Best Practices for charging LFP batteries?

[Homestead]

What are the Best Practices for charging LFP batteries?
I know about charging to 90% and once a month you are supposed to charge to 100%.
How low do you discharge before recharging?
What are the best practices for prolonging the battery life?

Currently charging at home with 110V and DC fast charger that is close to my home.
Working on getting Level 2 setup so I can charge at home.
Thanks

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[generaltso]

I think Ford recommends charging to 100% at LEAST once a month. That doesn’t mean you shouldn't charge to 100% all the time.

 

[Mach-Lee]

What are the Best Practices for charging LFP batteries?
I know about charging to 90% and once a month you are supposed to charge to 100%.
How low do you discharge before recharging?
What are the best practices for prolonging the battery life?

Currently charging at home with 110V and DC fast charger that is close to my home.
Working on getting Level 2 setup so I can charge at home.
Thanks

LFP is pretty simple so you don't really have to worry about most of that, other than charging to 100% occasionally.

I would recommend letting it drain maybe 20% before charging, but if you park in freezing or near-freezing conditions you should always plug in to keep the battery warm.

 

[Homestead]

Thanks for your input.
I did see information about charging recommendations for Tesla's LFP batteries and they said to charge to 100% at least once a week vs Ford once a month.

Once my level 2 charger is functional I think I can go a week or so before I have to charge not as convenient as my old hybrid but then I don't have to drive to the gas station.

The 20% level does seems to be the bottom you want to discharge to minimize long term effects.

 

[RickMachE]

Thanks for your input.
I did see information about charging recommendations for Tesla's LFP batteries and they said to charge to 100% at least once a week vs Ford once a month.

Once my level 2 charger is functional I think I can go a week or so before I have to charge not as convenient as my old hybrid but then I don't have to drive to the gas station.

The 20% level does seems to be the bottom you want to discharge to minimize long term effects.

Depending on how much you drive a day, and temperatures, this can be a bad idea.

Note in post #3 where you were advised to keep it plugged in when it's near freezing.

Also, the 12v battery charges when you drive, and when the vehicle is actively charging. If you don't drive enough each day, you'll likely see a battery warning at some point telling you to plug in.

 

[Homestead]

Depending on how much you drive a day, and temperatures, this can be a bad idea.

Note in post #3 where you were advised to keep it plugged in when it's near freezing.

Also, the 12v battery charges when you drive, and when the vehicle is actively charging. If you don't drive enough each day, you'll likely see a battery warning at some point telling you to plug in.

Average is about 20 miles a day.
We have pretty mild winters (40's) normally but occasionally we get a real winter blast. (20's)
If I am not driving often and keep it plugged in during freezing weather won't it charge to 100% and stay there? Or is there a "maintain" mode that just keeps the battery warmed and doesn't increase your charge level?


At what temperate do you decide to plugin even if your charge is adequate?
When you say plugin I assume you are talking level 2.

 

[RickMachE]

Average is about 20 miles a day.
We have pretty mild winters (40's) normally but occasionally we get a real winter blast. (20's)
If I am not driving often and keep it plugged in during freezing weather won't it charge to 100% and stay there? Or is there a "maintain" mode that just keeps the battery warmed and doesn't increase your charge level?


At what temperate do you decide to plugin even if your charge is adequate?
When you say plugin I assume you are talking level 2.

At home (or work, or any other level 2 charger), you save the location (after charging for a few minutes there), then set a max charge level and times (if you want to charge in off-peak rates for example). Select Use Preferred Charge Settings, and it charges to that level.

I am ALWAYS plugged in, 365 days a year. I charge both vehicles (I don't have LFP batteries) to 90%, 100% before a trip.

The battery will not warm unless it decides it is cold enough, and then it will pull in roughly 15 minute hits. In two winters mine has done that maybe 4 or 5 times in my garage.

 

[Homestead]

At home (or work, or any other level 2 charger), you save the location (after charging for a few minutes there), then set a max charge level and times (if you want to charge in off-peak rates for example). Select Use Preferred Charge Settings, and it charges to that level.

I am ALWAYS plugged in, 365 days a year. I charge both vehicles (I don't have LFP batteries) to 90%, 100% before a trip.

The battery will not warm unless it decides it is cold enough, and then it will pull in roughly 15 minute hits. In two winters mine has done that maybe 4 or 5 times in my garage.

Thanks, makes sense.

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