[C320-list] New Battery Chemistry

[Christopher Nichols]

   I think one of the other big challenges is in the interaction between
   battery BMS and your alternator. The sudden disconnection of a fully
   charged battery from the alternator can create huge spikes that fry
   alternator diode packs.
   I know there are smart gubbins to prevent this problem but I have low
   confidence of anything that is so highly stressed lasting a long time
   in a marine environment.
   I for one will favour keeping at least one FLA cell in the system to
   absorb spikes.
   Chris

   On 22 Feb 2023 03:49, Bruce Heyman via C320-list
   <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

     Hi Jack,
     Really good points but I believe the marine(ized) LiFePo4 batteries
     have built in battery management systems that are very reliable for
     preventing the catastrophic failures.   I know of USCG Inspected
     Passenger Vessels that are now using them.  There is a couple of fun
     to watch (for me anyway) videos of the Tally Ho reconstruction
     project up in Port Townsend that discuss the new batteries.   For me
     the lifecycle improvements and my age would suggest that these may
     be the last batteries I would ever have to install in our 320.
     There is a very good chance that the Dive Boat Conception fire was
     the result of Lithium Ion Batteries failing during recharge as you
     are right they are in everything now.  On our tall ships we now
     insist that anyone charging their cell phone have to do in in one of
     the fiberglass fire retardant bags that we keep in the nav.
     Best,
     Bruce
     Bruce Heyman
     Somerset #671   San Pedro (LA) California
     -----Original Message-----
     From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf
     Of Jack Brennan via C320-list
     Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 6:23 AM
     To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
     Cc: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
     Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Battery Chemistry
     What is the situation with insurance?
     Cruisers Forum and similar sites are full of declarations that
     insurance companies will not cover a claim unless the batteries and
     charging system are professionally installed.
     I would love to install lithium, but it seems a bit  risky.
     Manufacturers with limited track records, conflicting claims on
     safety, etc.
     On the other hand, most of us already have lithium on board in
     phones, tablets, power drills, handheld radios and more.
     Jack Brennan
     Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
     Tierra Verde, Fl.
     Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
     -------- Original message --------
     From: John Beck via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
     Date: 2/20/23 9:50 PM (GMT-05:00)
     To: C320-List at catalina320.com
     Cc: John Beck <jbeck50 at gmail.com>
     Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Battery Chemistry
     Love it, would do again!!
     On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 9:39 PM Jerry via C320-list <
     c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
     > Did it last year a little different than most people. I have two
     > xantrex chargers in parallel. One is 40 amps and one is 20 amps.
     They
     > do not have a lithium setting. I installed 2 200ah Renogy blue
     tooth
     > batteries that connect to my iPhone. I use the AGM setting most of
     the
     > time. But I increased the amp output to 13.9 V by selecting the
     cold
     > setting on temperature control on the charger. This gets the
     batteries
     > up to 98% which lithium prefer. When I am off the boat I shut off
     most
     > of the load and turn off the charger. Once in a great while I need
     to
     > top balance the battery cells then I switch the charger to GEL
     > settings which increases the float charge to 14.5V for a few
     hours.
     > When the cells are balanced I switch back to AGM settings which
     > returns the charger back to13.9V float. That keeps the battery
     happy.
     > To protect the alternator from over heating I installed a 40amp
     dc-dc charger to run from the AGM start battery to the lifpo4
     > battery   That works for me very well I have enough power to run
     off grid
     > with refrigerator and stereo and instruments for 3-4days without
     > returning to the dock. I am on a Missouri lake so I don’t need
     solar.
     > Cat 320 #500 1998.
     > Midnight Rider.
     >
     > Sent from my iPhone
     >
     > > On Feb 20, 2023, at 19:19, Bruce Heyman via C320-list <
     > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
     > >
     > > Hi John,
     > > Excellent!  Would you do it again?  Any issues or challenges?
     Seems
     > like it should provide a lot more AMP Hours!
     > > Very best,
     > > Bruce
     > >
     > > -----Original Message-----
     > > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On
     Behalf
     > > Of
     > John Beck via C320-list
     > > Sent: Monday, February 20, 2023 5:09 PM
     > > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
     > > Cc: John Beck <jbeck50 at gmail.com>
     > > Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Battery Chemistry
     > >
     > > Did it 2 years ago with solar and added a start battery!
     > >
     > >> On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 8:02 PM Bruce Heyman via C320-list <
     > c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
     > >>
     > >> Has anyone ventured into switching to LiFePO4 batteries?  Seems
     the
     > >> technology has really advanced.
     > >> Thanks,
     > >> Bruce
     > >>
     > >> Bruce Heyman
     > >> Somerset #671   San Pedro (LA) California
     > >>
     > >>
     > >>
     > >> --
     > > Jb
     > >
     >
     > --
     Jb