Using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries in your UPS system comes along with numerous benefits. This article covers the 11 advantages of using LiFePO4 batteries over traditional ones like the lead-Acid accumulators.
We've gone beyond just describing the usual benefits by revealing to you the reasons behind every concept we've captured. So, after reading this guide, you'll have all the necessary knowledge crucial when selecting your next UPS battery. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are a game changer due to the following factors.
1.They Exhibit Superior Longevity
Is there anyone who doesn't want something they can use for years without multiple problems? Well, the truth is that we all prefer products that are durable enough. We just want something that will let us spend less on maintenance, and that's why a LiFePO4 battery might be the right option for your UPS project.
Starting with their cycle life, we find Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries to offer something not many other options do. With the stable nature of the phosphate material, these batteries let you take advantage of a remarkable cycle life. For instance, a LiFePO4 battery can undergo up to 5000 charging-discharge cycles before its total capacity drops to 80%. The excellent cycle life means many years of maximum power storage for optimal operation of your UPS system.
The same trend is true when it comes to calendar life. With this regard, we find LiFePO4 batteries to serve consistently for up to 10 years or even more, from the time of installation. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are also ideal for long-term applications because of their extended lifespans. You may consider obtaining them if your primary goal is to minimize recurrent costs, while still delivering enough power to your backup units.
2.Their Safety Is Top-Notch
The next thing you want to talk about after securing more years of operation is the safety of your UPS system's components and yourself. LiFePO4 battery manufacturers understand that safety is key, and have equipped the batteries with various safety-enhancement mechanisms.
One of the factors making Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries safe is the chemical stability of their components. This implies that things like overheating or explosions that may result in physical injuries to people or secondary damage are less likely to happen. As a result, LiFePO4 batteries fit well even in environments where temperatures should remain low, without any serious issues.
The generation of less heat prevents potential damage that may occur due to explosions, adding significantly to the already excellent lifespan of LiFePO4 battery units. Moreover, less heat means minimal energy losses, and that leads to impressive battery efficiency.
3.Highly Scalable
The ability to scale up the storage of your UPS system is fantastic and only Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries can allow you to do that. UPS batteries need to be easily scalable because you may want additional power in the future. Scalability is also important when you want to boost the runtime of your UPS backups in response to changing power availability trends.
What makes LiFePO4 UPS batteries ideal is their modularization. They don't come as one solid unit but in the form of multiple modules which you can add or reduce as necessary. This makes it more seamless to upgrade your LiFePO4 batteries than their lead-acid counterparts, which are usually fixed in design.
The availability of LiFePO4 batteries as modules is also a game-changer when the installation space is a problem. The level of flexibility Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries offer makes it possible for you to easily fit the units in spaces with varying sizes or shapes.
4.Tolerance To a Wide Temperature Range
If you're after obtaining reliable UPS performance in various installation environments then a LiFePO4 battery might be your best friend. Unlike the traditional lead-based accumulators, these batteries can maintain an optimal performance within a wide temperature range, usually from -20°C to 60°C.
Lead-acid batteries would experience significant efficiency reductions in very low temperatures. Unfortunately, scorching environments aren't their cup of tea either, since too high temperatures make lead-acid battery components wear and malfunction over time.
So, the best action to take to not worry about extreme temperatures ever again is to get yourself a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. With one in place, you can install your UPS system anywhere, including outdoor spaces with very little efficiency or safety-related concerns.
The tolerance of LiFePO4 batteries to a wider temperature range makes them an ideal option during winter or summer. It also means that the batteries can perform impressively despite your location or region of residence. Most importantly, your UPS will get a steady supply of power whether in hospital or industrial environments.
5.Decent Tolerance To Partial Charging
Partial charging occurs when your UPS battery doesn't stay on charging until it's full. Most battery types, especially the lead-acid accumulators don't tolerate repeated partial charging as it wears their cells out, thus reducing the maximum capacity of the battery after some time.
On the contrary, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have very stable chemical and physical structures, which allow them to undergo multiple partial charging without any issues. Therefore, if you have LiFePO4 batteries, you should feel free to use them even if not charged to maximum capacity. Nothing negative can happen to their cycle life or overall health because they've been optimized to withstand such scenarios.
6.Can Supply Large Amounts of Current Within a Short Time
Again, the amount of power your battery can supply at a given moment varies significantly with battery technology. Some UPS batteries cannot supply huge amounts of current within a short time as they would overheat and experience serious structural deformations.
So, conventional battery technologies such as lead-acid accumulators are perfect only for uses that require moderate electrical energy but for an extended time. Connecting heavy loads to lead-acid batteries minimizes their lifespan and makes the UPS installation project less cost-effective.
The ideal choice if you don't want problems associated with higher rates of discharge is a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. Such a battery can supply a lot of current within minutes or seconds, but still retain its structural and chemical integrity, for longer service lifespans.
7.Impressively Lower Self Rate of Discharge
Even though many aren't aware, batteries lose energy even when not in use through the self-discharge process. That means batteries with low self-discharge rates are much better than those that would lose their electrical energy more rapidly. With only a 3% monthly rate of self-discharge, LiFePO4 batteries can stay idle for more than a month and still be able to power your UPS systems whenever such a need arises.
The self-discharge rate in traditional batteries such as lead-acid accumulators is way higher than that of the LiFePO4 batteries. Standing mostly above 10% every month, a UPS system that uses lead-acid accumulators won't run if the battery stays idle for one or two months. The battery shall have lost a lot of energy during that period, making the Lithium Iron Phosphate option ideal for long inactive sessions.
8.Outstanding Energy Efficiency
The main reason for Installing a UPS unit is to ensure power is constantly available within your target premises. Unfortunately, that can happen only if you have a battery with remarkable energy efficiency. Even though battery technology has continued to advance as time goes by, traditional options such as lead-acid accumulators still lag in many aspects of energy efficiency.
Lead-acid accumulators, for example, are popular for slow charging, which makes using them a major concern in places with rampant and prolonged power disruptions. In fact, a lead-acid battery can take up to several hours to hit full capacity, with their LiFePO4 counterparts reaching 80% of total capacity in just an hour.
The energy efficiency of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries is outstanding and usually ranges from 95% and above. This is way above the efficiency of lead-acid batteries, which lies between 70 to 85%. LiFePO4 UPS batteries generally exhibit a much higher energy efficiency because they generate less heat during operation, and have a lower internal resistance to the flow of current.
9.Extremely Portable
Sometimes we need to think beyond the usual things and consider the portability of our UPS systems when purchasing batteries. As opposed to lead-acid batteries, Lithium batteries boast immense portability, something that makes them fit for various applications.
Due to their relatively smaller size and lighter weight, LiFePO4 batteries make life a little easier when we want to move our UPS systems around. That means you can use them anywhere you feel suitable for your needs such as indoors, inside your RV, and at camping sites, among others. All these can't be as straightforward as you may believe if you're using the heavier and larger traditional lead-acid accumulators.
10.Very Affordable In The Long Run
You cannot undertake any project without considering the affordability of the different inputs it will need. So, while lead-acid batteries are relatively less expensive to purchase, they always come along with a huge maintenance price tag.
You may, therefore, never find them quite affordable in the long term, which is why we recommend Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries for affordability.LiFePO4 UPS batteries boast longer lifespans than lead-acid batteries.
They rarely break down, thereby letting you spend less money for maintenance purposes. What's more, the longer calendar life and cycle lifespan translate to minimal replacements. This is what gives the LiFePO4 batteries a more reliable long-term cost-effectiveness we're talking about.
11.Encourage Environmental Conservation
The world is rapidly shifting to LiFePO4 UPS batteries because the underlying technology is more aligned with environmental wellness.
For example, the superior longevity of the batteries leads to minimal chances of disposal and keeps our environment clean. Additionally, the phosphate material LiFePO4 batteries are made of is less harmful to the environment than a heavy metal such as lead in lead acid batteries.
What We've Discovered
Choosing LiFePO4 batteries for your UPS system can reward you in many ways. Notable advantages of Lithium Iron Phosphate UPS batteries include low maintenance costs, tolerance to wide temperature variations, improved safety, excellent performance, fast charging, low self-discharge rate, long-lasting, environment conservation, and a high level of scalability.
Get your first ever LiFePO4 battery today and join others in embracing change and maximum reliability.
