Power guide

Lithium vs AGM vs lead-acid for RVs

The sticker price isn’t the real comparison. Cost per usable cycle is. A lead-acid or AGM bank you can only draw down to 50% without shortening its life; lithium you can draw to near-empty repeatedly. Combined with 4–10x...

Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond.

Field notes

The sticker price isn’t the real comparison. Cost per usable cycle is. A lead-acid or AGM bank you can only draw down to 50% without shortening its life; lithium you can draw to near-empty repeatedly. Combined with 4–10x the cycle life, the effective cost per usable amp-hour over the battery’s life is usually lower for lithium even though the upfront price is higher — the breakeven point is typically somewhere in year two or three of regular use.

Why Lithium Usually Wins on Cost Per Cycle

A lead-acid or AGM bank you can only draw down to 50% without shortening its life; lithium you can draw to near-empty repeatedly. Combined with 4–10x the cycle life, the effective cost per usable amp-hour over the bat...

When AGM or Flooded Still Makes Sense

A rig that sits in storage most of the year, sees light use, or where upfront cost matters more than long-term efficiency — AGM remains a reasonable, lower-cost choice. It’s also more forgiving in extreme cold since i...

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When to book

DIY ends at sealed systems, gas work, and inverter commissioning. Diagnostic $150 applied toward repair.

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Pricing teaser

Trip fee $75 within 30 miles, then $1.50/mi. Labor ~$150/hr (1-hour minimum, billed in 30-minute increments). Diagnostic $150 applied toward repair if you proceed.

Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond. Credentials (text): Victron Professional Certified Installer · weBoost Authorized Installer · Peplink Certified Associate · Dometic Professional Certified.

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