Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Naturally aspirated tech and talk
User avatar
j1nx3d
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:07 pm
Location: New Zealand
Has thanked: 96 times
Been thanked: 22 times
Dave W. wrote: Fri Apr 07, 2023 12:37 pm I put the NOCO battery in my daily driver, so I don't need to use a charger. My voltmeter typically shows 13.8 to 14.0 while driving so I don't believe it's necessary to charge at the recommended 14.5V. IMHO optimum charging is at 14.5V but 14.0 seems to work just fine.
Cold starts are great. The engine spins quickly with no sign of struggle. I also have newish battery cables between battery, starter and alternator, and a newish starter.
Driving with all electrical loads on, such as headlights, wipers, fan and brake lights, the voltmeter shows 13.6V. Typical night driving with just lights on is 13.8V.
BTW I just bought another NLP30 for my other car. Prices on eBay/Amazon seem to be coming down.
Hi Dave.W, I was discussing the NOCO NLP30 with @R3wir3d and he had some good questions I was hoping you could help with:

What is the attitude of the battery if it gets abused or treated less than desirable, what are the ramifications?
What if it gets drained completely, what damage does this cause?
Does it need to be kept on a battery tender for long periods of no use?
CGM '86 944S3 conversion
(968 3.0L, 6 -spd LSD)

#21

Dave W.
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2021 6:32 pm
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 22 times
j1nx3d wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:55 pm
Dave W. wrote: Fri Apr 07, 2023 12:37 pm I put the NOCO battery in my daily driver, so I don't need to use a charger. My voltmeter typically shows 13.8 to 14.0 while driving so I don't believe it's necessary to charge at the recommended 14.5V. IMHO optimum charging is at 14.5V but 14.0 seems to work just fine.
Cold starts are great. The engine spins quickly with no sign of struggle. I also have newish battery cables between battery, starter and alternator, and a newish starter.
Driving with all electrical loads on, such as headlights, wipers, fan and brake lights, the voltmeter shows 13.6V. Typical night driving with just lights on is 13.8V.
BTW I just bought another NLP30 for my other car. Prices on eBay/Amazon seem to be coming down.
Hi Dave.W, I was discussing the NOCO NLP30 with @R3wir3d and he had some good questions I was hoping you could help with:

What is the attitude of the battery if it gets abused or treated less than desirable, what are the ramifications?
What if it gets drained completely, what damage does this cause?
Does it need to be kept on a battery tender for long periods of no use?
I think it would be best if you send those questions to the guys at NOCO directly. I don't know the finer details, I just bought 2 of them and have observed my voltmeter while driving.

#22

Ajay213
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2022 6:57 am
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 8 times
j1nx3d wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 7:55 pm Hi Dave.W, I was discussing the NOCO NLP30 with @R3wir3d and he had some good questions I was hoping you could help with:

What is the attitude of the battery if it gets abused or treated less than desirable, what are the ramifications?
What if it gets drained completely, what damage does this cause?
Does it need to be kept on a battery tender for long periods of no use?
The advice to ask Noco directly is spot on. However some generic info;

1. Abused how? The more common abuses are deep discharge and/or overcharging. Over is the one that can get you in trouble, but most batteries are built to off vent when they are getting that level of abuse, that is regardless of the design of the battery. But if you abuse it right it will overheat and eventually catch fire and or the casing will explode. Note that is true of every battery out there, lead acid batteries have burned down FAR more cars than lithium has - and checkout Youtube, plenty of videos of people abusing batteries and the results that happen. Note that any decent lithium battery will have controllers to protect itself from over charging and temp sensors to protect itself.

2. Same as every other battery, it damages the battery. A lithium battery can be discharged farther than a lead acid/AGM battery before you get to the point of no return, but it is still not good for the battery - and sooner or later you will get to a point where the battery can no longer recover from the discharge. As above, those same controllers will kill the battery at a certain discharge point to protect itself.

3. No...and yes. Lithium batteries don't self discharge like a lead acid battery will. Basically take both types of batteries out of the car, charge them to 100% and take the charger off, and in a couple/few months the lead acid battery will be at like a 50% state of charge, the lithium will be at a 95% state of charge (or better). The yes part about keeping it on a tender in a car environment is that every car has parasitic drains, sometimes very little, sometimes a lot, but it's a reality.

Any good Lithium car battery will contain a battery controller that will not allow for over-charging or deep discharging and will monitor battery temps, once it hits whatever limit it will disconnect the battery and not allow whatever to continue until conditions change. Hence one of the reasons why you spend so much more on a Li battery.

#23

User avatar
blueline
Moderator
Posts: 6086
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2022 12:22 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee
Has thanked: 4435 times
Been thanked: 2411 times
@Ajay213 Excellent advice - thanks for posting!

By the way, Welcome to Carpokes!
Tim
Current:
'26 911 Carrera S - PTS Verde British Racing Green
'24 Cayenne S - Algarve Blue Metallic
'21 718 Cayman GTS - Black
'22 911 Turbo S - Carmine Red
'21 718 Cayman GT4 - White
'11 GMC 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 - Black

Musik-Stadt Region

#24

cp99
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2023 10:25 am
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 22 times
Purchased the NLP-30 and test-fitted it using a home construction framing bracket (had to make one bend) and making some “custom” adapters to connect the battery cables to the battery terminals, which do not have your traditional posts. The battery has a female threaded hole and bolt included, so that is how the bracket is attached.

I will redo the bracket and terminal adapters now that I know it’ll work. I want a “Singer” level of fit and finish, so will paint or powder coat the bracket black. The battery is so light it is firmly held in place by the one bracket. I’ll also cover up the terminals to prevent accidental arching, and top it off with the factory battery lid.

The NLP-30 weighs about 5 pounds and barely registers on a bathroom scale. It has started my car fine over the last couple weeks, though the temperatures have not dipped below 40. I’m loving it so far!
Add Pictures/Files
IMG_1447.jpeg
IMG_1447.jpeg (2.65 MiB) Viewed 1272 times
Boston-area, MA

#25

Aaron_N
Posts: 26
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2023 11:58 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 18 times
How are those Lithium batteries holding up for everyone? Nice to get some real world feedback.

I am thinking the Motobatt MHTX30 or MHTX20 hybrid batteries might be the best of both worlds. They are 15 or 10 lbs (depending on model) but designed to work with conventional alternator charging and also have decent amp-hour ratings. Pricey, but maybe worth it...

#26

User avatar
stitch2k1
Posts: 293
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:32 pm
Location: Orlando, FL
Been thanked: 30 times
I just saw something called Antigravity Batteries. I might consider their H6 replacement for my S2 in the future.
Porsche 944S2 5MT '91
BMW E39 540iT 6MT '00
Mercedes-Benz W201 190E 2.6 5MT '89
IG: @stitch2k1

#27

dr bob
Moderator
Posts: 622
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2021 9:30 pm
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 248 times
Been thanked: 245 times
I recall a bit of discussion a few years ago now related to some sourcing issues with Antigravity Batteries. I don't remember the specifics. Due diligence seems like it might be important.
dr bob

1989 928 S4, black with cashmere/black inside
SoCal 928 Group Cofounder
928 Owner's Club Charter Member
Former Ex Bend Yacht Club Commodore Emeritus

Free Advice and Commentary. Use At Your Own Risk!

#28

User avatar
Tom
Site Admin
Posts: 8923
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 2:04 pm
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Has thanked: 932 times
Been thanked: 3991 times
Contact:
stitch2k1 wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:06 pm I just saw something called Antigravity Batteries. I might consider their H6 replacement for my S2 in the future.
This may be about the only time I link to RL, but see post #33 in the link below. The whole thing left a very sour taste in my mouth about both AG and RL....

https://rennlist.com/forums/964-forum/1 ... doa-3.html

#29

User avatar
Larry C
Posts: 1655
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:56 pm
Location: Los Angeles
Has thanked: 592 times
Been thanked: 667 times
Tom wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:51 pm
stitch2k1 wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 8:06 pm I just saw something called Antigravity Batteries. I might consider their H6 replacement for my S2 in the future.
This may be about the only time I link to RL, but see post #33 in the link below. The whole thing left a very sour taste in my mouth about both AG and RL....

https://rennlist.com/forums/964-forum/1 ... doa-3.html
Ugh👎🏻
2022 Cayman GTS 4.0
2019 Audi RS3 (sold)
2016 VW Golf R (sold)
2013 Audi S4 (sold)

#30

Post Reply