Why you should compress your LiFePO4 battery! And why it does not matter... 🤷‍♂️

I know, I know... the oldest question since the invention of lithium batteries again: should you compress or should you not compress your cells?
To answer this question, I have here some information form a battery expert which I explain very detailed in this video. Mainly, there is only one reason to compress your cells. And this only for a certain amount of time.
Well, who would have thought that the actual reason so many people compress, has nothing to do with extending the life of the batteries.
All information here in this video...

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[tiredofeverythingnew]

In this video, host Andy discusses the topic of battery compression for lithium iron phosphate cells, explaining the reasons behind compressing cells and why it sometimes doesn't matter. The video focuses on the insights from Marcus, a battery expert who has studied electrode materials in lithium batteries.

Marcus explains that compressing cells is not meant to prevent swelling and delamination, as this occurs on an atomic level and cannot be stopped by any amount of force. The actual reason for compressing cells is to squeeze out tiny gas bubbles that arise from the porous material inside the cell during the first few charging cycles. This helps improve the battery's overall performance and longevity.

However, Andy also emphasizes that compression might not matter in certain cases, such as when cells are purchased from resellers who haven't compressed them during testing. In these cases, the damage has already been done and compressing them later on would not make a difference in the lifetime of the batteries.

[hummmingbear]

I gave my cells a big hug when I got them and hopefully that squeezed out all the bubbles. I compress them with my love.

[Eulhofer]

"Der Drops ist gelutscht" - so nice.... Thank you and many greeting from rainy and cold germany, Wolfgang

[aday]

When I built mine 1-1/2 years ago, I used your recommendations regarding compression (none). I was getting nervous after your recent vids. Glad you sorted this out for us.

[Oleg_John]

An NKON company representative recommends compression. I don't think it can get any worse. Or better yet, questionable. I do the compression with two metal plates and four 8mm studs. Self-soothing is a great thing!
Thank you for the video.
Oleg, Ukraine.

[PhilHughson-xy]

Two possible scenarios I think a fixture (not necessarily compression) could be a good thing. I built two 48v batteries 1 year ago, one of them is installed in my boat - I wanted to minimise damage caused by vibration. The other battery is running my house. The key thing here I used flexible bus bars on both batteries between all cells to allow small movement due to vibration and swelling. I was more concerned about any movement damaging the cell terminals / electrodes.

[АндрейИванов-код]

Дякую. Взнав щось нове. Підписався. Дай боже здоров"я

[TechUbyJames]

I love how people get so beside themselves because we don't do what they think we should do. Andy you do you! And if no one likes it oh well. I love ya!!! Keep doing you!!!

[waldemarfrank]

Danke Andy für kurze und gute Erklärung. Dann bin ich auch beruhigt und werde an meinen akkus nichts ändern und mir keinen Kopf zerbrechen. Top Videos mach weiter so.

[ralfkremer]

Hey Andy, great you used that fantastic Interview video. What is missing now is the aspect of connecting the cells. Bus bars are rigid whereas cables connect the cells in a flexible way and can compensate the breathing of the cells …

[jdbrinton]

Finally, a definitive answer on this subject. Thank you so much!!

[Zerobrain]

Great Video!
I especially liked the part that you watched the my video several times ;-)

[matthewknight]

Andy... i dont have a lot of money and i just received my first 8 lifepo4 and the other 8 should be here in a few days. Im building a 560 ah eve battery with grade a cells. I need my batteries to last as long as possible and i appreciate the work you do and all the videos. Hopefully they last a long time and give me and the wife years of off grid life.

[CarstenSaager]

One obvious benefit from compression is that you fix the whole assembly to avoid stress on the busbars, and you are right, for this you don't need much force, the assembled batteries in a PE casing does the job

[rosmisha]

Great and powerful research! Greetings from Ukraine, I am just getting ready for winter shutdowns and will build my lifepo4 battery. Your videos help me a lot with this

[dieselbstversorgerfamilie]

Thank you so much for your informations aboute compress cells or not. My research has revealed the same. And thank you for your very informative videos! Greetings from Sweden...

[davidpatrick]

Thank you for helping my upstairs to function better... good research and reporting.

[FutureSystem]

Great one Andy, answers a LOT of questions. We’re all still learning about these cells, and probably will still be in 30 years, (though based on family history I won’t be here then.)
However in the meantime, I’m still planning to be here anyway. Maybe I can beat the odds, and maybe my batteries will also still be going. 😁

[boatelectricaldiy]

Another great video, one of your best Andy.

Fixture IS important, but no, you don't have to do it. Cycle life might not be important in your high capacity installation, but most DIY installations are on a budget, and cycle way more then you do. My marine customers usually do a 600AH 12vdc installation that gets a full cycle every day or two. These installations average 250 to 300 cycles a year for my commercial customers that recharge with a diesel generator or shore power (no solar).

You brought up something I'm pretty sure I failed to mention in my previous explanations. The cells do in fact swell and compress. Like I motioned in previous comments, the major swelling you've experienced is avoidable with a fixture, it's why I said that cells should only be removed when empty. The level of swelling you've experienced is completely avoidable.

As for your statement that cells won't be damaged by compressing after they have severe swelling, my friend I encourage you to do so and see for yourself the fluid flowing out of the seal( It will make a great video =). Fluid breaking though the seal is damage. The question then becomes, how much damage can be done before cell capacity is affected? I personally have have not been willing to push past the seal breaking point after doing it the first time. If you flatten them until they are as flat as new cells will they burst and compromise the vacuum? inquiring minds want to know. Lets see that video Andy! For Science!!1

[gumpster]

Great breakdown on this issue where nobody could really give a clear answer. Happy to see it put to rest.