Pictured: Dakota Lithium's 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery.
The times are changing, and lithium-ion batteries have never been more affordable.
A few years ago, a large house battery bank was 400-600 Amp hours (Ah), and the batteries that made up the bank were Lead-Acid, AGM, or even Gel batteries. These types of early house battery banks had a Depth of Discharge (DOD) of 50%, leaving a quantity of 200 to 300 usable Amp hours at any given time (Note: We try not to go under 50% DOD because it significantly reduces the battery bank’s lifespan).
Today, however, we see a lot of house battery banks in the 1000-1200 Ah range. This is the power of Lithium.
Some of the advantages of LITHIUM BATTERIES are that they weigh significantly less, charge faster, and can provide more power in a smaller space. But, most importantly, they have a DOD of 80%. The inherent disadvantage to Lithium is a higher upfront price point. This can be worrying, but keep in mind that Lithium battery banks do last much longer and tend to generate a positive price/upkeep differential over a span of time compared to Lead-Acid battery banks.
If we choose to go with a Lithium battery bank, we need to make sure that all charging sources are compatible with the unique charging parameters of Lithium batteries. All charging sources will need a Lithium setting, or to be custom configured to charge Lithium. Examples of items that might need this type of Lithium configuration includes: ALTERNATOR REGULATORS, BATTERY CHARGERS, INVERTER CHARGERS, MPPT CONTROLLERS, and WIND POWER.
Pictured: The Lynx Distributor, a positive and negative busbar with 4 fused connections for batteries or DC equipment, with built-in fuse monitoring.
In addition to this, there are Lithium-specific items to consider when upgrading your house battery bank. All battery cables must be the same length and properly sized. Similarly, a battery bus should be used. This will ensure even charging between the batteries in your bank, and will help keep the Lithium bank in balance.
For these types of conversions, I recommend Victron, who make the LYNX BATTERY BUS. eMarine is also capable of custom-making any BATTERY CABLES to meet your needs.
Below are other types of Lithium-compatible products I recommend:
- Victron Smart Blue IP65 Battery Charger
- Victron Skylla IP65 Battery Charger
- Xantrex XC Pro Inverter Charger
- Primus Wind Turbines
- Rutland 1200 and Rutland 1200 Controller Interface
Interested in making the conversion? eMarine is here for you! CONTACT US, or call one of our knowledgeable sales personnel today at 954-581-2505.
Jim is an advisor of eMarine Systems' technical sales team, known for his consistently positive outcomes. With a versatile skillset and extensive marine expertise, he has successfully contributed to a wide range of projects. These projects include customizing various vessels for renewable energy applications and conducting complete conversions of RVs to support extended off-grid living.