Is Lithium technology for cabines/lodges?
Here we look at when it pays off, and when older lead-acid technologies are sufficient.
Anyone who lives in their a cabin/lodge all year round needs a constant supply of electricity. The fridge, heating control system and water pump don’t just run occasionally – they run every day. Lead-acid, AGM and GEL batteries have been reliably powering these everyday needs for years. However, when it comes to continuous operation, it becomes clear where lithium solutions are vastly superiror.
The most obvious difference is usable capacity. To ensure a long service life, lead-acid and AGM batteries should generally not be discharged beyond 50 per cent; only half of the rated capacity is available for everyday use. A lithium battery can be discharged much further before the built-in battery management system intervenes. A 100 Ah lithium battery therefore delivers almost twice as much usable energy as a 100 Ah AGM battery – whilst taking up the same amount of space.
There is also a world of difference when it comes to cycle life:
• Lead-acid/AGM battery, deep-cycle: up to 680 cycles at a 50 per cent depth of discharge
• GEL battery, deep cycle: up to 980 cycles at a 50 per cent depth of discharge
• Traction Bull Bloc Lithium: at least 5,000 cycles at a 50 per cent depth of discharge – seven times that of a comparable AGM battery
In a cabin/lodge that’s lived in, this is doubly important. With daily use, a lead-acid battery reaches its limit faster than you might think. A lithium battery lasts considerably longer with the same level of usage.
The cold season also makes a difference.
Anyone living there all year round needs to be able to charge their battery even when temperatures drop below freezing. Older lead-acid and AGM batteries lose a noticeable amount of capacity in such conditions, and in some cases their ability to hold a charge is also reduced. The Traction Bull Bloc Lithium, with its built-in heater, charges reliably down to -20 °C.
When lead-acid technologies are still the right choice
• Lead-acid or AGM batteries are suitable for cabins/lodges that are only used occasionally, such as holiday homes or weekend retreats. The lower initial costs offset the shorter usage cycle.
• GEL batteries are suitable for a basic setup with consistently low power consumption, such as lighting and a small water pump, without a fridge or heating control system running continuously.
Banner Tip
Anyone considering lithium technology for their cabin/lodge should be aware of the following: lead-acid, AGM and lithium batteries cannot be combined, as their chemistries have different charging curves and are incompatible when operated in parallel. Switching to lithium therefore means replacing, not supplementing, your existing battery. The Traction Bull Bloc Lithium directly replaces an existing 12 V lead-acid battery, provided the charger has a suitable LiFePO4 charging profile.
Whether lithium is worth it depends not on current trends, but on your own everyday circumstances: occasional use on a tight budget, a basic power supply, or year-round, off-grid living with high energy requirements. The Traction Bull Bloc lithium range is designed for the latter.