Rich Solar ALPHA 1 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery

The Rich Solar ALPHA 1 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Gives RVs, Boats and Off-Grid Systems 1,280Wh of Dependable Power

The Rich Solar ALPHA 1 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery is a 12.8V lithium iron phosphate battery that stores 1,280Wh in a compact 10.2 x 6.6 x 8.3 inch case weighing about 24 pounds. It supports 100A of continuous charge and discharge current, connects up to four units in parallel, and drops into most 12V RV, marine, off-grid and backup power systems.

This listing offers four options. The ALPHA 1 Lite is the value model with 4,000+ cycles and low-temperature charging protection. The standard ALPHA 1 adds a built-in heater and Bluetooth monitoring with 5,000+ cycles. The ALPHA 1 PRO adds UL 1973 certification, 7,000+ cycles and a 10-year warranty. The 3 x ALPHA 1 Lite option is Rich Solar's 300Ah battery bank, with three Lite batteries and the cables to connect them.

Rich Solar ALPHA 1 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Features

Long Cycle Life From LiFePO4 Cells

Grade A LiFePO4 cells are rated for 4,000+ cycles on the Lite, 5,000+ on the ALPHA 1 and 7,000+ on the PRO. That is several times the life of a typical lead-acid battery, so the cost per cycle drops the longer you use it.

100A Continuous Charge and Discharge

Each battery can accept and deliver 100A continuously. That is enough to run a 1,000W inverter at full load and to recharge quickly from a large charger, alternator charger or solar array.

Built-In Heater on the ALPHA 1 and PRO

LiFePO4 cells cannot be charged below freezing. On the ALPHA 1 and PRO, a 100W internal heater turns on below 41°F, warms the cells, and shuts off above 50°F, so the battery can keep charging on cold mornings. Below 32°F, charging stays off until the cells are warm enough. The Lite has no heater, but its BMS stops charging in the cold to protect the cells and resumes when it is safe.

Bluetooth Monitoring on the ALPHA 1 and PRO

The RICH SOLAR app shows state of charge, voltage, current, temperature and remaining capacity in real time. Pairing takes a quick barcode scan, and you can turn the battery on or off from your phone. The Lite does not include Bluetooth.

Full BMS Protection and a Flame-Retardant Case

The battery management system guards against overcharge, over-discharge, overcurrent, short circuits and temperature extremes, and it balances the cells. The housing is UL94 V-0 flame-retardant plastic with an IP65 rating against dust and water spray.

Easy to Expand

Connect up to four identical batteries in parallel for up to 400Ah and 5,120Wh at 12V. Self-discharge is 5% or less per month, so a stored battery holds most of its charge between trips.

Real-World Applications

RVs and travel trailers. Replace a group-size lead-acid battery to run lights, the water pump, fans, a 12V fridge and an inverter for small appliances.

Boats. Power electronics, lighting and accessories. Rich Solar lists marine use as a primary application.

Vans and overland rigs. A compact, light battery that pairs with a DC-DC charger and roof solar.

Cabins and off-grid sites. Store solar power for lights, communications and small loads, and add batteries as needs grow.

Home backup. Keep a modem, router, CPAP or sump monitor running through outages with a small inverter.

How It Compares to Common Alternatives

Versus lead-acid or AGM batteries. A 100Ah AGM battery weighs around 60 pounds and should only be discharged to about half its capacity. The ALPHA 1 weighs about 24 pounds, uses most of its rated capacity, and lasts thousands of cycles longer.

Lite versus ALPHA 1. Choose the Lite for warm climates or indoor installs where charging below freezing is not a concern. Choose the ALPHA 1 when the battery lives in a cold RV bay or boat locker, or when you want app monitoring.

ALPHA 1 versus PRO. Both have the heater and Bluetooth. The PRO adds UL 1973 and FCC certification, a 7,000+ cycle rating and a 10-year warranty, double the 5 years on the other models.

Is This Battery the Right Fit

• System voltage. The ALPHA 1 is a 12V battery. For a 24V system, look at the ALPHA 4 instead.
• Charging. Use a LiFePO4 charging profile at 14.4V. A 20A LiFePO4 charger refills a battery in about 6 hours, as does a 20A DC-DC charger. Rich Solar estimates about one sunny day with more than 400W of solar.
• Temperature. Charging is rated from 32°F to 131°F and discharging from -4°F to 140°F. Pick the ALPHA 1 or PRO if you need to charge in freezing weather.
• Mixing models. Parallel only identical batteries. A Lite mixed with heated models will stop charging in the cold while the others keep going.

This may be a good fit if

• You want a lighter, longer-lasting replacement for a 12V lead-acid battery
• You run an inverter, fridge or other high-draw loads from a 12V system
• You camp or store your rig in cold weather and need safe charging
• You want to start with one battery and expand later

Common Questions

Can I Connect ALPHA 1 Batteries in Series?

Rich Solar specifies parallel connection of up to four units. For a higher-voltage bank, choose a battery built for that voltage, such as the 24V ALPHA 4.

Does the Heater Drain the Battery?

The 100W heater only runs when the cells are cold and charging power is present. It turns on below 41°F and off above 50°F.

Can I Use My Existing RV Converter?

Use a converter or charger with a LiFePO4 setting that charges at 14.4V. Many older converters use lead-acid settings and will not fully charge a lithium battery.

What Comes With the 3 x ALPHA 1 Lite Option?

It is Rich Solar's 300Ah, 3.84kWh battery bank. It includes three ALPHA 1 Lite batteries and four 1 ft 2 AWG cables for wiring them in parallel.

What's Included

• 1 x Rich Solar ALPHA 1 Lite, ALPHA 1 or ALPHA 1 PRO 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery (Single-Battery Options)
• 3 x Rich Solar ALPHA 1 Lite 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Batteries (3 x ALPHA 1 Lite Option)
• 4 x 1 ft 2 AWG Battery Cables (3 x ALPHA 1 Lite Option)

Lithium Power for Every Season

The Rich Solar ALPHA 1 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery gives you a lighter, longer-lasting 12V battery with a choice of features for your climate and budget. At Outbound Power, we help customers match batteries to their inverters, chargers and solar panels. If you have questions about which ALPHA 1 is right for you, our team is happy to help.