Seeking Recommendations for Top-Balancing Charger for 1yo LiFePO4 Batteries

[bazzatron]

Hello,

I'm seeking recommendations for a charger that can top-balance my 1yo LiFePO4 batteries before integrating them back into my system.

Here are the details:

• Battery Configuration: 4 x 3.2V LiFePO4 cells in series
• Capacity: 280Ah (total for all cells)
• Individual Cell Voltage Variance: 3.345V - 3.63V

I plan to put the cells in parallel for top balancing, but I need guidance on selecting the right charger I can't find a suitable charger for a 3.2V cell. Safety features are essential since I'm unsure about the maximum charging current (A) for my specific battery setup, can't find a datasheet on them.

Affordability is a factor, but not at the cost of compromising reliability. (able to set a charge cut-off would be a good plus)

Any help would be invaluable in helping me find the best charger for this task, looking for experience-based recommendations only please.

Thank you for your assistance.

Barry

 

[MisterB]

nigelivy

will be able to recommend a good one, i followed their advice on their you tube channel when buying mine for my home battery project.

 

[Lenny HB]

For top balancing you need a bench power supply not a charger.
Have a look at Will Prowse video.

 

[nigelivy]

We've used these chargers extensively for top balancing: https://geni.us/Wate365vCharger
They're fairly inexpensive, basic, and reliable. The main downside is that they have little use other than top balancing, as they're fixed at 3.65v. They charge at 15A, which is more than most reasonably priced desktop power supplies.

This is another good option that we use a lot: https://geni.us/AdjustableCharger
This charger is more expensive but more versatile. You can adjust the voltage, and it outputs a higher current, so you could use it to top balance at 3.65v and then change the voltage to 14.4v to use when your battery is constructed. We've used these for both purposes, and they work well and are reliable. This is probably our most used charger in the workshop.

As Lenny mentioned above, another option is the variable desktop power supply, like this: https://geni.us/DesktopPSU. These are very versatile and useful. The main downfall with them is that they're fairly low amperage unless you spend quite a lot on one. But otherwise, they're great!