Help Needed: Charging New Victron LiFePO₄ Batteries to 100% for the First Time

DIY
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Hi everyone,

I’m a complete newbie when it comes to Victron equipment and could really use some guidance. I recently purchased two Victron LiFePO₄ 12.8V/100Ah Smart batteries. According to the manual, these batteries arrive at about 50% charge and need to be individually charged to 100% before being used together.

The manual mentions that you need a special charger for this initial charge, and I’m a bit confused about whether I can use the equipment I already have. I own a Victron Blue Smart charger and a Victron Smart BMS. My question is: can I use my Blue Smart charger along with the Smart BMS to safely bring each battery up to 100% for the first time? I just want to make sure I’m doing everything correctly and not damaging my new batteries.

Any advice or step-by-step guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance!

Ego

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What BMS do you have exactly?

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And are you connecting these in series or in parallel.

4

Hi, i have the SmallBMS with pre-alarm: SmallBMS with pre-alarm | Victron Energy

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Hi, in series.

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And what other components do you already have for your system?

You need to use the “charge disconnect” signal from the BMS to disable the charger.
Should be shown in the manual of the BMS.

7

Hi again, thanks for helping out!

System components:
• 2× Victron LiFePO₄ 12,8 V/100 Ah Smart batteries
• Victron Smart BMS
• Victron Blue Smart IP22 12 V/30 A charger
• Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30
• Victron Phoenix Inverter 12/2000 Smart
• Victron Orion-TR Smart 12/12-30A DC-DC booster
• Victron SmartShunt 500 A/50 mV

I’ll take a look at the BMS manual. If I have any more questions, I’ll definitely reach out again.
Thanks so much!