====== High-level battery overview ======

Batteries used in your [[electrical:12v:intro|"house" setup]] have markedly different needs than the battery that's already under the hood of your car.  Not that there aren't similarities, but understanding the differences can help you right-size the batteries for your need and avoid [[electrical:batterycide|battery murder]].

===== Battery Types =====

At the very high level, there are **lead** batteries, and **lithium** batteries.

==== Lead batteries ====

  * **Pros**
  * Less Expensive
  * Often simpler to use
  * Easily obtainable
  * Wide range of existing accessories 

  * **Cons**
  * Heavy.  Like REALLY REALLY heavy
  * Easier to [[electrical:batterycide|murder]] if they're not treated properly
  * Need to be FULLY RECHARGED every day (realistically, this means you need solar)
  * Lower useable capacity

While it is possible to use standard automotive batteries that you get at Wal-Mart or the auto parts store as your house batteries, [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|Deep Cycle batteries]] are better suited to the task.  They are designed for more regular/deeper charge and discharge cycles.
==== Lithium Batteries ====

  * **Pros**
  * Very high energy density
  * Light(er than lead)
  * Greater usable capacity
  * No need to be fully recharged (in fact, they almost prefer not to be)
  * Faster charge/discharge ability
  * Longer lifespan

  * **Cons**
  * Expensive, like REALLY expensive
    * As of 2023, drop-in Lithium batteries have gone from "catastrophically expensive" to simply "very expensive"
  * Requires specialized charge controllers
  * Cannot be charged when below freezing (Some drop-in lithium batteries come with integrated heaters to allow charging when ambient is below freezing)
  * Charge/Discharge voltage different from lead - many "gauges" will not work

===== Further reading =====

With the prices of Lithium coming down to approachable levels, they are becoming more and more popular for all levels of build. There's two methods of obtaining a good lithium battery setup:

  * Pre-built or "[[electrical:12v:drop-in_lifepo4|Drop-in Lithium (LiFePO4)]]" batteries. These are factory made batteries that you can (mostly) treat like any other battery; they're a sealed black box that already contain a Battery Monitoring System (BMS), safety cut-offs, and sometimes bluetooth monitoring.
  * The more industrious (or frugal) can go the [[electrical:12v:lifepo4_batteries_thread|DIY Lithium]] path. This is where you buy the raw cells (usually at a deep discount directly from China), a BMS, cables, and bus bars, and build the battery packs yourself. Done properly, //massive// capacities can be had for prices so low it's not much more than a good lead battery setup. 

For those still pursuing lead chemistries, [[electrical:12v:deep_cycle_battery|Deep cycle batteries (Primarily lead)]] are strongly preferable.