Quick answer: The Alpha 1, Alpha 2 and Alpha 3 are 12V batteries for RVs, vans, boats and small 12V solar systems; they differ mainly in capacity (100Ah, 200Ah and 300–314Ah). The Alpha 4 is a 24V, 100Ah battery for systems already built around 24V. The Alpha 5 Pro is a 48V (51.2V) server rack battery meant for home backup and larger off-grid systems with a 48V inverter. Within the 12V and 24V models, the Lite, standard and Pro versions differ in cold-weather heating, Bluetooth, cycle rating, UL certification and warranty.
We carry five Rich Solar Alpha battery listings in our Alpha Series Batteries collection. This article sets the specifications side by side, using the figures Rich Solar publishes on its own product pages, so you can match a battery to your system rather than to a price point.
The main difference: system voltage first, then capacity
The first thing that separates these batteries is voltage, and it is not something you choose freely. Your inverter, charge controller and any DC appliances are built for a specific battery voltage. A 12V inverter needs a 12V bank; a 48V inverter needs a 48V bank.
- 12V: Alpha 1 (100Ah), Alpha 2 (200Ah), Alpha 3 (300Ah, or 314Ah in the Pro version). These suit most RVs, campers, vans, boats and small cabin systems.
- 24V: Alpha 4 (100Ah). This suits 24V systems, which are common in mid-size off-grid and marine setups where 12V would mean very heavy cabling.
- 48V: Alpha 5 Pro (51.2V, 100Ah). This is a rack-mount battery for 48V hybrid and off-grid inverters, usually installed in a garage, utility room or battery cabinet.
The second difference is the version. The Alpha 1, 2 and 3 each come as Lite, standard and Pro. The Alpha 4 comes as standard and Lite. The Alpha 5 Pro is a single model, sold here as one battery or in sets of two to six.
Side-by-side specifications
Figures below come from Rich Solar's product pages and, for the Alpha 5 Pro, its user manual. Where a value is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
| Specification | Alpha 1 | Alpha 2 | Alpha 3 | Alpha 4 | Alpha 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal voltage | 12.8V | 12.8V | 12.8V | 25.6V | 51.2V |
| Capacity | 100Ah / 1,280Wh | 200Ah / 2,560Wh | 300Ah / 3,840Wh (Pro: 314Ah / 4,019Wh) | 100Ah / 2,560Wh | 100Ah / 5,120Wh |
| Chemistry | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Max charge / discharge current | 100A / 100A | Lite: 200A / 200A; standard and Pro: 100A / 100A | Lite and standard: 300A / 300A; Pro: 200A / 200A | 100A / 100A | 100A / 100A |
| Versions | Lite, standard, Pro | Lite, standard, Pro | Lite, standard, Pro | Lite, standard | Single model |
| Internal self-heating | Standard and Pro | Standard and Pro | Standard and Pro | Standard only | Yes (150W heater) |
| Monitoring | Bluetooth app (standard and Pro) | Bluetooth app (standard and Pro) | Bluetooth app (standard and Pro) | Bluetooth app (standard only) | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app; LCD and LED display |
| Inverter communication | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | CAN, RS485, RS232 |
| Cycle life (Lite / standard / Pro) | 4,000+ / 5,000+ / 7,000+ | 4,000+ / 5,000+ / 7,000+ | 4,000+ / 5,000+ / 8,000+ | 4,000+ / 5,000 | 7,000+ at 80% DoD |
| UL 1973 listed | Pro only | Standard and Pro | Pro only | Not listed | Yes, plus UL 9540A |
| Warranty | 5 years (Pro: 10) | 5 years (Pro: 10) | 5 years (Pro: 10) | 5 years | 10 years |
| Parallel expansion | Not listed | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | Up to 4 (Lite); not listed for standard | Up to 30 |
| Series connection | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not allowed |
| Charge / discharge temperature | 32–131°F / -4–140°F | 32–131°F / -4–140°F | 32–131°F / -4–140°F | 32–131°F / -4–140°F | 32–140°F / -4–149°F |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 10.2 × 6.6 × 8.3 in | 20.9 × 8.1 × 8.5 in | 20.6 × 10.6 × 8.7 in (Pro: 20.5 in long) | 20.9 × 8.1 × 8.5 in | 17.7 × 17.8 × 5.2 in (3U rack) |
| Weight | About 24 lb | 52.9 lb | 71.3–71.7 lb | 48.5 lb (Lite: 52.9 lb) | 100.9 lb |
| Ingress rating | Not listed | Lite IP65; standard and Pro IP55 | IP65 | IP65 | IP21 (indoor) |
| Price here | From $319.99 | From $639.99 | From $959.99 | From $639.99 | From $1,439.99 per battery |
Prices were current when this article was written and can change. The product pages always show the current price.
Alpha 1: 12V, 100Ah
The Alpha 1 is the smallest and lightest battery in the series at about 24 lb, with 1,280Wh of storage. It fits a small camper, a van with modest loads, a trolling or house battery on a boat, or a starter solar setup in a shed. Two or more can be paralleled for more capacity, though Rich Solar's product pages do not list a maximum count for the Alpha 1, so check the manual before planning a larger bank.
The limit is capacity. If you run a 12V fridge, lights and a few chargers every day, a single 100Ah battery can be tight, especially across cloudy days. In that case, the Alpha 2 or Alpha 3 usually makes more sense than several Alpha 1 units wired together.
Alpha 2: 12V, 200Ah
The Alpha 2 doubles the capacity to 2,560Wh in a single case weighing 52.9 lb. For many RVs and small cabins, one 200Ah battery replaces two smaller ones and keeps the wiring simple. Rich Solar lists parallel expansion to four units.
One detail worth knowing: the Alpha 2 Lite is rated for 200A of charge and discharge current, while the standard Alpha 2 and Alpha 2 Pro are rated for 100A. If you plan to run a large inverter from a single battery, that difference matters more than the heater or Bluetooth. The standard Alpha 2 and the Pro are both listed with UL 1973 on Rich Solar's pages; the Lite is not.
Alpha 3: 12V, 300Ah or 314Ah
The Alpha 3 is the largest 12V battery in the series, with 3,840Wh in the Lite and standard versions and 4,019Wh in the 314Ah Pro. It suits larger RVs, full-time van builds and 12V cabin systems with daily loads that would otherwise take two or three smaller batteries.
At about 71 lb, it is a heavy lift, and its 20.6 × 10.6 in footprint will not fit every battery compartment, so measure first. The Lite and standard versions are rated for 300A of charge and discharge current; the Pro is rated for 200A.
Alpha 4: 24V, 100Ah
The Alpha 4 stores the same 2,560Wh as the Alpha 2 but at 25.6V. That halves the current for the same power, which allows smaller cable and less voltage drop. It fits systems already built around a 24V inverter and charge controller.
It is offered as the standard Alpha 4, with internal heating and Bluetooth, and the Alpha 4 Lite, without them. Both carry a 5-year warranty and an IP65 rating. Rich Solar's pages do not list a UL 1973 certification for either Alpha 4 version, so if an inspector or insurer asks for UL 1973, look at the Pro versions of the 12V batteries or the Alpha 5 Pro instead.
Alpha 5 Pro: 48V server rack
The Alpha 5 Pro is a different kind of battery. It holds 5,120Wh in a 3U steel case meant for a server rack, and it talks to compatible inverters over CAN or RS485, so the inverter can follow the battery's own charge limits. Rich Solar lists a range of inverter brands it works with, including Victron Energy, Sol-Ark, Growatt, Schneider, Luxpower and SMA; confirm your inverter on Rich Solar's current list before you buy.
The front panel has an LCD and LED display, and the battery also reports to the Rich Solar app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It has a built-in heater, a 10-year warranty and is listed to UL 1973 and UL 9540A. Rich Solar lists parallel expansion up to 30 units. Its manual is clear that it must not be connected in series; it is a 48V battery only. It is rated IP21, so it belongs indoors, and at 100.9 lb it needs a rack or other solid surface.
How to choose
- Start with system voltage. Match the battery to your inverter and charge controller: 12V (Alpha 1, 2, 3), 24V (Alpha 4) or 48V (Alpha 5 Pro). If you are designing a new home backup system, 48V is common because it keeps currents low at higher power.
- Work out daily energy use. Add up the watt-hours you use in a day, then allow for a day or two without sun. Our off-grid power needs worksheet walks through this step by step. Divide the total by the battery's Wh rating to see how many units you need.
- Check inverter compatibility. For the 48V Alpha 5 Pro, confirm closed-loop communication support for your inverter brand. For the 12V and 24V batteries, make sure your charger and controller have a LiFePO4 charging profile at the right voltage, and that your inverter's draw is within the battery's current rating.
- Think about cold. All of these batteries stop charging below 32°F to protect the cells. The standard and Pro versions (and the Alpha 5 Pro) have internal heaters that warm the cells so charging can resume. If your batteries live in an unheated garage, RV or shed in winter, a heated version is worth the extra cost. Our article on why off-grid batteries drain fast in winter covers the rest of the cold-weather picture.
- Plan for expansion. Buy the voltage you will keep. A bank works best with identical batteries, so adding a different version later is not a good plan. If you expect to grow well past 10kWh, the Alpha 5 Pro's rack format is easier to scale.
- Check certification needs. If a permit, inspector or insurer requires UL 1973 (or UL 9540A), choose a version that lists it: the Alpha 1 Pro, Alpha 2 or Alpha 2 Pro, Alpha 3 Pro or Alpha 5 Pro.
For a wider view of how batteries fit with panels, controllers and inverters, see our complete guide to off-grid living, or browse lithium battery storage, the full Rich Solar range and our off-grid solar panels, generators and complete systems.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Lite, standard and Pro versions?
The Lite versions have no internal heater and no Bluetooth, and are rated for 4,000+ cycles. The standard versions add heating and Bluetooth and are rated for 5,000+ cycles. The Pro versions add a higher cycle rating (7,000+ or 8,000+), a 10-year warranty instead of 5 years, and UL 1973 certification, which the standard Alpha 2 also carries.
Can I wire these batteries in series?
Not the Alpha 5 Pro; Rich Solar's manual says not to connect it in series. For the 12V and 24V models, Rich Solar's product pages list parallel limits only and do not publish a series configuration, so check the manual or contact Rich Solar before building a series string. If you need 24V or 48V, buying a battery at that voltage is the simpler route.
Can these batteries charge below freezing?
None of them charge below 32°F on their own. Versions with internal heating warm the cells first; on the models where Rich Solar lists the thresholds, heating starts below 41°F and stops above 50°F. Lite versions need to be kept somewhere above freezing to charge.
How do I check the Alpha 5 Pro's status?
Rich Solar's product page describes an LCD and LED display on the front panel showing state of charge, status and alarms. Detailed monitoring is through the Rich Solar app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Can I mix different Alpha models in one bank?
It is better not to. Use identical batteries of the same model and version in one bank so they charge and discharge evenly.
How many batteries can I connect in parallel?
Rich Solar lists up to four in parallel for the Alpha 2, Alpha 3 and Alpha 4 Lite, and up to 30 for the Alpha 5 Pro. A limit is not published for the Alpha 1 or the standard Alpha 4.
Is a 12V Alpha battery a direct replacement for my lead-acid battery?
Rich Solar's product pages do not state that these are drop-in replacements for a particular lead-acid battery. Before swapping, check that the case fits your compartment, and that your charger, converter and solar controller have a LiFePO4 profile.
If you have a question about which Alpha battery fits your system, email us at info@garagetoolsstorage.com or text 765-221-3366 with your inverter model and daily power use, and we will help you work it out.
