By One thing is certain – lithium batteries for your motorhome are currently the hot choice on the market for mobile energy storage. Due to their advantages over other battery types, they are usually far ahead in comparison. But is a LiFePO4 battery really always the right choice? And you can find out here which features you should look out for when buying.
In short, it can be said that lithium batteries have clear advantages over other battery types. They have a low weight, which keeps the payload of the caravan or mobile home low. Another advantage is the fast charging and the high storage capacity. The lithium-ion batteries also have a high number of charging cycles (3,000) before they lose their charging power.
This makes them the ideal companion for camping, van life and Co. but also for island systems for garden houses. Our range only includes LiFePO4 batteries, which have other important advantages.
- LiFePO4 batteries are very safe and cannot self-overheat or explode.
- In addition, they are completely maintenance-free and recycling the batteries is easy and inexpensive.
- Should the discharge exceed 90%, the BMS (Battery Management System) kicks in and shuts off the current flow to prevent cell damage.
- A maximum discharge of 80% ensures that the battery life is significantly increased.
- It is also possible to connect the battery in series and in parallel. It is important that the batteries have an identical capacity (e.g. Ah) and an identical voltage (e.g. 12V).
We divide the batteries into four different core functions:
Basic series: Here you have all the advantages of the LiFePO4 battery at a reasonable price. These batteries are particularly suitable for motorhome beginners and advanced users.
High Current Series: Extremely powerful and extra high output, our High Current Series can also provide high discharge currents for a short period of time (5 minutes).
Low-temperature series: The low-temperature battery is the right choice for anyone who likes to be out and about in winter! It has a BMS (Battery Management System) and a Bluetooth interface. It also has an integrated heating mat for cold days, which makes it particularly suitable for camping in winter. Underseat batteries: You only have little space in your motorhome? But if you still want a lithium battery, then the underseat battery is just the thing for you! This is easily installed under the driver’s or front passenger’s seat and takes up hardly any space. It also offers a lot of power and fits in almost all standard motorhomes.
To find out which lithium battery is right for you, you should answer the following questions:
Which consumers do you want to operate with the battery?
It is important to know which devices you want to run on the battery so that you can meet your overall power needs. You can find out how to calculate this HERE. So that you know how high the capacity of the battery must be.
Where should your battery be installed?
Depending on how much space you have in your motorhome, you can choose between an underseat battery and a normal battery.
How would you like to charge the battery?
Here you can decide whether you want to charge the battery while driving with the on-board battery or whether you want to charge the battery with solar panel. A combination of both options is of course also possible.
How long do you want to camp independently?
Another question you should ask yourself is how long do you want to be self-sufficient, i.e. without shore power? The capacity of the battery also depends on this.
Where are you traveling to?
If you travel a lot in winter, you need a low-temperature battery so that your battery lasts as long as possible. If you travel a lot in regions where the sun shines little, then you need a battery with a higher capacity, as it takes longer to charge. However, if you travel a lot in e.g. Spain in summer, then you do not need such a high capacity.
Which inverter do you want to install?
You should also think about which power inverter you want to install.
The perfect battery for mobile power supply
Lithium battery is the generic term for two types of batteries: the lithium metal batteries and the lithium ion batteries. Our range includes lithium-ion batteries that do not contain metallic lithium, but lithium oxide and are therefore rechargeable. Since lithium scores with a high capacity and fast charging despite its very low weight, it is ideal as a consumer battery for the independent power supply in mobile homes, on boats and with other stand-alone systems.
Lithium batteries are currently the safest and most effective type of electrical storage
Lithium batteries enjoy general popularity because they bring many positive properties. In fact, they are also significantly more expensive than other types of batteries, but in the long run the investment in a lithium battery is always worthwhile. Because the service life of lithium batteries is unbeatable. With over 3,000 cycles, it is currently the longest-lasting battery type on the market. In addition, it offers, among other things, a constant and consistent performance, even when it is almost completely discharged. Probably the most distinctive feature of lithium batteries is their high energy density with low weight and volume.
The further development of lithium-ion batteries: LiFePO4
Lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are the front runner among lithium ion batteries and offer the following positive properties:
- High current low self-discharge – battery capacity loss is only 1-2% per month
- No memory effect, which means that the capacity of the battery remains comparatively constant
- Higher number of charging cycles and thus longer service life
- Deep discharge is usually survived undamaged
- Charged quickly
- Safe and environmentally friendly – recycling lithium batteries is relatively easy and inexpensive
- Thermally stable
LiFePo4 is a lithium-ion battery in which the positive electrode consists of lithium iron phosphate. This makes this battery very safe as it prevents thermal runaway. This means that they cannot overheat or, in the worst case, explode. The LiFePO4 batteries are completely maintenance-free and are therefore currently among the most powerful energy storage devices. All these positive properties are of great advantage for outdoor applications. Above all, their compactness with high power density. The latest vehicles today are almost exclusively equipped with lithium batteries. Other typical areas of application are solar systems, mobile homes, boats and yachts as well as electromobility.
Storage Instructions
If possible, lithium batteries should not be stored below minus degrees or at extremely high temperatures (+50 °C). The best storage temperature is between 10 °C – 25 °C. Completely discharging and charging the battery should be avoided. It is better to charge the battery regularly before it is at 0% and stop at about 80%-90% charge capacity. After charging, the battery should always be disconnected from the mains. For longer storage such as over the winter, the charge level should be around 40% – 50% and checked regularly. If these measures are followed, the service life of lithium batteries is unbeatable.
