In our relentless pursuit of reliability and performance, we are proud to announce we have teamed up with, Victron Energy, the market leader in providing the very best in Lithium battery chargers. They offer multiple charging solutions for all your Lithium Battery charging needs.
We understand the importance of a dependable lithium battery charging source for your power supply and that’s why we’ve chosen to align ourselves with the unparalleled expertise of Victron Energy. Renowned for their high quality charging solutions.
Our collaboration brings you the assurance of a charging solution that adapts to every scenario. Whether you’re charging from your vehicle’s alternator, harnessing solar power from the sunshine or utilising the convenience of a mains 240V supply, We offer a range of chargers designed to excel in all environments.
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.
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, it is not essential. If your lead-acid charger operates a CCCV charge profile and charges between 14.2V and 14.6V, it will charge a LithiumPro battery. However, charging may take a bit longer and be slightly less efficient compared to using a dedicated lithium charger with a LiFePO4 charge profile.
Yes, a lead-acid charger will charge your new Lithium Pro battery just fine. Most Lead-acid chargers output between 14.2-14.6v which will charge your battery just fine.
Its worth noting it will take longer to charge as lead-acid chemistries like to be charged slower than their more efficient LiFePO4 alternatives. However, with LithiumPro’s new SMARTCOMM SERIES they have Active balancing built-in as standard. which ensures no matter what charger you use the onboard Active-Balancing will ensure the cells are optimally balanced every charge cycle ready to provide 100% capacity every cycle.
The chargers in most motorhomes or caravans are surprisingly old and basic technology. They have not been updated for many years. Many offer different charging profile settings for ‘GEL’ or ‘AGM’ lead-acid batteries, but very few have a dedicated Lithium ‘LiFePO4’ charging profile. New motorhomes are now starting to install more advanced chargers as Lithium is becoming an every day essential for the van life community.
In most cases you can continue to use your existing chargers with LithiumPro batteries. 95% of existing chargers in todays motorhomes are compatible with LithiumPro batteries from Sargent, Schaudt, CBE, Dometic, Voltronic, Nordelectronica. However, If you have a Bailey, Coachman or Elddis that uses a BCA mains charger, these are not true chargers. They are only trickle chargers that prevent your battery from over discharging and sulphating. Their maximum output is 13.8v, and will only charge a lithium battery to approximately 70-75%. So you will need to upgrade to a lithium compatible charger that outputs between 14.2-14.6v to ensure your battery is be fully charged and the cells are balanced to provide optimal performance. Call or email for instructions of how to replace your existing BCA charger.
If a Lead-Acid charger does the job, why should i upgrade my charger? I hear you say… There are several factors to consider when charging lithium batteries. Lithium chargers are designed to fully charge and balance your lithium battery at a regulated charge voltage of 14.4V.
Whilst LithiumPro Energy recommends using a dedicated lithium charger, as it will offer a more efficient charge for your battery and help prolong its lifespan, it is not essential. However, there is such a process/code known as ‘good electrical design’, meaning it is considered ‘good practice’ within the electrical industry to design an off-grid electrical systems with more than one fail safe. Having dedicated lithium chargers designed into a system offers extra safety protection in case of failure.
Lithium chargers are designed to charge lithium batteries with a regulated charging profile, they use a Constant Current Constant Voltage, CCCV profile. It will charge your battery faster and more efficiently than lead acid charger switched to a GEL Profile. Charging with a regulated voltage of 14.4v and shutting the charger off at the correct voltage is essential to protecting the longevity and lifespan of your Lithium battery. Buying a lithium charger ensures you get the best protection for your investment by looking after your battery correctly.
As we design larger Lithium Batteries with great capacities for the everlasting off-grid solution, we must think about how we can recharge them more efficiently. Such is the rapid growth of battery capacity driven by the automotive sector, we must consider how best to recharge the battery bank.
Charging a powerful battery with a capacity of 280ah or 460ah may take several hours if not days with the small a 15-20A charger your motorhome or campervan was fitted with at the factory. They we only ever designed to charge a battery with a capacity of 100ah not to charge the powerful alternatives we have on offer today.
So it is worth considering multiple charging sources whilst on the move not just static charging from a mains 240v ‘hook-up’ source. Very efficient and effect Solar, and DC-DC chargers are also available to boost the amount of charge you can put back into your battery whilst on the move.
All LithiumPro batteries are designed and fitted with our proprietary advanced Battery Management System (BMS). This is very complex module that controls and governs the batteries use. The BMS has the ability to switch off the battery to safeguard it if the sensors detect an excessive use parameter, such as over temperature, over charging, over discharging or a short circuiting, charging in sub-sero temperatures, etc. Not all Lithium batteries are built the same to the same standard or specification.
If a Lead-Acid charger does the job, why should i upgrade my charger? I hear you say… There are several factors to consider when charging lithium batteries. Lithium chargers are designed to fully charge and balance your lithium battery at a regulated charge voltage of 14.4V.
Whilst LithiumPro Energy recommends using a dedicated lithium charger, as it will offer a more efficient charge for your battery and help prolong its lifespan, it is not essential. However, there is such a process/code known as ‘good electrical design’, meaning it is considered ‘good practice’ within the electrical industry to design an off-grid electrical systems with more than one fail safe. Having dedicated lithium chargers designed into a system offers extra safety protection in case of failure.
Lithium chargers are designed to charge lithium batteries with a regulated charging profile, they use a Constant Current Constant Voltage, CCCV profile. It will charge your battery faster and more efficiently than lead acid charger switched to a GEL Profile. Charging with a regulated voltage of 14.4v and shutting the charger off at the correct voltage is essential to protecting the longevity and lifespan of your Lithium battery. Buying a lithium charger ensures you get the best protection for your investment by looking after your battery correctly.
As we design larger Lithium Batteries with great capacities for the everlasting off-grid solution, we must think about how we can recharge them more efficiently. Such is the rapid growth of battery capacity driven by the automotive sector, we must consider how best to recharge the battery bank.
Charging a powerful battery with a capacity of 280ah or 460ah may take several hours if not days with the small a 15-20A charger your motorhome or campervan was fitted with at the factory. They we only ever designed to charge a battery with a capacity of 100ah not to charge the powerful alternatives we have on offer today.
So it is worth considering multiple charging sources whilst on the move not just static charging from a mains 240v ‘hook-up’ source. Very efficient and effect Solar, and DC-DC chargers are also available to boost the amount of charge you can put back into your battery whilst on the move.Lead-Acid chargers are designed NOT to start charging unless they sense a voltage across the battery. This becomes an issue if you drain your lithium battery, which it is safe to do so, but as a safeguard the BMS will shut down the battery and prevent it from any further discharge. The battery will now read 0v at the terminals as the BMS has disconnected it and prevents it from any further discharge until it is recharged. This is becomes a disadvantage if you do not have any LiFePO4 chargers on board. Your existing lead acid charger will see 0v and think the battery is dead and will not be able to reset or commence charging. Whereas dedicated Lithium chargers have technology onboard to be able to restart a lithium battery in this scenario. A charger with a LiFePO4 profile should sense that the lithium battery is showing 0v and is designed to recognise the battery requires restarting prior to commencing charging.
