LFP batteries are safe to use in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 60 °C / -4°F to 140°F, making them suitable for various weather conditions. This is especially beneficial for off-grid solar, RV, and trolling motor owners who may encounter extremely cold environments, providing consistent and reliable power.
Cold temperatures can negatively affect any battery's performance, particularly lead-acid batteries, which experience significant degradation in health and longevity in the cold. In contrast, lithium batteries perform much better in low temperatures.
With lead-acid batteries, drawing power in cold conditions can weaken them further. However, LFP batteries generate heat during use, reducing resistance and increasing voltage. Therefore, when considering an upgrade or seeking reliability in cold weather, lithium batteries clearly outperform lead-acid options.
Charging lithium batteries in cold temperatures can cause damage, which increases with the charging rate. While slower charging can mitigate this damage, it's often impractical.
When temperatures are between 14°F and 32°F, the maximum charging rate should not exceed 0.1C. In even colder conditions, from -4°F to 14°F, the limit drops to 0.05C. These reduced charging rates will lengthen charging times and complicate the process, especially since temperatures can fluctuate unexpectedly. For example, you might start charging in 40°F weather and wake up to a cold snap at 18°F. If you charged at a higher rate overnight, the drop in temperature could lead to irreversible battery damage.
The key rule for charging in cold weather is to avoid charging batteries below freezing without reducing the charge current. This can be challenging unless your battery management system (BMS) communicates with your charger and can adjust accordingly.
LiTime cold weather batteries include low-temperature charging protection to prevent charging below freezing point. Additionally, self-heating batteries are equipped with a heating pad to warm them up when temperatures drop at -20°C to 5°C / -4°F to 41°F, allowing charging to commence once the temperature reaches 5°C/41°F.
The auto self-heating function of LiTime self-heating lithium battery will be activated by the BMS when the battery is connected to a standard charger at -20℃ to 5℃ (-4℉ to 41℉). The heating will stop when the battery temperature reaches 10℃ (-4℉).
These two series focus on addressing the charging challenges of LiFePO4 lithium batteries in cold weather. The key difference between the Low-Temperature series and the Self-Heating series is the presence of an automatic Battery Management System (BMS) heating module in the Self-Heating series. This allows the battery to warm itself during charging without any user intervention.
In contrast, the Low-Temperature Protection series will automatically stop charging when temperatures drop below 0°C (32°F). To resume charging, you'll need to take steps to warm the battery to at least 5°C (41°F) by placing it in a warmer indoor environment.
For more details, read about LiTime Low-Temperature Batteries vs. Self-Heating Series.
LiTime offers a 5-year warranty on our batteries. For more details, please visit our Return & Refund Policy.
Because LiFePO4 lithium batteries have different charging requirements than lead-acid batteries, we recommend using a LiFePO4 lithium battery charger.
Here are the charging options for LiTime lithium batteries:
1. AC-DC Lithium Battery Charger: Select a charger with the appropriate voltage to safely charge the battery.
2. Solar Panels: When using solar panels, always connect a solar charge controller to ensure safe charging.
3. Alternator/Generator:
- DC Output: If your alternator or generator provides DC output, you will need a DC-to-DC charger to connect the battery.
- AC Output: If it provides AC output, use a compatible battery charger as specified in the product manual to safely connect the battery and generator.
