With lots of people moving to lithium in their 4WD power system, our Technical Support Team gets questions every day about lithium batteries. So, to make it easier, we’re answering some of our most asked questions.
WHAT MAKES LITHIUM BATTERIES SO GOOD?
When compared to a traditional AGM battery, lithium batteries are lighter, have higher power density, a longer lifespan, and almost 100% usable capacity – meaning the number of Ah on the label is what you get.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD LITHIUM BATTERY?
A good lithium battery should be tough enough to withstand tough terrain. REDARC’s Alpha150 is IP56 rated for vibration, dust and water resistance and the REDLAB range is completely sealed from water and dust, rated IP67. Both batteries also feature a heater for colder climates. This means that they can handle anything that life can throw at them on the road, perfect for 4WDs, vans and campers.
IS IT SAFE TO PUT LITHIUM BATTERIES IN THE ENGINE BAY?
No, unfortunately lithium batteries aren’t designed to be installed in the engine bay, they can’t handle the heat.
When exposed to high heat, lithium batteries experience something called thermal run away, which is where the battery is unable to cool itself down and can get to dangerous temperatures. While some companies sell shielding to slow down heat buildup, the issue is once the battery is hot, the heat can’t effectively dissipate again to cool down.
WHERE CAN A LITHIUM BATTERY BE MOUNTED?
REDARC’s REDLAB lithium batteries can be mounted anywhere in a vehicle cabin or canopy, or in a caravan or camper trailer. When mounting a REDLAB battery, there are a few rules we recommend following:
· Choose a location where the battery won’t be exposed to excessive heat or direct sunlight.
· The battery must be in an upright position.
· Make sure there’s plenty of airflow and clearance around the battery, without adequate airflow and space the battery is at risk of overheating.
· Keep the display panel and power button visible and accessible.
· Make sure the battery is mounted to a fixed, flat, strong surface that’s safe to drill through.
HOW ARE THE REDLAB BATTERIES MOUNTED?
The REDLAB Icon batteries are provided with four small mounting feet, which all need to be used when being installed. A range of mounting brackets to suit each battery are also available.
These brackets sit under the battery and are fixed to a flat surface with suitable fasteners. The included straps are then fed between the tray and mounting surface, ensuring that they align with the restraint strap guides on the battery and secured with the buckle.
REDLAB batteries can also be mounted using tie-down straps, just ensure that the straps are positioned over the restraint strap guides and not crossed over. When mounting, always ensure the battery cannot move.
CAN LITHIUM BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OR CAPACITIES BE USED TOGETHER?
No, it’s not recommended to mix lithium batteries of different brands or capacities.
Each lithium battery has its own internal battery management system, which may not charge and discharge at the same right or perform to the same specifications. This can lead to imbalances and reduce the overall lifespan and performance of the battery bank, as well as potentially cause damage or a safety hazard.
When designing a system, all batteries should be identical in age, brand and specifications, including capacities.
WHAT IS BATTERY CONFIGURATION?
Battery configuration is where two or more batteries are connected to create a larger battery bank. It’s often done in caravans and vehicles running a lot of gear to achieve a desired voltage or capacity larger than what’s available in a single battery.
When setting up battery configuration, if you want to increase total voltage the batteries should be connected in series. If you want to increase total capacity, the batteries should be connected in parallel. A series-parallel hybrid setup increases both voltage and capacity.
HOW MANY BATTERIES CAN BE CONNECTED TOGETHER?
The number of batteries that can be connected depends on the battery specifications and system configuration.
With the Alpha150 battery, a maximum of 8 batteries can be connected in parallel but these batteries are not designed to be connected in series. While REDARC’s REDLAB batteries can be connected in series and parallel with a maximum of four batteries to be connected in parallel and for a 24V system, two 12V batteries can be connected in series, with a further 6 batteries connected in series/parallel.
To learn more about lithium batteries, check out our Call Log video where Ryan and Andrew from our Technical Support Team answer all your most asked questions.
