put them in !

system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

Westbranch

have you looked into the logs to see just how cold they got last year? 
Those should be in the memory still...
KID FW1811 560W >C&D 24V 900Ah AGM
CL150 29032 FW V.2126-NW2097-GP2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3Px4s 140W > 24V 900Ah AGM,
2 Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr, NetGr DS104Hub
Cotek ST1500 Inv  want a 24V  ROSIE Inverter
OmniCharge3024  Eu1/2/3000iGens
West Chilcotin 1680+W to come

ClassicCrazy

No - just put them into service this spring .
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

Westbranch

#5
how cold did the L 16's get?

Add: just looking at the CALB 2.5 and 5 Kwh modules, they both have the same spec sheet, and only seem to accept about 700W incoming  and max 1000W and  low amps (30)  at that.
KID FW1811 560W >C&D 24V 900Ah AGM
CL150 29032 FW V.2126-NW2097-GP2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3Px4s 140W > 24V 900Ah AGM,
2 Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr, NetGr DS104Hub
Cotek ST1500 Inv  want a 24V  ROSIE Inverter
OmniCharge3024  Eu1/2/3000iGens
West Chilcotin 1680+W to come

ClassicCrazy

I guess I could look up that data - but I know they would freeze - gets well below zero F ( -17 C)   in winter - or used to in the old days .
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

mike90045

Don't LFP's have low resistance/impedance and therefor very low self-heating when charging (till something goes wrong)

So, simply put the Classic under the battery bank, and that will keep the batteries warm
http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar

Classic 200| 2Kw PV, 160Voc | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph )| Listeroid 6/1, st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | midnight ePanel & 4 SPDs | 48V, 800A NiFe battery bank | MS-TS-MPPT60 w/3Kw PV

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: mike90045 on October 27, 2016, 03:23:50 AM
Don't LFP's have low resistance/impedance and therefor very low self-heating when charging (till something goes wrong)

So, simply put the Classic under the battery bank, and that will keep the batteries warm

Interesting idea Mike - use the inefficiencies of the Classic to heat the battery space. But you would still have to super insulate the space to make it stay warm all night and on cloudy days. Plus design a nice tight container but have it accessible to get at the Classic. I can see why you would not want to do this with lead acid batteries since you wouldn't want to have all  your electronics in with acid off gas. But Lithiums no gas . But then you would have to design a venting system to remove extra heat . Sounds a bit complicated.

I would be better off to start digging a big hole in the ground. Although around here this summer and fall it has to be a water proof hole with all the rains we have had.

Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

tecnodave

Larry,

Do you have a source of cocoa bean hulls?  Kinda off the wall but this stuff decomposes so hot that you will not pick up a 5 gallon milk tin of it decomposing.....we Alaskans use it for heat in the battery sheds. It's locally available from Giradelli Chocolate in Oakland CA. and other chocolatiers. I use about 300 pounds yearly in my remote cabin in Alaska to keep battery bank buried underground from freezing.

David
#1 Classic 150 12 x Sharp NE-170, 2S6P, 24volt L-16 Rolls-Surette S-530, MS4024 & Cotek ,  C-40 dirv.cont. for hot water
#2 Classic 150 12 x Sharp NE-170, 2S6P, 24 volt L-16 Interstate,Brutus Inv.
#3 Kid/WBjr 4/6 Sanyo 200 watt multilayer 4/6 P
#4 Kid/WBjr 4/6 Sanyo 200 watt multilayer 2S 2/3 P

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: tecnodave on January 21, 2017, 12:18:24 AM
Larry,

Do you have a source of cocoa bean hulls?  Kinda off the wall but this stuff decomposes so hot that you will not pick up a 5 gallon milk tin of it decomposing.....we Alaskans use it for heat in the battery sheds. It's locally available from Giradelli Chocolate in Oakland CA. and other chocolatiers. I use about 300 pounds yearly in my remote cabin in Alaska to keep battery bank buried underground from freezing.

David

ha ha - no cocoa bean hulls around here ! 
I will just have to wait for warmer weather this winter- working on moving them inside for next year. In the mean time I have some new lead crystal gel cells which have very good performance in the cold compared to flooded lead acid.
Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable

David

Is there any news on this?  My bank would also potentially get below freezing and would prefer not to have to purchase additional hardware when the Classic could have a LiFePO4 temp mode that disable temp compensation for charge voltage but refuses to charge if sensor reads 32F or less.

ClassicCrazy

Quote from: David on July 31, 2017, 08:06:07 PM
Is there any news on this?  My bank would also potentially get below freezing and would prefer not to have to purchase additional hardware when the Classic could have a LiFePO4 temp mode that disable temp compensation for charge voltage but refuses to charge if sensor reads 32F or less.
Probably worth making a direct inquiry to Midnite to find out if anything is going to be happening with that.
Larry
system 1
Classic 150 , 5s3p  Kyocera 135watt , 12s Soneil 2v 540amp lead crystal for 24v pack , Outback 3524 inverter
system 2
 5s 135w Kyocero , 3s3p 270w Kyocera  to Classic 150 ,   8s Kyocera 225w to Hawkes Bay Jakiper 48v 15kwh LiFePO4 , Outback VFX 3648 inverter
system 3
KID / Brat portable