Charging lithium batteries with CBE 516

[Babios]

Hello and Happy New Year!

I'm interested in knowing if it's possible to charge lithium batteries using the CBE 516.

Additionally, could you provide information on the approximate charging time for a 100ah battery when using the CBE 516?

Thank you!"

 

[Babios]

 

[Cush]

Hi
yours appears to be this one, the CBE CB516-3, which charges the lead-acid, lead-gel, AGM types.

OUTPUT TECHNICAL DATA
BULK VOLTAGE (V)	14.1Vdc (A) - 14.4Vdc (B) - 14.7Vdc (C)
FLOAT VOLTAGE (V)	13.5Vdc (A) - 13.8Vdc (B) - 13.8Vdc (C)
MAX CURRENT	16A

someone more knowledgeable than me will be along to share whether your charger can cope with LiFePO4 chemistry or not. Fogstar recommends between 13.6V to 14.6V

it depends on the battery’s state of charge as to how long it would take to charge it. My basic math would be 5 hours to charge from a 20% SOC.

this bump should bring it more views.

edit. I see you started another thread on the same subject that has knowledgeable people contributing.

 

[DaveS]

Hello and Happy New Year!

I'm interested in knowing if it's possible to charge lithium batteries using the CBE 516.

Additionally, could you provide information on the approximate charging time for a 100ah battery when using the CBE 516?

Thank you!"

I am absolutely no expert, but I have the same charger as you and I’m switching to lithium and learning! However I read that Fogstar dont recommend one of the CB516 chargers for lithium as it has a desulphate mode which is not good for the lithium batteries.
So I’ve decided to switch mine out to a Victron, but… the CB516 has a white output signal wire that shows on the control panel that the mains is plugged in, the Victron doesn’t have this. Currently talking to Nigel at Offgrid Power Solutions on how to replciate this with a relay.

 

[GMLS]

Interested to know the solution as I by passed my cbe and use the Victron. Currently a glance at the fridge tells me.

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[pat100]

Probably irrelevant to your setup, but the Apuljack Electronics battery charger I bought for my Lithium battery has a white lead. Seems to be otherwise similar to the Victron. I thought that it was very expensive!

 

[Pausim]

Not all CBE 516 chargers have a desulphation phase but that would be bad for a Li battery. My 516 has only 2 charge positions and no desulphation phase. The gel position gives the better charge but it stays at the higher voltage too long after the battery is full for my liking. I use the lower lead acid setting which leaves the battery slightly under charged at about 95% but this is not a problem, it does the battery no harm, indeed it is probably better for it. I don’t need a full battery when on an ehu, the maintenance voltage is plenty to keep everything running. I only need a full battery when I am not on an ehu and my B2B takes care of this.

 

[pat100]

I found it very useful to have an OFF switch on the Lithium charger. I use it mainly when the van is on EHU on my driveway. Probably, most have that facility but my original didn’t.

 

[DaveS]

Interested to know the solution as I by passed my cbe and use the Victron. Currently a glance at the fridge tells me.

So I’ve got all the bits now, and I’ll replacing my CBE charger with a Victron tomorrow.
Here’s the instructions I was passed on with an Amazon link to a suitable relay:

There are a few ways to achieve this, so this is not the only way, but it’s one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to achieve it. In the past when we’ve needed to simulate a 12v input into the system (e.g. the white wire on your charger) we’ve used a Voltage Sensitive Relay like this: https://geni.us/wGAdi
The fact that it’s capable of 140A is overkill, but when we first looked at it, this was the easiest and cheapest way of achieving what we need to do.

These VSRs usually have a black wire coming out of them for the common earth (negative) and then two positive terminals (input & output). We would put the VSR negative & positive input into the new Victron mains charger terminals with the wires that go out of the charger to the system. We then have the VSR positive output connected to the white wire from your old charger. What this does is that when you are on EHU, the Victron mains charger is outputting a high enough voltage to trigger the VSR, which then sends a 12v signal to the system to turn the EHU icon on on your control panel.

 

[Driventemple]

So I’ve got all the bits now, and I’ll replacing my CBE charger with a Victron tomorrow.
Here’s the instructions I was passed on with an Amazon link to a suitable relay:

Surely this would result in the power on tell tail light on the CBE panel would be coming on when the solar panel started charging?

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[Driventemple]

I'm going to try this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31499413...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1
Should be able to tell if either (a) the power is onto the van or, (b) the charger is switched on, depending which side of the charger switch it is connected to.

 

[AdrianChen]

I have seen some AC hall effect boards that detect AC current, (Current sensing relay) and have a 12v dc relay. Not being great on electrics I decided not to bother, and use the fridge instead!

 

[Fat Albert]

I removed my CBE516 and replaced with a Votronic #3102 25A job. There is an extra set of terminals to trickle charge the Cab battery. I didn't use that function but ran a signal cable from the +VE terminal to the pin on the DS300 where the original white signal wire connected. Result being ECU on Green light on.

 

[Lenny HB]

If it is a 516-3 I wouldn't risk it on Lithium as it has an automatic desulphation phase that charges at 15v.
I took mine out & fitted a Multiplus with a 120 amp charger.