Lithium iron phosphate batteries are popularly known for their long cycle life, and performance.
When people are on the lookout for durable batteries, LiFePO₄ batteries is one of the first options, and that’s because compared to other batteries, it has a longer cycle life, lighter weight, and better safety performance.
This might obviously not be your first time hearing about LiFePO₄ batteries and how they come highly recommended. But the question everyone is curious about is “how long does it last”, “do I need to get it replaced every month or on a yearly basis?”
In this article, we’ll answer your questions and even give you tips on how to store your LiFePO₄ batteries to get the best performance out of them.
First Things First: What Is A LiFePO₄ Battery?
LiFePO₄ stands for Lithium Iron Phosphate, which represents a specific type of lithium battery known for its numerous advantages over lead-acid batteries and other lithium battery variants. These advantages include extended lifespan, reduced weight, enhanced safety features, and more. As a result, LiFePO₄ batteries are experiencing growing popularity within the industry.
What is the lithium iron phosphate battery's life expectancy?
The lifespan of LiFePO₄ batteries is up to ten years. LiFePO₄ batteries, on the other hand, are not indestructible and must be replaced once they have outlived their usefulness. Multiple recharges of the LiFePO₄ battery are possible, but each one cuts down on the battery’s life by around 25%.
The typical life of a LiFePO₄ battery is three years. The battery might then start to lose its capacity to hold a charge and would then need to be replaced.
The quantity of charges and discharges a LiFePO₄ battery has experienced determines how long it will last. Before losing capacity, a brand-new LiFePO₄ battery should withstand 300–500 charge cycles. Our LiFePO₄ battery can last 5000+ cycles, which is more than 10 times the cycle life of traditional lead-acid batteries.
The life of the LiFePO₄ battery can change depending on the frequency, amount, and other aspects of use. Under normal use, LiFePO₄ batteries typically last between two and four years. The battery’s lifespan can be increased to 6 or even 8 years depending on how frequently or infrequently it is used.
Understanding the factors that affect the life of LiFePO₄ Batteries
Carefully review and commit to memory the various factors that influence the lifespan of a lithium iron phosphate battery.
Use the right quality charger. Poor quality chargers can shorten the life of LiFePO₄ batteries.
Do not let the battery sit too long with a low charge. The life of the battery will be greatly reduced if it is discharged all the time.
Do not overcharge. Overcharging will shorten the life of the LiFePO₄ battery.
Standby status. Is your battery always in a dormant state?
Device Maintenance. Are your connected devices kept neat and spotless? Cleaning all ports will help extend battery life.
How to Look After LiFePO₄ Batteries?
There are a few things we should pay attention to extend the lifespan of our LiFePO₄ batteries and optimize their performance.
Charge The LiFePO₄ Batteries Correctly
To ensure optimum performance over the LiFePO₄ batteries’ lifetime, we need to properly charge them. One of the main causes of decreased battery life and poor performance is overcharging. Overcharging can cause heat inside the batteries, and extreme overcharging may cause a fire.
The maximum voltage of each LiFePO₄ battery cell is about 4.2V. It is recommended to charge the battery to about 3.65V per cell, which ensures a lower charging temperature and prevents damage to the battery over the long term.
Over-discharging may also cause damage to the LiFePO₄ batteries. The proper DoD range is 70-80%.
Store The LiFePO₄ Batteries Carefully
Proper storage is also essential if you want to take good care of your lithium iron phosphate batteries.
The batteries may self-discharge during storage (<3% per month for LiFePO₄ batteries), and high temperatures will reduce the capacity and performance of lithium batteries. So, storing the batteries at a suitable ambient temperature can prolong their life. The following is the recommended storage temperature range:
- One month: -20 °C to 60 °C
- Three months: -20 °C to 45 °C
- Six months: -20 °C to 25 °C
How to Properly Store and Maintain A LiFePO₄ Battery To Prolong Its Lifespan?
Improper storage is a prevalent factor contributing to the failure of lithium iron phosphate batteries. To ensure the long-term health of your battery, it is crucial to store it correctly. Conversely, the charging process and device maintenance play a significant role in determining the lifespan of LiFePO₄ batteries.
To maximize the lifespan of your battery, follow these steps:
- Utilize appropriate chargers consistently.
- Avoid keeping your LiFePO₄ battery in a fully charged or depleted state for extended periods.
- Ensure proper storage conditions for your battery.
- Minimize the usage of power-intensive applications that quickly drain battery life.
To conclude
While it’s true that LiFePO₄ batteries cost more in the market, they are worth every penny. Whether you want a battery for normal use or heavy use, getting a LiFePO₄ battery is the best choice.
Not only is it safe to use, but it’s also designed with heavy users in mind. You can use it for hours without affecting the battery’s health, but you can’t say the same for lead-acid batteries.
If you wish for your LiFePO₄ battery to have a long lifespan, you must be mindful of its storage and charging, so the lifetime isn’t affected.
