There’s nothing quite like the open road, exploring new places in your RV. But for a family that relies on their electronics – from charging phones and laptops to powering entertainment – a dead coach battery can quickly turn a dream trip into a frustrating ordeal. We recently experienced this firsthand, and it led us down the path of a much-needed RV lithium battery upgrade.
Previous Setup
Our previous setup consisted of two 6V golf cart batteries, a common choice for many RVers. While they served us for a while, a recent trip highlighted their limitations. We constantly struggled to keep them charged, leaving us in the dark (literally and figuratively) and impacting our family’s enjoyment. It was clear we needed a more robust power solution.
Selecting Replacements
Initially, I considered a straightforward replacement: a single lithium battery that would fit neatly into our existing battery tray. The appeal was obvious – minimal installation complications, a quick swap, and we’d be good to go. The price point was a bit higher for the capacity I was looking at, but with a long road trip on the horizon, I was ready to bite the bullet to get it done.
However, fate (and global shipping delays) intervened! The battery I ordered ended up stuck on a ship, with no clear delivery date. Frustrated but undeterred, I canceled the order and started looking for alternatives. And that’s when I stumbled upon what turned out to be an even better solution.
For roughly the same price as the single battery I initially considered, I was able to purchase two Redodo 12V 300Ah Lithium LiFeP04 batteries. That’s double the capacity I was originally going to get! The immediate downside was that these larger batteries wouldn’t fit into our existing battery tray. This meant a bit more creativity was required for mounting, but the prospect of significantly more power for our family’s needs easily outweighed this hurdle.
RV Lithium Battery Upgrade
The installation involved finding a new, secure location for the batteries, ensuring proper ventilation, making the necessary wiring connections, and converting any other components to work with lithium batteries. While it took a bit more planning than a simple drop-in replacement, the peace of mind knowing we have ample power for our devices is invaluable.
For our particular RV, the logical place for the new lithium batteries was the existing storage bay that also houses the propane tank. This location was ideal due to the proximity of all the essential electrical connections. To accommodate the larger, heavier lithium batteries, we ended up removing the original battery tray and constructing a new, custom-built tray. During our research, we did see other RVers opt to install their new batteries under the master bed, but for us, this would have required significantly more effort and modifications than we were prepared for.
Updating the AC/DC Distribution Panel
My RV was equipped with a Progressive Dynamics PD4590 50 AMP AC/DC Distribution Panel and this needed to be switched to work with Lithium batteries. Their support team was very helpful and shared directions on how to make the change. For my 2021 Jayco Precept 34G it required removing the 4-wire harness and installing a 2-pin jumper. I didn’t have a 2-pin jumper kicking around, but their support team was nice enough to send me one in the mail.
Conclusion
Since the RV lithium battery upgrade, our trips have been transformed. No more worrying about conserving every last bit of power. Our electronics stay charged, our family stays happy, and we can truly enjoy the freedom of RVing without the nagging concern of a dead battery.
If you’re an RVer struggling with power issues, especially if your family relies on electronics, I can’t recommend an RV lithium battery upgrade enough. While the initial investment might seem significant, the benefits in terms of reliability, longevity, and overall enjoyment of your RV adventures are well worth it.
Have you upgraded your RV batteries? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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