12V Solar Batteries

12V Solar Batteries: Lithium Storage for RVs, Vans, Boats and Cabins

The solar batteries in this collection are all 12V lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), the drop-in format that fits the battery bay of a travel trailer, van, boat or small cabin system. A 12V bank stores what your panels make during the day and feeds lights, a compressor fridge, a water pump and an inverter overnight. Compared with the lead-acid battery that came with most RVs, these units are lighter, hold their voltage under load, and are rated for thousands of cycles instead of a few hundred.

There are 8 products here from Rich Solar and Sungold Power, priced from $390 for a 100Ah unit to $1,099 for a 200Ah battery with a 10-year warranty. Capacities are 100Ah (1,280Wh) and 200Ah (2,560Wh), sold singly or as a two-pack.

How to choose a 12V lithium battery

• Capacity in Wh, not just Ah. A 100Ah 12V battery holds 1,280Wh; a 200Ah holds 2,560Wh. A 12V fridge, LED lights and a phone or two use roughly 600 to 900Wh overnight, so one Rich Solar 12V 100Ah ALPHA 1 covers a night with margin, and a Rich Solar 12V 200Ah ALPHA 2 covers two.
• Cycle life and warranty tier. Rich Solar sells each size in three tiers. LITE models are rated 4,000+ cycles, the core ALPHA 1 and ALPHA 2 are rated 5,000+, and the PRO versions are rated 7,000+ cycles with a 10-year warranty. If the battery lives in a full-time rig, the PRO tier pays for itself over the years.
• Cold-weather charging. LiFePO4 cells cannot be charged below freezing. The ALPHA 1, ALPHA 2, both PRO models and the Sungold Power batteries have internal self-heating. The ALPHA 1 LITE lists passive cold-weather protection instead of a heater, and the ALPHA 2 LITE does not list heating at all, so pick the LITE tier for southern or three-season use.
• Monitoring. Bluetooth app monitoring on the ALPHA, PRO and Sungold Power units shows state of charge and current from your phone. The LITE tier skips it to hit its price.
• Enclosure rating. The Sungold Power 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 Battery and the 2 x Sungold Power 12V 100Ah bundle are IP65 rated, useful in a boat locker or an exterior RV bay that sees spray.

Popular picks in this collection

Setup and usage tips

• Set your charge controller and converter to a lithium profile. A lead-acid profile undercharges LiFePO4 and leaves capacity on the table.
• Size the bank before the panels. The Solar Kit Calculator turns your appliance list and ZIP code into a battery, inverter and panel size so a 12v solar power kit is balanced from the start.
• Check the 200A max discharge on the Sungold 200Ah if you run a 2,000W inverter; that is about 170A at 12V under full load, close to the limit, so plan a second battery for larger inverters.

Frequently asked questions

How many 12V batteries do I need for a 12v solar system on a trailer? One 200Ah unit runs a fridge, lights and water pump for two nights. Add a second for a rooftop AC through an inverter or for stretches of cloudy weather.

Can I mix these with my existing lead-acid battery? No. Different chemistries charge at different voltages and the lithium BMS will fight the charger. Replace the whole bank at once.

Is the PRO tier worth it over the LITE? If the battery cycles daily in a full-time rig or cabin, 7,000+ cycles and a 10-year warranty on the ALPHA 1 PRO and ALPHA 2 PRO are the better buy. For a few weekends a season, the LITE tier at 4,000+ cycles will outlast the trailer.

All of the solar batteries for sale here ship free to the mainland US from our brand partner warehouses, usually within a few business days, with 30-day returns. Call us if you want help matching a battery to your inverter and controller.