LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR MOTORHOMES

In short, no, it is not compulsory to use a dedicated lithium battery charger to charge LithiumPro batteries. While it is recommended for optimal performance, and preserving the life of your battery it is not essential.  Any normal lead-acid battery charger designed to output a Constant Voltage Constant Current (CCCV) charge profile, between 14.2v-14.6v which 95% of chargers do, then this is fine and safe for LithiumPro batteries. However, charging may take a bit longer and be slightly less efficient compared to using a dedicated lithium charger with a LiFePO4 charge profile.

Many battery chargers will have pre-programmed settings for different battery chemistries.  For Lithium batteries, select the ‘LiFePO4’ profile or the closest charge profile between 14.2-14.6v.  

For those who prefer to upgrade their charging system for more efficient and faster charging, we have provided a list of chargers that are compatible with our lithium batteries.

You can charge your Lithium battery using any or all of the three simple ways listed below:-

1.  Harness your alternator’s surplus power to deliver a steady 14.4v charge voltage. Click here for DC-DC Chargers

2. Using a MPPT Solar Charge Controller, you can charge your leisure batteries at a regulated voltage using solar panels ability to harness the suns energy. Click here for Solar Charge Controllers

3 Using a Mains hook-up charger, you can use a domestic 240v electricity supply to charge you leisure batteries via hook-up or shore power. Click here for Mains Chargers

IMPORTANT: When you first receive your battery, fully charge it until you get a ‘Cell Over Voltage’ (COV) notification. This indicates the battery is fully charged. Then, complete a full discharge until you get a ‘Cell Under Voltage’ (CUV) notification, showing the battery is fully discharged. This process allows your Battery Management System (BMS) to calibrate the State of Charge (SOC) in your app. The BMS will then learn to provide more accurate data, understanding both the 0% and 100% charge parameters.

Your Lithium Battery with a Constant Current Constant Voltage charger CCCV with a LiFePO4 charging profile.

Absorption should be set to 14.2-14.6v 

Float should be set to 13.5-13.9v

De-sulfation/Equalisation should be switched off

It is recommended to charge your battery at ≤0.5C (0.5 times the battery’s rated capacity). For instance, if the battery has a capacity of 100Ah, the recommended charging current would be ≤50 amps. Please observe the maximum charging capacity listed on your battery.

The more powerful the charger the quicker it will charger you battery, so the higher the Amperage of the charger the quicker it will charger.

Our recommendations
Batteries under 100ah – use a 20A charger – this should take 5 hours to charger from empty

Batteries over >150ah – use a 30A charger – This should take 5 hours to charge

Larger batteries over 250ah – use multiple charging sources to replenish your battery. Solar, Alternator and Mains. Using your vehicles surplus power to charge your large battery is very efficient. You will need to fit a DC-DC Charger, also know as a battery to battery charger.

Most Victron chargers already have a Lithium charging profile. However, should you wish to personalise your settings, please use the following;

Absorption voltage: 14.4V
Absorption time: Recommended setting is half an hour per 100ah of LiFePO4 battery (for example if you have 2x 150ah batteries select 90mins).
Float Voltage: 13.5V
Equalisation voltage: This must be disabled on all Lithium batteries as this can damage the battery with pulses of high voltages. This is designed for lead acid batteries to add with desulfation.
Temperature compensation: This should also be disabled on Lithium batteries.
Charged Voltage: This is where your battery is considered fully charged – Lithium batteries should be set to 14.4V for Victron equipment.
Low Temperature cut-off: The Drift batteries have low temperature charging protection built into the battery. You can leave this off.
Discharge Floor: 0%
Tail Current: This is the minimum current at which the Smart Shunt considers charging or discharging finished. We recommend 4%.
Peukert Exponent: Not required – this is for Lead Acid batteries.

Yes our DIN Series batteries are all ‘Drop-In’ Lead-Acid replacements. They are exactly the same size and shape as your old Lead-Acid batteries with the exact same terminal posts, so there is not need to change your electrical connections. You can even use you existing charger in most cases. They even have the base rail at the base to safely secure your battery in place. No need to look for inventive ways to strap a chinese replacement battery down. Click here for ‘Drop-In’ replacement batteries.

Yes, all LithiumPro Energy batteries can be connected in Series or Parallel up to a maximum of 4 units. Our SMARTIQ BMS APP with also be able to display your battery system as a whole in both Series or Parallel configurations.

WARNING: Never connect Lithium batteries of different brands, capacities, or ages together. All brands have unique Battery Management Systems (BMS), and mixing can cause imbalances in charging or discharging, potentially leading to overheating and premature failure. NOTE: Always fully charge each battery separately before connecting them in series or parallel. LithiumPro batteries can be configured as follows:

• In series to increase voltage up to 24V, 36V, or a maximum of 48V.
• In parallel up to a maximum of 4 batteries for the SMARTIQ SERIES. Or a maximum of 8 batteries for SMARTCOMM SERIES.

For series configuration, ensure each battery is charged to within 0.05V of each other to prevent imbalances.

For parallel configurations, use cables that are as short and identical in length as possible; batteries naturally equalise in voltage when connected this way.

Lithium batteries are extremely reliable technology. If cared for and looked after according to the manufacturers guidelines you should still be using your battery in 10+ years time. LithiumPro Energy only use traceable Grade-A Prismatic cell technology in all of their batteries which are capable of over 4000-8000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. Meaning if used every day it will last between 11 -21 years, and still retain 80% of their rated capacity. We are so confident of all our batteries they are covered by our comprehensive 5 year manufacturers warranty.

Yes, you can safely discharge your Lithium Battery down to temperatures as low as -20ºc However, Lithium batteries cannot be charged in temperatures below zero unless they have heaters embedded within the battery. All LithiumPro Batteries have a safety feature built into the battery to prevent it charging below 0ºc. If you are using one of our SMARTIQ or SMARTCOMM SERIES batteries they are fitted with self-heating technology as standard Click here to see our ARCTICXTREME V2 Battery designed for charging in colder climates.

Yes, our SMARTCOMM range have been exclusively designed to fit under the front seat of your motorhome or campervan. You can chose from the UK’s most powerful 175AH DIN H8 ArcticXtreme V2 battery, or the UK’s safest and most powerful seat base battery ever the advanced 280ah SEATBASE. You can even fit 2 in parallel for 300AH under the seat of Fiat Ducatos, Peugeot Boxers, Citroen Relays, Merc Sprinter, VW T6, VW Crafter, Transit Custom. Click here to see installation guide.

Yes, our SMARTCOMM range have been exclusively designed to fit under the front seat of your motorhome or campervan. You can chose from the UK’s most powerful 175AH DIN H8 ArcticXtreme V2 battery, or the UK’s safest and most powerful seat base battery ever the advanced 280ah SEATBASE. You can even fit 2 in parallel for 300AH under the seat of Fiat Ducatos, Peugeot Boxers, Citroen Relays, Merc Sprinter, VW T6, VW Crafter, Transit Custom. Click here to see installation guide.

When connecting batteries together for communication via CANbus ports, use standard RJ45 cable to link them and terminate last battery with the RJ45 termination plug provided. See diagram here.