Motorhome/ship lithium battery not charging? Read to solve!

October 24 2023, by Sally Zhuang, 8 min reading time

Due to their superior energy density and longer lifespan, lithium batteries are very popular. Still, dealing with charging issues can be quite annoying and inconvenient. The aim of this article is to highlight the typical causes of lithium battery charging problems, provide troubleshooting advice, and provide best practices to prevent such problems from occurring.

How are lithium batteries charged?

When charging lithium batteries, it is important to follow the correct charging algorithm. The process includes various steps to ensure safe and efficient charging:

Preconditioning Phase: This step prepares the battery for charging by checking its voltage levels and ensuring they are within a safe range.

It is important to use a charger specifically designed for lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. Using an incompatible charger can cause damage and even pose a fire hazard. Following these guidelines will help ensure safe and effective charging of lithium batteries.

Common reasons why the lithium battery is not charging

If a lithium battery is not charging, it is important to consider several possible causes. These range from problems directly related to the battery itself, such as damage or age, to external factors that have nothing to do with the battery. Some research and troubleshooting may be required to determine the specific cause and find a solution.

1. Battery protection mechanisms activated

Most lithium batteries are equipped with a BMS (Battery Management System), which can protect the battery from overcharging, over-discharging, over-current, overheating and short circuits. Some improved BMS with low temperature protection function can protect the battery even in sub-freezing temperatures.

If a lithium battery cannot be charged, a possible cause could be overheating of the battery itself or the charger. If the device overheats, the undertemperature protection can be triggered and the charging process can be deactivated. In such cases, it is important to allow the battery and charger to cool down before attempting to charge again. It is also important to ensure that the charging environment is within the recommended temperature range for lithium batteries. This prevents overheating and ensures safe and efficient charging.

Battery with low temperature protection, like the Power Queen 12V 100Ah low temperature LiFePO4 battery: If the temperature falls below 0 °C (32 °F), the battery management system (BMS) stops charging. Although it may happen that these protections are activated accidentally, it is important to recognize their importance in ensuring the safety and longevity of the battery.

In addition, in the event of overcurrent, deep discharge or deep discharge, the BMS protection is also activated and the charging process is stopped.

2. Faulty charging equipment

Insufficient charger voltage is a common cause of problems when charging lithium batteries. Chargers provide the voltage required to charge the battery. So if the output voltage is too low, the battery will not charge properly. To solve this problem, it is important to use a charger that has the correct output voltage for your specific lithium battery. The voltage specifications of various LiFePO4 battery packs and systems can be found in the table below.

Can I charge my LiFePO4 battery with a lead-acid charger? Well, it is highly recommended to charge LiFePO4 lithium batteries with LiFePO4 battery chargers as they have different charging logic than lead-acid batteries. Charging a LiFePO4 battery with a lead-acid charger may not fully charge the battery and may cause long-term damage.

3. Battery Age

Battery age can affect the charging performance of a lithium battery. Over time, lithium batteries naturally degrade and their capacity decreases. As the battery ages, it can no longer store and release the same amount of energy as when it was new. This can lead to charging issues such as slower charging speed, reduced charging capacity, or even complete charging failure. The battery's internal chemistry deteriorates, resulting in increased internal resistance that can affect charging.

In addition, the battery's ability to effectively hold a charge decreases with age, making it more difficult to achieve a full charge. Therefore, if a lithium battery is old and worn out, it may have difficulty accepting charge properly or may not be able to charge at all.

Troubleshooting tips for resolving lithium battery charging issues

1. Recheck your connections

If your lithium battery is not charging, it is important to check all connections again. Take a moment to wiggle the wires and look for any loose connections that may need to be tightened. This includes the connections to the battery and all other connections in your electrical system. Even a slightly loose connection can cause problems, including problems charging your batteries. If you tighten any loose connections and test your system again, you may find that this resolves the problem.

2. Use a clamp-on ammeter and a voltmeter

To safely test the current flow through your system, consider using a clamp-on ammeter and a voltmeter. These tools allow you to clamp the meter around the wiring, eliminating the need to connect and disconnect your cables. By measuring the number of amps going in and out of your batteries, you can identify potential problems in your system. If you have multiple batteries in your battery bank, it is important that each battery makes an equal contribution to the current draw.

Putting one battery under greater stress than the others can shorten its lifespan and cause your lithium battery to not charge. Additionally, you can use the meter to test the voltages on both the batteries and your charger. A voltage above the battery's nominal 13.2 volts indicates charging. If the voltage is not high enough, your charger may not work properly.

3. Reset the battery to exit low voltage disconnect mode

If your battery has a low voltage disconnect function, such as b Power Queen Batteries, it is important to get the battery out of this mode. First, disconnect all connections to the battery. Then leave the battery for 30 minutes. The battery automatically restores normal voltage (>10V) and can be used after fully charged.

4. Make sure you have a suitable charger

If you have recently installed a lithium battery into your existing electrical system, it is possible that your current charger is not sufficient. Lithium batteries can handle higher power and charge faster compared to other battery types. Therefore, you may need to upgrade your charger or adjust its settings to suit your lithium batteries. Please refer to your charger and battery documentation for compatibility information.

5. Seek professional help

If you have exhausted all troubleshooting steps and still cannot solve the charging issue, it is advisable to seek professional help. Contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician who can analyze the problem and provide expert advice or repair services.

Can an empty lithium battery be recharged? How do you charge a completely empty lithium battery?

If the battery is completely discharged, it is called an empty battery. Prolonged periods of inactivity can cause a lithium battery to enter a sleep state through self-discharge, depleting its performance. Here are two methods to restore dead lithium battery.

Method 1. Use a charger with 0V charging function to fully charge the battery.

Method 2. Connect a regulator that supports LiFePO4 battery voltage charging to charge the battery for 3 to 10 seconds on sunny days.

Conclusion

This article introduces some common reasons and troubleshooting tips for lithium batteries not charging. Batteries from Power Queen have a 5-year guarantee. If you have any battery issues, please email service.de@ipowerqueen.com. We're here to help.

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