A Complete Review of the GoldenMate Lithium Battery in 2024

LOOKING FOR A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE GOLDENMATE LITHIUM BATTERY?

You are in the right place because we have done the research and testing to bring you a GoldenMate lithium battery review. We are Coltin and Candice, and have traveled in our RV since 2010, bringing you the best destinations and products.

We have been testing the GoldenMate lithium battery for a while and bring you the information you need to decide if the GoldenMate LiFePo4 battery is for you.

➡ SHOP GoldenMate Lithium Batteries

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Coltin’s Pro Tips for Using a Lithium Battery

If you have not used a Lithium Battery before, there are some things you should be aware of because they are different and function differently than your typical lead acid battery.

Lithium batteries do not gradually die. This means you will have full power until you have no power at all. This means when you realize your batteries are dead, you will not be able to start your generator, but with lead acid batteries, you will start to see your lights dim and other appliances stop working, and you can start your generator before the batteries fully die. Be prepared.

Many Lithium Batteries are smarter than lead acid batteries. Batteries can be damaged if they are charging and the temperatures are too cold, too hot, overcharged, or discharged too much. Good lithium batteries have BMS or battery management systems that stop the battery from being charged when the battery is too cold or too hot.

Lithium batteries charge at different rates than lead-acid batteries. This means when you are using lithium batteries, you should have charge controllers, converters, etc, that are compatible with lithium batteries. If you do not, your battery might not ever fully charge or discharge properly.

More Differences Between Lithium and Lead-Acid Batteries

Lithium batteries can fully discharge and not be damaged like the equivalent lead acid battery. This means your lead acid battery will last longer than your lead acid battery. Lithium RV batteries can last up to 10 times longer than your typical lead acid battery.

Lithium batteries are much lighter than lead-acid batteries. Installing and removing lithium batteries is much easier because the batteries weigh about half as much as your lead acid battery.

Lithium batteries can discharge and charge much faster than lead-acid batteries. This can catch you by surprise as you can use your battery charge much faster than you are used to, but you can also charge your battery faster. You do need to have the correct charging equipment to take advantage of the high rate of charge.

Unboxing the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

The battery in the box as we unpacked it

When we received our GoldenMate lithium battery, everything arrived promptly and looked great. The battery looks elegant and has everything you need when it arrives. This means as soon as the battery arrives, you will have the needed hardware to have the battery installed into your RV.

Specifications and Features of the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

Electrical Specifications –
Nominal Voltage: 12.8V
Nominal Capacity: 200AH
Energy: 2560Wh
Cell Type: LiFePo4

Mechanical Specifications –
Dimensions (LxWxH): 20.55” x 9.44” x 8.58”
Net Weight: About 50 Pounds

Charge Specifications –
Charge Voltage: 14.4V (14.6V Max)
Standard Charge Current: 40A
Max Charge Current: 100A

Discharge Specifications –
Max Continuous Discharge: 120A
Discharge Cut Off: 10V

Temperature Specifications –
Charge Temperature: 0 degrees C to 50 degrees C
Discharge Temperature: -20 degrees C to 60 degrees C
Storage Temperature 0 degrees C to 45 degrees C

Cycle Life 5000+ cycles

How We Tested the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

The goldenmate lithium battery installed in our 5th wheel

We tested the GoldenMate lithium battery in a real-world testing application. We received our battery just before we left on a long excursion to one of our favorite destinations, the Oregon Coast.

During our trip, we used this battery as our only RV battery as we traveled. This means the battery was used for boondocking, shore power, and if we needed our generator on while we were testing the battery.

One thing to note is that we also have solar power that was used to charge the battery. We tested the 200 amp hour GoldenMate lithium battery. Because we travel in such a large 5th wheel, our minimum amp hours of battery power is 200 amp hours.

Installing and Using the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

Installing the GoldenMate lithium battery was awesome for multiple different reasons. The first reason is that their 200 amp hour lithium battery only weighs about 50 pounds. This battery is fairly large, and to only weigh 50 pounds is great.

We liked that we didn’t have to connect multiple batteries in parallel. One large battery is much easier to connect than connecting smaller batteries in parallel. Our battery compartment is small, so only needing to tighten a couple of bolts and not adding your parallel wires was very nice.

Overall, installing the GoldenMate battery was a good experience.

The RV battery installed in the basement of our 5th wheel

Main Uses for the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

We used the GoldenMate lithium battery to power our 5th-wheel camper. This means it powers the lights and charging ports that are all 12V. We also use the battery with our inverter, which will power certain 120V outlets.

What We Like

There are a lot of things we like about the GoldenMate lithium battery. We like that the battery is competitive and has a battery management system. This is great for longevity. We like how fast the battery will charge.

The battery is also very light. We like the piece of mind knowing that when the battery discharged fully, we were not going to damage it and that it would last for thousands of cycles.

What We Didn’t Like

In our real-world use test of the GoldenMate 200 amp hours lithium battery, there was not a lot that we didn’t like.

While testing the 200 amp hour battery in a real-world application with our typical use, we felt the battery could have lasted longer. Many people have an expectation when switching to lithium batteries of a monumental power change that will last forever. Keep your expectations real.

PRO TIP: It is also important to check if your converter is lithium battery compatible. If it is not, you will not get the most out of your lithium battery and may not fully charge the battery.

Goldenmate battery before installing it in our camper

Our Overall Impressions of the GoldenMate Lithium Battery

After using the GoldenMate 200 amp hours lithium battery, our overall impression of the battery was good. If you are new to lithium batteries for your RV, this is one of the best affordable battery options that comes with a battery management system.

Lithium batteries can become very expensive very quickly. Starting with a GoldenMate battery is an excellent idea for those who are on the fence about making the switch to a new LiFePo4 battery for your RV.

These batteries are not that much more expensive than your AGM lead acid batteries but are consistently rated to last for many more charging cycles, and your BMS will keep your battery better maintained.