[RE-wrenches] New Lithium Batteries on Sunny Island System

Wed Nov 26 05:26:10 PST 2025

Key points of using the Classic for charging lithium are to unplug the BTS and turn off temp comp, set equalize to 1/10v higher than absorb(in case someone button pushes) and disable equalize. We have thousands in the field successfully charging lithium batteries. A WBJR and shunt can be added to provide accurate SOC.

Sue Stankevitz
MidNite Solar, Inc.<https://www.midnitesolar.com/index.php>
(360) 403-7207 (XT122)
[cid:image001.gif at 01DC5EAE.5140BD70]

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Jim Gowdy via RE-wrenches
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 12:51 AM
To: william at millersolar.com; RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Jim Gowdy <gowdyelectriccambria at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] New Lithium Batteries on Sunny Island System

Thanks for the information.  I emailed both SMA and Midnight and we'll see what they say.

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
I just left the temp sensor dangling in mid air. This way the Sunny Island at least could react to ambient temperature.

William Miller
Miller Solar.com
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com<http://www.millersolar.com>

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com<mailto:jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com>> wrote:
William, Wrenches,
I have done several over the past couple years, the only issue I had, I needed to build a resister that mimiced the BTSas 75 degrees, because the SI.s will brop and raise max voltage according to the temp, this must be changed to prevent this as the battery BMS will or at least should do that anyway. Now I dont know about your batteries and I would suggest that you look at the battery cables sizes, I looked at a system that had these so called hight output batteries with # 8 plug in cables, worked very poorly just a FYI
Fun times

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM William Miller via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Jim:

I haven’t tried lithium batteries with a traditional charge controller yet.  All of the equipment you list was designed for lead acid.  The narrower voltage range of the lithium may confuse the charge controller. Same with the AGS triggering.

I know if you call SMA for tech support they may hang up on you when you tell them there are lithium batteries.

It may work right away or you may spend a lot of time making it kind of work. I hope you can make the client understand this is an experiment. Tech support from the battery manufacturer may not be great being a Chinese company.

These days I pair lithium only with inverters designed for them.

Good luck.

William Miller
Miller Solar.com
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com<http://www.millersolar.com>

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 7:33 AM Jim Gowdy via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Hello All,
     I have a client that just got some lithium batteries and they have a sunny island inverter with a Midnight Charge controller.  I've heard and experienced integrating Lithium batteries into a Sunny Island inverter is challenging and could create problems.  Has anyone had experience with these batteries or installing lithium batteries with these components?  Below are some details about the system so far.....

System:
48v

NEW BATTERY:
China Aviation Lithium Battery CO.
model: CA180F
nominal voltage: 3.2v
rated capacity: 180Ah
rated energy: 576Wh

Inverter:
Sunny Island
model: SI 4548-US-10

CHARGE CONTROLLER:
Midnight Solar Classic 150

SOLAR ARRAY:
N/A....it was dark when I was at the site so I couldn't take any notes

--
Jim with Gowdy Electric
Cambria, Ca 93428
business  805 927 2630
cell  805 975 5279
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--
Jim with Gowdy Electric
Cambria, Ca 93428
business  805 927 2630
cell  805 975 5279
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