Did you know you can instantly improve your RV, by switching to lithium iron phosphate batteries? These batteries effectively replace traditional deep cycle lead acid batteries, offering enhanced safety, longevity, and performance. In this post, we’ll tell you why an RV lithium battery conversion is essential, and explain how to do it.
Why Do I Need An RV Battery Upgrade?
If you’ve been using lead acid, AGM, or gel batteries in your RV, you’re probably aware they’re the cheapest option. But they come with caveats like:
- Short lifespan (4-6 years)
- Need a lot of maintenance and watering (especially flooded lead acid batteries)
- Susceptible to corrosion and leaks
- Heavy (a lead acid RV battery weighs around 65 pounds)
- You can only use about 50% of their total capacity.
- They’re not partial charge tolerant
- Can experience voltage sag.
Granted, sealed lead-acid batteries like gel and AGM offer slight improvements. But the basic chemistry remains the same.
For an RV battery upgrade, you may want to switch to a new chemistry type: lithium. Lithium batteries last 5-10 times longer and weigh only half as much as traditional deep cycle lead acid batteries.
When you think of lithium, you might think of phone batteries or the kind with dangerous cobalt. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. For your RV, you need a lithium iron phosphate-oxide battery known as LiFePO4.
Benefits Of LiFePO4 Batteries For Your RV
At some point during your battery search, maybe you Googled “LiFePO4 RV batteries” and balked at the price point. Don’t close the door on them just yet. Let us explain why they’re actually a better investment than lead acid.
Lithium RV batteries have the longest lifespan of any battery type available. We’re talking 10-12 years minimum. Or maybe more, depending on how often you use them. A battery’s lifetime is measured in cycles, and LiFePO4 batteries are rated to last around 5,000 partial cycles. Compare that to lead acid’s measly 500 partial cycles. It’s like comparing the lifespan of an elephant to a fly. Because of this, lithium batteries are typically the better investment long-term, even cost-wise, because you’re not consistently replacing dead batteries over the next decade or two.
At the very least, your battery will last 4 times longer. But you won’t pay 4 times the price. Plus, Ionic LiFePO4 batteries come with an industry-leading warranty, ensuring long-term value and reliability. This extended life and warranty mean fewer replacements and more adventures, enhancing the quality of life for RV enthusiasts.
Additional Benefits of Converting RV to Lithium Battery:
- 10-12+ year lifespan. Again, LiFePO4 batteries last around 5,000 partial cycles, which consistently means 10-12 years of consistent use, and often more.
- Install them anywhere. Unlike lead acid batteries, lithium batteries don’t contain water or acid. You can install them sideways or upside-down with no problem.
- They can stay inside your RV without ventilation.
- 1/2 the weight of lead acid batteries. Increase your RV’s power capacity without weighing it down too much.
- Our industry-best 11-year warranty.
- You can use almost 100% of their capacity.
- No maintenance, and no need for water/electrolytes.
- Partial charge tolerant.
- 5x the charging speed
- No voltage sagging.
- Not susceptible to corrosion or leaking. Better for the environment (and your family).
- Better performance in extreme temperatures. (Some lithium batteries also include heaters so you can charge with ease in winter).
- Overcharging and over-discharging protection (built-in battery management system)
- Our lithium RV batteries come with Bluetooth capabilities. You can view battery stats on your phone. See how much power you have left, how much longer your battery will take to charge, and more.
RV Lithium Battery Conversion: How To
First of all, you’ll be happy to know that our LiFePO4 batteries are drop-in ready. That means you can install them right where your previous house batteries were. They have the same connections as lead acid batteries, making it easy to replace your old batteries.
So, if you already know what size battery you need, RV lithium battery conversion is as simple as switching one battery out for another.
How To Find The Right Size For Your RV Battery Upgrade
If you’ve bought a new RV, or are unsure what size you need, start by identifying the voltage of your power system. Most RVs have 12V or 24V systems. So your best choice is a 12V battery (or batteries).
Next, determine what battery capacity you need. Lithium LiFePO4 RV batteries are available in 50Ah (best for a pop-up with low power demands) to 300Ah (often used in Class A motor coaches).
To determine how many amp hours you need, make a list of everything you want to power in your RV. Add up the power demand of each item. These batteries are versatile and can be used in various vehicles and leisure options such as trailers, motorhomes, vans, and boats.
If you find that one battery isn’t enough, you can connect your lithium batteries in parallel or in series. Here’s a helpful resource explaining how to accomplish this.
Need more information? Check out our helpful Lithium RV Battery Chart.
Charging Your Lithium Battery
Our Ionic lithium RV batteries are plug-and-play. They don’t require maintenance, so you could almost just connect them and forget them. Well, almost. There’s one major difference between lead acid and lithium RV batteries that you must pay attention to: charging.
You might be used to having to charge your lead acid when it’s down to 50% capacity. But those days are over! There’s no need to charge your lithium battery until (nearly) the last drop of power has petered out.
Other things to note when charging:
- It’s best to use an Ionic lithium charger. This protects your battery and extends its lifetime. A smart lithium charger can connect to our Bluetooth app, allowing you to view the time left to charge.
- Do not use a lead acid battery charger unless the voltage settings are set to the range acceptable for lithium.
Additionally, our lithium batteries are compatible with solar panels, making them an excellent choice for maximizing the potential of solar energy, especially for off-grid applications in RVs and campers. This is money spent wisely. Why? Because you benefit from extended usage, a longer life, durability, and significant weight reduction compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. And long-term, they’re less expensive, because they last so long. Okay. Let’s recap.
What are the advantages of utilizing lithium iron phosphate; a LiFePO4 battery for RVs, campers, trailers, and motorhomes?
The Ionic LiFePO4 RV battery:
- Lasts at least 4 times longer (up to 10x longer)
- Half the weight of traditional batteries
- Rated to last 5000 cycles; roughly 14 years of extended usage
- More consistent output
- Is maintenance free
- Is more cost-effective than lead acid long-term
Have questions about RV lithium battery conversion? We’re here to help! Speak with our lithium battery experts now.
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