The EarthX Battery I am using is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). While the Lithium Ion (Actually Lithium Polymer [LiPo]) batteries are more energy dense than the LiFePO4 batteries, the LiPo batteries are also a fire hazard. They will readily overheat, puff, and burst into flames and burn quite aggressively when either drawing heavy amperage from them, or charging them rapidly (like on your alternator after starting!). I would avoid using a LiPo battery as an aircraft battery at all costs. BTW, a standard fire extinguisher will not extinguish a Lithium fire. It takes a special graphite extinguisher (Class D) to put out a metal (Lithium) fire, so if it catches fire, your best option is to step back and watch it burn while dialing 911 and informing the Fire Department that you have a Lithium metal fire.
As for the other LiFePO4 batteries listed, I searched and couldn't find anything about a battery management system to balance the cell charging or to protect the cells from overcharge/overdischarge damage. To the best of my knowledge, the inexpensive LiFePO4 batteries have no battery management system to protect and balance the cells. So if you want to use one, it's cheaper, but lacks any of the safety innovations you will find in the EarthX battery that is made for aviation use. Without a cell management system, it is assured to fail sooner. Leave the master on one time and run it dead, and the cells are going to be damaged, and the battery is unlikely to be usable. That's why the EarthX system disconnects the cells to protect them from excessive discharge or overcharge. I have seen one EarthX fail under this scenario. EarthX replaced the battery free of charge. While cost is important, let's think about the safety of these units as well. I can't imagine anything worse than watching my plane burn to the ground, unless it's burning with it. -Jeff Scott AR Ozarks > Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 2:56 PM > From: "Mike Stirewalt via KRnet" <krnet@list.krnet.org> > To: krnet@list.krnet.org > Cc: laser...@juno.com > Subject: KR> Lithium batteries > > I'm clueless when it comes to the subtleties of these lithium-based > batteries. Until recently all I knew about lithium was that I had to > take some every morning with my Wheaties or the day wouldn't go well . . > . :-) > > The main thing that catches my eye when it comes to batteries is "SALE!" > and of course, Ah. The one down at the bottom that looks just like > Jeff's battery is rated at 36 Ah. > > Here's the lineup: > > https://tinyurl.com/r9nampq > > They're on sale for a few more days. > > People are buying these things for scooters and other applications where > deep-cycle performance is optimized in the battery design - or, at least > that's been the case when it comes to lead-acid/flooded > cell/AGM/SLA/VRLA(and subdivisions)/GEL, etc. Deep cycle batteries will > quickly be ruined if used as a starter battery. However, with these > lithiums, these traditional distinctions may be obsolete. > > Reading the text from their website, > "Switch from those heavy Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries to lightweight > and fast charging Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) starter batteries" > These lithium batteries, despite the fact they're being used for scooters > and wheelchairs, are being described as "starter" batteries. So do they > serve equally well as both starter and deep-cycle? I don't know enough > to say. > > This one at $306 with free shipping, has 36 Ah and looks very close to > the dimensions Jeff specifies in his description. 36Ah is more than > twice the Ah of Jeff's battery yet is virtually the same size. > > https://tinyurl.com/uv9rbke > > LiFePO4, as opposed to Lithium Ion, is less dense. So . . . two > batteries of equal capacity, one of each composition, will differ > slightly in size, Li-Ion being more compact and smaller (but almost > insignificantly so). > > It is claimed that LiFePO4 can go a couple thousand start cycles. > Lithium Ion (like Jeff's battery) is listed as good for 500 to 600 start > cycles. > > There will be other relatively minor differences such as performance at > very cold temperatures. One type over the other may prefer a different > charging procedure . . . I've only gotten so far into this interesting > subject so I hardly know anything. I'm still at the Neanderthal level of > "If it doesn't throw your shoulder out of whack to pick it up, it can't > possibly be a very good battery." > > As a very initial impression, it seems that LiFePO4 has some advantages > over Li-Ion - besides being significantly less expensive. > > Mike > KSEE > ____________________________________________________________ > Urologist Is Shocked That This Has "Fixed" ED > Med Journal > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/5e20ce3b7b1a04e3b6612st03vuc > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at > https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
