Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle Lithium Battery
Vatrer LAF12100 is a 12V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) deep cycle battery intended for various roles, including marine, light industry, off-the-grid, electric vehicles, and similar applications that require a lightweight battery that cycles well and accept charge quickly.
Vatrer LAF12100 battery is protected by the built-in Battery Management System (BMS) that protects the battery from unwanted events, increasing the safety of the user and applications.
Published: May 23, 2022.
Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle Lithium Battery Features and Specifications
Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ahdeep cycle battery features physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 12.95 x 6.77 x 8.42 inches (329 x 172 x 214 mm) without terminals and it weighs 33 pounds (~15 kg).
Due to its dimensions and weight, Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ah deep cycle battery belongs to the BCI 31 battery group and is one of the lighter LiFePO4 batteries, and much lighter than the typical lead-acid BCI 31 group battery.
Vatrer LAF12100 battery features a nominal voltage of 12.8V and a nominal capacity of 100Ah. During the discharge, output voltage stays above 12V most of the discharge time, especially when the discharge current is below 0.2C (20A).
The battery is advertised as being able to provide 1280W, but it is safer to assume that it is able to provide 1150-1280W.
Vatrer LAF12100 battery supports 2000+ charging/discharging cycles down to 100% DoD and up to 5000 cycles down to 80% DoD - it supports ~8-10x more charging/discharging cycles than a typical lead-acid battery.
Like any similar Group 31 battery, Vatrer LAF12100 also features a positive terminal on the left side of the battery - the battery comes with a pair of M8 battery terminals, ensuring firm contact between the battery and the cables.
The battery also comes with a carrying strap/handle, allowing a single adult to carry the battery for shorter distances.
The battery is protected by the built-in Battery Management System (BMS) which prevents unwanted events from harming the battery - such events include overcharge, over-discharge, over-current, short-circuit, and low/high-temperature protection.
The operating temperatures of the Vatrer LAF12100 battery are:
- charging temperature: 0°C to +50°C (32°F to 122°F),
- discharging temperature: -20°C to +60°C (-4°F to 140°F),
- storage temperature: -10°C to +50°C (14°F to 122°F).
The maximum charging/discharging current is 100 Amps, although recommended charging current is 0.2C (20A).
Note: when the battery is delivered, it is charged to ~50% SoC and prior to the very first use, it must be recharged completely - practically, all large lithium batteries are delivered in semi-charged condition for safety reasons.
Vatrer LAF12100 support connecting batteries in both series and parallel, up to 4S4P configuration.
Note: when connecting lithium batteries in parallel and/or series, be sure to connect them as recommended by their manufacturer. Also, always connect only the very same battery models from the same manufacturer, preferably from the same batch, charged with the same battery charger!
Such larger battery packs can be used for electric vehicles, as large RV house battery, for off-the-grid applications, and similar.
For example, eight (8) Vatrer LAF12100 batteries can be connected in a 2S4P configuration to create a 24V (25.6V) 400Ah battery pack that is able to deliver 9.6kW (@12V and 400A) for almost an hour.
Vatrer LAF12100 battery comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
How to Charge Vatrer LAF12100 Battery
Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ah lithium battery should be charged by either a dedicated lithium battery charger or an advanced AGM battery charger that features a dedicated lithium battery charging mode.
Although the battery support fast charging at up to 100 Amps, the recommended charging current is 0.2C (20A), allowing the battery charger to fully recharge battery discharged down to 80% DoD in 4.5-5 hours (usually ~5h, since the charging algorithm is Constant Current/Constant Voltage (CC/CV)), depending on the battery condition and on the battery charger.
Unless You have the need to quickly recharge the battery, go for 20-25 Amps battery chargers.
When the battery is used as a solar battery, it must be charged using a solar battery charge controller that supports the charging of the lithium batteries.
If the single battery is being recharged during the day, with a maximum charging current of 20 Amps, one would need a solar panel's power of:
P(W) = 14.6V * 20 A / (0.85 * 0.5) = ~687W (~700W)
Note: solar battery charge controller energy efficiency is calculated as 85% and the energy efficiency of the solar panels is calculated as 50%.
Similarly, if the Vatrer LAF12100 battery is being recharged using a power generator and a 20A lithium battery charger (85% energy efficiency), the power generator must be able to provide:
P(W) = 14.6V * 20A / 0.85 = ~343W (~350W)
for at least 4.5-5 hours to fully recharge the Vatrer LAF12100 battery discharged down to 80% DoD - most 1000W and 2000W portable inverter power generators are suitable for such task.
Long Story Short: Vatrer LAF12100 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery is an ultralight and very compact battery that is able to store and release large amounts of energy and can be used in various deep cycle applications, including trolling motor batteries, in electric vehicles, as RV house battery, as solar battery, etc.
The battery accepts the charge rather well, but in order to prolong its operating time, the charging current should be kept at ~0.2C.
Even when charged with 20 Amps, the battery is able to cycle twice per day up to 5000 cycles down to 80% DoD - that is ~2500 days (≥ 6.8 years) in a row...
For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Vatrer LAF12100 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle Lithium Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).
