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200Ah is the most popular battery size for van life — big enough for a fridge, laptop, and full weekend autonomy, small enough to fit under a bench seat. But not all 200Ah batteries are created equal. I've tested four popular options.
The results: SOK 200Ah: delivered 196Ah (98%), aluminum case, 24kg, excellent BMS app, $500-600. Renogy 200Ah: 188Ah (94%), steel case, 28kg, basic BMS, $450-500. LiTime 200Ah: 182Ah (91%), decent for the price, $380-430. Amazon generic 200Ah: 162Ah (81%), avoid — misleading specs.
⚡ Expert tip
When buying on Amazon, check the actual seller — many "brand name" listings are fulfilled by third-party sellers with questionable sourcing. Buy directly from the brand's website or an authorized dealer. I've seen fake SOK batteries on Amazon with mismatched serial numbers.
Example calculation for your setup
Results based on a typical use case
| Appliance | Power | Usage/day | Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression fridge | 45W | 24h | 1080 |
| LED lighting | 20W | 4h | 80 |
| Water pump | 30W | 0.5h | 15 |
| Phone charging | 15W | 2h | 30 |
| Daily consumption | 1205 Wh | ||
Recommended LiFePO4 battery
126 Ah
(80% depth of discharge)
Recommended AGM battery
201 Ah
(50% depth of discharge)
Adjust these values with the calculator below
VANPOWERCALC PROYOUR ENERGY PROFILE
YOUR ENERGY PROFILE.
This document contains the sizing of your future electrical installation, calculated based on your appliances.
Minimum Daily Consumption
0 WH / DAY
Inventory:
SYSTEM SIZINGPage 2
Battery
To guarantee 0WH without damaging your bank (80% max discharge):
0 AH
LiFePO4 12V
Solar
Minimum power required to recharge your consumption:
0 W
via MPPT
220V AC
Maximum power (with 25% safety margin).
0 W
No Need
Safety & CablingPage 3
12V Cable Sizing Guide
Use this professional reference table to select the correct gauge (mm²) for your cables. For 12V in a van, the maximum tolerated voltage drop is 3%. Always use multi-stranded flexible automotive wire.
| Current (A) | Round trip < 2m | Round trip 4m | Round trip 6m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5A (LEDs, USB) | 1.5 mm² | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² |
| 10A (Fridge, Pump) | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² | 6 mm² |
| 20A (Heater) | 4 mm² | 10 mm² | 10 mm² |
| 50A (DC/DC Booster) | 10 mm² | 16 mm² | 25 mm² |
| 100A (Inverter) | 25 mm² | 35 mm² | 50 mm² |
Fuse Sizing
The fuse protects the wire, not the appliance. Always place it as close to the power source as possible (battery or busbar).
- Wire 1.5 mm² → Max fuse 10A
- Wire 2.5 mm² → Max fuse 20A
- Wire 4 mm² → Max fuse 30A
- Wire 6 mm² → Max fuse 40A
- Wire 10 mm² → Max fuse 60A
SCHÉMA ÉLECTRIQUE
PANNEAUX SOLAIRES
0W
REGULATEUR MPPT
BATTERIE AUXILIAIRE
0 Ah
Lithium LiFePO4
FUSIBLE
FUSIBLE
BOÎTE À FUSIBLES 12V
Pompe, Leds, Frigo...
CONVERTISSEUR 220V
NON REQUI
PRO GEARPage 4
SHOPPING LIST
Where to find this equipment? Here is the community-approved selection.
12V 6-way Fuse Box
Mandatory protection
Digital Multimeter
Test your connections
Heavy Duty Crimping Tool
For perfect lugs
Heat Shrink Tubing
Insulation and safety
GENERATED BY VANPOWERCALC PRO - UNLIMITED.
About this tool
The SOK won on every metric except price. Its aluminum case saves 4kg, the Bluetooth BMS shows individual cell voltages (critical for early detection of imbalance), and the 200A continuous discharge rating is honest. The Renogy is the best value — 94% capacity at $450 is hard to beat, and Renogy's warranty support is solid. The LiTime is acceptable for budget builds but the 91% capacity suggests less premium cells. The Amazon generic was disappointing — 81% of rated means you're paying for 200Ah and getting 162Ah. At that point, you might as well buy a 100Ah from a reputable brand. The hidden metric nobody talks about: internal resistance. Lower resistance = less heat = more efficient charging and discharging. SOK measured 18mΩ. Renogy: 22mΩ. LiTime: 28mΩ. Generic: 35mΩ. That resistance difference means the SOK wastes less energy as heat, especially under high loads (inverter, DC-DC charging).
Frequently asked questions
Which 200Ah LiFePO4 is best for van life?▼
SOK 200Ah for premium quality ($500-600). Renogy 200Ah for best value ($450-500). Both deliver 94-98% of rated capacity. Avoid unbranded Amazon generics — they routinely underdeliver by 15-20%.
How much does a 200Ah LiFePO4 weigh?▼
24-28kg for quality brands (SOK, Renogy, BattleBorn). Cheaper brands with steel cases: 28-32kg. Compare to a 200Ah AGM at 58-65kg.
Can I trust the rated Ah on budget batteries?▼
Not blindly. In my testing, budget batteries deliver 80-92% of rated capacity. Premium brands hit 94-98%. The only way to verify is a controlled discharge test with a known load.
200Ah vs 300Ah for a van?▼
200Ah covers standard vanlife (fridge + lights + laptop) for 2-3 days without charging. 300Ah extends that to 3-4 days and adds comfortable headroom for heavier use. If you run an inverter daily or winter camp, go 300Ah.
How long will a 200Ah LiFePO4 last?▼
3,000-5,000 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. At one cycle per day: 8-14 years. Most vanlifers get 8-10 years before noticeable degradation. The battery will outlast most van builds.