Not all lithium deep cycle batteries are the same. This article is of general nature; always refer to the specific battery manufacturer data sheet and user manual for specifications and information on fitment & usage.
What is the one thing we want to make our free camping experience in a caravan more pleasurable?
More power so we can relax and enjoy some of the creatures’ comforts from home. This is the most common answer, the ability to run our increased number of appliances, whether in a tent, 4X4, RV, Motor Home, Camper Van or Caravan.
Lithium battery technology has made this possible and has become more affordable. As a result, we can have more usable power in a smaller, light and more compact battery storage setup. In addition to having more storage capacity, lithium batteries can easily be recharged quickly by solar panels, a 240V mains power charger, or a DC to DC charger.
Why choose Lithium Batteries for your caravan?
We are finding the best & most popular option in the Australian market for replacing outdated AGM lead acid batteries in 4 X 4 caravans, RVs, camper vans, and camping are the new LiFeP04 lithium iron phosphate batteries.
They are becoming the preferred replacement batteries for caravan setups. As they are more efficient and have a higher cycle life, they are one of the lightest options available, especially where weight is a critical factor.
Leading lithium caravan batteries come in the exact sizing as the standard AGM battery. Therefore, they can drop straight in without modifying the battery box or compartment.
The new slimline lithium batteries addition allows for easy installation and substantial space-saving advantage. In addition, they are light and compact and have a much smaller footprint so they can be mounted in out-of-the-way places.
When going on off-grid adventures, we demand more comfort and with that comes the use of an increased number of appliances. Unfortunately, this significantly strains the old lead acid batteries and vehicles due to the extra weight to carry around.
Benefits of choosing deep cycle lithium over AGM.
- Reduced weight: They can be up to a third of the weight of the equivalent AGM battery; with two x 12V 100Ah batteries, you can save up to 35kg and have 60% more usable power and energy
- More efficient: Most Lithium has a minimum of 5,000 cycles when discharging to 50% compared to 500-1,000 with lead acid batteries.
- More usable energy: Lithium batteries have more usable power, as with the two x 12V 100Ah batteries, you not only can save up to 35kg in weight, but you also have more depth of discharge, to 80%
- Quick Charging: Lithium batteries have lower internal resistance and can accept a more significant charge. Back to the two 100Ah’s batteries, with a quality lithium charger, you can be fully recharged within 2- 3 hours. Compared to overnight for AGM.
- Space-saving Slimline: The advantage of the lithium slimline is the ability to be mounted perfectly behind the rear seats of 4WD or in tight areas that are not commonly used.
- Save Money: Although quality lithium batteries are a significant upfront investment, they will save you considerable money. Not only the higher cycle life but fuel efficiency and the time spent replacing up to 3 to 4 lead acid batteries over their life.
What is a LiFeP04 deep cycle lithium battery, and how do I choose it?
I am endeavouring to keep this brief and in layman’s terms.
Google “Lithium Caravan Battery”, and you get an untold number of lithium batteries on the Australian market with prices varying by thousands of dollars…….where do we start?
First up, they are not like lead-acid batteries. A lead acid battery is like an old draft horse; you keep overworking it until it dies, even though it is inefficient.
A lithium battery is an efficient electrical device with superior energy capacity, lightweight and capable of delivering up to over 3,000 cycles & 80% DOD energy. Its functions are managed by a Battery Management System (BMS)
This BMS is sophisticated hardware and software that plays a vital role in operating, monitoring and protecting the battery cells.
Standard functions of a BMS:
- Monitor & control the voltage across the cells.
- Built-in safety protection from overcharging.
- Built-in safety protection from over-discharging.
- Built-in short circuit protection.
- Monitor the battery temperature.
- Communications (Bluetooth)
Advantages of a lithium caravan battery over an AGM.
- Lightweight
- Recharge up to 10 times faster
- Longer service life
- Available in standard battery sizes
- Constant power delivery
- Higher performance
We have tried to make choosing a battery easier by rating the most popular deep-cycle lithium batteries sold by Budget Batteries.
Bear in mind there are multi brands on the market. However, we chose these over most other brands because of their quality, customer service and aftersales support.
Enerdrive Lithium Batteries
Enerdrive, a local Australian company, has been at the forefront of lithium battery systems for over 7 years. They have considerable experience in researching, designing and testing lithium batteries.
With over 3,000 systems, they are regarded as the Australian leaders in lithium batteries and self-branded charging systems for 4wd, caravan, RV and Marine applications.
The battery’s internal Battery Management System helps ensure the safe and accurate operation of the prismatic cells. It will protect you from overcharge, under-discharge, and temperature issues by monitoring each cell closely during everyday use.
Enerdrive eLite 12V 100Ah Prismatic Lithium Battery
The 12V 100Ah ELITE is an “entry-level” lithium battery that doesn’t compromise quality. Instead, quality is built to the same standards as the popular B-TEC series but without the bells and whistles of the built-in Bluetooth.
Enerdrive Lithium Battery eLITE 12V 100Ah EPL-100-12V
Enerdrive B-TEC 12V 125Ah Prismatic Lithium Battery
The new updated Enerdrive B-TEC G2 Lithium Battery is perfect for 4WDs, RVs, Caravans, Camper trailers and small watercraft. The new upgraded G2 incorporates a “Built-in Reset Button” for the ease of restarting the battery when flat. With a push of the button, the battery will come to life, ready to be recharged.
Like all B-TEC series batteries, they come with an inbuilt BMS (Battery Monitoring System) and intelligent device monitoring through Bluetooth by downloading the Android™ or Apple® app to your smartphone or tablet.
Enerdrive Lithium Battery ePower B-TEC 12V 125Ah Gen2 EPL-125BT-12V
Enerdrive B-TEC 12V 100Ah Slimline Prismatic Lithium Battery
The Enerdrive B-TEC Slimline Lithium Battery is perfect for behind-the-seat 4WDs, RVs, Caravans, Camper trailers and small watercraft. Anywhere you have a limited space that doesn’t suit the standard caravan battery size.
Like all B-TEC series batteries, they come with an inbuilt BMS (Battery Monitoring System) and intelligent device monitoring through Bluetooth by downloading the Android™ or Apple® app to your smartphone or tablet.
Quantium™ Lithium Batteries
Quantium Deep Cycle Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFeP04) batteries are a safe, high-quality,energy-efficient, lightweight drop-in replacement for traditional Lead Acid, AGM, and GEL batteries. In addition, they feature an integrated quality intelligent battery management system BMS to ensure the battery’s safe operation and protection by monitoring and managing the charging and discharging process.
Quantium™ Lithium is part of Maxon Batteries®, an Australian-owned and operated company.
Quantium™ LBS Series 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery
The Q-LBS12100, with the same case size as the 12V 120Ah battery, is designed as a lightweight drop-in replacement and is suited to camper vans, caravans, motor homes, 4WD, RV and camping
Quantium™ 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Battery Q-LBS12100”
Quantium™ LBS Series 12V 150Ah Lithium Battery
The higher capacity Q-LBS12150 using the same case size as the 12V 120Ah AGM is designed as a lightweight drop-in replacement and is suited to camper vans, caravans, motor homes, 4WD, RV and camping. You can double your usable battery capacity without modifications to the battery box.
Quantium™ 12V 150Ah Lithium Iron Battery Q-LBS12150
Quantium™ LBS Series 12V 100Ah Slimline Prismatic Lithium Battery
The new Q-LBS12100-P is a prismatic cell slimline lithium battery. This slim design allows for easy installation and has a substantial space-saving advantage. In addition, being light and compact gives it a much smaller footprint to enable mounting in out-of-the-way places.
Quantium™ 12V 100Ah Q-LBS12100S Slimline
Century Lithium Pro 12V 100Ah LiFeP04 Lithium Battery C12-100XLi
Century, Australia’s leading battery manufacturer, is a trusted name in the industry and among consumers.
Century Lithium Pro Deep Cycle batteries provide long-lasting power in recreational applications. They can deliver over 3000 cycles, longer service life, more usable energy, and 10X faster recharging.
Suitable as a replacement for standard AGM deep cycle caravan batteries.
They’re the perfect addition to motorhomes & RVs, caravans, camper trailers, boats, 4×4 dual battery systems, recreational and mobility vehicles, and portable solar applications.
The Century Lithium Pro C12-100XLi incorporates a Bluetooth monitoring system to monitor battery capacity, state of charge, health, voltage, number of cycles run time, and much more. You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play for your smart devices.
How to get more out of your lithium batteries:
Bear in mind that, like all batteries, lithium batteries will serve you well if you look after them; here are some maintenance tips:
- Avoid extreme temperatures:
Minimize exposure to high temperatures when in use or just storing. And minimise exposure to low temperatures, especially when charging.
- Do not store 100% charged or 0% charged
Consider storing them at 80% charged and not discharging them below 20%.
They do not need to be in float mode. But they should have a refresh charge when required.
- Use a dedicated quality lithium charger and charge as per the batteries datasheet:
Some lithium resellers claim you can use any charger because of the BMS. However, this may not be the case. Not all chargers are the same. Along with the chance of voiding the manufacturer’s warranty, you will also shorten the battery’s life. Why make a significant investment and not maintain it properly [Can I charge Lithium Batteries with a standard charger?]
- Avoid using fast charging:
Although they are capable of fast charging, for longevity, only when needed.
- Avoid high discharging devices:
Although they are capable of high discharging, for longevity, only when needed.
- Avoid storing in moist environments:
Check that the battery’s IP rating is suited to your application.
Here is an article by the University of Michigan on extending the life of lithium batteries. It covers a range of applications but will also apply to deep-cycle lithium batteries.
https://news.umich.edu/tips-for-extending-the-lifetime-of-lithium-ion-batteries/
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge my lithium battery with a lead acid charger?
“Do I need a dedicated charger for lithium batteries?” This is a question asked every day by caravaning people. And it gets confusing when there are claims over the internet that you can use any charger to recharge a lithium battery.
First of all, Lithium batteries are nothing like lead acid batteries and not all lead acid battery chargers are the same. If you refer to both datasheets, there are distinctive differences in the charging algorithms.
You really need to do your homework on the specific charger you wish to use, as you can cause damage to your battery if it’s incorrect.
My advice is: Why are you skimping on a proper charger if you invest significantly in quality lithium batteries? Apart from paying for itself in giving you more life out of the batteries, you are not running the risk of voiding your warranty.
Click here for more in-depth info: https://enerdrive.com.au/2017/11/29/can-i-charge-my-lithium-battery-with-a-lead-acid-charger/
Can I use these deep-cycle lithium batteries to start my car?
No! the lithium batteries mentioned in this Blog are designed for deep cycling caravan batteries and are not intended for starting.
Can I install a lithium battery under the bonnet?
Does the discharge rate affect the usable energy like lead acid batteries?
Lithium batteries are similar to their lead-acid equivariant as the battery capacity will be lower when using high-draw appliances. The higher the discharge (Draw), the less capacity or energy available for use.
The discharge rate is the energy you use from the battery over a set time. So, for example. If using a high-draw appliance, then the capacity of the battery will be less than if you had a lower draw over a longer time.
Think of this as your car. If you drive steadily, you will get better fuel economy than driving radically or at higher speeds.
Are the Lithium Batteries safe?
The type of lithium chemistry used in the ones mentioned in this Blog is (LiFeP04) Lithium Ferro (Iron), and Phosphate (LFP), which is the safest lithium-based battery chemistry available. This is very different from the more commonly used Lithium Ion. Lithium Ion uses Lithium Cobalt Oxide. These much more volatile batteries can suffer from thermal runaway, causing fire or explosion.
Batteries using the LiFeP04 are one of the safest ways to provide power. In addition, they can give a consistent source of energy for your off-grid camping trip.
Bear in mind they like all batteries, they are a stored energy source, and you need to take caution. Even the traditional lead acid batteries have been known to explode, causing damage.
LiFeP04 lithium Phosphate Iron batteries do not give off any hydron gases. However, they have an extra layer of protection with the internally fitted BMS, which protects the cell and you when connected.
Product Information Links
Enerdrive 12V 100Ah elite Lithium Battery EPL-100-12VLITE
Enerdrive B-TEC 12V 125Ah G2 Lithium Battery EPL-125BT-12V G2
Enerdrive B-TEC 12V 100Ah Slimline Lithium Battery EPL-100BT-12V-SLIM
Quantium LBS 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Battery – LiFeP04 Deep Cycle Q-LFP12100
Quantium Datasheet
Maxon Quantium Q LFP Series User Guide
Quantium LFP 12V 150Ah Lithium Iron Battery – LiFeP04 Deep Cycle Q-LFP12150
Quantium LBS 12V 100Ah Slim Line Lithium Iron Battery – LiFeP04 Deep Cycle Q-LBS12100S-P
Century Deep Cycle Lithium 12.8V 100Ah Battery C12-100XLi
Summary:
Hopefully, you have a little more understanding as buying a new lithium battery isn’t easy, especially with all the brands and marketing on the internet and Facebook. Nevertheless, there are many reputable lithium batteries on the market. However, we have only looked at the brands we have had first-hand experience with and know they are quality products with after-sales service.
As with all batteries, there is a lot on the market not only selling inferior products with a lower capacity but also overstating the labels’ capacity.
When buying, look at the after-sale backup. Can you talk to someone if you need advice, or is it an overseas business just dumping products onto the Australian market?
- Are they a local company?
- Can I ring and talk to someone if I have an issue?
- Can I get after-sales technical advice?
- Do they have a local presence in Australia?
- Is this price too good to be true?
There are various reasons why you might want to buy any of the batteries in this guide. But, overall, they are all lithium batteries with A-grade cells and electronics.
If you opt for the Enerdrive, you can’t go wrong as they are our pick for their expertise, technical support and lengthy warranty.
If you opt for the Quantium battery, a no-frill quality product priced right because it is imported directly by our parent company.
Next is the Century, which, although they are a newcomer to lithium, always stands for quality. They also have an outstanding nationwide warranty.
