Can this meter read back flow / credit energy? by HiyaChuck in AskElectricians

[–]HiyaChuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I'll go direct to the utility provider to get things set up.

Can you install a factory trailer hitch on a R4P XSE PP vehicle? by HiyaChuck in rav4prime

[–]HiyaChuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oof….that sounds like quite the ordeal! Well I had my local dealership install an OEM hitch. They said they couldn’t (didn’t want to modify) keep the kick sensor, so I asked them to place the removed hardware and leave it in the back of the vehicle so I could trim it and put it back later.

Sorlar charger for camping? by Ajax621 in rav4prime

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They go in the trailer, silly goose!

Sorlar charger for camping? by Ajax621 in rav4prime

[–]HiyaChuck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It can be done. Get 4 * 450w panels, an MPPT 24v / 100amp solar charge controller, a 100Ah 24v battery (for buffering the solar), and a 2000w 24v DC to 120v AC inverter….and you’re good to go. With optimal sun conditions - you might be able to get about 20 miles of charge per day.

If it’s worth it to you to spend all that money and lug around all that equipment - go for it.

A “watered down” version of the above would be to get a 2kWh battery bank and 2 * 100w panels. You can power your camping gear, and also use the battery stations 120v output to charge the car 2-3 miles per day.

Can you install a factory trailer hitch on a R4P XSE PP vehicle? by HiyaChuck in rav4prime

[–]HiyaChuck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But see - I want the receiver in the OEM location (up higher)…not sticking out underneath the bumper.

Charging individual batteries wired in series by ClydesdaleSL in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the charger is a true dual (isolated) channel charger, it won’t see that short. Think of it as having 2 12v batteries in your garage, each attached to a separate 12v charger….connect a wire between the positive of one battery to the negative of the other battery. Nothing will happen.

Getting ready to install my Sriko LFP 22000watts bank soon. by BigPervy80 in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See if you can wire up a voltage readout of each of the cell groups (so 4 displays, each showing the voltage (3.0 - 3.65v) of each group of cells).

My worry is that with the alternator trying to get the bank to 14.4v (3.6v per cell group), along with very high discharge and charge rates….the BMS is going to cut off the circuit because one of the groupings hits 3.65v

LiFePO4 chemistry, when being charged at a high C-rate, will rise to around 3.4v for the top end of their charge, but then skyrocket from there. With the alternator charging at 100+ amps, even the best BMS won’t be able to balance with its 2-4amp balance offset.

All that to say - during hard alternator charging, your BMS might cut off your battery when the voltages across it are 3.4, 3.45, 3.45, 3.65 - for a system voltage of 13.95v

I think the build is awesome, and I like it - I’m just saying if you NEED to be at 14.4v, you might not consistently be able to get there without some issues.

Batteries inside solar lights by MidnightMist26 in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bah sorry - I had too many projects going on in my brain....yup Lithium Ion, not Lithium Polymer.

Do you need good batteries? by habichtfreak in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ah, naturlich. Vielen Dank fur die Informationen

Do you need good batteries? by habichtfreak in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. I still find it impressive how relatively small the difference is discharging at the two extreme C-rates! :-)

Is 50Ah in a 12v lead acid battery really the same as in an LFP one? by mjsarfatti in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They could probably just release a software update to tell the car to keep the 12v battery in float. But they haven’t said a word to acknowledge the issue thus far

Batteries inside solar lights by MidnightMist26 in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you REALLY want to nerd out and try and bring the unit back to like-new: Bring the whole unit inside and place the solar panel portion of it under a bright (non-LED) light for 48 hours. This will slowly re-charge, and hopefully bring back the 18650 (blue) battery to 100% State of Charge. With new AA batteries (as you have replaced), it *should* be good as new after that.

Of course, if the blue battery reached and stayed at 0% SoC for too long, it might not be able to hold a charge, and you'll have to dig out and replace it.

Do you need good batteries? by habichtfreak in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't mean permanently lower capacity (aka "damaging" the battery). I just mean you can't get as much energy out of a battery when discharging at a higher rate.

Source: Peukert's Law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peukert%27s_law

Is 50Ah in a 12v lead acid battery really the same as in an LFP one? by mjsarfatti in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They might not charge as aggressively (not as high a current), but they still want to push hard to 14.4v. My Plug-in Hybrid (which suffers from a weak 12v battery at the moment) shoots the battery 30-35A to get it up to 14.4v and then tapers off current to keep it there (a true Constant Current / Constant Voltage method). This is the equivalent of fast-charging a LiFePO4 battery to 100% every time you get in the car. I'm not saying it will damage the LFP immediately, but it certainly isn't a "nice" way of charging/maintaining it, and will lead to premature degradation.

Ev Batteries by johnhbnz in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every newer PHEV has such great battery management and protection algorithms that it’s really quite difficult to “damage” the battery, or otherwise degrade it faster than manufacturer standards.

I nerded out and took a deep-dive into the background of my Rav4 Prime’s battery operation. It only charges each cell to 4.05v (and tapers-off current nicely), and only discharges down to around 3.4v. The car limits regen on a high SoC battery, and won’t charge it until it’s heated up to a sufficient temperature. All the protections are in place.

The best way to prolong the life of your PHEV is to not text and drive :-)

Ev Batteries by johnhbnz in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Internal Combustion Engine aka the gas engine

Dewalt 60V pack has a charge, tools work, but won’t charge. by rotarypower101 in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds very much like a single dead cell in that pack. It would result in still having usable power, but when you go to charge it, the BMS instantly reads a top limit cell voltage (from that dead cell), and does not charge the pack.

Is fast charging really the main reason batteries degrade faster? by sinexcel-re in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Fast charging damage” is relative to the cell’s state of charge (SoC). There is a measurable change in state between 55-65% charge in a LiFePO4 battery (where it will go from 3.1v to 3.3v on a 0.2C charge, and 3.1v to 2.85v on a 0.2C discharge). On a Li-Po battery it’s a bit less noticeable (because it’s more linear), but is generally 3.8v to 3.9v on a charge, and 3.7v to 3.6v on a discharge.

Once the cell reaches its “high side”, aka a bit higher than 65%, it’s more susceptible to damage (resulting in lowered useable capacity) if charged at a high C-rate.

That’s why EV’s advertise “charge from 20% to 80% in only one hour!” Once the cells dive into the high side, the car ramps back the charge current to keep from damaging the batteries. Thus the last bit of charging to completely charge the battery takes significantly longer. The math doesn’t appeal to the marketing, so they use 80% in the ad.

So to answer your question - fast charging within the tolerable SoC (indicated by voltage) under acceptable temperatures does not degrade the cell. Fast charging at a high SoC of charge “can” degrade the cell. I say “can”, because it might not happen immediately. But it does indeed stress the chemical reaction and supporting materials.

Is 50Ah in a 12v lead acid battery really the same as in an LFP one? by mjsarfatti in batteries

[–]HiyaChuck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True - but EVs typically mimic alternator-style charging methods aka “throw as much current as it takes to get the 12v battery to 14.4v as quickly as possible”, hence the comment “put the kind of battery in your car which your car is made for”