Li-Ion vs LiFePo4 batteries

[Just]

Hi All,

I'm a little bit confused what's the difference between the Li-Ion and LiFePo4 batteries. In some articles they are referenced as the same ones, in some as different ones. Can someone refine this point? 

Thank you!

[Andrew]

LiFePo  have a longer cycle life compared to li-ion so they have a longer life span.  i'm not sure but they may also suffer less from voltage drop??  you will still get voltage drop as you are using them but it may not be as severe as li-ion,  but again I have never used them.   Both are safe batteries to use.

Someone else maybe able to put a more technical answer on here for you.   

You will pay more for LifePo.    Be careful what what you order to make sure you get what you think you asked for.

Andrew.

[Just]

Be careful what what you order to make sure you get what you think you asked for.

What do you mean and how to know?

Are LiFePo4 batteries are heavier than Li-Ion?

Do both of them have the same nominal voltage of 3.4V? Might the same chargers be used for both types of the batteries?

[Andrew]

You said that they are sometimes called the same.  They are both lithium but are different chemistries. Try wikipedia to get info on LifePo. 

Weight will be similar.

Li-ion 18650 batteries which I have used and built into packs my self have a 4.2v fully charged and a 3.6 nominal voltage.

As I have never used LifePo  I have looked into it.

I am now starting to use Li-po, lithium polymer but thee are more volatile than the other two chemistries.   

Not sure about the chargers, they are probably different if the voltage in the batteries are different.

[Just]

I heard LiPo are very dangerous and can be exploded easily...

As far as I know, the best and affordable LiFePo4 batteries are coming from Headway.

What supplier is most popular for Li-Ion batteries?

[Andrew]

I am afraid I could not tell you where to get li-ion because I got all my batteries from a friend for free.  I have hundreds of them.  I tear down the packs now and again and rebalance each battery, chuck any that do not hold a charge of 4.1 to 4.2 and then rebuild the packs.

Where are you in the World?

Hesadway batteries I think are very good,  but there is nothing wrong with Li-ion.

[Just]

Where are you in the World?

EMEA 

[Andrew]

I ha e sent you private messages.  EMEA does not narrow things down very much to see where you could source a battery

[Just]

Last time I ordered the LiFePo4 batteries from HobbyKing - they have 30C continuous discharge current and light weight.

[Andrew]

sounds good to me. so what's the problem?

[Just]

No problems, just thought Li-Ion is a new technology, but it's an old one..

[Andrew]

no, LifePo4 is better.  A 30C discharge rate is really high.   my lipos are only 25C.  As said in an earlier post this will decrease voltage sag, which li-ion is more prone to.

 

[e-lmer]

Lithium Ion is the class of chemistry of the batteries.

LiFePO4, Lithium Iron Phosphate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiFePO4 cells in general
have a higher power density and are less volatile than
standard Lithium Polimer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_polymer_batteries or  Lithium Ion batteries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

Clearly what we need are these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanowire_battery