RELiON’s Lithium Batteries for Cold Weather Performance – Safe & Easy Charging in Freezing Temperatures. RELiON’s Low Temperature (LT) Series lithium iron phosphate batteries are cold-weather performance batteries that can charge at temperatures down to -4°F (-20°C). How? The system features proprietary technology that draws power from the charger itself, requiring no additional components. The entire process of heating and charging is completely seamless. Simply plug the battery into the regular lithium charger and the internal heating and monitoring system takes care of the rest.
Same Battery, Enhanced Technology for Cold Weather Performance
RELiON’s Low Temperature Series batteries look and operate exactly like our other batteries, with the same power and performance. They have the same charge time at above-freezing temperatures. They also feature the same dimensions, configuration, and connectivity of its standard counterparts, making them drop-in replacements in applications that already use RELiON batteries. And they’re ideal upgrades for those who are still using lead-acid batteries in low-temperature environments.
Some Applications Include:
- Solar
- Remote monitoring
- LED lighting
- Trafic control cameras
- Ice Fishing
- Golf carts and utility vehicles
- Class A and C RV’s
- Overland
FAQ – Ask the Experts!
How do LiFePO4 batteries perform in cold temperatures?
As with all batteries, cold temperatures will result in reduced performance. LiFePO4 batteries have significantly more capacity and voltage retention in the cold when compared to lead-acid batteries. Important tips to keep in mind: When charging lithium iron phosphate batteries below 32°F (0°C), the charge current must be reduced to 0.1C and below -10°C (14°F) it must be reduced to 0.05C. Failure to reduce the current below freezing temperatures can cause irreversible damage to your battery. RELiON’s LT Series is specifically designed for cold charging, utilizing charge current to heat the battery before allowing charge. With the LT series, you can start the charge below 32°F (0°C).
How does the Low Temperature battery work?
The Low Temperature batteries feature the same size and performance as RELiON’s other batteries, but can safely charge at temperatures that drop below 32°F (0°C) using a standard charger. The system features proprietary technology which draws power from the charger itself, requiring no additional components. The entire process of heating and charging is completely seamless for the user. Simply plug the battery into the regular lithium charger and the internal heating and monitoring system takes care of the rest. Because it takes time to heat the cells, the charging process will take a little longer in below-freezing temperatures.
How does the heating element work?
The battery management system monitors the internal temperature of the battery. If the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C) and a charge cycle is initiated, the BMS will divert charge current to the heating element until the uniform internal temperature of the battery is safe for charging. The specific safe charging temperature differs. For small batteries it’s 50°F (10°C), for larger batteries it’s 41°F (5°C). See individual data sheets for details.
How long does the heating element take to warm the battery to a safe temperature?
About one to one and a half hours. Depending on how cold it is and which model of battery, the BMS will divert 5-15 amps of charge current to the heating element.