Lithionics Battery Firmware Update

[Snackchaser]

If you have Lithionics batteries, you should check their Firmware.  Mine was three versions outdated!  The latest version of Firmware includes upgrades and corrections to the Battery Management System (BMS) and State Of Charge (SOC) accuracy.

The Firmware can be checked and updated with the Lithionics Application.  Go to settings and pick “Firmware Update.”  Then press the “Flash Firmware” button if you don't have the latest version.  Be sure to up-date each battery.

[DanielBoondock]

These Lithionics batteries are really top drawer, and priced to boot 😅I happened to come across a video yesterday showing why

Generic Brand X: Typical cylindrical cell. Lots of plastic, zip tied and a BMS bolted on. 

Problem: Many weld points, many cells which need to be leveled, plastic construction can have heat issues and doesn't conduct heat. Glued tinker toy construction possibly more prone to issues in a trailer. 

Lithionics

Large pouch cells for higher energy density, fewer welds and leveling. Aluminum for head conduction, integrated BMS which per OP has an app and firmware updates. Also they test and there's a lower internal battery impedance. Not to mention extra features like built in heating pad and on/off/status switch

 

Edited Tuesday at 12:30 PM by DanielBoondock

[Steph and Dud B]

I like the Lithionics. Just updated mine. I do wish the app provided a change log to tell you what the version changes are.

[Snackchaser]

Here are the release notes for the current version, didn't see anything about earlier versions.  Probably only meaningful to techies:

https://lithionics.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/154000170433-firmware-release-v1-1-11-and-v1-0-11-for-the-internal-bms-batteries#:~:text=This firmware is-,specific,-to smaller batteries

[DanielBoondock]

Wow that’s a changelog! 

• Technical 
• Confusing user information, Neverdie cuts off at 10% so have remaining discharge time match, even though it still has reserve
  • After a week of rain and some vampires I left on I found my inverter off and the battery at 10%, but the lights and 12V still work. That’s NeverDie in action I believe saving the last 10% for emergency. If I’d check the remaining discharge it would have said 10% when due to this it’s zero (except the 12V appliances still work, so not sure the thinking here
• Algorithm calibration improvement
• Automatically recalibrate the usable power based on a calibration of actual performance - nice!
• Edge case if battery is powered off for a long time how some things are calculated 

previous releases are here

https://lithionics.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/folders/154000237109

This one is from 2024 so looks like now they’re not updating too often

Edited 22 hours ago by DanielBoondock

[Tom and Doreen]

14 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

 

• After a week of rain and some vampires I left on I found my inverter off and the battery at 10%, but the lights and 12V still work. That’s NeverDie in action I believe saving the last 10% for emergency. If I’d check the remaining discharge it would have said 10% when due to this it’s zero (except the 12V appliances still work, so not sure the thinking here

Likely due to the low battery cutoff parameter / selection on the Xantrex inverter. The inverter will shut off a bit before the batteries go into safe mode which is not a bad thing. The point at which this happens becomes more significant depending upon how much load the Xantrex is supplying due to the voltage drop in the wiring between the batteries and the Xantrex which varies with load. The Xantrex sees a slightly lower voltage than what actually exists at the battery terminals ( and what the internal battery management system sees).  For example if you are running your microwave the voltage indicated, (battery voltage ), on the Xantrex display will be lower than what you would read directly across your battery terminals with a voltmeter. The result being that the Xantrex will hit its low battery cutoff and shut off before the battery will go into safe mode. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Tom and Doreen

[jd1923]

Most 12VDC appliances, lights etc., will run at voltages lower than 12V. Your inverter cut-off worked as it should. 10% SOC means you're lower than 12VDC! We have Victron and Epoch vs. Xantrex and Lithionics, but it's all the same. I have alarms set at 20% SOC on our Epoch and Victrons apps, where we would stop using any major AC appliances on battery (fridge, oven, electric kettle, etc.), at this point using LP instead.

At 20% SOC on 900 Ah, our inverter will still be used to stream TV and run our A/V systems, charge electronics and the DeWalt batteries we use for tools and the Starlink Mini. Never been near 10% SOC! When we get much below 20%, it's time to setup our suitcase solar, or break camp and start towing, where the Victron Orion 50A DC-2-DC charger will on average add 40 Ah every hour on the road! 😎

Edited 1 hour ago by jd1923

[Snackchaser]

4 hours ago, Tom and Doreen said:

Likely due to the low battery cutoff parameter / selection on the Xantrex inverter. The inverter will shut off a bit before the batteries go into safe mode which is not a bad thing. The point at which this happens becomes more significant depending upon how much load the Xantrex is supplying due to the voltage drop in the wiring between the batteries and the Xantrex which varies with load. The Xantrex sees a slightly lower voltage than what actually exists at the battery terminals ( and what the internal battery management system sees). For example if you are running your microwave the voltage indicated, (battery voltage ), on the Xantrex display will be lower than what you would read directly across your battery terminals with a voltmeter. The result being that the Xantrex will hit its low battery cutoff and shut off before the battery will go into safe mode. 

Well said!   The battery drops below 12 volts  at about 0-5% SOC, and the never die is 10% SOC (greater than 12 volts) as calculated by individual cell voltage.   The inverter dropout is around 10 volts. However as @Tom and Doreen stated, it would see less voltage, particularly with a load.  The inverter will always have some load from voltage drop and just being on.  So it seems like all is working well!

Edited 2 hours ago by Snackchaser