Enerdrive Mega fuse holder

Whilst you don't circuit protection for the battery itself, circuit protection is required for every connection to make to the positive terminal on the battery.  The size of this protection is determined by the current draw of each load and the cable size.  If your battery will be in storage for periods of time between use, then the addition of a battery master isolation switch or manual reset circuit breaker to disconnect all loads is recommended.  Contact us if you need assistance with midi fuses or circuit breakers.  We hold stock at all times in 30A to 250A sizes or Mega fuses up to 300A.

AllSpark Lithium Batteries are rated using a C5 rating.  This means the full rated capacity of battery will be supplied over a 5 hour period.  Using a 100ah battery as an example, this will provide 100ah if discharged at 20A for 5 hours.  Lower discharge rates will actually provide a slight increase in amp hour output.

The rated capacity of a battery is based on a pre-determined capacity at a set discharge rate and set temperature (usually 25 deg C) to provide the full capacity of the battery. With that same battery rating, if you discharge it faster, you will get a lower total amp hour output or if discharged slower you will get a slightly higher amp hour output. Batteries have losses during charging and discharging.  Discharge rates faster than the rated capacity creates additional heat internally and will see a lower total output.

Our batteries are often compared to another, cheaper lithium battery on the market, which is 120ah purely based on cost - there are many cheaper batteries hitting the market.  The method for rating a batteries capacity is not regulated in Australia, so while it may appear that you are getting an extra 20ah out of this battery, this isn't actually the case when comparing the same discharge rates.  It is certainly a case of properly comparing apples for apples (or in some cases, apples for lemons).

The capacity of a battery is measured using a C Rating.  Basically, a C5 rating means that the battery can discharge it's entire rated capacity evenly over a 5 hour period (5 hour rate), so a C5 rated 100ah battery is able to provide 100ah of power if drawn down at 20 amps per hour for 5 hours.

For a 100ah battery rated using a C10 rating, you can pull 10 amps of power out of the battery every hour for 10 hours, in order to get the full 100ah.

Likewise for a 100ah battery rated using a C20 rating, you can only pull 5 amps per hour for 20 hours to get 100ah.

Now if you draw less per hour than the specified C rate of the battery you will get less heat and hence increases in the total amp hours it can provide.  If you draw more than the specified rating, you will not get the full capacity of the battery.  Eg. If you pull more than 5 amps out per hour from a 100ah battery rated using a C20 rating, you will not get 100ah out of the battery and will likely get closer to 90-95ah in total. Conversely, if you pull less than 20 amps out per hour out of a battery rated using a C5, you will get more than the 100ah rated capacity.

So, again, is a 120ah battery larger than a 100ah battery if it using a different baseline measurement?  And is a 100ah battery the same capacity as another 100ah battery of a different brand?  Not necessarily.  Ask yourself this question, if a high grade 100ah AllSpark battery in a case of 328x175x215 is absolutely chockablock full inside, how can another manufacturer possibly fit another 20ah inside the exact same size case?  Simple answer is they can't and are using clever marketing to con consumers into thinking they are getting a mega bargin that must also be magic at the same time. 

Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries (LiFePO4) like any batteries provide the rated capacity at the specified C rate.  A lower discharge rate will provide more amp hours and a higher discharge rate will provide less amp hours than the nameplate.  Always compare the capacities with the same C rate. If they don't advertise the C rate and they won't give you this information, then you can almost guarantee that they have chosen the rating at the higher capacity based very low discharge rates, when in reality they aren't actually rated as high as they claim.  When you compare a C5 100ah battery to a C20 120ah battery, you will actually get very similar capacities when discharged at the same rates.   Peukerts exponant is a formula that shouldn't really apply to high grade LiFePO4 batteries as it does with AGM batteries, but with cheap LiFePO4 batteries, they have substantial voltage sag and as a result, due to the lower voltage during discharge, the device will draw more amps to make up for the voltage shortfall to still provide the same power.  This results in a lower than rated amp hour capacity.

Cheaper batteries on the market invariably use C20 ratings, because it allows the capacity of the battery to be artificially inflated as high as possible.

AllSpark lithium batteries use a C5 rating, which is the industry benchmark and is outlined in international IEC testing standards for Lithium cells and batteries.   All AllSpark batteries will power a 2000w inverter.  Some claim to do so, but when tested, don't come close.  Not all LiFePO4 batteries are created equal. Most are cheap inferior batteries are sold at cheap prices to sway people to buy them.

The charger we would recommend really depends on what solar panels (watts and voltage) you have (or plan to have), the size of your battery bank and whether you prefer to have a multi output unit or individual standalone units.   For this 250Ah battery, up to a 50A DCDC or MPPT Solar controller is suitable or a 30-50A AC Mains charger is suitable.

If you want an all in one unit with AC mains to DC, DC to DC (from alternator), battery monitor, load disconnect controller and solar MPPT, then then we recommend the new 2020 version of the REDARC Manager 30 (BMS1230S3).  There is no real limit to the solar input, but the unit will only use 520w of solar during charging.  Realistically most fixed solar panels will produce around 80% of their max current anyway so you could have up to about 650W plugged in to maximise the output.  If just looking for a DCDC charger then REDARC have the BCDC in 25A 40A or 50A sizes for which this battery would benefit from the BCDC1250D model, which is solar ready with green power prioritisation and will charge all battery types including LiFePO4.  (PLEASE CONTACT US FOR PRICING ON ALL REDARC PRODUCTS and the recommended size for your battery/s). 

The Enerdrive DC to DC charger (EN3DC40+) has a programmable output current of 5A to 50A and voltage of 13.9-14.6V and takes current inputs from alternator and solar through the inbuilt MPPT, but doesn't include AC to DC charging or a battery monitor.  It does have an LCD screen to monitor inputs from the alternator and solar and the output to the battery.  It can take a maximum of 35A of solar input using 20Voc panels and can take 12v to to 45Voc  panels (up to 1000w).  Adding an ePro+ battery monitor and AC to DC charger can provide the same functions as the REDARC BMS 30 at similar costs.

  The Intervolt DCC Pro 25A is a highly innovative product with many unique features. It has the flexibility to adapt to almost any vehicle, old or new, simple or complex with or without an ECU controlled electrical system and even allows the operator monitor the charging status from the comfort of the cabin with the remote monitor.   Whilst still suitable for this battery, it will take longer to charge compared to the 50A models in the other brands.

If you are still unsure, or are looking to run multiple batteries, please drop us a line and I will chat with you about the best option for your needs.  

Connecting different size/makes of batteries together is not recommended.

Larger batteries take longer to charge. The internal resistance builds up faster in the smaller batteries and as such get to full charge before the larger pack is charged. You will never be able to charge or discharge them at the same rate.

Even batteries of similar sizes, but different makes/models can have issues being connected together, as the specs between battery brands aren't always the same even in the same amp hour size.  Different C rates provide different capacities at different discharge rates and temps. They may also requires different charge currents and voltages for a full charge.

For lead acid batteries (AGM, Gel, Flooded, Lead Crystal), the simple answer is no.

Connecting multiple batteries in a battery bank should only ever be done so with batteries of the same make and model, capacity, age and chemistry.

With AllSpark lithium batteries, given their much longer life expectancy, there is some flexibility to this with regards to age only, in which you can add additional batteries to the bank within the first 12 months, but they must be of the same amp hour size and model of battery & BMS.

We recommend a charge rate of up to 50A for an AllSpark 250ah battery for ultimate longevity.  However, a rapid charge current of up to 100A  can be applied when time is limited, for example when charging from a generator or mains power with limited access.   Please note however that rapid charging increases heat and heat reduces life expectancy of the battery.  Rapid charge rates are a trade off of faster charging performance vs longevity.