We can always see terms like 0.1C, 0.5C, 1C, C1, C10, C20 on some battery packages, labels, specifications, and manuals, then what do they mean?
Firstly, for 0.1C, 0.5C, 1C, and others with a number before the symbol C, we refer to the current. C refers to the value of the battery capacity.
"C" is used to indicate the ratio of the charge and discharge current of the battery, that is the rate. For example, a 1200 mAh battery, 0.2 C means 240 mA (0.2 mA of the 1200 mAh battery), and 1 C means 1200 mA (1 times rate of the 1200 mAh battery). Normally high discharge rate batteries can be fast charged. However, since lithium ions are embedded in the negative electrode graphite during charging, the process of inserting lithium ions into the positive electrode during the discharge process is difficult, so the fast charge rate is generally lower than the discharge rate.
As the new generation of energy storage battery, LiFePO4 battery has the features of much longer cycle life, much higher constant power, much better high-temperature performance, much more stable, and more eco-friendly (Cobalt Free).
In power applications, LFP batteries can be discharged at currents up to 3C, 5C.
In energy storage applications, a discharge current of 1C is sufficient for most cases.
In home solar applications, a current discharge of 0.2C to 0.3C is most common. For example, for a 5kWh home solar battery, the discharge power is usually between 1kw and 2kw.
In the case of air conditioners with higher power, a 10kWh home solar battery can support more than 5kW power.