With lithium batteries quickly becoming the new norm in 4WD and off grid setups, we take a closer look at why they're well worth the investment.
A look at Lithium batteries
Comparing Lithium to the likes of AGM and lead acid batteries, the benefits quickly start to stack up. The full Amp Hour capacity of a quality lithium battery can be used without effecting the life span of the battery, whereas with an AGM or lead acid, it is recommended that you don’t discharge below 50%.
This means that a lithium battery rated at 100 amp-hours is closely comparable to 200 amp-hours of AGM or lead acid batteries in terms of usable power.
Lithium batteries also maintain a higher output voltage during the discharge cycle and maintain a voltage of approximately 13V at 20% SoC. AGM/lead acid batteries tend to have a much steeper discharge curve with an output voltage of around 12.0 – 12.2V at 50% SoC.
With a battery that maintains a higher output voltage, running your accessories, camp lights or fridges ensures they run more efficiently and with a longer run time.
Lifespan of Lithium batteries compared to AGM or Lead Acid batteries?
Lithium batteries have a longer lifespan than AGM or lead acid batteries, which are normally rated at around 500 charge cycles down to 50% SOC. With lithium, you are getting 4 times this lifespan as they’re normally rated at around 2000 charge cycles.
Lithium batteries also charge significantly faster and can safely handle being paired with a larger battery charger than an AGM/lead acid battery. For example, a 100Ah lithium battery when paired with the REDARC BCDC1250D Classic under bonnet battery charger will charge from 20% to approximately 100% in 2-3 hours. This opens a whole new world of free camping opportunities.
Another major benefit of lithium is that they are considerably lighter than a similar sized AGM or lead acid battery. It’s fairly common that most touring vehicles or trailers are overloaded with a whole host of essential things like luggage, accessories, recreational gear, people, and pets so when you can cut down battery weight by up to 33% by choosing lithium it’s often a no brainer. Especially when multiple auxiliary batteries are part of the system, having a lighter setup can be crucial.
The total solution
If it’s simplicity and a one stop solution you’re after, look no further than REDARC. With the ultimate in deep-cycle battery technology and REDARC proven toughness, the new REDARC Lithium Deep Cycle Batteries are the perfect solution when deciding on your next auxiliary battery. Perfect for use with all your other REDARC products, they provide unrivalled performance and battery life.
Available in 60A Slimline (LBAT12060), 100A Standard (LBAT12100), 100A Heavy Duty (LBAT12100-HD), and the largest capacity 200A (LBAT12200) variants there’s a size to suit every setup from the weekend warrior to the off-grid expert. Each battery is equipped with an internal Battery Management System (BMS) that monitors and optimises each cell during charge and discharge. This protects the battery pack from overcharge, over discharge and short circuit. The BMS also allows the balancing of cells within the batteries allowing them to be configured and used in-parallel to increase battery bank capacity for increased power storage.
With faster charging, REDARC Lithium Deep Cycle Batteries can handle a wide temperature range, meaning that you can travel the most extreme locations and run your gear for longer before recharge is required. They also need less time to recharge than a standard AGM battery.
Find out more about REDARC’s Lithium Deep Cycle Batteries and how they can fit into your current setup or find out how a lithium battery can work with your other REDARC gear in our virtual tour.
