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12v:bank-sizing [2023/05/17 17:34] frater_secessus [charging predictability] |
12v:bank-sizing [2023/12/29 14:57] (current) frater_secessus [charging] chargig |
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| + | DRAFT | ||
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| ====== sizing a house battery bank ====== | ====== sizing a house battery bank ====== | ||
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| - | Everything in this article assumes you have already assessed your [[electrical: | + | * Everything in this article assumes you have already assessed your [[electrical: |
| - | + | * We will think in terms of 12v systems and 100Ah batteries. | |
| - | This 1,000Wh will be the base of all our calculations below. | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | We will assume lithium = the common LiFePO4 | + | |
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| === usable capacity === | === usable capacity === | ||
| - | * lead-chemistry batteries (FLA, AGM, GEL) are typically [[electrical: | + | * lead-chemistry batteries (FLA, AGM, GEL) are typically [[electrical: |
| - | * lithium batteries are typically nominal 12.8v and discharged to 80% DoD. A 100Ah LFP battery holds 1,280Wh, of which 1,024Wh are usable (1,280Wh x 0.8). It would take **98Ah of LFP** to give us 1,000Wh usable. | + | * lithium batteries are typically nominal 12.8v and discharged to 80% DoD. A 100Ah LFP battery holds 1,280Wh, of which 1,024Wh are usable (1,280Wh x 0.8). It would take **98Ah of LFP** to give us 1,000Wh usable. |
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| - | ==== charging | + | ==== charging |
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| + | === charging stability and predictability | ||
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| * solar charging is highly unpredictable, | * solar charging is highly unpredictable, | ||
| + | === minimum current requirements === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Lead chemistries typically have minimum charging current requirements to stay healthy | ||
| + | |||
| + | * FLA 0.10C (10A for every 100Ah of capacity) | ||
| + | * AGM 0.20C (20A for every 100Ah of capacity) | ||
| + | |||
| + | If we cannot meet minimums the bank should be downsized (or [[electrical: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note: Lithium has no minimum charging current | ||
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| + | === maximum charging limits === | ||
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| + | Battery chemistries typically have maximum charging currents that can stress charging systems (particularly alternators via combiners): | ||
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| + | * FLA 0.20C (20A for every 100Ah of capacity) | ||
| + | * AGM 0.33C (33A for every 100Ah of capacity) | ||
| + | * LFP 1.0C (100A for every 100Ah of capacity) | ||
| + | |||
| + | If the alternator can only safely provide 50A of charging to the house bank this would limit us to a 166Ah AGM bank (166Ah x 0.33 = 50A). If the alternator has excess capacity then a larger bank can accept more current. | ||