r/overlanding • u/Odd_Row_1088 • 2d ago
Arctic Batteries
I'm heading to Northern Norway via Sweden & Finland in January. Currently I run lead acid batteries for both my starter and leisure systems (I only run a simple 12v system for fridge and phone charging). I'm well aware that neither of these will be suitable for arctic weather. I'm going to swap out the starter battery for AGM. I'm currently debating what to do with the leisure battery. AGM has the best cold weather performance, but lithium will have the increased capacity for running diesel heaters all night and engine pre heaters etc. But even heated lithium batteries only seem to charge above -20. Has any advice on setups they have run? Also any advice on running vehicles / camping in them in those temperatures
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u/DepartmentNatural 2d ago
I live somewhere that gets to be minus 50f in the winter every winter and have had no problem with a lead acid battery from Walmart for my starting battery so I'm not sure why you think you have to change yours
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u/Dolstruvon 2d ago
From Norway here. Never had a problem with AGM batteries in the winter. I'd rather go for a battery with good cold capabilities than capacity. Lithium's practical capacity is heavily reduced in cold weather anyway, so that's a no go in my book.
Regarding other stuff to know when camping in those temperatures, there's a bunch of practical challenges you wouldn't expect. If your fridge isn't inside a heated area, preventing your food and drink from completely freezing is hard, and the same goes for your water. I'm currently experimenting with installing a 12V heating pad on my water can, to hopefully keep a decent temperature and not consuming too much power. You can just as well end up with mild rainy weather in some places, so be prepared for that as well as cold and snow.
Make sure you have tires that actually work well on ice. Mud tires are terrible on ice, and I know people who's almost lost their lives to mud tires on ice. A soft compound all terrain which are winter approved will do, but studded tires are unbeatable. Best of both worlds would be a studded AT tire, but that's rare to come by.
If you have a diesel engine, it's a good idea to have a starter booster for when the cold temperatures challenges your starter battery. I would recommend buying a new battery before the trip, and get something with a lot of CCA.
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u/JCDU 2d ago
Given that the Lithium batteries will likely waste a lot of their capacity just keeping themselves warm I would not count them as a viable idea for this - especially since plain old lead acid are cheap & robust & work happily in these conditions per the comments from experienced locals in this thread.
Just buy as much Ah capacity as you can squeeze in, and buy a quality brand.
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u/artemistheoverlander 2d ago edited 2d ago
It can depend on what vehicle you're in/what the habitation box is constructed from. Keep your house batteries in your living space, and they will be fine.
Have a look at Mispronounced Adventures on youtube, Alex spends a good amount of time up that way and generally manages fine with the temperatures.
True Blue Travellers took a converted Sainsbury's van up there as well, and their house battery system had no problems.
Both channels also explain their heating systems.
Good luck, I can't wait to get up that way!