12V vs 24V vs 48V battery systems: which voltage do you need?
Match the battery voltage to the system it powers. 12V runs the DC loads in almost every RV, van and boat and suits small to mid-size inverters. 24V is common for trolling motors and some marine and off-grid systems, and is usually built from two 12V batteries in series. 48V suits large inverters, golf carts and bigger off-grid systems because it moves the same power at a quarter of the current of 12V. Expion360 makes 12V and native 48V LiFePO4 batteries, all with a 12-year warranty.
How do 12V, 24V and 48V systems compare?
| 12V | 24V | 48V | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LiFePO4 nominal voltage | 12.8V | 25.6V | 51.2V |
| Current to deliver 1,200 W | About 94A | About 47A | About 23A |
| Cable size and voltage drop | Largest cable, most drop | Smaller | Smallest cable, least drop |
| Typical uses | RV and van house power, boat house loads, small to mid-size inverters | Trolling motors, some marine and off-grid systems | Golf carts, large inverters, off-grid solar, larger RVs |
| Runs standard 12V appliances directly | Yes | No — needs a converter | No — needs a converter |
| Expion360 option | Full 12V range | Two 12V batteries in series | Native 48V: 36Ah GC2 and 60Ah EX2 Edge |
Current figures ignore inverter losses. Check your battery's spec sheet for series and parallel wiring limits.
How much energy does each Expion360 battery store?
| Model | Nominal voltage | Capacity | Stored energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V 100Ah Group 27 | 12.8V | 100Ah | 1,280 Wh |
| 12V 162Ah GC2 | 12.8V | 162Ah | 2,074 Wh |
| 12V 240Ah EX2 Edge | 12.8V | 240Ah | 3,072 Wh |
| 12V 450Ah EX1 | 12.8V | 450Ah | 5,760 Wh |
| 48V 36Ah GC2 | 51.2V | 36Ah | 1,843 Wh |
| 48V 60Ah EX2 Edge | 51.2V | 60Ah | 3,072 Wh |
Why do higher-voltage systems use less current?
Power is voltage times current. To deliver the same 1,200 watts, a 12V system draws roughly four times the current of a 48V system. Lower current means thinner, lighter, cheaper cable, less voltage drop over long runs and less heat at every connection. That is why large inverters and big off-grid systems tend to run at 48V, while smaller RV and marine systems stay at 12V.
Should I compare batteries in amp-hours or watt-hours?
Watt-hours, whenever the voltages differ. Amp-hours only compare like with like: a 48V 60Ah battery and a 12V 240Ah battery both store 3,072 Wh, even though one is rated at a quarter of the amp-hours. Multiply nominal voltage by amp-hours to get watt-hours, then compare.
Can I build a 24V or 48V system from 12V batteries?
Often, yes: two 12V batteries in series make 24V and four make 48V, as long as the batteries are identical in model, capacity, age and state of charge and the manufacturer allows series wiring. Check the spec sheet for series and parallel limits before you wire. A native 48V battery avoids balancing several 12V batteries against each other and keeps monitoring to one battery.
When does a 48V battery make sense?
When the system is built around 48V equipment: golf carts and utility vehicles, inverter-chargers in the 3,000-watt-plus class, and off-grid solar systems with long cable runs. Expion360 makes two native 48V LiFePO4 batteries, the 48V 36Ah GC2 and the 48V 60Ah EX2 Edge, both with SmartTalk™ Bluetooth and CAN Bus; the EX2 Edge also has VHC™ heating.
Do I need a different charger for 24V or 48V?
Yes. The charger, solar controller, inverter-charger and any DC-to-DC charger all have to match the system voltage and have a LiFePO4 profile. If you still need 12V for lights, pumps and fans in a 24V or 48V system, add a DC-to-DC converter to step down to 12V.