Enjoybot Lithium Battery Daily Use Guide
How to correctly wire Enjoybot LFP batteries in series and parallel
Wiring batteries in series and parallel connections depends on your specific application and the voltage and capacity requirements. Enjoybot (LiFePO4 or LFP) batteries are commonly used in various applications, such as solar power systems, RVs, golf carts, trolling motor and portable electronics. Here's how to wire them in series and parallel configurations:
Series Connection:
When you connect Enjoybot LFP batteries in series, you're increasing the overall voltage while keeping the capacity (Ah) constant. To wire LFP batteries in series, follow these steps:
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Check the Voltage Requirements: Determine the voltage requirement for your application. For example, if you have two 12V LFP batteries, connecting them in series will give you 24V.
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Ensure Battery Compatibility: Make sure all the LFP batteries you're connecting in series have the same voltage rating.
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Connect Positive to Negative: Connect the positive terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the second battery. If you have more batteries, continue connecting positive to negative until you've connected them all in a chain.
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Finalize Connections: The remaining unconnected positive and negative terminals of the first and last batteries in the series will be your series connection points. Connect your load or other components to these terminals.
Parallel Connection:
When you connect batteries in parallel, you're keeping the voltage constant while increasing the overall capacity. To wire Enjoybot LFP batteries in parallel, follow these steps:
1.Check Capacity Requirements: Determine the capacity (Ah) requirement for your application. For example, if you have two 12V 100Ah LFP batteries, connecting them in parallel will give you a total capacity of 200Ah.
2. Ensure Battery Compatibility: Ensure that all the LFP batteries you're connecting in parallel have the same voltage rating.
3.Connect Positive to Positive and Negative to Negative: Connect the positive terminals of all the batteries together and the negative terminals together. You can do this by using heavy-gauge copper wire or battery interconnect cables designed for the purpose.
4.Finalize Connections: The terminals where all the positives are connected will be your positive output terminal, and the terminals where all the negatives are connected will be your negative output terminal.
Important Notes:
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Safety: When working with batteries, always follow safety precautions, including wearing appropriate protective gear and ensuring the batteries are properly vented.
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Balancing: If you're connecting multiple LFP batteries in parallel, consider ensuring the batteries stay balanced in terms of charge and discharge.
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Cable Sizing: Use appropriate cable sizes and connectors to handle the current and voltage levels in your application. Undersized cables can lead to voltage drop and overheating.
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Consult Enjoybot team: Always refer to the Enjoybot's guidelines and specifications for your specific LFP batteries, as we may have unique recommendations for wiring and usage.
How balance voltage among the Enjoybot LFP battery packs
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Begin by charging each battery individually using a compatible charger. This will ensure that each battery is fully charged before proceeding to the next steps.
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Once all battery packs are fully charged, connect them in parallel for a period of more than 12 hours. This allows for equalization of voltage between the battery packs.
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After the parallel connection has been maintained for the required time, untie the parallel connection.
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Use a multimeter to measure the voltage of each battery pack individually. Make a note of the voltage value for each pack.
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Check the voltage difference between each battery pack. If the difference is ≤40mV, this indicates that the battery pack has reached a voltage balance.
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Once the voltage balance is achieved across all the battery packs, you can safely connect them together to achieve the desired capacity or voltage for your specific application.
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Once connected, charge the entire battery pack with a charger of the appropriate volts. (For example, if you connect four 12V batteries in series to form a 48V battery pack, then please use a 58.4V charger to charge the entire battery pack in order to maintain the voltage difference between each battery.)
The reason for this requirement is because when multiple batteries are connected in series or parallel, if one of the batteries has a significantly lower voltage than the others, the BMS (Battery Management System) of that battery will activate its low voltage protection function. This will cause the other batteries, which are functioning normally, to stop discharging. As a result, the overall battery capacity of the entire energy storage system will be insufficient. By manually balancing the voltage between battery packs before connecting the batteries, we can avoid such incidents.
Moreover, if you are using multiple batteries connecting, it is possible for voltage variations to occur between each battery after six months of usage. To ensure the optimal performance of the battery, we highly recommend rebalancing the voltage of each battery every six months.
4S10P setup is not recommended due to the associated safety hazards related to concurrent series and parallel connections
Creating battery configurations involves arranging individual batteries in series and parallel to achieve specific voltage and capacity requirements. While configurations like 4 series (4S) and 10 parallel (10P) might seem appealing for increased capacity, a 4S10P setup presents substantial safety concerns that cannot be overlooked.
In a battery configuration, series connections involve linking the positive terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of another. This increases the overall voltage while keeping the capacity unchanged. Parallel connections, on the other hand, involve connecting the positive terminals together and the negative terminals together, increasing the capacity while maintaining the voltage.
Attempting a 4S10P configuration introduces a combination of both series and parallel connections, creating a complex wiring pattern. This complexity significantly raises the risk of errors during installation, which could lead to unintended short circuits. A short circuit occurs when a direct connection is established between the positive and negative terminals of a battery. In a 4S10P setup, the intricate arrangement could lead to accidental short circuits that have dire consequences.
When a short circuit occurs in a battery configuration, particularly one as intricate as 4S10P, a sudden and massive surge of current is unleashed. This surge can reach tens of thousands of amps, generating a colossal amount of heat and energy. The resulting explosion from the release of this energy poses a grave danger to individuals and property in close proximity.
Even a single battery in such a configuration has the potential to generate approximately 1500A in a short circuit scenario. Such high currents create an intense amount of heat, increasing the risk of fire. Fires caused by battery shorts are notoriously difficult to control and can lead to severe damage and loss.
To mitigate these inherent dangers, it is highly advisable to opt for safer battery configurations. A 4S4P configuration, for instance, maintains a balance between voltage and capacity while significantly reducing the complexity of connections. Similarly, a 1S10P configuration, where all batteries are in parallel, offers a high capacity without the hazards associated with concurrent series connections.
While it might be tempting to explore configurations that promise enhanced performance, safety should always be the primary concern. The risks associated with attempting a 4S10P setup, such as the potential for inadvertent short circuits, massive current surges, explosions, and fire hazards, make it an ill-advised choice. Opting for simpler and safer configurations like 4S4P or 1S10P ensures that the benefits of increased capacity are achieved without compromising the well-being of individuals and their surroundings.
In conclusion
Enjoybot is dedicated to delivering budget-friendly LiFePO4 batteries, providing innovative energy solutions for our clients. For inquiries, feel free to reach out to us at service@enjoybot.com via email.
