How to Do It: Marine Lithium Questions Answered
Procedural answers to how questions about marine lithium: how to size a bank, choose a voltage, charge from an alternator, wire, fuse, monitor and comply in Australia.
Every answer in this section starts with a method, not a number. The FAQ answers what and whether; this section answers how — the order of steps, the figure you have to measure first, and the check that tells you the step worked.
Each page below is a complete set of questions on one job. Answers are written to stand alone, so an answer read on its own is still correct and still names the specific standard, component or unit it depends on.
Browse by job
- How to size a lithium battery bank - the load audit, converting to kWh, choosing days of autonomy and checking recharge keeps up.
- How to choose 12V, 24V or 48V - deciding system voltage from your largest load, and what changes downstream when you do.
- How to charge from an alternator - protecting a standard alternator, sizing a DC-DC charger, and adding external regulation.
- How to set up solar charging - sizing the array from winter sun-hours, configuring an MPPT controller, and handling shade.
- How to wire and fuse a lithium bank - conductor sizing to a voltage-drop target, overcurrent protection, busbars and terminations.
- How to run inverter appliances - sizing an inverter to surge, checking DC current against the BMS, and sequencing loads.
- How to monitor and maintain a bank - installing a shunt, reading state of charge properly, and the annual checks.
- How to fix common problems - a diagnostic order for not charging, unexpected shutdown, warm cables and lost capacity.
- How to meet Australian rules - what AS/NZS 3004.2 asks for, who may do the work, survey, insurance and marina requirements.
- How to buy and compare batteries - comparing specifications on the same basis, reading a warranty, and checking local support.
- How to convert from AGM to lithium - the full order of a conversion, what has to be replaced, and what can stay.
Start with the measurement
Almost every how question on this site resolves to the same first step: measure the boat's daily energy use in watt-hours. Until that number exists, sizing a bank, an array, an alternator or an inverter is guesswork. Work through how to calculate your boat's power usage, then use the battery size calculator to turn it into a bank.
If you would rather read by question than by job, the FAQ has 151 answers grouped into nine topics.