LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries

[Graham W]

According to the German version of the Torqeedo 2014 catalogue, which is now published, the fast charger will be 85 watts at 3 amps, reducing battery charge time by around half to 6 hours.  The German RRP is €99.

See http://www.torqeedo.com/uk/downloads-en/catalogue

[Peter Taylor]

According to the German version of the Torqeedo 2014 catalogue, which is now published, the fast charger will be 85 watts at 3 amps, reducing battery charge time by around half to 6 hours.  The German RRP is €99.

See http://www.torqeedo.com/uk/downloads-en/catalogue

Thanks for finding that! It sounds like a voltage converter to give 28V or more and recharge the Torqeedo from my 12V battery would be an option worth exploring although it will be important to limit the current to around 3 amps. The step up unit from Hong Kong (mentioned in previous post) does indeed sound to fit the bill but could turn out expensive if customs duty is applied.

[Graham W]

I managed to complete 3.4 recharges of my iPad from my 20ah LiFePO4 battery before the battery management system shut the battery down because of low voltage.

I don't know what I was doing wrong last time but this time I got just over five complete recharges of my iPad from the new battery.  The 240v mains charger for the iPad is rated at 10w and it usually takes 4-5 hours to recharge, so that seems about right.

[Graham W]

Thanks for finding that! It sounds like a voltage converter to give 28V or more and recharge the Torqeedo from my 12V battery would be an option worth exploring although it will be important to limit the current to around 3 amps. The step up unit from Hong Kong (mentioned in previous post) does indeed sound to fit the bill but could turn out expensive if customs duty is applied.

The Torqeedo manual says that the charge should be limited to 4A, as does the Australian shop, so the step-up controller that I mentioned is comfortably inside the limit at 3.4A http://www.ebay.com/itm/WaterProof-12V-32V-3-4A-109W-DC-DC-Step-UP-Power-Converter-Regulator-/301045461741  Mine arrived this morning without attracting any, er, extras.

Another possibility is a much cheaper variable output step-up controller like this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271254847313?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649  You can vary the output to suit the state of the battery's charge and see what you're doing on the LED display.  However, it's not waterproof and it looks a lot less robust.

[Graham W]

Some postings on lithium batteries and ancillary equipment found their way on to a BC20 thread, starting here http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,1238.msg8894.html#msg8894