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12V batteries, battery boxes and power stations

see also:

  • I don't sell any of these nor do I receive any remuneration if you buy them, and I have not personally reviewed all of them, they are listed here to give you perspective

Introduction

  • an auxiliary deep cycle 12V battery of around 100Ah (1200Wh) is a great addition for your camping trip
  • in 2021, your best option is probably a LiFePO4 battery (see below for advantages over a traditional lead acid battery)
  • even without an offgrid charging system (solar or DC-DC from your car alternator), a reasonable size battery of 100AH will power most of your devices and even a car fridge for a few days with care, and without need for recharge.
  • for those on longer trips, an off-grid power re-charge will be needed
  • most 12V batteries come in a sealed maintenance free box with two terminals
  • many 12V batteries can be connected in parallel with similar capacity and chemistry batteries to create larger capacity
  • some 12V batteries can be connected in series to create 24V or 48V systems
  • while you could connect alligator clamps or M8 terminals to these and then to a cable with 50A Anderson plugs and an inline fuse to run your devices (there are lots of converter cables for Anderson plugs such as cigarette lighter, etc), a better option is for either:
    • install in a battery box
      • these provides added protection to the battery while minimising risks of short circuits of the terminals
      • they generally have a variety of output ports such as Anderson plugs (these can be used for charging the battery too), 10A cigarette lighter female sockets, USB out ports
      • they usually also have a voltmeter to help you roughly estimate how much capacity is left in the battery (a more accurate method requires installing a special capacity meter with a shunt wired to the battery)
      • lastly they have a On/Off switch to disconnect the battery from the ports
      • you will need to also buy a 240V AC-DC charger (preferably a 15A or 25A lithium charger - see below)
    • purchase an all in one “Power Station”
      • this has a fixed battery, ports, charger and often an AC inverter in the one fixture for convenience
      • the downsides are:
        • unable to replace the battery
        • generally have lower capacity eg. 50Ah
        • generally slow re-charge times (often only 5A)

Summary recommendations

  • option1: if you have plenty of spare money, value convenience, and don't need fast charging times
    • consider an all-in-one Power Station for convenience (~AU1000-2000 for a 100Ah one, or $AU600 for a 40Ah one)
      • great for 1-3 nights of camping (may power a fridge for 24hrs if 60Ah), or longer camps in conjunction with a solar panel to slowly recharge
      • BUT BEWARE:
        • many are old tech - they do not last as long as Option 3 as most are not LiFePO4 but older lithium style, charge much slower and have lower maximum power outputs
        • if a part fail the whole unit may become useless - make sure there is a 5yr warranty
        • they are more attractive to thieves
      • eg. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station $AU1099 60Ah 3000 cycle LiFePO4 battery, 70min full recharge on AC, 7.8kg, A/C (870W), cig lighter (100W), solar (max 220W) or up to in/out 100W USB-C charging; IP68 weatherproof; pure sine wave 800W (1600W with X-boost surge mode) AC inverter built-in; 126W DC 12V output; Bluetooth smartphone app;
        • for comparison, option 3 (below) with 100Ah battery, battery box, and AC charger will cost about the some amount and no AC inverter or USB-C and lacks the convenient less confusing weatherproof package but you get Anderson plugs as well and almost twice as much battery capacity (may get more than 3 days fridge power) and the charger can be used for other batteries and left at home for the trip, and can be set up with a faster 240W or more DC-DC charger to be powered while you drive
  • option 2: if you are on a budget or think your battery may get stolen, or you only have a short time need
    • consider a budget cheap LiFePO4 100Ah battery and a cheap battery box plus a 15A or 25A lithium AC-DC charger
    • BUT BEWARE these may only have 700-800 cycles of 80% discharge compared to 4000 cycles for option 3 so are false value if you are looking for a longer term solution
  • option 3: otherwise, for best reliability, versatility and fastest recharge times:
    • get a high quality 100Ah LiFePO4 battery (eg. Renogy for around $AU600) and a 25A lithium AC-DC charger such as a Victron BlueSmart IP65 12V 25A (~$AU300) so you don't waste hours recharging at a camp ground, plus add in a battery box of your choice
    • consider adding a 25A DC-DC charger (eg. Redarc) so it can be rapidly charged from your car alternator (requires cabling) while driving, or from a solar panel
  • NB. unless you are going off-grid for more than 6-7 days, you probably would be better suited to having an extra 100Ah battery (total 200Ah) rather than having the hassle, cost and unreliability of using solar panels - rain, wind and cloud will not serve you well (2 x 100Ah batteries are generally better than 1 x 200Ah battery as the weight and size of each battery is more manageable and you have a back up if battery fails or goes flat because you accidentally left something turned on)

Physical size considerations

  • battery size in volume terms is generally in proportion to the Ah capacity
  • rear seat floor of a car:
    • 48cm wide x 20cm deep (but could be deeper if move front seat forwards) - measure your own car
    • generally fits a compact 100Ah standard size battery box
  • height of hide in a Subaru Outback boot = 41cm
  • wall mounting on RV's or 4WDs:
    • consider slimline models
  • battery boxes are generally designed for sizes consistent with 80-120Ah batteries
    • larger batteries will not fit
    • smaller batteries may require additional spacers to avoid movement of battery within the box
  • interiors of vehicles get HOT on sunny days - this may severely impact the life span of the battery if exposed to long periods over 40degC
    • LiFePO4 batteries last much longer if kept below 30degC
    • even an August winter day in Melbourne will give around 30degC in the boot of a Subaru under the hide
  • new lithium NCM batteries (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) )
    • each cell has a higher voltage of 3.7V compared to 3.2V for LiFePO4 and have more capacity per weight of 150-200 Wh/Kg compared to 100-150 Wh/Kg for LiFePO4
      • HOWEVER, has a poorer Depth Of Discharge (DoD) of only 80-90% (ie. should recharge when falls to 10-20%), whereas LiFePO4 can be used down to 0%.
    • some say they charge better in cold temperatures but do not cope as well with hot conditions compared to LiFePO4
    • are much more likely to have runaway thermal explosions than LiFePO4 and they release oxygen whereas LiFePO4 doesn't
    • poorer life span than LiFePO4:
      • expected cycle life of about 2000-2500 cycles. It can provide full power for about three to four years but then suffers fast degradation
      • LiFePO4 batteries tend to have has a typical cycle life of about 5000 cycles (although many are only 3000 cycles). It can perform optimally for seven to ten years, followed by slow degradation
    • for longer life, should only be charged to 80% full whereas LiFePO4 can be charged to 100%
    • are more expensive than LiFePO4
    • are less environmentally friendly as contain cobalt
    • for camping: LiFePO4 is the BEST - safer, cheaper, don't need to watch capacity and recharge at 20%, better for environment, longer lasting
    • for electric vehicles, NCM / NMC may be better

Battery specifications

  • capacity is rated in Ah (amp hours)
    • this is easily converted to Wh (watt-hours) by mutiplying by voltage (ie 12)
    • 100Ah will run a 120W device for 10hrs (although you should only go down to 20% charge at most - so 8hrs is better)
      • a car fridge used carefully may only need 1A per hour
      • a “48W rated” car heated cushion will generally average 1A per hour as it cycles on and off
      • a 150W 12V car demister heating fan for your tent will use around 12.5A per hour and rapidly deplete your battery!
      • most laptops run at 65W
      • by comparison, many portable devices containing lithium batteries use 3.7V 2700mAh batteries and these contain ~10Wh of charge compared to 1200Wh in a 100Ah 12V battery!
  • nominal voltage
    • this is the specified operating voltage for use as a single battery and for LiFePO4 batteries is usually 12.8V as they contain 4 LiFePO4 3.2V battery cells connected in series (some may have additional ones connected in parallel else well to increase capacity)
  • voltage range
    • LiFePO4 batteries have a Battery Management System (BMS) which will usually prevent:
      • over-charge - will cut off charging if voltage exceeds a specified amount (usually around 14.6-14.8V)
      • over-discharge - will cut off discharging if voltage falls below a specified amount (usually 10-11.7V)
  • life span is usually rated in number of cycles for a given depth of discharge (DoD):
    • the greater the amount to deplete the battery to each time, the less of these cycles you get
    • good LiFePO4 batteries are generally rated at least 2000-4000 cycles for 80% DoD at 25℃ and at discharge/charge rates of 0.2C
  • maximum charge / discharge rates
    • in general you will want to charge the battery at an optimum rate (this may be 0.2C but as long as it is above the manufacturer's minimum charge rate) without over-heating the battery as heat kills life span
    • charge/discharge rates are usually in amps but can be in terms of C where 1C is a complete charge or discharge of capacity within 1 hour (2C is within 30 minutes)
    • power stations often have limited charge rates of 5A
    • most batteries have a 0.5C charge (ie 50A max for a 100Ah battery) and thus charge in 2 hours
    • most quality batteries have a 1C continuous discharge (ie 100A max for a 100Ah battery) and thus discharge in 1 hour
  • ability to connect similar units in parallel
    • this allows increased capacity but needs care in ensuring similar capacity and chemistry batteries and similar charge cable lengths to each to provide efficient balancing
  • ability to connect similar units in series to increase voltage to 24V or 48V
  • weathersealing
    • usually rated in IP standards; you do not want lithium cells getting wet!
  • terminals
    • M6 or M8 bolt “button” terminals
      • these have a nut to hold down your cable's connector ring with M8 being more heavy duty than M6
      • the bolts are often removable for ease of storage etc
      • one should not exceed the maximum torque when tightening these nuts, although experienced users will tighten by feel
    • automotive post (AP) or “round terminal”
      • these are the standard type of terminals in most car starter batteries and require a clamp type connector
  • smart electronics such as:
    • automatic self-heating when temperature falls below 5degC
    • SOC monitor capability
    • intelligent auto-balancing when connecting to same batteries
    • Bluetooth for smartphone app access to BMS and SOC

240V AC-DC chargers for 12V LiFePO4 batteries

  • NB. these are NOT needed for power stations as these generally have a built in charger
  • assuming you have a 100Ah LiFePO4 battery and you wish to charge it at the camp ground's laundry or other AC outlet and you don't want to be hanging around for many hours waiting for it to charge, then you should consider buying a high current (eg 25A) lithium charger albeit at higher cost, size and weight than low current chargers
  • you do need to check the max. rated charge rate for the battery to avoid overheating and damaging it but nearly all 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries should easily take a 25-30A charge rate.
  • you can potentially use two chargers in parallel for faster charge rates 1) however this may cause problems particularly as the battery is getting to full and needs cell balancing. Chargers generally turn output off momentarily to check voltage of the battery and if there is another charger going then it may not get an accurate reading, thus having multiple chargers running is probably not recommended, especially if each charger is not isolated to back current from the other charger by use of a schotkey diode to ensure current only runs one way. Do this at your own risk and with care!
  • these chargers will also charge lead acid, AGM, and lead calcium batteries
  • do not charge LiFePO4 batteries below 0degC or above 50degC.
  • Victron BlueSmart series have a smartphone Bluetooth app which allows you to change settings and monitor charging as well as retain a history of charging sessions. Plus the app lets you set them as DC out power supplies.

40A chargers

20-30A chargers

  • Victron BlueSmart IP22 12V 30A chargers
    • silent night mode which runs at half or quarter charge rate depending upon model
    • conventional screw-down electrical connections and is not shipped with cabling
    • 94% efficiency;
    • $AU344 for triple outlet charger can charge up to 3 batteries at once to max. total current of 30A
    • $AU329 for single output charger
  • Victron BlueSmart IP65 12V 25A
  • Renogy 20A charger

15A chargers

Battery boxes and Power Stations

no battery box, use a power box instead

  • use an Anderson plug input from your 12V battery
  • have a number of output plugs
  • a great solution for vans or 4WDs where the 12V battery is securely stored with terminals protected from short circuits and the power box can be mounted on a wall or similar fixture
  • KickAss 12V Mini Power Box
    • 4 USB 2.1A Ports, 1 USB-C PD 18W port, 1 USB QC 3.0 18W port, 3x 12V Cig Sockets and 2x Anderson-style input/outputs + the main 12V battery Anderson plug with 85cm 8B&S cable input
    • USB ports have a protective dust cover
    • the three 10A cig sockets are collectively fused via 30A blade fuse (a spare is included inside the unit)
    • 40A total auto reset circuit breaker for the Anderson plugs
    • battery meter, on/off switch, light switch, 3 stage LED light, 2 mounting point, 180x120x58mm, 905g;
    • can connect a regulated solar panel to provide additional power via an Anderson plug
      • A battery MUST be connected prior to connecting a regulated solar panel. The regulated solar panel MUST be disconnected from the Mini Power Box before the battery is disconnected.
    • $AU189

Battery boxes

general characterististics

  • these not only house and protect your battery but provide a range of very useful and convenient functions which may include:
    • ability to re-charge the battery via Anderson port or external terminals to allow either:
      • 240V input
      • solar panel input
      • DC input including from your car's main battery and alternator system
    • various DC output interfaces such as:
      • cigarette socket outlet
      • USB port
      • USB-C port to charge the latest laptops
      • 50A Anderson bidirectional plugs - you should aim to have at least 2 of these
      • 175A Anderson outlet - probably don't need this as you can use a jump starter with these batteries, the only other potential use if for high output devices such as 3000W AC inverters but these will drain the battery very fast!
    • possibly a built-in AC sine wave inverter with 240V output
      • HOWEVER, as the lead acid batteries are not designed for rapid depletion, only low current draw appliances should be run - higher draw appliances may need a petrol power generator with an AC inverter
      • a good one will cost around $AU499-699

examples of battery boxes with AC inverters

  • ArkPak 730P $AU699 - 300W Pure Sine Wave Inverter; the only battery box on the market that has a built-in AC-DC and DC-DC charger; battery management system and a dual-battery alternative; 50 amp Anderson socket; 2x 12V sockets; 1x 5V USB 2.1amp socket; 7 Stage smart charge; compatible with LiFePO4 although some report buggy battery status issues; 4.6kg;
  • Engel Smart Battery Box Series 2
    • $AU549, 300W AC inverter; Output Power: 1 x 12V 10A Cigarette Socket | 1 x 12V 10A Engel Posi Fit Socket | 1 x 12V 50A Anderson | 1 x 240V AC 300W Modified Sine Wave Socket | 1 x 5V 2.1A USB | 12V 100A External Terminals
    • supports LiFePO4 up to 130Ah

examples of battery boxes without inverters:

  • Dune battery box
    • light and flimsy but great value option, has 2 Anderson plugs plus 1xcig, 2x USB, terminals, meter
    • note that the power off/on switch only controls the cig/USB outputs not the Anderson plugs!
    • Max. battery dimensions 325mm long x 185mm wide x 200mm tall
    • on special for $AU69
  • Kings Portable:
    • 2x Anderson plugs; 2xUSB, cig plug; circuit breaker; volt meter; ext. terminals;
    • max. battery up to 120Ah: 230H x 185W x 360L mm shortest battery length: 260mm;
    • 1.6kg; ext: 280H x 265W x 440L mm (too long)
    • $AU59
  • KT Portable box $AU99
    • lighter at only 1kg, top handle, 2x USB, 2x cig lighter outputs; charging via rapid charge battery charger terminals; for batteries up to 120AH;
  • BWB 12.8V 100Ah 1280WH LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery Stainless Steel Box w/ Accessories Model SS12100A21
    • stainless steel compact box with voltmeter/capacity meter/Bluetooth, 2x Anderson, USB, Cig lighter
    • PLUS 100Ah LiFePO4 battery
    • 32.3 x 19 x 19.5 cm; 14.5kg; $AU850 ($AU790 without Bluetooth monitoring)
  • HardKorr Heavy Duty Battery Box
    • $AU179 3.2kg; supports Lithium; 1 x dual USB output; 2 x cigarette plug outputs; 4 x 50A Anderson plug inputs/outputs; 1 x 175A Anderson plug output for jump starter leads (opt) or an external AC inverter (opt);
    • max. size battery: 330mm (l) x 180mm (w) x 240mm (h) (equates to 120Ah LiFePO4 battery)
    • 41x32x24cm external;
    • charging only via Anderson plugs;
    • make sure you make an Anderson plug connection to your AC battery charger otherwise you will need to unscrew the screws holding the lid down.
    • available in Melbourne from Every Battery Kensington
  • Ardent Heavy Duty battery box:
  • iTechWorld GoFurther Battery Box:

Power stations

  • these have a battery and box all in one sealed unit
  • at present most of these are older lithium ion technology rather than LiFePO4
  • convenient but generally poor value for money and limited DIY repair options (batteries are generally not user replaceable)
  • eg.
    • Sunovo SPS300 18Ah
      • 18Ah 266Wh lithium ion; 3.5kg; $AU399
      • 5-6hr charge on AC;
    • iTechWorld 21Ah 200W ITECH200P
      • 21Ah 225Wh lithium ion; 3kg; $AU499
      • 7-8hr charge on AC;
    • Sunovo SPS500 35Ah
      • 35Ah 504Wh lithium ion; 3.5kg; L23.5 x W14 x H21cm; $AU599
      • outputs: USB2 5V2A; USB3 5V/3A; 45W PD; 2xDC 12V/10A; 1xcig; 300W pure sine wave AC inverter
      • inputs: solar (5hr charge with 100W panel); 5-6h charge with AC; 6-8hr charge with car DC;
    • iTechWorld 45Ah 500W ITECH500P
      • 45Ah 505Wh lithium ion; 5.8kg; $AU1099
      • 7-8hr charge on AC;
    • Companion Rover lithium 40AH Power Station
      • $AU599
      • LiFePO4; 6.5kg; 512Wh; 270 x 154 x 242 mm;
      • max. concurrent output 10A
      • max. solar charge rate 5A
      • outputs: USB 3.: 2 x 5V/2A, 12V/1.5A; USB-C: 1 x 5-20V 3A max. 60W; 2x DC5525 12-16.8V 10A DC Plugs; 1 x 12-16.8V/10A cig; 1 x 12-16.8V/10A 2-pin Engel-type; 12-16.8V 10A Anderson;
      • inputs: 14V 5A DC; 16.8V 5A AC, Anderson, 18-20V 5A direct solar (MPPT controller included in station)
    • Dometic PLB40:
      • 40Ah LiFePO4 battery; max output 15A; 9.08kg; 197 x 257 197 mm; IP44 rated; 10Amp ACDC charger;
      • integrated DC-DC charger offers three convenient ways to charge via: the vehicle 12 V socket, solar panel or AC power.
      • DC cable extension with Cig plug & Anderson connector
      • $AU849
    • iTechWorld 50Ah 500W AC ITECH500 power station
      • 50Ah 518Wh Li battery; 500W AC inverter - 2 outputs;
      • 1x 18W USB QC; 2x USB; 1x 45W PD USB-C; 1x 12V 10A cig lighter; 2x 5mm DC 12-16.8V outputs; inbuilt MPPT solar regulator;
      • 7-8hr charge time on AC; 6.6kg; $AU1000
    • Companion Rover lithium 70AH Power Station
      • similar to above 40AH version; NMC (LiNiMnCoO2) battery; $AU1099; 6.8kg; 800 Charging Cycles down to 80% SOC;
      • max. charge rates: 240V AC 77-84W 5A; cig lighter 126W 9A; Anderson plug solar 13-30V 12A (MPPT controller included in station);
    • Bluetti EB70
      • 60Ah LiFePO4 716Wh with 16.7A charging either via AC, solar or DC; 1000W AC inverter;
      • 9.7kg; 32 x 21.6 x 22.1cm; $AU899 on special;
    • Companion Rover Li 100Ah Power Station
      • 2022 model
      • 100Ah LiFePO4 battery, MPPT solar charger, 2 Anderson outlets, 2 cig, 2 USB-A 3A, 2 USB-C 3A, 2x DC outlets;
      • 330x240x290mm; 11kg;
      • $AU1299 on special;
    • Nomad 100AH Lithium Power Distribution Unit V5
    • Power Box PB-100
      • Powertech 100Ah 1500 cycle 50A Li battery; Redarc 1225D DC-Dc and solar charger;
      • 3 Anderson plugs: solar input, DC input from car system, 1 output; 4 x USB charging ports; 2 x 12v socket outlets;
      • 17kg and dimensions of 199mm wide x 474mm deep x 324mm high;
      • https://www.powerbox.net.au/product/pb-100/ $2550
    • EcoFlow River 600 Max Power Station
    • EcoFlow Delta 1800W Power Station
    • Hyundai 1000W / 2000W max LiFePO4 Lithium Power Station AC/DC
      • $AU2199; 14.8kg; 84Ah;
      • outputs: USB 3.: 4 x 5V/3A, 9V/2A; USB-C: 1 x 18W, 5/9/12V; 2 x 5.5mm DC Plugs; 1 x 12V/10A cig; 2x 240V AC; 1 x EC5 150A Max jump starter;
      • inputs: 5-24V 120W solar; 240V 120W AC;
    • iTechWorld PS2000
      • 160Ah LiFePO4; 1100W AC fast charge (no extension cord to be used!); 2000W AC inverter 3 AC out plugs / 10msec UPS (must have 30cm space from fan exhaust and intake ports); 100W USB-C; MPPT solar regulator up to 50V/500W; 1x 12V/25A Output (XT60) can get adapter to connect to Anderson plugs; separate Anderson port next to AC input port can be used for solar inputs or their 120W cig lighter charger;
      • 22kg; $AU2999
    • Firefly 1500W LiFePO4
      • 160Ah, 2048Wh LiFePO4; 1500W AC inverter;
      • USB out; Anderson plug; DC 12V 6A out; DC 12V 10A cig lighter out; WiFi smartphone app; Solar MPPT Control System;
      • 34.5kg; $AU2195
    • Bluetti EB150
      • 1500Wh LiFePO4?, 1000W AC pure sine wave inverter - two outputs;
      • PD USB-C out; 4x USB; 1x 12V 9A DC out;
      • 5.5-6hr AC recharge (3-3.5hrs with 2 inputs); solar MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller built-in;
      • 17kg; $AU1869
    • Bluetti AC200P
      • 2000Wh LiFePO4, 2000W AC pure sine wave inverter - two outputs;
      • 2x wireless charging pads; 60W USB-C out; 4x USB; 1x 12V 10A DC out; 2x 12V 3A DC out; 1x 12V 25A out;
      • 5.5-6hr AC recharge (3-3.5hrs with 2 inputs);
      • $AU2599
  • my recommendations in 2023 for entry level capacities, reasonable price points of around $AU1099 but good quality would be either:
    • the EcoFlow River Pro 2:
      • 60Ah with 800W AC inverter, and can be charged via AC, Cig lighter, solar or USB-C, and has a much faster AC recharge (> 50A) than other models
    • the Bluetti EB70
      • 60Ah, an 1000W AC inverter, but only 16.7A max AC charging
      • make sure you buy the car adapter so you can recharge from cig lighter as you drive. However, the light is poorly implemented
    • main downsides to these are:
      • proprietary solar input and restricted to max. 200W solar panels
      • as with most of these units, there are no Anderson plug outputs which I really love, but you could get a cig lighter to Anderson cable to help address this although you would be limited to max. output of the cig lighter.

wall mounted Control Hubs

  • those with 4WDs and permanent set ups or with caravans may prefer to have the battery remotely accessible (ie. not readily accessible) and use a wall mounted Control Hub instead of a battery box, which has input from the battery and a multitude of outlets
  • Kickass Control Hub
    • 4 Anderson ports, 5 X 20A Pre-wired fused switches, 4 x USB ports ( 2 x 2.4A, 1 x QC3.0, 1 x USB C) and 2 x Cig sockets. Fuses. Voltmeter. ow voltage alarm below 11V.
    • 400x305x80mm (plus extra 30mm depth from fuse housing); 4.15kg
    • $AU399
  • KT DC Power Link 4 Way Connect With Smart-Touch LCD Screen
    • 1 Anderson plug input, 3 Anderson plug outputs, 2 USB outputs, LCD touch screen display of power usage and voltage as well as turn off individual outputs, max 50A;
    • $AU139

12V LiFePO4 deep cycle batteries

pros and cons of LiFePO4 batteries

  • these are lighter, safer, but currently are much more expensive compared to a deep cycle lead acid battery
  • a 54AH LiFePO4 battery equates to 110AH lead acid as it can go down to full discharge instead of only about 50% discharge.
  • 5-10x the life of an equivalent Lead Acid AGM battery and weigh less than half as much and has far less self-discharge rates, retaining 80% of charge by 12 months compared with only 40% for typical lead acid batteries
  • charges 3-4x faster, some 100AH batteries charge in 1-2 hours!
  • More resistant to vibration, less likely to be damaged and have a more stable output voltage which tends to be maintained until capacity falls below 30%
  • LiFePO4 batteries are less likely to explode when over-charged and maintain charge longer than other lithium batteries and unlike other lithium batteries, do not suffer from thermal runaway
  • it should have a built-in battery management system to ensure all cells are charged evenly, and to provide short-circuit protection, reverse polarity protection and over-current protection as well as ensuring a consistent output
  • usually require a special lithium charger
  • Deep cycle ones are not suitable for use as a primary vehicle starting battery and cannot be used under the bonnet as it gets too hot
  • disconnect the loads when you are storing the battery for long periods and store at 30~50% SOC
  • avoid continuous maintenance or trickle charging
  • do not charge below 0C
  • there are many “cheap” LiFePO4 batteries on the market including some listed below - these may or may not have quality undamaged cells, quality build, or properly balanced cells and may have lower capacity than specified, shorter life spans and have specific requirements regarding charging, etc - do your research!
  • some cheap budget end batteries claim 2000 cycles but this is at only 30% DOD in which case you may find there are under 1000 cycles for 80% DOD whereas better batteries may claim 4000 cycles at 80% DOD! You are probably getting better value in the long term from the 4000 cycle battery even if it is twice the price!
  • reputable manufacturers include:

models able to fit on floor of rear seats of cars

  • rear seat floor of a Subaru Outback is ~480mm wide by ~200mm deep (more if you move the front seat forward)
  • some of the Power Stations mentioned above will fit as well
  • remember to secure them so they don't become lethal missiles in an accident
  • a 100Ah battery in a battery box will just squeeze onto floor of front passenger seat of most larger cars

compact, light 2.5-5kg 15-40Ah models

relatively small 6-8kg 50-55Ah models

  • BigWei BWB Model SS1250 50Ah in Stainless Steel Box
    • 6.9kg; 18.8 x 16.4 x 14.8 cm (18cm total height including terminals); 8000 cycles
    • $AU390 on special ($AU450 with bluetooth)
  • ITechWorld 48AH slim version
    • designed to be wall mounted so not as good for the floor of a rear seat
    • can be connected in parallel or series up to 4 of same units
    • 7kg; 300x90x210mm; M6 stud; built in cig lighter port one end and 2x floor-level mounted Anderson ports at other end;
    • $A599 ($AU499 on special)
  • iTECH054 12V 54AH LiFePO4 Deep Cycle
    • 7kg 648Wh; charge 25-55A; IP65 waterproofing; can cycle up to 5000 times at 50% depth of discharge; can use most existing chargers; can be connected in parallel/series; $AU499 based in Perth, WA
  • VoltaX 12V 50Ah
    • ~6.6kg 640Wh; charge 10-50A; requires own Li charger; $AU329
  • DryPower Deep Cycle Lithium 12.8V 50AH 640Wh battery
  • Drypower 12.8V 55Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
  • Renogy 50Ah
    • 197x166x171h mm; 6.7kg; 2000cycle 80% DOD; M8 terminals;
    • $AU399;

100-130Ah slimline models

10-14kg 100-140Ah similar size to standard lead acid batteries

140-200Ah 12V LiFePO4 batteries

with car jump starting capability as well

Lead acid batteries

characteristics

  • these may be a deep cycle or dual purpose battery
  • A deep-cycle battery is a battery designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity, unlike a normal starter battery which is designed to only use a small part of its capacity in a short, high current burst to crank the engine.
  • deep cycle batteries cannot be used to crank start your vehicle, but a dual purpose one can.
  • there is a trade off between the battery's depth of discharge and the number of cycles of discharge and recharge it is capable of and there is an inverse relationship between these
  • these deep cycle batteries are generally designed to discharge slowly over 20-100hrs such as with a fridge, and if they are discharged rapidly such as over 1 hour, you will only get to use around half of the usual capacity and the number of cycles will be reduced
  • none of these lead acid batteries should be fully discharged as this will shorten their life span, and should only be discharged to 20% of capacity at most (usually 50%)
  • Absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries handle higher temperatures better, self-discharge more slowly, will charge more quickly (usually within 3hrs from a standard car alternator), have deeper discharge depths, are totally sealed, more robust, do not need topping up with water, can be safely mounted inside a car as they do not need to be vented externally
  • these can explode if over-charged or their release valve fails (if they have one)
  • these will usually set you back around $AU230
1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zROCzxXbuNo
2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuhdkZljy2Q
australia/12vbatteries.txt · Last modified: 2024/11/08 13:47 by gary1
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