Upgrading Your Flooded, AGM or Gel Battery System To Lithium

Your old dual battery system needs new batteries and you are considering the move to Lithium, what do you need to know?

First, let’s look at the Chemistry. Lithium batteries come in many forms, however, the chemistry that is used in this Automotive / Marine recreational space should be Lithium Iron Phosphate, which can also be referred to as LiFePO4.

Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have two parts, the cells and the BMS or Battery Management System. The cells provide the voltage and capacity while the BMS helps manage the input and outputs to and from the battery and it protects the cells from overcharging, excessive current draw, and internal heat.

They are available in different amp hour ratings and footprint sizes, so finding a battery for a direct replacement size-wise should be possible.

You will need to consider the battery charger as the Lithium Iron Phosphate charging profile is different from the Lead Acid, AGM, or Gel batteries that you are replacing. So, check that the charger has a Lithium profile, if not the charger will need to be replaced adding to the expense of the changeover.

The location of your current batteries should also be taken into account as Lithium Iron-Phosphate should not be installed in under-bonnet applications or where excessive heat is generated.

When selecting a battery, where possible use one larger ampere-hour battery instead of two smaller ones. For example, if you want 200 amp-hours you are better off with one 200 amp-hour battery instead of 2 x 100 amp-hour batteries, the reason for this is the BMS in each of the batteries will need to communicate with one and other, otherwise, issues can occur. Ensure that the manufacturers allow for this, and the batteries are the same age, even better if they are from the same batch.

Select a recognised brand, this will ensure you are provided with aftermarket and warranty support. Battery World stocks several reputable brands and can ensure the product is right for your needs.

Some of the benefits include: the weight - they are considerably lighter than the same size Lead Acid battery, the Voltage remains constant for much longer during the discharge cycle giving you more usable capacity, and they can be recharged faster as they can accept much more charging current than Lead Acid, AGM, or GEL batteries and finally, they can have up to 10 times more cycle life than the other technologies.

There are also some disadvantages to Lithium Iron Phosphate, the main one being the cost, they are considerably more expensive and have some limitations as to where they can be installed.

If you have any concerns or need assistance, contact the battery experts at your local Battery World Store.