How to Charge Dakota Lithium and LiFePO4 Batteries
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Unlock the potential of your Dakota Lithium battery with a lithium compatible charger, optimized to ensure the best performance, and a long lifespan for your lithium battery. Compatible with lithium-ion (li-ion), lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP), lithium-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC), or lithium titinate oxide (LTO) batteries.
All Dakota Lithium batteries should be charged using a LiFePO4 compatible charger like any in this collection. SLA or lead acid chargers will reduce the performance and lifespan of the battery. Specifically lead battery chargers use a lower voltage that will only fill 80% of a lithium battery, while also stressing the lithium chemistry. Lithium chargers charge at a higher voltage, and are programmed to optimize the lithium chemistry for a longer life. Lithium chargers also allow for a charging time that is 5X faster then lead acid, as fast as a 1 hr charge time (1C).
When choosing a lithium charger look for one that is the same voltage as your battery (12V for 12V batteries, 36V for 36V batteries, etc.) and decide how fast you want to charge your battery. The higher the amp rating (A) of the charger, the faster your battery will charge*. To determine the charge time divide the amp hour (Ah) rating of the battery by the amp (A) rating of the charger. For example, a 3 amp charger would charge a 10Ah battery in 3.3 hours (10 Ah / 3 Amps = 3.3 hrs).
*Please note for safety the amp rating should not exceed the amp hour rating of the battery, for example using a 10A charger with a 7 Ah battery would damage the battery.
Dakota Lithium Battery | Recommended LiFePO4 Charger & Charge Time | Faster Charger Option
12V 10Ah Battery | 12V 3A LiFePO4 charger (3 hrs) | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (1 hr)
12V 18Ah Battery | 12V 3A LiFePO4 charger (6 hrs) | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (1.8 hrs)
12V 23Ah Battery | 12V 3A LiFePO4 charger (8 hrs) | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (2.3 hrs)
12V 54Ah Battery | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (5.4 hrs) | 12V 20A LiFePO4 charger (2.5 hrs)
12V 100Ah Battery | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (10 hrs) | 12V 20A LiFePO4 charger (5 hrs)
12V 200Ah Battery | 12V 10A LiFePO4 charger (20 hrs) | 12V 20A LiFePO4 charger (10 hrs)
24V 50Ah Battery | 24V 5A LiFePO4 charger (10 hrs) | 24V 20A LiFePO4 charger (2.5 hrs)
24V 100Ah Battery | 24V 5A LiFePO4 charger (20 hrs) | 24V 20A LiFePO4 charger (5 hrs)
36V 63Ah Battery | 36V 8A LiFePO4 charger (8 hrs) | 36V 18A LiFePO4 charger (3.5 hrs)
36V 100Ah Battery | 36V 8A LiFePO4 charger (12 hrs) | 36V 18A LiFePO4 charger (5.4 hrs)
48V 96Ah Battery | 48V 8A LiFePO4 charger (12 hrs) | 48V 15A LiFePO4 charger (6 hrs)
72V 55Ah Battery | 72V 10Ah LiFePO4 Charger (5.5 hrs)
Create unlimited off-the-grid power systems with Dakota Lithium + solar chargers. All Dakota Lithium batteries are optimized for use with solar panels. Dakota’s Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology has the highest efficiency rate of any battery for the storage and use of solar energy. For smaller batteries (<50Ah) and solar panels <80 watts you can connect the solar panel directly to the battery. For larger batteries, or solar panels with more than 100 watts we recommend a lithium compatible solar charge controller to optimize the charging voltage and increase the efficiency of the system.
Connect your deep cycle Dakota Lithium house batteries to your engine’s alternator for rapid charging when driving. For both safety, performance, and battery lifespan we recommend a lithium compatible DC-DC charger for charging from a boat, truck, RV or van’s alternator.