Battery Bank Basics: Lead-Acid vs. Lithium
A plain-English comparison of the two chemistries home energy builders actually choose between.
Your battery bank decides how much of your solar production you actually get to use. The two chemistries home builders choose between are flooded or sealed lead-acid, and lithium iron phosphate.
Lead-acid is cheap up front and forgiving of over-discharge if you watch it. The trade-off is usable capacity: you only get about half the rated amp-hours before sulfation starts.
Lithium iron phosphate costs more per amp-hour but lets you use 80 to 90 percent of the rated capacity, weighs a third as much, and lasts far longer in daily cycling.
Match the chemistry to the charge controller. Lithium needs a controller with a lithium profile; a lead-acid setting will undercharge it and shorten its life.
Temperature matters. Lead-acid survives freezing; lithium should not be charged below freezing without a heater.
For a full bank sizing worksheet and parts lists sized to your loads, the Energy Revolution System is the guide we recommend.
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Practical off-grid electricity planning
Load sizing, battery bank planning, and off-grid energy concepts for homeowners.
