Off Grid Battery

When it comes to off-grid camping or off-grid living, you need more than just a standard battery. You need something that will run smoothly even when away from a mains power for an extended period of time. This is exactly why the best kind of off-grid batteries are solar batteries-to be exact, solar lithium batteries. Since these batteries mainly get energy from the sun, you'll never have to worry about losing power, especially on sunny days. Best of all, whether you're using it as a camping battery or home battery, you get to save more since solar batteries allow you to bank power during the day and use them in the evening.

Now why use a lithium solar battery? Lithium batteries, particularly LiFEPO4, are deep-cycle batteries. They are designed to provide stable power even at 80% discharge level so you get to use them for longer without charging. Combine it with solar power and you've got the most reliable off-grid battery system for residential or camping use. 

In household settings, solar batteries usually come in bigger sizes as they will have to power more electrical devices during power outages. Those who are living in areas prone to power interruptions will need the most reliable off-grid solar system with quality solar panels and batteries. Currently, the most popular home solar battery would be the Tesla Powerwall, priced at $10,500. Tesla Powerwalls are not available for individual sale and are required to be installed with a Tesla solar power system. However, you can still buy a standalone Powerwall from a Tesla certified installer.

Let's talk about camping or caravanning. Solar power batteries used for outdoor applications are often available as portable battery packs, like a LiFEPO4. These are paired with solar panels, either a fixed one like a flexible solar panel for RVs or a portable one like a folding solar panel. Since they cannot be connected directly, a solar charge controller would be needed as well, and an inverter if you want to run 240V appliances. All of these are incorporated in an entire solar panel setup-a power source preferred by a lot of RV owners. This would need installation, of course, but if you want to make the process a bit easier, you can get an off-grid solar system package with batteries already along with other essentials needed for setting up.

How Much Power Do You Need For Off-Grid?

On average, an off-grid home needs about 7kW to power all the appliances in it. For camping, this will depend on how many and which appliances you plan to run. If off-grid lithium batteries, a 12V battery pack would be good if your energy needs are below 1,000W. Those who require 1,000W to 5,000W would be better off with a 24V battery, while those who need more than 5,000W should be investing in a 48V battery instead. Of course, it's not enough to simply calculate the amount of electricity you will need. If you're using solar batteries, you need to consider the peak sun hours in your location too, and the number of solar panels you will need to effectively charge your battery during daylight.

How Long Do Off-Grid Batteries Last?

Solar batteries' lifespan ranges between 5 to 15 years with proper care and usage. While the upfront solar battery price is definitely high, this longevity period is more than enough to compensate for your purchase plus, solar systems are usually an effective way to cut down your expenses whether on your home bills or camping. If you're using a portable off-grid lithium battery for your RV such as LiFEPO4, you could get around 7 to 10 years of life, which is pretty good too, considering lithium battery prices nowadays.

More from Outbax

Ready for your off-grid camping? Start looking for the best off-grid battery systems in Australia now. Here at Outbax, we have available lithium batteries ideal for camping solar power systems. Choose from batteries of different capacities and even slimline batteries for added portability. We even have solar panels for those who need them! Make shopping a little easier and try our solar panel kits too. You get a good set of panels plus basic solar panel accessories so all you need to do is pair it with an off-grid battery bank and you're all set. Happy camping!