LiFePo4 battery pack instead of Lead Acid

Siinman · Mar 4, 2023

Tb0n3 said: ↑

It's unlikely such a niche would see factory production, but boutique or self made batteries should be easy enough. According to a quick google search the LiFePo4 chemistry should be fine to 3 or 5C which would be 500A for a single 100AH pack. Since you're unlikely to need only 100AH you should be fine with a separate contactor switched lead from a 600AH pack. Made out of the smaller 100AH prismatic packs it would be a pretty large, but doable 4S6P pack, or multiple smaller packs in parallel. Doing the math on a 600AH pack means almost 8KWh so not insubstantial.
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you miss understood the next new truck. I just got this truck new and had the Thermoking EPU installed on it. Next truck will be done with a better set up. I am ok with this set up but not near as good as I wanted to do. Can't tear out 10K worth of stuff to start over as it is not worth it.

Joeziah · Mar 4, 2023

Tb0n3 said: ↑

Did you use prebuilt batteries from a supplier like SOK or Battleborn or did you build your own?
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I have a bank of 6 200ah SOKs in the bunk.

I would be very weary of bypassing BMS for starting, I've read about the crystalline structures that form in LifePO4 that significantly reduces their lifespan due to high loads.

Very important all your wiring to each battery is identical in length as well, PITA but they discharge and charge uniformly....

Tb0n3 · Mar 4, 2023

Joeziah said: ↑

I have a bank of 6 200ah SOKs in the bunk.

I would be very weary of bypassing BMS for starting, I've read about the crystalline structures that form in LifePO4 that significantly reduces their lifespan due to high loads.

Very important all your wiring to each battery is identical in length as well, PITA but they discharge and charge uniformly....
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Do you have to make any precautions for cold weather or do you mostly stay in the south? I'm guessing since it's in the heat envelope of the bunk you just leave the heat on if you have to leave the truck.

Joeziah · Mar 5, 2023

Tb0n3 said: ↑

Do you have to make any precautions for cold weather or do you mostly stay in the south? I'm guessing since it's in the heat envelope of the bunk you just leave the heat on if you have to leave the truck.
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Yes, I'm never away from the truck and when I'm home its stored indoors anyhow.

SOK have cold weather charge cutoff built in though just in case, this could potentially fry the solar charger if there is nowhere to send the power to abruptly. Never had the issue though.

Ridgeline · Mar 6, 2023

Joeziah said: ↑

You need a special type of alternator that can handle the fact that the internal BMS on any lithium battery may abruptly cut off charging, which will fry the alternator when they do this. Your alternator needs somewhere for that power to go in the time it takes to remove the load.

Also need a starting module, Maxwell makes one for trucks. Lithium battery can't handle the cranking amps for starting so the starting module charges slowly off them but can crank the engine, takes a few minutes to recharge it between crank attempts (will only turn engine over for around 5 seconds max).

I have mine set up like this.

Maxwell starting module connected to starter.
I have a deep cycle bank which is hooked up to the alternator (upgraded to 400amps in my situation) and also hooked up to trickle charge the starting module.

I have a CTEK smartpass 120 duo set up connected to the alternator and lead acid battery bank.

The CTEK will charge the lithium bank at 140amps after the lead acid bank is charged.

If truck is off and lead acid bank gets low, it will feed power from the lithium bank back to the starter bank if they have enough power.

This isolates your Lithium bank from your alternator and also from your starter.

You could pay several thousand for a special type of alternator that essentially uses a buffer and can directly charge a lithium battery, but they are very expensive and hard to find, spend less with the above system.

I can park for days and play games on my computer and never start my truck, these Lithium batteries will last longer than I'm willing to be in this profession so...
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Excelent post.

The Crossword Trucker · May 15, 2023

The Crossword Trucker said: ↑

There are a few things that need improvement before this can be a solid solution
One is that someone needs to come up with a good DC powered mini split , there is just too much loss and complication converting DC to AC. Ideally this would be a 48 volt unit and the whole system should be set up as 48 volts

The next is we need a really good DC to DC charger that knows how much power to safely pull from the alternator. Very few people are using alternator power to charge such a massive battery pack ( you will probably need at least 1200 amp hours at 12v) and it needs to spread that load over at least an 8 hour period
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Stumbled upon this recently , thought it would go well here

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