RV Lithium Battery Conversions in Seattle

VICTRON ENERGY CERTIFIED INSTALLER · SEATTLE · PUGET SOUND

RV Lithium Conversions Done as a Full System, Not a Battery Swap

Lead-acid to LiFePO4 conversions for motorhomes, trailers, fifth wheels and vans around Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and the Eastside. We re-set every charging source to match the new batteries, add monitoring, and commission the system before we leave.

Request a System Assessment CALL (564) 234-7490 TEXT (564) 234-7490

Every system is quoted after an assessment · Afterpay available up to $1,500

Why a drop-in swap usually isn’t enough

Putting lithium batteries where the old lead-acid ones were is the easy part. The problems show up afterward, because every charging source in the rig was set up for lead-acid:

The converter may never reach a full lithium charge, or it holds the batteries at a float voltage they don’t need.
The alternator sees a lithium bank as a huge, low-resistance load. Without a DC-DC charger between them, it can run hot for hours and fail early.
The solar controller stays on lead-acid settings, so it undercharges or overcharges.
The inverter/charger needs the right charge profile, absorption time and low-voltage cutoffs.
The monitor still reads voltage, which tells you almost nothing about a lithium bank’s state of charge.

A conversion done right changes all of these. That’s the job.

What a UMRT lithium conversion includes

Load audit and sizing. We go through what you actually run (fridge, furnace fan, CPAP, Starlink, a coffee maker on the inverter) and size the bank to that, not to a guess.
LiFePO4 batteries. Epoch is our go-to for Victron-integrated systems. Low-temperature charge protection is mandatory, and for rigs that sit cold, self-heating batteries are standard.
DC-DC charging from the alternator with a Victron Orion-Tr Smart, so driving tops up the bank without overloading the alternator.
Converter or inverter/charger set to a lithium profile, or replaced with a Victron MultiPlus when you want real inverter capacity.
Solar on a Victron SmartSolar MPPT with the correct charge settings. See our Victron systems page for full solar builds.
Monitoring: a Victron SmartShunt for true state of charge, plus a Cerbo GX and VRM if you want to check the system from your phone while the rig is in storage.
Cabling, fusing and protection sized for the new current. Lithium can deliver far more current into a fault than an old lead-acid bank.
Programming and commissioning. Every device gets set up, tested under load and documented. This step can’t be skipped and isn’t discounted.

Lithium in a Puget Sound climate

Lithium iron phosphate batteries must not be charged below freezing. Seattle winters are mostly mild, but a rig sitting in a Snohomish County side yard or a lot on the plateau east of Renton will see nights below 32°F, and a mountain trip over Snoqualmie or Stevens will too. We specify batteries with low-temperature charge cutoffs, and self-heating batteries for anything stored outside or used in winter.

Gray winters also cut solar output hard from about October to March. A lithium bank helps because it accepts charge fast and doesn’t need a long absorption stage, but on the west side we still plan for alternator and shore charging to carry the winter months.

How the job runs

Tell us about the rig and how you use it. Year, make, model, current batteries, converter, solar and inverter, plus how and where you camp.
System assessment. On site, we check the existing wiring, charging sources and mounting space. It’s billed as our $175 diagnostic visit.
Design and quote. You get a written quote for the full system before anything is ordered.
Install, program and commission at your driveway, storage lot or RV park.
Handoff. We walk you through the app, the monitor and what the numbers mean, and leave the settings documented.

Labor is $150/hr. Parts are quoted per system, and Afterpay is available on balances up to $1,500. Customer-supplied batteries or components can be installed, but they carry no labor warranty, and we put that in writing before we start.

Seattle lithium conversion FAQ

Can I just drop lithium batteries into my RV?

Physically, yes. But without changing the converter, alternator, solar and monitoring setup, you’ll undercharge the bank, overload the alternator, or both. That’s why we quote the full system.

Will lithium batteries work through a Seattle winter?

Yes, with batteries that have low-temperature charge protection. For rigs stored outside or used in the mountains, we put in self-heating batteries.

How many amp-hours do I need?

It depends on your loads and how long you boondock. Our load audit works it out. Many weekend trailers do well on 200–300Ah, while full-timers running an inverter often need more.

Can you install batteries I already bought?

Usually, if they’re suitable for the system. Customer-supplied parts carry no labor warranty, and we put that in writing before the job.

Do you work outside Seattle?

Yes, from Everett to Olympia, the Eastside, and route days to Kitsap, Bellingham, the Olympic Peninsula and the coast. See all of Washington.

Start your lithium conversion

Send your rig details, your current batteries and charging equipment, and how you camp. Photos of the battery bay and converter help.

Request a System Assessment CALL (564) 234-7490 TEXT (564) 234-7490