Buss Bars with LiFePO4 prismatic cells

Dr. Dickie

Dr. Dickie

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Sep 23, 2020
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So, the prismatic LiFePO4 cells come with aluminum terminals.
Does everyone use aluminum buss bars with their set-up?
Has anyone used copper buss bars? If so, did you experience corrosion (as a chemist, I am well aware of the reactivity between these two metals).
Has anyone used nickle coated copper buss bars? If so, any problems with nickle to aluminum connections?
Anyone use the No-Ox grease on different metal connections.? Problems, no problems?
Just gathering as much info as I can before my cells arrive (I have all of the above types of buss bars-- just haven't decided which I am going to go with.
Thanks
 
Interesting problem.
I'm not a chemist so correct away!
They often come with stainless bolts too & I understand stainless steel & aluminum aren't the best of friends either.
Q: Would you expect grease - maybe plain petroleum jelly or that No-Ox to stop aluminum forming the usual surface oxide layer? (I don't know so asking!)
Wouldn't aluminum buss bars to aluminum terminals be the best bet? Except for the aluminum's love for O2?
Probably same as you, I'm wondering if you freshly eg sanded each surface of Al terminal to Al buss bar (to remove oxide) then immediately assembled them (with grease?) & torqued, etc, would the junction still develop an oxide layer.
 
On my battery I am using non-coated aluminium bars. No pastes use or whatsoever. I cannot see any oxidation after more then a year of operation. Bolts are stainless, as well the washers on top of the bus bar. @Dr. Dickie, at which time frame are we looking to notice any reaction?
 
Roland W said:
On my battery I am using non-coated aluminium bars. No pastes use or whatsoever. I cannot see any oxidation after more then a year of operation. Bolts are stainless, as well the washers on top of the bus bar. @Dr. Dickie, at which time frame are we looking to notice any reaction?
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I would expect that within a year you would see something. But you are using aluminum to aluminum, that should be fine.
I would not expect a great reaction between stainless and aluminum, copper and aluminum, not sure--as aluminum reacts to form a passivization layer to prevent further reaction, but in direct contact, not sure if that might be able to overcome the layer.
 
OffGridInTheCity said:
I've seen several youtubes where they use a paste to take care of the aluminum <--> copper issue. Here's (what I think is) an exmaple from Lowes - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gardner-Bender-1-oz-Ox-Gard-Anti-Oxidant-Compound/4514334 It's cheap and simple?
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Yeah, that is the same No_Ox I think. I think right now I will probably go that route, use the No-OX and try copper to aluminum and see what happens. Of course all of that depends on my cells actually getting here:)
 
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