Setting up a perfect power system can be challenging, especially if you don’t know the crucial components and their ideal specifications. This has made it almost impossible for people to know when to take a 24-volt or two-12-volt Lithium battery pack.
This article explains 12-volt and 24-volt batteries, their current and voltage ratings, and the circumstances under which each option is most appropriate. Now, let’s uncover the critical details so you don’t make any mistakes when purchasing.
Mastering The Basics of 12V and 24V Lithium Batteries
Before we can tell you the best option between two 12V batteries or just one 24V pack, let’s understand some factors in detail. This section will teach you the specifications setting the two options apart.
Understanding 12V Lithium Batteries
12V batteries produce direct current with a magnitude of 12 volts (12V). They’re available in various current ratings. The most common current ratings of 12V Lithium batteries is 100Ah or 200Ah, with some going up to 300Ah. The Ah stands for (Ampere Hours) in full, and shows the total amount of current a battery pack can supply for 1 hour.
The Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) material is another crucial thing you should know about Lithium batteries. The LiFePO4 chemistry boasts incredible chemical stability, thus allowing Lithium batteries to withstand numerous charge/discharge cycles. This explains why a 12v Lithium battery can last up to 10 years or even more.
What Do We Use 12V Lithium Batteries For?
One of the coolest characteristics of 12V Lithium batteries in general is their extensive and seamless integration with most electrical appliances. This makes sense because several devices have been designed to take in 12V. Here are some popular ways people use 12V battery packs in real life.
- Powering RV Homes - Most recreational vehicles don’t require a lot of power, and because they take in 12V, the 12V Lithium battery packs are a perfect choice.
- UPS Systems - Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems usually act as power backup sources. They, therefore, don’t need to run for several hours, making 12V batteries an excellent option.
- Marine Environments - Our fishing boats have 12V Lithium batteries, responsible for powering various electronics on board. These include communication modules, radar, light bulbs, and TV sets, all of which don’t require a lot of energy to operate.
Understanding 24V Lithium Batteries
Like the 12V option, 24V Lithium batteries come in various current ratings. The most common include 50Ah, 100Ah, and 200Ah. But unlike their 12V counterparts, they generate current with a magnitude of 24V, hence the name 24V Lithium batteries. The technique for calculating the energy capacity is the same as the one used for 12V batteries: multiplying the current rating in Ah by the voltage v.
So, if you have a 24V 50Ah Lithium battery, the total energy it can carry when fully charged is (24*50 = 1200Wh). The same applies to the 100Ah and 200Ah, which give us 2400Wh and 4800Wh, respectively.
The 24V batteries also use Lithium Iron Phosphate technology, giving them a 5000+ cycle life. Therefore, you can use your 24V Lithium batteries for at least 10 years before their original capacity decreases.
Areas We Use 24V Lithium Batteries in Real-Life
24-volt Lithium battery packs also have various applications. However, the range of users is relatively less diverse because only a few appliances can readily take in 24V. The 24V Lithium battery packs are commonly used in areas such as:
- Off-Grid Power Installations - Where larger power storages are key.
- Electrical Vehicles - 24V Lithium batteries are crucial for EVs designed to consume 24 volts of power.
- Residential or Business Settings - Comprising larger DC to AC power inverters that can take in only 24 volts of electric current to operate correctly.
The Advantages of Using Two 12V Lithium Batteries
Picking two 12-volt Lithium batteries can offer several advantages to your power installation project. Some of the benefits are technical, while others are financial, as we explain below.
A Flexible Configuration
One of the benefits of using two 12V Lithium batteries is the ability to use multiple configurations depending on the power needs. This means you can connect two 12V battery packs in various ways to achieve a desirable power output. For instance, you can connect them in series to generate 24 volts if you have an appliance needing 24V current.
When we connect two batteries in a series configuration, the resultant voltage is the same as twice the voltage of each of the two 12-volt packs. That’s why we’ll obtain 24 volts in this case. However, the current rating remains the same. So, if we have two 12V 200Ah Lithium batteries connected in series, the resultant current rating remains the same while the voltage doubles to 24V.
At the same time, we can combine two 12V Lithium batteries in parallel when we need 12 volts of power but with a higher current output. In a parallel connection, the voltage remains constant while the current doubles. So, in this case, we would end up with 12V but with a current rating of (200*2 = 400Ah).
Top-Notch Reliability
You can connect your two 12V Lithium batteries in parallel to run your electrical devices that require 12 volts. In such a situation, you won’t have to shut down your power system just because one of the batteries has a problem. The technical redundancy due to having two batteries allows you to keep running the appliances as the faulty battery is being fixed.
Low Initial Cost
12V battery packs are generally more affordable than their 24V counterparts. You won’t need a lot of cash before you can build your power system and have it running. But while it’s cheaper to purchase 12-volt Lithium batteries, they do have a higher long-term cost.
For instance, load imbalances between the two battery packs can significantly shorten their lifespan and lead to frequent maintenance and replacements, thus raising the long-term cost of ownership.
The Advantages of Using One 24V Lithium Battery
Even though there are a few challenges, settling for one 24V battery unit instead of two 12V Lithium batteries has some pros. Below are the three main advantages of a 24V battery you should know.
Simple To Set Up
Among the most appealing things about dealing with a 24V Lithium battery is the extent of simplicity involved in setting the package up. Because of the higher voltage, the current flowing from a 24-volt battery is usually quite low, thus permitting less advanced and robust wiring.
The low current also minimizes potential damage to the wiring system and ensures minimal maintenance exercises. In the long run, using one 24V battery will save you the cash you would spend on repairing and maintaining your wiring system so that you can use the money elsewhere.
Delivers More Power
When the intended purpose of your power system project is to supply power to appliances that require a lot of energy such as powerful trolling motors or critical digital infrastructure, a single 24-volt battery pack might be the best thing to go for.
This is because a 24V Lithium battery is optimized to deliver larger amounts of energy. The good thing is, that despite supplying a lot of energy, the battery pack will still last long enough because of a stable chemical structure that can withstand several charge/discharge cycles.
Saves Space & Weight
The availability of space for installing your power project is an incredibly crucial consideration when choosing between a single 24V Lithium battery or two 12-volt packs. Generally, a 24V battery is lighter than two 12V packs, making it an ideal option if you’ll be moving the power system from one location to another over time.
Besides the impressively small weight, 24V Lithium batteries are compact in design, allowing them to fit into smaller spaces perfectly. So, they’re your best friends if space is scarce where you plan to install a power unit.
Comparative Analysis: 12V Vs 24V Lithium Batteries
After explaining the fine details of a 24-volt and two 12-volt Lithium batteries, let’s compare the two options.
Power Output
A 24V Lithium battery is more power efficient than two-12V packs, making them more suitable for applications demanding a lot of energy. So, for heavy loads such as large solar installations, off-grid systems, and large RV homes, the 24V option is ideal.
Lifespan
Both a single 24V and two 12V packs are durable because they’re based on LiFePO4 technology. However, a 24V Lithium battery is more durable than two 12-volt packs because it doesn’t have complex components and is immune to problems like load imbalances.
Installation
As for the ease of installation, the primary determinant is the number of components each battery configuration has. A combination with numerous parts is more challenging to install than one with few components. So, in this case, one 24-volt Lithium battery is easier to install due to its fewer components than two 12V packs, which have many parts.
Maintenance & requirements
To install two 12V Lithium batteries, you will need more of items like wires than a single 24V battery pack. The many parts also make a two-12V battery combination more demanding in terms of maintenance practices and costs than one 24V Lithium battery.
Costs
Installing a single 24V battery needs more initial capital because the 24-volt pack is more expensive than its 12V counterpart. However, you’ll spend less to maintain a 24V Lithium battery going forward than a two-12V battery pack. So, two 12V packs are more affordable to install but more expensive than a 24V unit in the long run.
Final Thoughts
A 24V Lithium battery and a two-12V Lithium battery pack both have pros and cons, and everything narrows down to what appliances you intend to power. For heavier off-grid operations and heavy loads that require more power, you might want to go for the 24V option. However, the two-12V combination will be most appropriate for light load operations.
We’ve also discovered that one 24V battery has higher initial costs but is more affordable in the long term. Additionally, two 12V Lithium batteries allow for more flexible combinations to produce either 12V or 24V, depending on the kind of appliances you have.
