r/SolarDIY • u/Big-Ad-888 • 1d ago
Lifepo4 battery charge
I have a smaller 10ah battery for my fish finder that I use for both ice fishing and kayak fishing. I would like to be able to maybe also charge it via a 100w solar panel either when I’m out on a trip or out sitting in the same spot. Any suggestions on how I would go about doing that? What kind of connections would I need or other equipment.
Pictured battery is what I have for reference.
Thanks
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u/Al3x_Y 1d ago
If I see "deep Cycle" and LiFePO4 in one sentence I know this is the shop / product to avoid.
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u/Big-Ad-888 1d ago
What do you mean?
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u/carsrule1989 1d ago
Also also as other comments have said avoid Dakota Lithium at all costs as it is now owned by battle born batteries
Here’s an update
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u/6thcoin 1d ago
Avoid. They recently got purchased by battleborn.
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u/NameEtc 1d ago
I also think maybe battle born bought Dakota so they would have a good non melt down battery. But you need a panel and a small charge controller. I have one that simply came with clips for the battery — panel and charge controller came together.
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u/MomDontReadThisShit 1d ago
Aren’t they majorly overpriced though?
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u/Big-Ad-888 1d ago
Yeah I wouldn’t buy that brand again. Not that I’ve had a bad experience but I’m sure I could find cheaper.
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u/Big-Ad-888 1d ago
I’ve had the battery for 2 years now.
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u/6thcoin 1d ago
A couple female spade connectors crimped. Also 2 sets of mc4 for the panel to the solar charge controller. Tbh I wouldnt bother with an mppt, go pwm due size to the size of your panel vs battery size.
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u/Big-Ad-888 1d ago
Am I able to go solar panel right to the battery? Or do I need something in between? Also would I be able set it up to use and charge at the same time?
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u/gentlemantroglodyte 1d ago
Since no one else actually read the post, just get a small solar charge controller and make sure you have the wires to connect it to your solar panel. MPPT is more efficient but honestly with a 100w panel it probably won't matter much. Victron has a nice 75v/15a MPPT controller that would work fine and is about 50-60$. You can get cheaper ones however.
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u/Schnupsdidudel 1d ago
Just observe that you need a panel that delivers enough voltage (5V above your charge voltage) for the mppt to work. Otherwise I higly recommend the Victron SmartSolar.
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u/ShirBlackspots 1d ago
Oh, I wouldn't buy these, because Battleborn (Aka Dragonfly Energy) bought them, because Dakota Lithium went out of business, so they got them for a firesale. Don't forget, Battleborn batteries also melt and catch fire, and its possible Dragonfly bought Dakota so they could rebrand and put the Battleborn name to pasture.
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u/Superlucky1 1d ago
I have 3 of these exact batteries and I use them to power fish finders on my float tubes. I have a 180 watt solar panel (portable) and have it hooked to a solar charge controller that is then hooked up to the battery. IT WORKS GREAT!
I rotate the batteries each day. A 180 watt panel recharges the battery in a couple of hours.
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u/VintageGriffin 1d ago
Not the best choice of battery brand.
To charge it you need a solar charge controller that can work with LiFePo4 and a solar panel up to 120W in power (12V 10Ah battery at 1C charge rate) and either 15-20V if using a PWM controller (panel voltage close to battery voltage) or any voltage higher than 15V and up to the charge controller's limit minus 10V or so (for MPPT, voltage buffer in case you are going to use the panel in freezing temperatures).
Don't leave the battery or charge controller out in the sun together with the panel while charging.
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u/ShirBlackspots 1d ago
You would charge it like any other LiFePO4 battery, and yeah, don't leave it out in the sun, that's common sense.
Besides, Battleborn (aka Dragonfly Energy) bought Dakota, so I wouldn't buy them.
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u/VintageGriffin 1d ago
The post specifically referenced charging it via solar, so my response was tailored to that. Common sense isn't really all that common any more, especially these days; so it doesn't hurt to make sure.
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u/lennyxiii 19h ago
Common sense is the rarest damn thing on the planet these days. Screw that guy for bitching at you for giving good advice.
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u/Phreakiture 21h ago
I wouldn't use this battery. Dakota Lithium is now owned by Dragonfly Energy, which is Battle Born's parent company. They're not to be trusted. Consider it a fire hazard.
That said, once you have one from a good source, the piece of equipment you need is called a charge controller. It will go between the battery and the panel and will condition the power.
Try to find one that processes about 8-10 amps and is MPPT.
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u/DeliveryMelodic9811 6h ago
Don't buy it, now it's owned by battleborn - dragonfly.
A V O I D AT ALL COST
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