About this replacement
Gama Sonic Solar Lighting Fixtures — 12.8V LiFePO4 Replacement Battery (GS12_8V60)
This is a 12.8V, 3000mAh LiFePO4 replacement battery for Gama Sonic solar lighting fixtures using OEM part number GS12_8V60. It stores solar energy during daylight and discharges at night to power the fixture. The battery measures 212.80 × 73.60 × 30.00mm — confirm physical dimensions match your fixture's battery compartment before ordering.
- GS12_8V60 fixture compatibility: Gama Sonic fixtures using this part number share a 12.8V LiFePO4 chemistry requirement. The BMS in these fixtures expects a 12.8V nominal cell voltage and will not accept lead-acid or standard lithium-ion cells — chemistry match matters as much as voltage here.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this battery through solar charge and overnight discharge conditions on the bench. The BMS held charge cutoff correctly at 14.6V and low-voltage cutoff activated before cell damage could occur during deep discharge simulation.
- Solar panel angle during charging: Position the solar panel perpendicular to direct sunlight. Indirect or shaded light often generates insufficient current to clear the BMS minimum input threshold — the battery will not charge even in bright ambient conditions if panel output is too low.
Why the GS12_8V60 battery drains overnight after a full day of sun
LiFePO4 cells require the panel to sustain input current above the BMS charge threshold for several consecutive hours to reach full state of charge. Partial sun, cloud cover, or a low panel angle can leave the battery at 60–70% capacity by dusk — not enough to run the fixture through a full dark cycle. The BMS does not show a low-charge warning; the light simply dims or cuts out early in the night. Check panel output voltage mid-afternoon — it should read above 17V open-circuit in direct sun to drive adequate charge current into a 12.8V cell.
Battery shows no response after sitting unused through winter
LiFePO4 cells stored in a discharged state over months can fall below the BMS re-initialisation threshold, and the fixture will show no output — no light, no charge indicator. The BMS locks out to protect the cell from further discharge damage. Connect the battery directly to a LiFePO4-compatible charger at 14.6V and 1A for two hours before reinstalling it in the fixture. Once the cell voltage recovers above 10V, the BMS re-initialises and normal solar charging resumes.