10 reasons to choose for lithium in the camper
The residential battery of your motorhome is the most important part of your entire camper! We like to call it the heart of the camper: invisible, but crucial for all parts to work! The modern camper already offers much more comfort than before (e.g. no foot pump for the water and no manual piezo for the refrigerator), but this also means that even more parts in the camper depend on the health and autonomy of your residential battery.
FROM LEAD, TO AGM, TO LITHIUM
The quality, reliability and autonomy of residential batteries have evolved significantly over the past 20 years. In the early years, a simple starter battery was used. A starter battery is used to provide a large current surge for a very short moment to start the engine. But in the living area you need small amounts of power for a long time, for which a semi-traction battery is very suitable.
The first semi-traction batteries were liquid lead-acid batteries that could boil over. So they were absolutely not safe to install in the living space. In the next generation of batteries, the liquid part of the battery was replaced by a jelly-like substance, the gel batteries. This brings us to the latest and most popular AGM batteries, where the battery acid is contained in woven fiberglass mats. The AGM batteries are safer to use, but they can only be discharged to 50% and require regular charging to prevent damage.
Lithium batteries have been gaining popularity among manufacturers and campers for several years. Instead of lead acid, the raw material lithium is used in a composition with iron and phosphate, which has many advantages.
LiFePO4 LITHIUM VS. AGM BATTERY
Since an AGM battery can only discharge up to 50%, while a lithium battery can discharge up to 100%, you can enjoy double the autonomy with lithium. With a 95Ah AGM battery you can camp for an average of 2 days or charge 1 electric bicycle. With a 90Ah lithium battery you are good for an average of 4 days or 2 e-bikes.
(Note this calculation varies depending on circumstances.)
The installation of a LiFePO4 lithium battery is indeed more expensive. This is partly because it always involves checking and adjusting your current installation. A tricky point is the intelligent alternator that is built into every modern camper chassis. This only generates just enough current to charge the starter battery. A booster must therefore be provided that is adapted to your new lithium battery, so that it can charge sufficiently while driving.
Since the lifespan of a lithium battery is x10, so you will certainly benefit from that investment in the long term. You get the extra power, ease of use and double autonomy for free!
SAFETY GUARANTEED THANKS TO BMS
Lithium batteries are equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS): an integrated operating system that automatically measures the battery values and adjusts where necessary. In this way, the BMS ensures that the lithium battery does not become overcharged or discharged too deeply. The horror stories that you see popping up here and there about spontaneous combustion or even explosion are always about non-professional installations or other types of lithium batteries, which are not at all suitable for use in a camper. So always ask a specialist for advice.
ALWAYS CHOOSE QUALITY
If you choose lithium, you choose quality! Do not try to order a cheap alternative online yourself, but look for a reliable and experienced partner who distributes recognized brands.
Vanomobil works with regular partner Venstar, which is the recognized distributor of quality brands Victron and Super B. Every new installation with lithium batteries is thoroughly tested at Vanomobil before it is delivered to the customer. Together we ensure that you can sleep peacefully in complete freedom.
10 REASONS TO CHOOSE LiFePO4
- They only require minimal maintenance, which means they score high on ease of use and comfort
- Lifespan x10
- They are smaller in size and weigh only one-fourth to one-half of an AGM battery
- Safe system thanks to BMS (Battery Management System)
- You can discharge up to 90 to 100% of the battery
- Charge very quickly and do not need to be charged to 100% every time
- Store energy more efficiently, higher efficiency in combination with solar panels
- Even when the battery is almost empty, it can still provide a peak load
- Stable voltage guarantees optimal service life for sensitive electronics and continuous full power
- Ecologically more responsible: it remains a battery, but these LiFePO4 batteries do not contain harmful substances and are recyclable.
DID YOU KNOW? SLEEP CONSUMPTION
Please note that every motorhome always has a small “sleep” consumption. Even if no equipment is turned on, some electronic components continue to consume minimal power in sleep mode, which can lead to battery damage if stored for a long time.
Any questions or interest? Please feel free to contact the Vanomobil branch in your area!
In collaboration with partner Venstar.
