12.8V 100Ah Marine LiFePO4 Battery 1280Wh Compact Drop-In Sailboat 100A BMS IP65 M8

12.8V 100Ah Marine LiFePO4 Battery 1280Wh Compact Drop-In Sailboat 100A BMS IP65 M8

This 12.8V 100Ah marine LiFePO4 battery delivers 1280Wh of usable energy in a slim drop-in case sized for compact sailboats, tenders and day cruisers. Owners upgrading from a Group 31 flooded battery slide this pack into the same locker, reuse the existing M8 ring terminals, and cut weight from roughly 30kg to 11.5kg without touching the wiring harness. A 100A smart BMS supervises every cell, so the pack tolerates the shallow, frequent discharge cycles that small-boat electronics impose.

Specifications

Core Specifications

Nominal voltage is 12.8V with a 100Ah rated capacity, giving 1280Wh of total energy. Internal resistance stays at or below 40 milliohms and round-trip efficiency reaches 98 percent. Self discharge measures under 5 percent per month, so the pack holds charge across a winter lay-up. Cycle life exceeds 4000 cycles at 1C with 80 percent depth of discharge while retaining more than 80 percent of original capacity. Cells are arranged 4 series and 1 parallel (4S1P). Overall dimensions are 260mm long, 168mm wide and 211mm high, and the pack weighs 11.5 kilograms. The terminal is M8 and the ABS housing carries IP65 dust and water-jet protection.

Cycle Life and Longevity of This Marine Battery

More than 4000 cycles translate into eight to ten seasons of service for a typical weekend sailor. A comparable flooded marine battery manages 300 to 500 cycles before capacity collapses, so this marine battery replaces four to eight lead-acid units over the same period. That difference lowers total cost of ownership and removes the routine watering and terminal cleaning that flooded technology demands.

Why LiFePO4 Beats Lead-Acid Onboard

A 100Ah flooded marine battery weighs about 30 kilograms and delivers only half its rated capacity before voltage sags; this marine battery returns nearly all 1280Wh and saves close to 20 kilograms on a small hull. There is no acid to spill, no watering schedule and no terminal corrosion to chase, and the flat discharge curve keeps electronics running at steady voltage until the pack is almost empty.

Charging Recommendations

Charge this marine battery with a LiFePO4 profile at 14.2 to 14.6V and a current of 50A for everyday use, or up to 100A when a fast turnaround is needed. A 30 to 50 percent state of charge is ideal for winter storage, and topping the pack to full before each trip keeps the BMS cell balancing active.

Environmental Tolerance of This Marine Battery

This marine battery discharges from -20C to 60C and charges from 0C to 55C. Storage is safe from -20C to 60C and the BMS cuts off at 65C. The IP65 ABS housing shrugs off salt spray, dust and locker humidity, while nickel-plated M8 terminals resist the corrosion that damp bilges cause.

Communication and Monitoring of This Marine Battery

A built-in 100A BMS guards this marine battery against overcharge at 14.6V, over-discharge at 10V, short circuit within 300 to 800 microseconds and thermal runaway at 65C. Voltage, current and remaining capacity can be read from an optional Bluetooth monitor, so the skipper knows exactly how much charge remains before the return leg.

Applications for This Marine Battery

This marine battery suits sailboats, tenders, center consoles, pontoon boats and small workboats. It runs fish finders, chartplotters, LED nav lights, bilge pumps, VHF radios and 12V refrigeration through a long weekend on the water. Two or four units wired in parallel scale the bank to 200Ah or 400Ah for longer passages while keeping the locker tidy.

Installation and Safety of This Marine Battery

Mount this marine battery upright or on its side inside a ventilated locker within 30 degrees of level. Tighten the M8 terminals to 8 to 10 Nm and confirm the BMS negative lead reaches the shunt before energising the bank. Never charge below 0C, never short the terminals, and disconnect the negative cable first when servicing the vessel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I replace my Group 31 lead-acid battery directly?
A: Yes. The footprint matches common Group 31 lockers and the M8 terminals accept the existing cables, so this marine battery is a drop-in swap once charging voltages are set for LiFePO4.

Q: How many batteries do I need for a 24V trolling setup?
A: Wire two units in series for 25.6V or four for 51.2V. Keep the units at the same state of charge and use a 4S-capable BMS charger.

Q: Is the BMS water resistant?
A: The sealed ABS case and internal conformal coating keep the BMS serviceable under the IP65 rating, handling spray and rain but not full submersion.

Q: Can it sit in a hot cabin over summer?
A: The BMS cuts charge and discharge at safe limits, so this marine battery tolerates a closed cabin as long as storage stays below 60C and the pack is not left fully charged for months.

Q: Does it need a special shore charger?
A: Use any charger with a 14.4V LiFePO4 mode. A lead-acid or AGM setting will not fully charge this marine battery and can shorten its life.

Warranty and Shipping

Every 12.8V 100Ah marine battery ships with a 5-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects and capacity retention above 80 percent after 3000 cycles. Orders leave the factory in 15 to 25 days, packed in an Ecolite carton with shock-proof foam on an export-grade pallet. We support L/C, T/T, PayPal and Western Union and can quote DDP or FOB terms on request.

OEM and Customization

This marine battery is available under the Ecolite label or as a fully OEM build. We print private-label case art, laser-etch terminal caps with your part number and tune BMS firmware for float, solar or hybrid charging profiles. Minimum OEM runs start at 100 units, and our engineers return a wiring diagram and cut sheet before tooling begins.

What's Included

Each order includes the LiFePO4 pack, integrated 100A BMS, sealed ABS case, M8 terminal bolts and a multilingual manual. A matching 14.6V LiFePO4 charger and battery cables are sold separately.