What will happen if I charge a lithium battery with my RV?

Can I Use a Lithium Battery in my RV?

Lithium batteries have revolutionized the world of RV camping, offering longer life, faster charging, and improved performance compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.

However, many RV enthusiasts find themselves wondering about the complications of charging these powerful energy sources using their RV’s built-in charging system.

Related Product: Keep your RV lithium battery charged at home or in emergencies with the portable NOCO Genius 1 (click to view on Amazon)

In this guide, we’ll explore what happens when you charge a lithium battery with your RV. We’ll go over the benefits, potential risks, and best practices to ensure you’re maximizing your battery’s potential without damaging it.

Whether you’re a seasoned RVer considering an upgrade to lithium or a newcomer trying to understand your rig’s electrical system, this article will hopefully help you make sense of what should be a simple question.

See Also: 5 Best 12 Volt Lithium RV Batteries Reviewed + How To Charge

4 Things That Happen When You Use the Wrong Charger

Most RVs come with 3 stage lead acid battery chargers already installed. These work great for most of the common RV batteries. Including SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries like AGM and GEL.

What they’re not really made for is lithium batteries, even 12 volt ones.

Here’s some things that can happen when you charge a lithium battery with an RV.

1. Overheating Risk – Lithium batteries need special care. Using a regular charger can make them too hot, which can be dangerous. They could catch fire or even explode.
2. Shorter Battery Life – Lithium batteries have a specific way they need to be charged. Regular chargers don’t follow this. Your battery might wear out faster and stop working sooner.
3. Incomplete Charging – A regular charger might not fully charge a lithium battery. This means your battery won’t last as long between charges, and you’ll need to recharge it more often.
4. Built-In Protection Failure (BMS) – Lithium batteries have built-in systems to manage their charging safely. Regular chargers can’t communicate with these systems, which can lead to improper charging and damage the battery.

Note that some new RVs may already come with lithium chargers already installed or smart chargers with different battery settings. In this case, hook up the battery like normal and chose the correct charge mode (if applicable).

RV Charging Systems

Understanding how different RV charging systems work is helpful when considering using lithium batteries.

RVs come equipped with a built-in charging source to keep your batteries topped up, whether you’re on the road or at a campsite.

Here are some of the most popular RV charging systems. I’ve included those that come standard and also some you can install yourself.

1. Alternator Charging – When your RV’s engine is running, the alternator generates electricity to charge your batteries. This system was originally designed for lead-acid batteries and typically provides a high initial current that tapers off as the battery charges. While this works for lead-acid batteries, it’s not ideal for lithium batteries, which prefer a consistent charging current.
2. Shore Power – When you’re connected to campground electricity (shore power), your RV’s converter takes the incoming 120V AC and converts it to 12V DC to charge your batteries. Many RV converters are designed with lead-acid batteries in mind and may not provide the optimal charging profile for lithium batteries.
3. Generator – RV generators can provide power to run your appliances and charge your batteries when you’re off-grid. Like shore power, the generator’s output goes through your RV’s converter to charge the batteries. More than likely, your RV’s converter isn’t meant to charge lithium batteries.
4. Solar Panels – Many RVs are equipped with solar panels or have the capability to add them. Solar charging can be an excellent option for lithium batteries, as modern solar charge controllers can be programmed with the specific charging requirements of lithium batteries.
   • Related: How To Install Solar Panel On RV Roof & Connect To Battery
5. Dedicated Battery Charger – Some RVers install separate, high-quality battery chargers designed specifically for lithium batteries. These can provide more precise control over the charging process.

Many RVers find that their existing charging systems need some modifications to optimally charge lithium batteries.

This might involve upgrading to a smart RV converter (click to view on Amazon) that can be programmed for lithium batteries, or adding a dedicated lithium battery charger.

Lithium Batteries vs Lead-Acid Charging Comparison

Let’s break down the charging stages for both types of RV batteries.

Improper Charger Risks Explained

Charging a 12-volt lithium battery with a 12-volt lead-acid battery charger can lead to several issues due to differences in their charging requirements:

1. Overcharging – Lead-acid chargers often don’t shut off when a lithium battery reaches full charge, leading to overcharging. Lithium batteries can be damaged if charged above their recommended voltage (typically around 14.6 volts for LiFePO4).
2. Undercharging – Lead-acid chargers may not charge lithium batteries to their full capacity because they might end the charge cycle too early, based on the lead-acid charging profile.
3. Absence of Proper Voltage Regulation – Lead-acid chargers may not maintain the precise voltage levels required by lithium batteries during the different stages of charging (bulk, absorption, and float stages), leading to inefficient or unsafe charging.
4. Thermal Runaway – Overcharging a lithium battery can cause excessive heat build-up, leading to thermal runaway and potentially causing fires or explosions.
5. Battery Damage – Repeated overcharging or undercharging can degrade the battery’s capacity, lifespan, and overall performance.
6. No Battery Management System (BMS) Integration – Lithium batteries typically have a BMS that monitors and manages charging. Lead-acid chargers are not designed to communicate with or respond to the BMS, potentially leading to improper charging and battery damage.
7. Float Charging – Lead-acid chargers often include a float charging stage, where they maintain a lower voltage to keep the battery topped off. Lithium batteries do not require or benefit from float charging, and maintaining them at float voltage can be detrimental.

If an RV owner puts a lithium battery in their RV without making any changes to the RV charging system, improper charging is going to happen.

Usually, the lithium RV battery will only partially charge, but the RV battery indicator will show full charge.

This can lead to the new lithium RV battery being fully discharged (going to 0% charge) because the battery level indicator was showing the wrong levels.

See Also: Best Deep Cycle RV Battery (AGM, SLA, 12V, 6V)

Fully discharging a lithium battery decreases the overall charge capacity. There’s also a chance that the regular RV battery charger won’t be able to charge a dead lithium battery since they require a higher voltage.

This can be confusing for a regular battery charger. You may end up stuck at the campsite with no way to charge your lithium RV battery.

Why Use a Lithium Battery in an RV?

Lithium batteries, specifically Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, are popular in the RV world because of their  advantages over lead-acid batteries.

These high-performance power sources offer a range of benefits that make them particularly well-suited for the demands of RV living.

First, lithium batteries have a significantly longer lifespan compared to their lead-acid counterparts.

While a typical lead-acid battery might last 3-5 years with proper care, a quality lithium battery can often last 10 years or more. This longevity translates to fewer replacements and lower long-term costs for RV owners.

Another advantage is the lithium battery’s ability to provide a consistent power output throughout its discharge cycle.

Unlike lead-acid batteries, which can experience voltage drops as they deplete, lithium batteries maintain a steady voltage until they’re almost completely discharged.

This means your RV’s appliances and systems receive stable power, even when the battery is low.

See Also: LiTime 12V 100Ah Mini LiFePO4 Lithium Battery Review

Lithium batteries also offer a much deeper depth of discharge. While it’s recommended to only discharge lead-acid batteries to about 50% to preserve their lifespan, lithium batteries can be safely discharged to 80% or even 90% of their capacity without damage.

This effectively gives you more usable power from the same battery size.

Weight is another factor where lithium shines. They are significantly lighter than lead-acid batteries of equivalent capacity.

Lastly, lithium batteries charge much faster than lead-acid batteries. This quicker charging time means less generator runtime or shorter hookup times when recharging, allowing for more flexibility in your camping schedule.

Lithium Battery Charging Special Considerations

1. Battery Management System (BMS) Role – Lithium batteries come with a built-in BMS, which plays a crucial role during charging. The BMS monitors individual cell voltages, temperature, and current flow. If any of these parameters fall outside safe limits, the BMS can shut down the charging process to protect the battery.
2. Temperature Considerations – Lithium batteries are sensitive to temperature extremes during charging. Most can’t be charged at freezing temperatures (32°F or 0°C) or below, and their charging current should be reduced at high temperatures. Your RV’s charging system needs to account for these temperature limitations.
3. Voltage Regulation – Proper voltage regulation is critical when charging lithium batteries. Overcharging can lead to damage or even safety hazards. Most LiFePO4 batteries used in RVs require a charging voltage between 14.2V and 14.6V. It’s important that your RV’s charging systems can provide this correct voltage.
4. Charge Acceptance Rate – One advantage of lithium batteries is their high charge acceptance rate. They can typically accept their full rated charging current until they’re almost fully charged. This means they can charge much faster than lead-acid batteries, especially when paired with a high-output charging source like solar panels or a powerful shore power converter.
5. Partial State of Charge – Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries don’t need to be fully charged after each use. They perform well even when partially charged and don’t suffer from sulfation when left in a partial state of charge.
6. Balancing – Over time, individual cells in a lithium battery pack can become imbalanced. Many lithium batteries include a balancing function in their BMS, which works during the absorption phase of charging to ensure all cells reach the same voltage.
7. End of Charge – The charging process ends when the battery reaches full charge, typically indicated by the current dropping to a very low level (often about 3% of the battery’s capacity) while at the target voltage.

Understanding this process can help you ensure your RV’s charging systems are configured correctly for lithium batteries.

Benefits of a RV Lithium Battery Charger & RV Lithium Batteries

Charging lithium batteries with the proper RV charging system offers several significant advantages that can make your overall camping experience more comfortable.

1. Faster Charging Times – One of the most notable benefits is the reduced charging time. Lithium batteries can accept a higher charge rate than lead-acid batteries, meaning they can reach full charge much quicker. This translates to less time running your generator or being tethered to shore power, giving you more freedom to enjoy camping.
2. Efficient Energy Use – Lithium batteries are highly efficient in their charge acceptance. They can typically use about 99% of the incoming current, compared to the 80-85% efficiency of lead-acid batteries. This means more of the energy from your RV’s charging systems is actually stored in the battery.
3. Longer Boondocking Capability – The combination of faster charging and higher usable capacity means you can extend your off-grid stays. You can recharge more quickly when you run your generator or drive your RV, and you’ll have more usable power between charges.
4. Better Performance in Solar Setups – If your RV is equipped with solar panels, lithium batteries are an excellent match. They can accept the full output of your solar array for most of their charging cycle, making the most of the available sunlight and potentially allowing you to run entirely on solar power in favorable conditions.
5. Simplified Maintenance – Lithium batteries require virtually no maintenance once properly installed and configured. Unlike flooded lead-acid batteries, there’s no need to check water levels or perform equalization charges. This means less worry and more time to enjoy your RV adventures.
6. Weight Savings – Lithium batteries are significantly lighter than lead-acid batteries of equivalent capacity. This weight saving can improve your RV’s fuel efficiency and may allow you to carry more gear or supplies without exceeding weight limits.
7. Consistent Power Output – As mentioned earlier, lithium batteries provide a steady voltage output until they’re almost fully discharged. This means your RV’s systems and appliances receive consistent power, which can improve their performance and longevity.
8. Longer Lifespan – When charged correctly by your RV’s systems, lithium batteries can last much longer than traditional batteries. This longevity means fewer replacements over time, potentially saving money in the long run despite the higher initial cost.
9. Flexibility in Charging Patterns – Lithium batteries don’t need to be fully charged each time, nor do they need to be charged immediately after use. This flexibility allows you to take advantage of charging opportunities as they arise without worrying about damaging your batteries.
10. Cold Weather Performance – While lithium batteries have limitations on charging in very cold temperatures, they perform better than lead-acid batteries in cold weather in power delivery. This can be a significant advantage for winter camping.

By leveraging these benefits, you can significantly enhance your RV’s electrical system’s performance and reliability.

But, these benefits require ensuring your RV’s charging systems are properly configured for lithium batteries.

To Wrap It Up

Charging lithium batteries with your RV represents a significant advancement in power management for campers and off-grid lifestyles.

The advantages of lithium batteries, which include faster charging times, longer lifespan, improved efficiency, and superior performance, make them a fantastic option for those looking to upgrade their RV’s electrical system.

See Also: Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator For Camping

However, it’s crucial to approach this transition with careful consideration and proper knowledge.

Ensuring your RV’s charging systems are compatible with lithium batteries is an important step to getting the full benefits of RV lithium batteries while avoiding potential risks.

Have any questions? Leave a comment below.