Introducing the Renogy 100Ah Lithium Battery with self-heating function: your perfect winter RVing companion.
Are you considering converting your van or RV to solar power or an upgrade from your lead-acid batteries?
If so, lithium batteries are likely on your radar.
This article presents a comprehensive review and comparison of the Renogy 100Ah lithium battery with a self-heating function designed to make your winter RVing experience more comfortable and efficient.
Lithium batteries offer several notable advantages over their lead-acid counterparts.
They’re lighter, maintain their charge longer, and can withstand more deep discharge cycles.
However, they also come with a higher price tag.
We want to provide clear, concise, and practical information, helping you determine if the Renogy 100Ah lithium battery is worth the investment for your specific needs.
In this Renogy 100Ah lithium battery review, we’ll guide you through this cutting-edge battery system’s essential features, benefits, and potential drawbacks.
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At A Glance: Renogy 100ah Lithium Battery Review
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The Renogy 100Ah Lithium Battery is an excellent option for powering off-grid adventures.
With its self-heating function and efficient energy output, this battery can power all your 12v electrical devices in your RV, even in colder climates.
It’s a powerful and reliable battery designed for off-grid applications.
It has an impressive 4000 cycle life, making it perfect for those who live a completely off-grid lifestyle.
The battery also features an intelligent self-heating function that automatically kicks in when the core temperature drops below 41°F (5°C).
This allows the battery to be recharged even in low temperatures, making it ideal for RVers, adventurers, and other users who need reliable power on the go.
In terms of performance, the Renogy 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery offers quick charging times and a high discharge rate.
It can last up to 10 years if properly maintained and has a maximum charge/discharge efficiency of 99%.
The self-heating function also works well and helps keep the battery warm enough during cold weather conditions to accept a charge.
The only potential drawback of this battery is that you can only connect up to 4 of them in parallel.
If you need more than 400ah of usable battery capacity or run a 24v or 48v system, there might be better choices than the Renogy 100Ah lithium battery.
Overall, the Renogy 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable power source that can withstand extreme temperatures and provide long-lasting energy storage.
It’s perfect for RVers, off-grid homeowners, or adventurers who need dependable power no matter where they are.
What We Like
- Can connect up to 4 multiple batteries in parallel, meeting the electrical needs of most RVers and camper van owners.
- The upfront price.
- Includes a 5-year warranty as standard.
What We Don’t Like
- You can only connect up to 4 in parallel. So, if you need more than 400ah of usable lithium battery, the best option is either multiples of the Renogy 200ah lithium battery or their brand new Rego 400ah battery.
- They cannot be connected in series, so if you need a 24v or 48v electrical system, that’s a deal breaker.
- No in-built Bluetooth, but you can connect to the Renogy One or their BT-2 Bluetooth module.
Disclaimer: Renogy was kind enough to send us a 100ah lithium batteries for this review. However, the content of this post is not sponsored by Renogy, and all opinions are our own.
Where To Buy A Renogy 100ah Lithium Battery
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Renogy 100ah Lithium Battery Specification
BMS Parameters
The Renogy Lithium Batteries allow charging and discharging within these parameters:
- Nominal Voltage: 12.8 V
- Voltage Range: 10~14.8 V
- Charge Temperature: 32~131°F/ 0~55°C
- Discharge Temperature: -4~140°F/ -20~60°C
Discharge
- Maximum Continuous Discharging Current: 100 amps so that you can use the maximum size inverter for your system
- Usable Capacity: 100Ah
- Lifespan: ~4000 cycles @ 80% Depth of Discharge (DOD)
Charge
- Charges at 14.4v
- Maximum Continuous Charging Current: 50 amps
- Only charge the battery with a battery charger or solar charge controller that is compatible with the lithium iron phosphate battery
- Automatic cell balancing with up to 4 batteries connected in parallel
Temperature
- Charge: 32~131°F/ 0~55°C
- Discharge: -4~140°F/ -20~60°C
- The BMS will not allow charge/discharge outside of this range
Other
- Weight: 26.2 lbs. (11.9 kg)
- Dimensions: 11.4 x 6.8 x 7.4 inch (289 x 172 x 187.5 mm)
- Connection Method: Parallel only
- Self-heating to keep the battery charged when cold
- Terminals: M8 bolts included – you’ll need a 13mm spanner to tighten it
- Built-In BMS (Battery Management System)
- The communication port allows it to connect to the Renogy BT-2 Bluetooth module
Maximum Inverter Size
The Renogy 100ah lithium battery offers 100 amps of continuous discharge current per battery.
When you have multiple batteries wired in parallel, you can increase the discharge current for each battery in the bank.
The greater the maximum continuous discharge current, the greater the fully loaded inverter size the system can support.
For example:
- 1 x 100ah battery provides a maximum of 100a continuous discharge current. Multiply 100a by your system’s voltage (i.e., 12 volts), showing you can have a maximum inverter size of 1200w. Typically that will be a 1000w inverter.
- 2 x 100ah batteries provide a maximum of 200a continuous discharge current. Multiply 200a by your system’s voltage (i.e., 12 volts), showing you can have a maximum inverter size of 2400w. Typically that will be a 2000w inverter.
- And so on.
The vital point to consider here is that just because the battery bank can support a fully loaded inverter of whatever size doesn’t mean you need to install one.
Renogy’s Different 100ah Lithium Batteries Compared
When you land on Renogy’s lithium battery page, you’ll see they offer three 100ah lithium batteries, all at different prices.
Opting for the cheapest model may be tempting, but there may be better choices.
The three models are:
- 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function
- 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
- 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Bluetooth
These batteries are often on sale, and their discounted prices vary between $470 and $640. So let’s look at the reasons for the ~$200 difference.
12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function vs. Without Self-Heating Function
The 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery and the 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Self-Heating Function are identical, except the latter has a self-heating function.
The model without the self-heating pads is 0.2lb lighter and about $60 cheaper.
If you don’t plan to spend time in cold conditions where the self-heating feature is a game changer, these are a great choice and can save you a few dollars.
12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function vs 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Bluetooth
These Renogy batteries share some similarities in capacity and lithium iron phosphate chemistry.
However, there are notable differences between these two models that cater to specific user needs.
The 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function is designed for optimal performance in cold environments.
It features an intelligent self-heating function that activates when the core temperature drops below 41°F (5°C), ensuring efficient charging even in low temperatures.
This battery is ideal for those who require a reliable power source in colder climates, such as RVers and adventurers exploring snow-covered terrain or off-grid homeowners in cold regions.
On the other hand, the 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Bluetooth offers seamless connectivity and remote monitoring capabilities.
With its built-in Bluetooth module, users can directly monitor the battery’s performance, including voltage, current, state of charge, and overall health, from their smartphones via the Renogy DC Home App.
This feature is handy for those who prefer real-time data access and the convenience of monitoring their battery system remotely.
You can use the BT-2 module with the self-heating battery and enjoy the same monitoring features.
The main differences to focus on are in their technical specifications:
| with self-heating | with Bluetooth | |
| Usable Capacity | 100Ah | 100Ah |
| Weight | 26.2 lbs / 11.9 kg | 28.7 lbs / 13 kg |
| Life cycles | ~4000 | ~2000 |
| Upfront Cost | ~$640 | ~$470 |
| Cost per cycle | $0.16 | $0.24 |
| Length | 11.4″ / 289 mm | 12.99″ / 330 mm |
| Width | 6.8″ / 172 mm | 6.77″ / 172 mm |
| Height | 7.4″ / 187.5 mm | 8.43″ / 214 mm |
| Total Volume | 0.009m³ | 0.012m³ |
So to summarize, the Renogy 100ah Lithium battery with self-heating function, compared to the model with Bluetooth, will:
- Last twice as long,
- Costs 35% more upfront,
- It costs 30% less over its lifetime,
- Weighs 1kg less, and
- Requires only 75% of the installation space.
So, unless you’re trying to save on the upfront costs of your RV batteries, the self-heating version is the best option.
Even if you add the price of the BT-2 model at ~$40, it still works out cheaper.
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Key Features
The Renogy 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function is an advanced energy storage solution that provides reliable power in various off-grid applications.
Here are the key features of this battery:
Self-Heating Function
The self-heating function of the Renogy 100Ah lithium battery is an intelligent feature designed to enhance the battery’s performance and charging efficiency in cold environments.
Lithium batteries can experience reduced capacity and charging efficiency at low temperatures, impacting their overall performance.
The self-heating function addresses this issue by automatically maintaining the battery’s core temperature, ensuring optimal operation even in cold conditions.
The self-heating function activates when the battery’s core temperature drops below a specific threshold, typically 41°F (5°C).
It utilizes internal heating pads to gently warm the battery, raising its temperature to a more suitable range for efficient charging and discharging.
The process helps maintain the battery’s health and performance, preventing issues related to low-temperature operation.
The self-heating function is particularly beneficial for RV sunbirds requiring a reliable power source in colder climates or during winter.
Reliable BMS System
The battery features an integrated Battery Management System (BMS), which serves as the battery’s central control unit.
A few years ago, lithium batteries often required a separate BMS installation. Today’s advanced models, including all of Renogy’s lithium batteries, have a built-in BMS for added convenience and efficiency.
The BMS plays a crucial role in maintaining the battery’s overall health and performance.
It intelligently controls charging rates and cell performance to ensure optimal energy storage and longevity.
Additionally, the BMS offers essential safety protection features, including:
- Short circuit protection,
- Overcharging prevention,
- Over-temperature monitoring, and
- Voltage balancing capabilities.
Auto-Balancing Function
The Battery Management System (BMS) integrated into Renogy’s lithium battery plays a vital role in maintaining cell balance within each battery.
This intelligent feature ensures optimal performance even when multiple batteries are wired in parallel.
By effectively balancing the cells, the BMS enhances the overall charging efficiency of your battery setup for the long term, providing you with reliable and consistent power for your off-grid needs.
Quick Charge Technology
One notable advantage of the Renogy 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function over traditional AGM and Gel batteries is its superior energy absorption capacity.
Lithium batteries can absorb two or even three times more electrical energy than their AGM counterparts.
Affordability
This is the ideal choice if you need a dependable, reputable lithium battery offering ample capacity at an unmatched value.
The initial investment for this battery is comparatively low, and the cost per cycle is fantastic, making it one of the most budget-friendly options available today.
Renogy Support & Customer Care
There are varying opinions regarding Renogy’s customer support. While we haven’t personally needed to contact their support team, we cannot provide a firsthand account of their service quality.
Nonetheless, Renogy batteries are known for their reliability and durability over time.
Consequently, the chances of needing to reach out to their support team are relatively low.
Other Renogy 12v Lithium Batteries Available
12V 200Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/ Bluetooth
- 100ah
- 26 lbs / 11.8 kg
- ~4000 cycles
- ~$640
12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery w/Bluetooth
- 100ah
- 28.7 lbs. / 13.0 kg
- ~2000 cycles
- ~$470
In Conclusion
The Renogy 12V 100Ah Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery with Self-Heating Function is a reliable and cost-effective choice for RV sunbirds who require a dependable power source.
It offers superior energy absorption capacity, safety protection features, auto-balancing functions, quick charge technology, and an integrated BMS to ensure optimal performance.
Additionally, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options available today.
Renogy 100ah Lithium Battery With Self-Heating Function
Enter coupon code MowgliAdventures for 10% off at Renogy
As fellow RV camper enthusiasts, your experiences and insights can be incredibly valuable to others considering this battery for their own solar setup or RV camper. So let’s keep the conversation going!
What has been your experience with the Renogy 100Ah Lithium Battery with Self-Heating Function? Have you encountered any challenges or discovered unique benefits that could help others make an informed decision?
Graham Bogie
Graham is a seasoned marine electrical engineer with two decades of experience designing customized electrical systems for plant machinery and converting campers and overland vehicles. His expertise has led him to author the reputable Campervan Electrics Handbook and become the chief designer of the RV Wiring Design Tool. As a knowledgeable figure in the field, his YouTube channel, blog, Facebook group, and newsletter, offering electrical advice and product reviews, reach more than a million users each year.
Thank you for the explanation of the batteries. I am in the process of buying batteries and appreciate your input. However I am confused when you say the self heating batteries will last twice as long? If you never go below freezing or whatever heaters are set at, would batteries not last the same amount of time?
Thanks,
Keith