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Lithium batteries have become a common part of our lives, and it’s not just in our electronic gadgets. By 2020, 55% of lithium-ion batteries sold are expected to be for the automotive industry. The number of these batteries and their use in our everyday lives makes battery safety an important consideration. Here’s what you need to know about safety and lithium batteries. Types of Lithium Batteries Before going into battery safety, it helps to answer the question, “How do batteries work? Lithium batteries operate by moving lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes. During discharge, the flow is from the negative electrode (or anode) to the positive electrode (or cathode), and vice versa when the battery is charging. The third major component of batteries are the electrolytes. The most familiar type is the rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Some of these batteries have single cells, while others have multiple connected cells. Battery safety, capacity, and usage are all impacted by how those cells are arranged, and which materials are used to make the battery components. From a safety perspective, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are more stable than other types. They can withstand higher temperatures, short circuits, and overcharging without combustion. This is important for any kind of battery, but especially ones for high power applications, such as an RV battery. With that in mind, let’s look at ways of handling these batteries safely. 1: Stay Out of the Heat Batteries operate best in temperatures that are also comfortable for people, around 20°C (68°F). You’ll still have plenty of lithium power at higher temperatures, but once you get past 40°C (104°F), the electrodes may start to degrade. The exact temperature differs based on the type of battery. Lithium iron phosphate batteries can operate safely at 60°C (140°F), but even they will suffer problems after that. If ...
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All lithium chemistries are not created equal. In fact, most American consumers – electronic enthusiasts aside – are only familiar with a limited range of lithium solutions. The most common versions are built from cobalt oxide, manganese oxide and nickel oxide formulations. First, let’s take a step back in time. Lithium-ion batteries are a much newer innovation and have only been around for the last 25 years. Over this time, lithium technologies have increased in popularity as they have proven to be valuable in powering smaller electronics – like laptops and cell phones. But as you may recall from several news stories over recent years, lithium-ion batteries also gained a reputation for catching fire. Until recent years, this was one of the main reasons lithium wasn't commonly used to create large battery banks. But then came along lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). This newer type of lithium solution was inherently non-combustible, while allowing for slightly lower energy density. LiFePO4 batteries were not only safer, they had many advantages over other lithium chemistries, particularly for high power applications. Although lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries aren’t exactly new, they’re just now picking up traction in Global commercial markets. Here’s a quick breakdown on what distinguishes LiFePO4 from the other lithium battery solutions: Safety And Stability LiFePO4 batteries are best known for their strong safety profile, the result of extremely stable chemistry. Phosphate-based batteries offer superior thermal and chemical stability which provides an increase in safety over lithium-ion batteries made with other cathode materials. Lithium phosphate cells are incombustible, which is an important feature in the event of mishandling during charging or discharging. They can also withstand harsh conditions, be it freezing cold, scorching heat or rough terrain. When subjected to hazardous events, such as collision or short-circuiting, they won’t explode or catch fire, ...
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LiFePO4 Individual LiFePO4 cells have a nominal voltage of about 3.2V or 3.3V. We use multiple cells in series (usually 4) to make up a lithium iron phosphate battery pack. Using four lithium iron phosphate cells in series, gives us roughly ~12.8-14.2 volts pack when full. This is the closest thing we’re going to find to a traditional lead-acid or AGM battery. Lithium iron phosphate cells have greater cell density than lead acid, at a fraction of the weight. Lithium iron phosphate cells have less cell density than lithium ion. This makes them less volatile, safer to use, an offers almost an one-to-one replacement for AGM packs. To reach the same density as lithium-ion cells, we need to stack lithium iron phosphate cells in parallel to increase their capacity. So lithium iron phosphate battery packs with the same capacity of a lithium ion cell, will be larger, as it requires more cells in parallel to achieve the same capacity. Lithium iron phosphate cells can be used in high- temperature environments, where lithium ion cells should never be used above +60 Celsius. The typical estimated life of a Lithium iron phosphate battery is 1500-2000 charge cycles for up to 10 years. Typically a lithium iron phosphate pack will hold its charge for 350 days. lithium iron phosphate cells have four times (4x) the capacity of lead acid batteries. Lithium-ion Individual Lithium-ion cells usually have a nominal voltage of 3.6V or 3.7 volts. We use multiple cells in series (usually 3) to make up a ~12 volt lithium ion battery pack. To use lithium-ion cells for a 12v power bank, we place them 3 in series to get a 12.6 volt pack. This is the closest we can get to the nominal voltage of a sealed lead acid battery, using lithium ion ...
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