LiFePO4 Cell Configurations

12V, 24V & 48V

This deck shows the most common configurations for
using LiFePO4 Cells to build 12V, 24V and 48V batteries.
 Series-Only (1P) Configurations 12V, 24V & 48V
Ah= Cell Ah 4S Ah= Cell Ah
Wh= 12V x Cell Ah Wh= 24V x Cell Ah 8S

BMS

BMS
12V
Ah= Cell Ah
Wh= 48V x Cell Ah 16S

BMS BMS

8S
(alt layout)
BM
S
16S
(Alt layout)
48V 24V
 2P Wiring for 12V batteries
Voltage = 4 times cell voltage = Nominal 12V for LiFePO4
Ah= 2X Cell Ah (assuming balanced Cells)
Wh= Voltage X Battery Ah = 12V x (2 x Cell Ah) = 24 x Cell Ah

4S

4S

2P 2P 2P 2P
BMS

2P
BMS BMS

2P4S
(Parallel-First)
Note: As shown on the Series 4S
only (1P) layouts, this can have
Alternate physical layouts that 4S2P
could optimize the footprint to
the needs. (Series-First)
 2P Wiring for 24V Batteries
Voltage = 8 times cell voltage = Nominal 24V for LiFePO4
Ah= 2X Cell Ah (assuming balanced Cells)
Wh= 24V x (2 x Cell Ah) = 48 x Cell Ah
8S

3.2V 9.6V 16V 22.4V

8S

2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P BMS
0V 25.6V
6.4V 12.8V 25.6V

2P
3.2V 9.6V
8S 16V 22.4V

BMS
BMS
0V 25.6V

6.4V 12.8V 25.6V

2P8S 19.2V

(Parallel-First)
8S2P
(Series-First)
Note: As shown on the Series
only (1P) layouts, each of these
can have Alternate physical
layouts that could optimize the
footprint to the needs.
 2P Wiring for 48V Batteries
Voltage = 16 times cell voltage = Nominal 48V for LiFePO4
Ah= 2X Cell Ah (assuming balanced Cells)
Wh = 48 X (2 x Cell Ah) = 96 x Cell Ah
16S
2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P 2P

BMS Balance
Harness not shown

BMS
2P16S Parallel First

16S

BMS Balance
Harness not shown

BMS
2P

Note: As shown on the Series

only (1P) layouts, each of these
BMS can have Alternate physical
layouts that could optimize the
16S2P Series First footprint to the needs.
 Series first vs parallel first
There is a lot of debate about whether series-first or parallel-first is best. The fact is, both of them
are used successfully by many people. The ‘correct’ choice comes down to the particular situation
and the designer's preference.

Parallel-First Series-First
Pro Con Pro Con

• Simplicity of a single • Must use higher • Each cell is monitored • Complexity of two BMS and
BMS (Fewer corner current BMS and managed making sure the corner
cases, less electronics • Only 'groups' of separately. cases are covered.
that can go bad) cells are managed • If one bank goes out, • Doubling the BMSs can
• (possibly) Lower Price and monitored you still have the other increase cost
of the single BMS • With only one bank bank • Doubling the BMSs doubles
• The BMS balances there is no fall back • You can use lower the circuitry that can go
everything redundancy current BMSs to build bad.
up a High current • The multiple BMSs don't
solution. balance between the two
banks
 Note About Weight

LiFePO4 cells are considerably lighter than any form of Lead-Acid, but
as the cell count goes up the battery can still get very heavy.

Example. the EVE 280AH cells weight in at 5.2 Kg (11.5 LBS) each cell
8 cells = 41.2Kg (93 Lbs)
16 cells = 82.4Kg (184 LBS)
Add the weight of Box and bits it becomes unwieldy quickly.
 Series first vs parallel first – Personal Preference
Warning: The following is the authors personal preference. There is no right or wrong

I do builds both ways, but I prefer Parallel first.

• I believe that if you start out with good matched cells, the likelihood of one cell
drifting way out from the others is very low so I don't feel a need for monitoring
individual cells.
• I am a strong believer in simplicity
• In most of my builds, having half capacity does not help much.

When I do series first it is usually because the BMS available will not handle the
current for a parallel-first configuration.

Other folks on the forum *strongly* believe Serial-First is the only way to go.

Each designer must decide based on their situation and priorities

Document Revision History

Revision 1 - Original
Revision 2 - Added comments about alternate physical layouts
Revision 3 - Added note about weight of large configurations.
Revision 4 - Added Wh (Watt Hour) Calculations.
 Oversized Bus-bar Bonus: Possible 12V 4P4S Fortune Cell Layouts
Factory Bus-bar

A C
(This layout was shown in Will’s Video)
BMS
BMS
6”
10.5”

21”

B 12”
D
BMS

12”
BMS 5.25”

10.5” 24”