1. What is the Life Cycle Formula?

The life cycle formula estimates the actual number of charge-discharge cycles a lithium phosphate battery can undergo based on its rated cycles and depth of discharge. It helps predict battery lifespan under different usage conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the life cycle formula:

Where:

• Rated Cycles — Manufacturer's specified cycle life at standard conditions
• Depth of Discharge — Fraction of battery capacity used per cycle (0-1)

Explanation: The formula shows that shallower discharges (lower DoD) result in more total cycles over the battery's lifetime.

3. Importance of Life Cycle Calculation

Details: Accurate life cycle estimation helps in battery selection, system design, and cost analysis for applications using lithium phosphate batteries.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the rated cycles (typically 2000-5000 for LiFePO4) and depth of discharge as a decimal (e.g., 0.8 for 80% DoD).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does depth of discharge affect cycle life?
A: Deeper discharges cause more stress on battery chemistry, reducing total cycles before capacity degradation.

Q2: What are typical rated cycles for LiFePO4?
A: Most lithium phosphate batteries are rated for 2000-5000 cycles at 80% DoD.

Q3: Does temperature affect cycle life?
A: Yes, extreme temperatures can significantly impact actual cycle life beyond what this formula calculates.

Q4: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a basic estimate but actual performance depends on many factors including charge rates and temperature.

Q5: Can this be used for other battery types?
A: The relationship is similar but coefficients would differ for lead-acid, NMC, or other lithium chemistries.