Ultimate Dash Cam Battery Pack Comparison

[SafeDriveSolutions]

This thread will be dedicated to testing 6 Dash Camera battery packs
- @70mai_Official 7500mAh
- @Thinkware Dash Cam IVOLT Xtra 7500mAh
- @BlackboxMyCar Powercell 8 7500mAh
- @viofo battery pack 7650mAh
- IROAD powerpack Max 8 8000mAh
-IROAD powerpack pro 12 12000mAh

 

[runtohell121]

Viofo battery pack? Unannounced product? 😀

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Viofo battery pack? Unannounced product? 😀

It is considered pre production. But for the sake of this video I was told I can talk about it.

 

[Vortex Radar]

My my, look at all that beautiful electron storage! Looking forward to hearing your takes on how they compare. 🙂

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

My my, look at all that beautiful electron storage! Looking forward to hearing your takes on how they compare. 🙂

It was heavy. I had to hold them together with 3m tape.

 

[runtohell121]

It is considered pre production. But for the sake of this video I was told I can talk about it.

Can't wait to find out more - sort of in the market for a battery pack though I did back the Kickstarter campaign for the 70mai T800 + battery pack.

 

[Nigel]

This thread will be dedicated to testing 6 Dash Camera battery packs

Any chance you could post charge voltage/time graphs for each? Don't need much resolution, just curious if they are being charged sensibly for the battery chemistry to give reliability and decent lifespan, and also how long it is going to take to get a useful amount of charge into them...

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Any chance you could post charge voltage/time graphs for each? Don't need much resolution, just curious if they are being charged sensibly for the battery chemistry to give reliability and decent lifespan, and also how long it is going to take to get a useful amount of charge into them...

They were all charged at 12.5 to 13.8 volts between wanptek and home made chargers.

 

[Nigel]

They were all charged at 12.5 to 13.8 volts between wanptek and home made chargers.

Thanks, I was interested in the LiFePO4 cell voltages, so the voltage on the 12V output rather than the input voltage.

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Thanks, I was interested in the LiFePO4 cell voltages, so the voltage on the 12V output rather than the input voltage.

Okay 2 questions
1. output voltage to dash cameras?
2. Output voltage from cells? (This one i wont do)

 

[Nigel]

Okay 2 questions
1. output voltage to dash cameras?
2. Output voltage from cells? (This one i wont do)

I think those are the same?
Not expecting you to measure every cell, unless they provide the data in some diagnostics.

The 12V output to the dashcam hardwire kit does vary in voltage, I think that is connected directly to the cells, hopefully via some sort of fuse/high current cutoff, so we should see what voltage the cells are being charged to, and how long it takes to reach maximum voltage (which is different to how long it takes for a full charge), and also how far they are discharged before cutoff.

 

[GPak]

......
The 12V output to the dashcam hardwire kit does vary in voltage, I think that is connected directly to the cells, hopefully via some sort of fuse/high current cutoff, so we should see what voltage the cells are being charged to, and how long it takes to reach maximum voltage (which is different to how long it takes for a full charge).....

@Nigel , I think the data you are asking for (should also include the current) is the internal Charge Controller and BMS data, not available to @SafeDriveSolutions .

However, given that most of these batteries charge in about an hour or at 1C, which is the practical limit under ideal conditions for a regular LFP cell, they are prioritizing fast charging over longevity of the battery.
Furthermore, to charge the battery in an hour, 1C must be applied from 0 to 100%, i.e. a single-stage "forced charge".
If this is not the case, and they are using 2 stage CC-CV charging algorithm then the average charge rate must be 1C meaning at some period of time the actual C-rate is higher than 1C limit.
Neither of these are conducive to battery longevity.

I like your above testing suggestion if the result is presented as a voltage vs. time function.
It would also be useful to measure the input current (this is not the internal current that flows into the cells, but still gives an idea of what is going on).

 

[Nigel]

It would also be useful to measure the input current (this is not the internal current that flows into the cells, but still gives an idea of what is going on)

Maybe SDS could record a timelapse video showing the test, and showing the power supply giving input voltage and current, and a multimeter or phone app showing the output voltage and %charged, and a time stamp or clock for the time?

 

[Nigel]

Furthermore, to charge the battery in an hour, 1C must be applied from 0 to 100%, i.e. a single-stage "forced charge".
If this is not the case, and they are using 2 stage CC-CV charging algorithm then the average charge rate must be 1C meaning at some period of time the actual C-rate is higher than 1C limit.
Neither of these are conducive to battery longevity.

I am also wondering how well the cells are balanced when they arrive at the customer? A forced charge on an unbalanced battery is bad news! An unbalanced battery will also not get a full charge, so the capacity is reduced until it balances itself. I doubt that these batteries are getting fully balanced at the factory?

 

[ujsc]

When are you going to release the video on this competition?

 

[TonyM]

How about we all give @SafeDriveSolutions a chance to actually post some content in this thread before chipping in with all the requests?

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

When are you going to release the video on this competition?

Hopefully Saturday. I have recorded a lot of it already. But some people are making me second guess that I have not done enough. So I will see what more I can do before Saturday.

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Maybe SDS could record a timelapse video showing the test, and showing the power supply giving input voltage and current, and a multimeter or phone app showing the output voltage and %charged, and a time stamp or clock for the time?

I appreciate your request. But we have found that some of this style content people find very boring.

I do feel possibly having a time lapse of seeing how quick they charge may be a good idea. I will see if we can add that in.

 

[jsmith]

@SafeDriveSolutions

1. Are you going to do a battery drain test for uptime / runtime and also heat test to check durability (Hot Car)?

2. What about build quality and durability (Housing). Do any of the batteries feel sturdier than another?

 

[lufa6977]

However, given that most of these batteries charge in about an hour or at 1C, which is the practical limit under ideal conditions for a regular LFP cell, they are prioritizing fast charging over longevity of the battery.
Furthermore, to charge the battery in an hour, 1C must be applied from 0 to 100%, i.e. a single-stage "forced charge".
If this is not the case, and they are using 2 stage CC-CV charging algorithm then the average charge rate must be 1C meaning at some period of time the actual C-rate is higher than 1C limit.
Neither of these are conducive to battery longevity.

A few years ago, I examined the chemistry of many of the batteries used in these power packs, most of which were not rated for more than 1C charge rate. However, it appeared that to meet the charging times and capacities the manufacturers were stating, a 1.5C to 2C charge rate was being used. As I recall, anyway. In high-quality cells, there is leeway built in for charge rate, but I have seen lower-quality cells fail after a few months of charging at too high a rate.