[spdas]

If I have 20 TS 100ah, is it OK to series mix in a second bank of 20 Calb 100ah to have 40x100ah @ 128v? Or better to just get more TS? thanks
Francis

 

[icec0o1]

Do you have a BMS? How do you charge your batteries? Theoretically you can mix and match any cells you want although your pack will be as strong as your weakest cell.

 

[spdas]

Will be charging TS and Calb seperately. francis

 

[dtbaker]

probably not as good to 'mix' if you can avoid it. differences in internal resistance, capacity, etc will mean that you, or your BMS, will have to be more careful to keep things in balance and not over or under charge.

 

[spdas]

I know there has been some recent discussion that Calb is a bit better than TS now. Is it mostly what is better Ford vs Chevy? or is calb actually better? 180ah Calb vs 200ah TS/ Both are about $1.25ah now?


thanks
Francis

 

[DIYguy]

If you are going to mix batteries, I would say you pretty much have to run with a BMS and I would look for the one that has the most shunting current. I think you may be able to go BMS free if you have a pack that is close in capacity between cells. In your case, unless you want to do a discharge capacity test on all of them....

As for brand.. .you have to do your homework and make your own decision. You will find supporters of every brand if you look for it. I spent my time and decided to go with Calb.

Good luck.

 

[dimitri]

If you are going to mix batteries, I would say you pretty much have to run with a BMS and I would look for the one that has the most shunting current. I think you may be able to go BMS free if you have a pack that is close in capacity between cells. In your case, unless you want to do a discharge capacity test on all of them....

Shunting has nothing to do with mixing different cells in one string. I have a mix of TS and CALB in my pack and it works perfectly fine. As long as all cells are the same chemistry like LiFePo4 and similar capacity, they mix just fine. Obviously pack is limited by its smallest cell, but brand is not relevant.

 

[DIYguy]

Shunting has nothing to do with mixing different cells in one string. I have a mix of TS and CALB in my pack and it works perfectly fine. As long as all cells are the same chemistry like LiFePo4 and similar capacity, they mix just fine. Obviously pack is limited by its smallest cell, but brand is not relevant.

I never said brand was the issue. I said capacity was. If you have different capacities, which is quite possible when mixing brands, then shunting would help to balance them. Why would this be considered irrelevant?

The comment regarding brand selection was from a different post by the same guy....

 

[dimitri]

I never said brand was the issue. I said capacity was. If you have different capacities, which is quite possible when mixing brands, then shunting would help to balance them. Why would this be considered irrelevant?

The comment regarding brand selection was from a different post by the same guy....

This only plays role in initial pack balancing. Once initial balancing is done amount of ongoing balancing does not change whether you mix 90AH and 100AH or 50AH and 100AH cells, that was my point. Initial balancing should be done manually anyway, so BMS shunting capacity is not very relevant.

Of course this is all assuming you believe in the need of ongoing balancing to begin with, which is a separate debate I will not be sucked in to again