Replacing a single cell in battery

[Justin.Clements]

Hi all,

One of the prismatic pouch cells in my lifepo4 battery has died. It's showing zero voltage and although it doesn't appear puffed the pouch is loose and the sides are not smooth like the remaining cells. I assume there has been some physical damage.

The cell has no writing on it and so I don't know if it's an A123 manufactured cell or a RFE manufactured cell or more likely made by a smaller
manufacturer.

I notice that the nominal voltage of A123 cells are 3.3v and RFE cells 3.2v although both will charge to 3.6v. So would either cell be compatible with the rest of the pack (16s), or can you not mix cells from different manufacturers?

Thanks,

Justin

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Your battery is scrap without it, so you're risking the cost of one cell against a usable battery. A mismatched cell might not be ideal, but it should work as long as it has the same capacity as the rest and can give the same current.

BMSBattery still sell some LiFePO4 cells:
https://bmsbattery.com/78-lifepo4-cell

 

[Justin.Clements]

Your battery is scrap without it, so you're risking the cost of one cell against a usable battery. A mismatched cell might not be ideal, but it should work as long as it has the same capacity as the rest and can give the same current.

Thanks again Dave, the one I was looking at on ebay can't be shipped apparently since a change in regulations so I'm back to square one.