With more and more people flocking to the nomadic lifestyle and bringing all of their gadgets and creature comforts, the amount of usable power they need has increased dramatically. Old-fashioned lead-acid batteries (that most RVs come equipped with because the manufacturer’s try to cut corners) have an extremely limited storage capacity and require constant maintenance. Upgrading lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries is an extremely worthwhile investment that can provide a simple, instant, and significant increase in battery life and storage capacity while eliminating maintenance.
However, upgrading an Airstream, RV, or camper van to lithium batteries from lead-acid batteries isn’t a drop-in, simple, replacement. In addition to purchasing the lithium RV battery, the RV will likely need to be fitted with Lithium compatible components.
Reasons Why You’d Never Use a Lead-Acid Battery in a Camper Van:
- Short lifespan (4-6 years)
- Need constant maintenance and watering (especially flooded lead acid batteries)
- Susceptible to corrosion and leaks
- Extremely 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
Nomadic Supply Company Only Sells Lithium Batteries, and here’s why:
Lithium batteries are FAR more reliable than lead-acid batteries and are the industry standard in any quality camper van; unfortunately RV manufacturer’s are still so out of touch that they are still installing lead-acid batteries in RVs. Upgrading an Airstream, RV, or camper van to use lithium batteries provides numerous benefits including dramatically increased battery life, far more efficient charging, and dramatically reduced weight, among many other benefits.
Lithium Battery Benefits:
- Increased Battery Life:
Lithium batteries have a longer life span than lead-acid batteries, which means fewer replacements. Lithium batteries also perform better for longer. - More Efficient:
Lithium batteries charge more efficiently than lead-acid batteries. They charge faster and have more usable power. Making them ideal for nomads who travel off-grid. - Reduced Weight:
Lithium batteries are nearly half the weight of lead-acid batteries. This can improve fuel efficiency and make the vehicle easier to handle on the road. - Better Performance:
Lithium batteries are more powerful than lead-acid batteries, which means they can power more for longer. - You can 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. Also, they can stay inside your camper van or RV without ventilation.
- Partial charge tolerant
- No voltage sagging
- Not susceptible to corrosion or leaking. Better for the environment (and your family).
- Better performance in extreme temperatures. (Some of our lithium batteries include heaters so you can charge in winter).
- Our lithium batteries come with Bluetooth. You can view your battery statistics on your phone. See how much power you have left, how much longer your battery will take to charge, and more.
Choosing a Lithium Battery:
There are two main types of lithium batteries: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) and lithium-ion (Li-ion).
LiFePO4 batteries are always the best choice for Airstreams, RVs, and camper vans as they are much more stable, have a longer life span, and are safer to use.
When sizing a lithium battery, consider the size of the vehicle and the amount of power you will be using. As with any battery, sizing depends on the total energy consumption, including lighting, appliances, and other electrical systems. However, a lithium battery can be about half the size of a lead-acid battery bank, but it will still need to be large enough to provide the power you need.
Lithium Battery Power System Upgrades:
It is crucial to ensure that your vehicle’s electrical system is compatible with lithium batteries. RV manufacturer’s in the United States use cheap, low quality electrical systems that are typically only designed to work with old-fashioned lead-acid batteries and in most cases, those Low-End components will not be compatible with lithium batteries. You will likely need to modify the vehicle’s electrical system, including upgrading the charging system: the converter, and the alternator DC to DC charger.
A Battery Monitor is an essential component of any lithium upgrade:
Traditional lead-acid and AGM batteries can be tracked by other monitoring, such as a charge controller. Lithium batteries will hold a steady output voltage while depleting – until its too late. Installing a Battery Monitoring System and a shunt is one of the ways to observe the output from a lithium battery bank accurately.
Lithium Battery Installation:
Steps to upgrade to Lithium Batteries in an RV or camper van:
Preparation:
- Disconnect the old lead-acid batteries and remove them from the RV.
- Clean the battery compartment and remove any corrosion or debris.
Install the Lithium Batteries:
- Start by connecting the positive and negative cables to the appropriate battery terminals.
- Install a Battery Monitor: following the instructions on the battery monitor, install the components for monitoring the power system.
- Connect the Cables: You should connect the positive cable to the positive terminal on the battery management system and the negative cable to the negative terminal.
- Test the System: After the cables are connected, you should test the system to ensure everything is working correctly. You can do this by turning on the RVs appliances and electronics and checking the battery voltage and state of charge. If a power inverter is installed in the unit, also try and turn that on and run an AC load to test that portion of the system.
- Charge the Batteries: Once the system is tested, you should attempt to charge the lithium batteries. You can do this by connecting the vehicle to a power source (solar panels pr shore power) and viewing the status of the charge controller.