Upgrade-itis vrs Lifepo4 cycle time

[DRZ400]

With the recent availability of cheap A123 20ah cells I'm seriously considering upgrading my 24 Calab 40AH either completely or a 20AH sub pack. The CALB's are rated at 3C where as the A123's are reported to be 15C continous. Although I've been very happy with the Calabs, they were a huge improvement over the AGM's....15C cells are hard to ignore! Makes me think, I have about 75 cycles on my Calabs that were supposed to last me some 2000 cycles. Does cycle time really matter in a technology that is improving so much every year?

[ardhout]

What do you mean with a sub pack? An extra pack just parallel to the original Calbs? Or a pack that will be used only when requiring many amps when accelerating fast?
75 cycles is not much, maybe you can use them for something else?

[Skeezmour]

I also like the CALB cells very much but for bikes I need just a bit more power from them. I think a small pack of those 20ah A123 cells would be so much fun.

[DRZ400]

What do you mean with a sub pack? An extra pack just parallel to the original Calbs? Or a pack that will be used only when requiring many amps when accelerating fast?
75 cycles is not much, maybe you can use them for something else?

Yes in parallel. Oh, I'll find something to do with them!

[DRZ400]

I also like the CALB cells very much but for bikes I need just a bit more power from them. I think a small pack of those 20ah A123 cells would be so much fun.

Yeah, I'd like to see the ~10 volt sag during accelleration go away!

[ardhout]

I read a while ago that Mark had an extra Lipo-pack or something on top of his LifePo4 pack which kicked in when a lot of power was needed, keeping the discharge from the LiFePo4 pack below 3C.

[DRZ400]

Yeah, he made sure his sub pack was at a lower voltage and used a diode between them. Doing it that way you have to charge the packs independently.

[Doctorbass]

Here is my review of my A123 20Ah pouch i got from victpower last week:

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums...37955&start=15
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums...37955&start=30

Doc

[liveforphysics]

Yeah, I'd like to see the ~10 volt sag during accelleration go away!

I so hear you on this. Saggy packs are so unsatisfying to use.

[Skeezmour]

I so hear you on this. Saggy packs are so unsatisfying to use.

Is lipo the new "little blue pill"