Do I Really Need Self Heating Batteries

[Cort]

I'm looking at the EPOCH 300 AH lithium batteries. The Eco series (w/out electrical heating) are on sale for a cool $499. The Essentials with self heating cost $1199 (no sales right now). Buying the Eco-series would save quite a bit of money on an already quite expensive upgrade...But would I miss those Essentials?

Essentials

https://www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-300ah-heated-bluetooth-lifepo4-battery-epoch-essentials

Eco Series

https://www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-314ah-eco-series-lifepo4-battery

I spend the winters in the Southwest and spring./summer/ and fall in the mountains. At times temps drop into the 20's or very, very rately teens.  I never stay in a spot where the daytime temps don't reach into the upper 40's at least. 

So do I really need to be able to charge when temps are below 32? And - if the Oliver is heated - as it would be - would it be able to keep the battery box warm enough in cooler temperatures. Perhaps not I didn't see vent holes...

Edited December 28, 2025 by Cort

[jd1923]

The Pro Series is a dual purpose Starter/Deep Cycle battery. Useful life of the battery might be short-term. Check warranty. Essentials have 4000 duty cycles.

Edited December 28, 2025 by jd1923

[Cort]

Whoops! Thanks for catching that - I meant Eco Series

[Rivernerd]

1 hour ago, Cort said:

So do I really need to be able to charge when temps are below 32?

I expect the challenge is ensuring your batteries and your charging system are turned off every time temps drop down to freezing.  The easier solution is what we have:  a switched external warming mat placed under the batteries and wired to our Oliver 12V system.

Ours was installed by Oliver with our 390 Ah Lithionics battery package.  One similar option now available is from Lion Energy:

https://shopsolarkits.com/products/lion-energy-battery-warmer?srsltid=AfmBOoo5_6ceyboAQUUVw1CNe_jCPeADkLbtop6B-CC3Z-THhq2OC5zhaDI

 

[Steph and Dud B]

FWIW, we have the self-heating Lithionics and they've been great. Don't have to worry about them much. Don't have to remember to turn a heating pad on. But we live, and mostly camp, in the Northeast.

[Patriot]

5 hours ago, Cort said:

I'm looking at the EPOCH 300 AH lithium batteries. The Eco series (w/out electrical heating) are on sale for a cool $499. The Essentials with self heating cost $1199 (no sales right now). Buying the Eco-series would save quite a bit of money on an already quite expensive upgrade...But would I miss those Essentials?

Essentials

https://www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-300ah-heated-bluetooth-lifepo4-battery-epoch-essentials

Eco Series

https://www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-314ah-eco-series-lifepo4-battery

I spend the winters in the Southwest and spring./summer/ and fall in the mountains. At times temps drop into the 20's or very, very rately teens.  I never stay in a spot where the daytime temps don't reach into the upper 40's at least. 

So do I really need to be able to charge when temps are below 32? And - if the Oliver is heated - as it would be - would it be able to keep the battery box warm enough in cooler temperatures. Perhaps not I didn't see vent holes...

Batteries with internal heaters are a nice option to have. I like options. 😊 This week it’s going to be in the 20’s and 30’s here in beautiful Western NC. 

XPLORs (2) Epoch 300AH batts will be just fine.

Edited December 28, 2025 by Patriot

[Cort]

On 12/28/2025 at 11:45 AM, Rivernerd said:

I expect the challenge is ensuring your batteries and your charging system are turned off every time temps drop down to freezing.  The easier solution is what we have:  a switched external warming mat placed under the batteries and wired to our Oliver 12V system.

Ours was installed by Oliver with our 390 Ah Lithionics battery package.  One similar option now available is from Lion Energy:

https://shopsolarkits.com/products/lion-energy-battery-warmer?srsltid=AfmBOoo5_6ceyboAQUUVw1CNe_jCPeADkLbtop6B-CC3Z-THhq2OC5zhaDI

 

Thanks for the warmer idea!

[Geronimo John]

On 12/28/2025 at 9:45 AM, Rivernerd said:

I expect the challenge is ensuring your batteries and your charging system are turned off every time temps drop down to freezing.

For sure if your Litho's are going to freeze, then Isolate them!  

Our Litho's are in a semi-sealed box.  That box prevents wind chilling and provides some insulation from the outside situtation.  it also gets some heat tranfer from the cabin thru it's inside walls.  So when does the battery actually freeze?  It would be have to be really cold for a long duration.   If I were in your shoes, I would not get the heaters.  But I would give myself some "Options".  As I have stated many times, "I Like Having Options".  Some suggestions for your situtation:    

Determine the brand/model Extreme Weather info: 

• What is their recommendation for long term storage of the battery in extremely cold conditions with no supervision by the owner.  This will give you a worst case process for that battery.   For the Battleborns:  Charge to 50 - 60% and isolate with master switch until thawed.  Then recharge at a reasonable rate to 100% SOC.  Remember that is for their battery only.  Other MFG's have their process.  This would be a consideration in which ones to buy. 

In your situtation I would consider these (In priority order):  

• Park with the sun on your street side if expecting temps may be an issue.  When it warms up, open the battery box door.  Close it before it starts cooling down for the afternoon/night.
• Insulate the door of the battery box.
• Installed a master cut-off switch if you don't already have one.  Just in case your situtation gets really bad.
• Create cabin air circulation into and out of the battery compartment.  A couple of vents (High and Low) and a small 12v fan exhausting the top vent, with a coin style switch to come on when the box is getting near freezing. This would afford significant protection.  

For less than $200 you could do all four of the above.

But, if you really want to go overboard, you could get some bluetooth temperature sensors to monitor the box temperature.  Severall greats posts about this topic here in the forum.  Hopefully their authors will comment back with their link.

Good luck, and enjoy your Ollie!  

GJ

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Geronimo John
Typo

[Cort]

On 12/29/2025 at 2:29 PM, Geronimo John said:

For sure if your Litho's are going to freeze, then Isolate them!  

Our Litho's are in a semi-sealed box.  That box prevents wind chilling and provides some insulation from the outside situtation.  it also gets some heat tranfer from the cabin thru it's inside walls.  So when does the battery actually freeze?  It would be have to be really cold for a long duration.   If I were in your shoes, I would not get the heaters.  But I would give myself some "Options".  As I have stated many times, "I Like Having Options".  Some suggestions for your situtation:    

Determine the brand/model Extreme Weather info: 

• What is their recommendation for long term storage of the battery in extremely cold conditions with no supervision by the owner.  This will give you a worst case process for that battery.   For the Battleborns:  Charge to 50 - 60% and isolate with master switch until thawed.  Then recharge at a reasonable rate to 100% SOC.  Remember that is for their battery only.  Other MFG's have their process.  This would be a consideration in which ones to buy. 

In your situtation I would consider these (In priority order):  

• Park with the sun on your street side if expecting temps may be an issue.  When it warms up, open the battery box door.  Close it before it starts cooling down for the afternoon/night.
• Insulate the door of the battery box.
• Installed a master cut-off switch if you don't already have one.  Just in case your situtation gets really bad.
• Create cabin air circulation into and out of the battery compartment.  A couple of vents (High and Low) and a small 12v fan exhausting the top vent, with a coin style switch to come on when the box is getting near freezing. This would afford significant protection.  

For less than $200 you could do all four of the above.

But, if you really want to go overboard, you could get some bluetooth temperature sensors to monitor the box temperature.  Severall greats posts about this topic here in the forum.  Hopefully their authors will comment back with their link.

Good luck, and enjoy your Ollie!  

GJ

 

As always GJ - thanks for your sage advice. Leaning towards the self-heaters if just because its easier (lol)

[Geronimo John]

19 hours ago, Cort said:

As always GJ - thanks for your sage advice. Leaning towards the self-heaters if just because its easier (lol)

Thanks for the flowers.

Self heaters for long term storage are good only if you have plug-in shore power.

They are great for boondocking short term in extreme conditions.  But are a bit expensive.

Enjoy your great trailer and BRAVO for being a four season camper!  

GJ

[C&MCurrie]

Will Prowse (a lithium battery guru) has a YouTube video on just this subject. He basically says no, in most cases not needed. 

[Cort]

On 1/3/2026 at 12:42 PM, Geronimo John said:

Thanks for the flowers.

Self heaters for long term storage are good only if you have plug-in shore power.

They are great for boondocking short term in extreme conditions.  But are a bit expensive.

Enjoy your great trailer and BRAVO for being a four season camper!  

GJ

Thanks! It got down to 12 degrees when I got stuck in Mammoth. Luckily the lead acid batteries hung in there. I guess I have some extra insurance, now. 

[Cort]

On 1/3/2026 at 4:52 PM, C&MCurrie said:

Will Prowse (a lithium battery guru) has a YouTube video on just this subject. He basically says no, in most cases not needed. 

He's probably correct....:)

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Cort said:

He's probably correct....:)

He’s just a young man, not the battery-god! 🤣

I think making a LiFePO4 investment is important and without internal heaters you’ll be doing work-arounds for as long as you use them, disconnecting them, heat blankets or something. Do it once, do it right!

We live in a moderate climate, but over the last few nights with lows to 20F, at 8AM the Ruuvi in our basement at the rear wall measured 27F and the Epoch BMS kept all out battery cells right at 36F. I prefer knowing we can travel any day, at any temp, and use and charge our batteries! 😎

$500 vs. $1200 per 300 Ah is a huge difference though. When we bought our “Essentials” I don’t believe there was an Eco Series available. We purchased Essentails since they were lower cost vs. the Elite Series. 

[John Dorrer]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

He’s just a young man, not the battery-god! 🤣

I think making a LiFePO4 investment is important and without internal heaters you’ll be doing work-arounds for as long as you use them, disconnecting them, heat blankets or something. Do it once, do it right!

We live in a moderate climate, but over the last few nights with lows to 20F, at 8AM the Ruuvi in our basement at the rear wall measured 27F and the Epoch BMS kept all out battery cells right at 36F. I prefer knowing we can travel any day, at any temp, and use and charge our batteries! 😎

$500 vs. $1200 per 300 Ah is a huge difference though. When we bought our “Essentials” I don’t believe there was an Eco Series available. We purchased Essentails since they were lower cost vs. the Elite Series. 

👏👏👏👏 Well Stated

[2008RN]

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Situation:  You live in Cooler/colder climates  below 30 degrees and go camping every 1-2 months.  When in storage you have the Oli plugged in to shore power. 

When in storage for 1-2 months at a time, how do you keep the 12V supply working to keep the intern/external battery heater and lights in camper running  if you disconnect the power to the batteries?   If  you have the batteries connect to keep the heaters working, how do you keep the SOC at 50%-60%.

Thanks