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12V Lithium Solar Batteries
​for Beginners


The lithium batteries below are considered "Drop-in Lead Acid Replacement" because you can use them with standard 12/24/48 volt solar charge controllers/chargers/inverters and more. Simply hook them up to your system in the same way you would a typical lead acid battery.
​
They are also safer than lead acid (multiple protection features and non-combustible) and last 4-8X longer! Once you go lithium, you will never go back! The best lithium-ion battery chemistry for solar is LiFePO4 due to its safety and price.

Best value 12V Battery: SOK Battery

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This battery has the components of a $1000+ LiFePO4, at a fraction of the price. I have not found a better battery w/ warranty for the price of the SOK. Check out these stats:
  • Can be connected for use in 12V/24V/48V systems. Most budget batteries do not have this ability!
  • Can be serviced. If one of the cells fails in ten years, you can swap it out for a new one. If the bms fails, you can swap it out in minutes. 
  • 7 year warranty
  • Large durable terminals
  • Steel case
  • Low temperature charging protection

And it is well engineered! It is a tank of a battery, and can handle abuse for years. 
And the SOK has been cycle tested. Here is the life cycle curve where it is cycled 3500 times! Check it out:
sok_battery_sk12v100-0915_life_cycle_curve.pdf
File Size: 266 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​​And the SOK is a fraction of the price of other 12V LiFePO4 batteries! Purchase it here from a USA warehouse with warranty and customer support:

12V 100Ah SOK Battery Click Here
​
$.44 per Wh
​
12V 206Ah SOK Battery Click Here

$.39 per Wh

24V 100Ah SOK Battery Click Here
$.39 per Wh



Second Distributor if links above are out of stock:
100Ah SOK Click Here
206Ah SOK Click Here


European SOK Warehouse:
Click Here to Purchase


​Note: Frequently out of stock due to high demand.


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$570 for 100Ah 12V
​
​$.44 per Wh

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$1029 for 206Ah 12V
$.39 per Wh​​


Marine Environment SOK Battery

If you live near the ocean or plan to build a mobile system that needs to survive a rugged environment, check this pack out. 

Same cells and BMS as the classic SOK that everyone loves, but encased with a water resistant case. 

Over the years I have said that the original SOK might not be the best idea for high moisture environments because the case is made of steel. If you were to scratch the paint, you may have rust. No longer is this a problem. 

Click here to order


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$1029 For 206Ah 12V
$.39 per wh


Best Budget LiFePO4 battery:
AmpereTime

If the SOK is out of stock, this is the next best budget battery. But it is lacking a basic safety feature: low temp charging protection.

What that means is that these must be mounted indoors or in an insulated box. If you are in the tropics, you are set! As long as the batteries never go below freezing, these work great.

If you were to lower this batteries internal temperature to below freezing, and charged quickly, it will damage itself. So it is crucial to mount these in a warm location!

Besides the low temp charging issue, it is a great battery! I have used them for months in a 48V pack. It is a very well made battery that should last a long time. I have many friends who use these packs without any issue as well. 

12V Models
12V 100Ah Click Here to Purchase 

12V 200Ah Click Here to Purchase 

12V 300Ah Click Here to Purchase 

12V 400Ah Click Here to Purchase


24V Models
24V 100Ah Click Here to Purchase

24V 200Ah Click Here to Purchase

48V Models
48V 100Ah Click Here To Purchase
(AmpereTime's 48V battery is overpriced unlike their other models. If you need a good value 48V battery, click here)
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​$350 For 100Ah 12V
$.27 Per Wh

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​$649 For 200Ah 12V
$.25 Per Wh


Roypow "Power Urus" 12V LiFePO4

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$400 for 12V 100Ah
Click Here to Purchase
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​$800 for 12V 200Ah
Click Here to Purchase
We have torn apart and reviewed 24\48V Roypow batteries for a few months now, and they are fantastic! They now make a 12V model with the same quality of components. Furthermore, distributors of roypow batteries say they are some of the most dependable batteries they have ever sold. 

It also has all the features of the more expensive batteries at a low price. They are very new to the market, or else they would be higher up this list. 

Click Here to Purchase a PowerUrus 12V 100AH
​

Click Here to Purchase a PowerUrus 12V 200AH

Long Lasting and Marine Grade
LiFePO4 Batteries:

​Battle Born

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$799 for 100Ah 12V
​
$.62 per Wh

​​​Battle Born 12 volt 100 amp hour
​Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
​

Good battery, but expensive. If you want something that works great for years (or decades), buy this battery. I have not heard of a dissatisfied battle born battery buyer. It just works. 

I would go with the SOK/Ampere time battery above unless I needed a sealed battery, for marine application. The battleborn has the best case and terminals around, and can handle high moisture environments. It is also ideal for high vibration systems, such as RV's and vans. 
​
  • 1200 watt hours total capacity (1280 watt hours usable)
  • WEIGHT 31 LBS
  • SIZE 12.75 x 6.875 x 9 (L x W xH)
  • Lithium Iron Phosphate Chemistry (safest choice for mobile solar power systems)
  • 12 volt Drop-in Lead Acid Replacement (works with any 12v solar charge controller, but be sure to select the "LiFePO4" or "sealed lead acid" charge setting)
  • 100 amp continuous output. 200 amp surge output
  • 3 year full replacement warranty and 5 year prorated
  • 3000-5000 charge cycles (cheaper than lead acid batteries in the long term)
  • Acceptable Charging Voltages: 14.1 to 14.6 volts
  • ​Has high AND low temperature protection 
  • This battery CAN be series connected! Which means you can use it to build 12/24/48 volt systems

If you want this battery to last a long time, keep it in a cool environment. The Battle Born does not require ventilation and it is maintenance free, but having a little air flow in your battery compartment can help keep the temperature down and prolong the life of your battery. 

These are safe to parallel connect in chains (to increase capacity of your system) with standard battery cables. If you plan to power large loads, you will need multiple batteries (for each 1000 watts required, use 1 battery. Example: 4500 watt load will require 5 batteries wired in parallel).


Click Here to buy it directly from Battle Born
$.70 per Wh
​
Click Here to buy it on Amazon.com

If you plan to use the battle born in freezing temperatures, there is an optional 12v heater pad. Click here

Battle Born GC2

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Same stats as the model above, but this battery can be connected in parallel with bus bars. If you have a large bank and plan to use solid copper bus bars to attach everything, use this one. 

Click here to buy the GC2
​$.81 per Wh

Looking for budget friendly 48V LiFePO4 Batteries:
Click Here!

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Prowse Publications LLC (www.mobile-solarpower.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
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I make a commission for sales made through affiliate links posted on this website
  • Home
  • DIY Solar Packages
    • Vehicle Mounted 12v Systems >
      • The Minimalist (great for small vans and cars)
      • The Classic 400 Watt (RV's, Vans, Buses)
      • 400 Watt w/ Alternator Charging
      • The Off Grid King (Power Anything!)
    • 48V Offgrid System Blueprint
    • Complete 48V Solar Kits
    • All-in-One 12/24/48V Packages
    • Code Compliant 48V Offgrid System
    • Design Your Own Raw LiFePO4 System
    • Grid-tie Systems
    • Other Packages >
      • Solar Trailer
      • 2000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • 4000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • Milk Crate Solar Power System
      • 12v Solar without a Battery
  • Solar Batteries
    • 12V Lithium Batteries
    • 48V Server Rack LiFePO4
    • Raw LiFePO4 Cells
    • BMS
    • Sealed Lead Acid Batteries
  • Solar Components
    • 50-250W Solar Panels
    • 300W+ Solar Panels
    • 48V All-in-one Buyer's Guide
    • Inverters
    • Solar Charge Controllers
    • Battery Chargers
    • Wire and Connectors
    • Fuses and Circuit Breakers
    • Battery Monitors
    • Battery Capacity Testers
    • Automatic Transfer Switches
    • Battery Isolators
    • Tools
  • Plug-N-Play Systems
    • Full Size Systems
    • Ultra Portable Systems
  • Appliances
    • Solar Friendly Air Conditioners
    • 12v Fridges
  • DIY Solar Book
  • Videos
    • Electricity for Dummies
    • Solar Power for First Timers
    • General Solar Education Videos
    • DIY LiFePO4 Video Series
    • Solar Wiring Configuration Diagrams
  • The Forum
  • Help Section
    • How to Mount Solar Panels to a Vehicle
    • How to connect Solar Panels to your Solar Generator
  • Contact Me
  • Policies and Disclaimers