Victron Lithium Smart or Lithium NG at 12.8 V: What the Technical Data Pages Say Changed
Summary
Same energy per amp-hour, different current limits, weight and electronics. The older Lithium Smart 12.8 V/100 Ah lists a 200 A maximum continuous discharge with 100 A recommended, 200 A maximum charge, and 14 kg. The Lithium NG 12.8 V/100 Ah lists 100 A continuous (1C), a 200 A ten-second peak, 100 A charge, about 9 kg, and Bluetooth inside the BMS. Both carry 1,280 Wh, 2,500 cycles at 80% depth of discharge, and the same temperature windows: discharge from −20 °C, charge only from +5 °C.
The two 100 Ah batteries
| Lithium Smart 12.8 V/100 Ah | Lithium NG 12.8 V/100 Ah | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal energy | 1,280 Wh | 1,280 Wh |
| Max continuous discharge | 200 A; recommended 100 A or less | 100 A (1C) |
| Peak discharge | not listed on the page we read | 200 A (2C) for 10 seconds |
| Max charge current | 200 A | 100 A (1C) |
| Charge voltage | not captured | between 14 V and 14.2 V |
| Weight | 14 kg | about 9 kg |
| Cycle life | 2,500 at 80% DoD | 2,500 at 80% DoD; 5,000 at 50% DoD |
| Temperature | discharge −20 to +50 °C; charge +5 to +50 °C | discharge −20 to +50 °C; charge +5 to +50 °C |
| Electronics | cell voltage and temperature monitoring to an external BMS | Bluetooth in the BMS; cell and temperature monitoring over an M8 interface |
The rest of each range
Lithium Smart is listed at 100, 200 and 330 Ah; the 200 Ah is 2,560 Wh at 20 kg with 400 A maximum discharge, and the 330 Ah is 4,220 Wh at 29 kg. Lithium NG is listed at 100, 150, 200 and 300 Ah, 1,280 to 3,840 Wh, with continuous discharge equal to 1C on each size, so 150 A, 200 A and 300 A, and the 300 Ah at about 29 kg.
What the numbers mean for an inverter
A 1C limit on the NG 100 Ah caps continuous draw at about 1,280 W, which is a 1,000 W inverter at full load with margin, not a 2,000 W one. The Smart 100 Ah's 200 A ceiling allows a 2,000 W inverter to run flat out, but Victron's own recommendation of 100 A or less points to the same 1 kW class for sustained use. Our guide on inverter sizing for a 100 Ah battery works the arithmetic.
What did not change
Energy per amp-hour, the 2,500-cycle figure at 80% depth, and the charge window starting at +5 °C. A battery sitting in a van on a January morning is below that window in much of the country, which is its own topic.
Shopping for one? Browse RV and off-grid solar panels →
Sources
- Victron Energy — Lithium Smart Battery Manual, 7. Technical data
- Victron Energy — Lithium NG 12,8 V manual, Technical data
- Victron Energy — Lithium Battery Smart 12,8V & 25,6V
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.