Hi BruceM, have you ever used or tested LiFePO4?

Sorry Roy, I can't follow your reasoning, but it's definitely a language limitation of mine.

And, most likely, the discussion I made about discharge curves in the two previous messages was not understood (certainly because I am the one who doesn't explain myself well).

I was sceptical at first but now only us Pb gel batteries when I need the weight for ballast. I use an Overlander LiPo charger which has given me successful battery life of 3 plus years. To prevent fires etc I only use batteries from a reputable firm like Overlander not cheapo Chinese ones.

Hi Alessandro nearly all our modellers on the web site have used SLA batteries and you put down the experience I have had to an effect I have never heard of wheras it is a straight forward piece of arithmetic.

I have not seen the lead acid batteries you refer to at the size suitable for model use.

I compared NiMh as they were known batteries to me and the arithmetic was about Amp hour capacity calculations rather than battery types.

Roy

Thank you very much ToraDog but there is no rush.

Alllesandro,
I am headed out the door and will post photos of the battery later this morning
.

Sorry, Roy, but I've never mentioned NiMH batteries in this thread.
I actually talked about LiFePO4 and compared LiFePO4 with AGM lead-acid and LiPo batteries.

Apparently, theoretically, LiFePO4 batteries are considered among the safest in the world, despite belonging to the lithium battery family.
This was precisely one of the topics I wanted to explore further and a question that needed answers based on firsthand experience.

Hi Allesandro I do not agree.
Just to compare SLA and NiMh at say 5Ah each stated capacity.

SLA to give the full capacity has to discharge for 20 hours which is 250 mamps multiplying 20 x 0.25 = 5 (Ahrs).

NiMh which will deliver full capacity over 5 hours and gives a discharge rate of 1 amp for 5 hours. As I said witness the price difference.

I have run both of the above and stopped using SLA batteries years ago.

To answer the other question I do not use for my models any Lithium batteries purely from a safety angle.

The last part of your post supports the arithmetic I have put forward.

Regards
Roy

Hi Roy, I think the difference you noticed could be explained by the Peukert effect. Lead-acid batteries (including AGMs) are very susceptible to this phenomenon: the faster you discharge them, the less total energy they can deliver. This is why manufacturers publish tables for up to 20, 100, or even 120 hours (C20, C100) to show the maximum capacity achievable with very slow discharges. Lithium is almost immune to the Peukert effect. Whether you discharge the battery in 1 hour or 10, the capacity restored is practically the same (close to 100%). There's no point in "extending" the times in the tables because the data wouldn't change significantly. Lead-acid batteries have a high internal resistance; discharging them quickly (e.g., 1-2 hours) causes the voltage to drop very quickly. LiFePO4 batteries maintain a flat and constant voltage even under heavy loads, making very long-term analyses unnecessary. AGMs are often used for very long and weak backup loads. LiFePO4 batteries are designed for deep cycling and high performance, so tests focus on their ability to handle high currents in short periods of time (1C, 0.5C, or 0.2C, corresponding to 1, 2, or 5 hours).
In short: AGM ratings serve to "save face" for the battery by demonstrating capacity that would otherwise be unavailable in rapid tests; lithium ratings serve to confirm that power is readily available.
This is a plausible hypothesis.

Have you ever used or tested LiFePO4 batteries?

Great question, Yabbie1, you hit the nail on the head.
Indeed, at least in theory, AGM lead-acid batteries have a higher starting current than LiFePO4, making them suitable for starting electric motors.