Overview

The Victron Energy BAT512118610 is a Lithium Battery Smart 12.8V/180Ah LiFePO4 battery for building a high-capacity DC house bank on boats, vans, and off-grid systems. It has a 12.8 V nominal voltage, 180 Ah nominal capacity at 25 °C, and 2304 Wh nominal energy, giving installers a clear basis for load calculations before selecting cabling, fusing, charging, and BMS hardware.

This battery uses integrated cell balancing and cell monitoring, with Bluetooth access through VictronConnect for local checks of cell voltage, temperature, and alarm status. It must be connected to a compatible Victron Battery Management System, which protects the cells by controlling charge and load behavior when voltage or temperature moves outside safe limits.

For marine installations, the battery is best suited to a protected battery compartment rather than a wet cockpit or bilge area. The IP22 protection class, M8 power connections, 50 cm M8 circular BMS cable, and 237 x 321 x 152 mm case size should be checked against the vessel layout before installation.

Key features

• 12.8 V LiFePO4 battery with 180 Ah nominal capacity at 25 °C and 2304 Wh nominal energy for house-bank planning.
• Integrated cell balancing and monitoring cables for connection to a compatible Victron BMS.
• Bluetooth monitoring through VictronConnect lets crew check cell voltage, battery temperature, and alarm status locally.
• Can be connected in series, parallel, and series/parallel configurations for 12 V, 24 V, or 48 V battery banks when the full system is engineered correctly.
• Recommended continuous discharge current is up to 180 A, with maximum continuous discharge current up to 360 A.
• Recommended charge current is up to 90 A, with a charge voltage range of 14.0 V to 14.4 V and 14.2 V recommended.
• Operating temperature range supports discharge from -20 °C to +50 °C and charging from +5 °C to +50 °C.
• M8 threaded power inserts and 18 kg weight help installers plan cable terminations, support, and service access.

Installation and setup

The battery should be installed where it stays supported, accessible, and protected from direct washdowns. It can be mounted upright or on its side, but not with the terminals facing down, which is useful when space is tight in a dedicated battery locker.

Because this is a Smart lithium battery rather than a self-contained drop-in replacement, system design matters. Match it with the correct Victron BMS, compatible charging equipment, suitable overcurrent protection, and cable sizing for the expected DC loads, inverter demand, and charging sources on board.

Compatibility and system integration

This battery fits marine electrical systems where a Victron lithium bank is being built around managed charging and load control. It works well as part of a house bank for navigation electronics, refrigeration, lighting, pumps, instruments, communications gear, and inverter-supported AC loads, provided the charging profile and BMS are set up for LiFePO4 chemistry.

For vessels with alternator charging, shore charging, solar, or inverter/charger equipment, the BMS selection should be made before installation so charge sources and DC loads can be controlled safely. The battery can be used in larger banks, but series and parallel layouts should be kept consistent and balanced.