12V and 24V lithium batteries

100 Ah, 200 Ah and 24 V sizes

A 12 V 100 Ah lithium battery holds about 1.28 kWh, and most of that is usable. A 200 Ah block doubles it. A 24 V 100 Ah battery holds the same energy as two 12 V 100 Ah blocks in one case and suits a 24 V inverter or trolley. Common uses:

• an inverter trolley for wifi, TV and lights
• a caravan or camper with a 12 V fridge and lights
• a small 12 V or 24 V inverter for a home office or a shop till
• a boat, bakkie canopy or off-grid cabin with a solar panel

Replacing lead acid with lithium

A 12 V lithium block can often drop into the space of a 105 Ah lead acid battery at about half the weight, and you can use far more of its capacity. Before you swap, check that the charger, the solar controller and the inverter all have a lithium or LiFePO4 setting. A lead acid charge profile can undercharge or stress a lithium battery. Do not mix lithium and lead acid in one bank. See deep cycle batteries for when lead acid is still the better buy.

Chargers, cables and fuses

Use a charger rated for LiFePO4, sized for the battery. In a vehicle, a DC to DC charger protects both the starter and the lithium battery from the alternator. Fit a fuse close to the battery positive, sized for the cable and the inverter, and use cable thick enough for the current so it does not run hot. A 1,000 W inverter on 12 V draws a lot of current, which is one reason bigger setups move to 24 V.

Series, parallel and the BMS

Two 12 V blocks in series make 24 V; in parallel they make 12 V with double the capacity. Not every 12 V lithium battery may be linked, and the BMS limits how much current it will deliver. Ask the supplier for the continuous and peak discharge rating and whether their blocks may be joined, and in what number. Cold matters too: many will not charge below about 0 °C, which affects winter camping.

What to include in your request

• 12 V or 24 V, and 100 Ah or 200 Ah
• What it will power and for how long
• Your charger, inverter or solar controller
• Space available and the old battery's size
• Whether you need a charger or fitting

12V & 24V Lithium Batteries for different clients

• Homeowners: a 12V lithium battery in an inverter trolley for wifi, TV and lights
• Complexes, estates and body corporates: 12V lithium blocks for guard hut lights, intercoms and boom gate backup
• Offices and home offices: a 24V lithium battery behind a small inverter for a home office desk
• Shops, restaurants and salons: a 12V lithium battery keeping a till, card machine and router going
• Farms and smallholdings: 12V lithium batteries for electric fences, remote pumps and the farm bakkie
• Clinics, surgeries and care homes: a compact lithium battery and inverter for a CPAP machine overnight
• Factories, warehouses, schools and churches: 12V and 24V lithium for site lighting, radios and mobile equipment
• Electricians, installers and security companies: caravan fitters and installers buying 12V and 24V lithium blocks in bulk

Frequently asked questions

12V & 24V Lithium Batteries by province and city

• Gauteng
• Mpumalanga
• North West
• Limpopo
• Northern Cape
• Free State
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Western Cape

• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Centurion
• Midrand
• Sandton
• Randburg
• Roodepoort
• Krugersdorp
• Randfontein
• Germiston
• Boksburg
• Benoni
• Kempton Park
• Alberton
• Vanderbijlpark
• Vereeniging
• Durban
• Pinetown
• Pietermaritzburg
• Richards Bay
• Newcastle
• Ladysmith
• Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
• East London
• Kariega (Uitenhage)
• Mthatha
• Cape Town
• Bellville
• Paarl
• Stellenbosch
• George
• Worcester
• eMalahleni (Witbank)
• Middelburg
• Secunda
• Mbombela (Nelspruit)
• Rustenburg
• Brits
• Klerksdorp
• Potchefstroom
• Mahikeng
• Polokwane
• Tzaneen
• Kimberley
• Upington
• Bloemfontein
• Welkom
• Sasolburg

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