EcoTech battery backup upgrade to LiFePo4 question

[Ann Enomy]

I plan on using this battery as the size will work LiFePo4 battery. Question is if it has built in Battery management system (BMS) do I need to swap out the charger to a smart charger or will the one that comes with the Ecotech battery backup work? Thanks.
Open to suggestions of other, maybe better batteries as well I'm just tired of swapping the Lead acid batteries which fail every other year.

 

[BryanM]

I would say this is a bad idea, but this is coming from RC LiPo stuff, which is different than what you're trying to use.

Still, a charger designed to charge a lead acid battery probably is a bad idea for a more advanced battery like the one you plan on using. And relying on the BMS to "shut down" the battery when the old style charger is still pumping juice into it but its full will likely degrade the new battery's lifespan and performance.

That's my "I dunno, but it sounds like a bad idea" take.

 

[commod0re]

I would highly suggest not buying lithium batteries on amazon. It might be fine but there’s a greater risk of buying batteries made from poor quality and/or recycled cells. You can’t even trust branding on amazon when it comes to batteries because getting fake name brand batteries is another risk of buying from the big A

Also no matter what LiFePo4 you choose, definitely change the charger to one that is advertised as being meant for charging LiFePo4 batteries unless you want to start a fire

 

[BryanM]

unless you want to start a fire

Oh yeah, I did forget to mention that. That was the first concern I had... .but I went down a rabbit hole.

That's the big thing with RC Lipo's. In fact they make fireproof (more likely resistant) bags to charge your batteries in.

 

[Ann Enomy]

Ok so will this Battery work better? Same size, waterproof, not on amazon and you can get the $150 ac to DC charger intended for the battery. I know it's almost as expensive as just buying a UPS but from what I understand is the MP40's ability to drop to 20% during a power failure is what is important. I've seen videos where a 1000Ah ups will drain in a mater of a few hours vs using the ecotech system.

 

[commod0re]

The main reason a larger UPS would not last as long is because converting from DC 12V to AC 120V and then back again to DC 12V is very inefficient, any system with fewer or no conversion will be substantially more efficient and have a much longer run time on the same capacity battery

That one looks like a solid option to me

 

[BryanM]

As an example of the above - I purchased a small Bluetti battery backup that we took camping to charge our selfphones.

I have a fancy charging stand that plugs in to the wall, that required this DC-AC-DC conversion, and the thing barely lasted the night.

If just using the USB ports to charge the phones it probably would last the entire camping trip.

 

[The Blunt Oracle]

I plan on using this battery as the size will work LiFePo4 battery. Question is if it has built in Battery management system (BMS) do I need to swap out the charger to a smart charger or will the one that comes with the Ecotech battery backup work? Thanks.
Open to suggestions of other, maybe better batteries as well I'm just tired of swapping the Lead acid batteries which fail every other year.

You can swap old SLA type batteries with LiFePO4 batteries fairly well as long as the new batteries have their own BMS and their BMS's can cope with the series / parallel number of batteries. The most important part for the charger is making sure that the charge circuit on your device puts out somewhere between 14.2 and 14.6v when charging to ensure the BMS has enough voltage to balance the cells.

Some devices might get a little confused after a retrofit if they have their own voltage tracking for discharge as LIFePO4 batteries don't have the nice dicharge curve of an SLA as they plateau for the majority of the discharge then plumet quickly. UPS's are the worst culprit for this.

 

[Bear22]

I would suggest you register as a new member (if you aren't already) and ask these questions over at Will Prowse's website DIYsolar. Tons of information on batteries there. Will may have done a review on this particular battery. Search around on YT.

 

[Ann Enomy]

I just had a thought. If I'm going to be spending a bunch on a charger should I just get a larger capacity battery to be able to run the Vectra return pump as well? I know I will loose the Ecotech housing but being inside this thing many times I can tell you it is nothing more than a few barrel type connectors. the "magic" happens at the ecotech drivers. I would assume any quality 12v LiFePO4 would work I would just have to fabricate my own housing.

 

[commod0re]

I would yeah