Next-Gen Adventure Essential: The Dometic PLB40 Battery

As the most awarded manufacturer in the RV industry, it’s safe to assume you’ve encountered the Dometic brand by now. Even if you don’t get down with motorized camping or overland travel, the company’s products have become near synonymous with convenient mobile living. And that means, that at some point in time, you’ve either opened a RV fridge, portable cooler, AC vent, or Scandinavian-looking toilet bearing the Dometic logo.

Because with 80 years in the biz, these guys are forever finding new ways to make travel not just convenient, but also comfortable. From fresh food to…erm… fresh personal hygiene, the Dometic folks have a way to make it portable—and pleasant.

And they’ve done it again, only this time in the form of affordable, reliable, and—of course—portable power.

Have you met the Dometic PLB40?

The name may leave something to be desired… (Personally, I would have gone with “Lithium Maximus” or something enigmatic like “The CUBE,” but, you know, to each his own.) Regardless, this compact powerhouse represents the kind of battery innovation that adventurers have been waiting for.

What are the specs?

The Dometic PLB40 is a portable Lithium Iron Phosphate battery designed for powering all sorts of travel accessories on a single charge. It provides an energy supply of 40Ah/512 Wh, while an integrated DC-DC charger offers three convenient ways to charge up. One, you can plug it into a 12V DC socket (like your car’s “cigarette lighter” outlet). Two, you can charge it up on regular old AC home power. Or three, you can be super power-savvy and hook it up to an eco-friendly solar panel.

It’s worth mentioning that Dometic keeps the DC input charge rate at a maximum of 8 amps to minimize the chance of your car’s outlet fuse from blowing. (Generally, a car outlet’s circuit will have a 10- or 15-amp fuse, with the recommendation that you hang below the 10-amp mark to avoid any issues.)

The Dometic PLB40 also has integrated battery management to protect the unit from under-voltage, over-voltage, short circuiting, and overheating. This not only maintains optimum charging time, performance, and storage, but also provides the PLB40 with a life-cycle up to FOUR times longer than competing lithium ion batteries.

What kind of things can you charge up?

Pretty much everything you need to take your adventure off-grid. While specifically designed for Dometic’s electric coolers, you can use the PLB40 to charge up all sorts of 12V devices and USB accessories—from fridges, camp lights, and kitchen equipment, to phones, cameras, and laptops.

While the unit isn’t recommended for use as a jump-starting device, it can provide output to a battery source via the 12V output, with a max current of 15 amps. So, if you’re in a pinch, you can use it as a trickle charge.

The whole unit is incredibly lightweight, making it blissfully portable, with an ergonomic handle aiding the effort. Plus, the overall design is surprisingly sleek. This is a battery you genuinely don’t mind carrying to and from your vehicle, camp site, or tailgate.

And once you get to where you’re going, you don’t have to worry about the PLB40’s durability. Dometic engineered this puppy to withstand harsh outdoor environments and rugged off-pavement excursions. So, go ahead and literally take the ‘road less traveled’—the Dometic PLB40 can handle dirt, dust, bumps, rattles, and whatever else you meet along the way.

Is it easy to use?

Yes! A user-friendly LCD screen provides all the information you need, such as battery capacity, charging status, and output status. And the clever design allows you to both power an item—like an electric cooler—and charge the PLB40 at the same time.

The three different charging methods are all very straightforward, hooking up intuitively. And if you opt for solar, you don’t have to worry about using a regulator because the Dometic PLB40 is already integrated with a smart DC-DC charger.

Taking care of your PLB40 is easy, too. Simply store it fully charged in a temperate environment and recharge it every 6 months. The discharge rate is approximately 3-5% per month.

What’s the price range?

The Dometic PLB40 retails for around $850. Although, we’ve seen them on sale for as low as $750-$775. While an investment, that’s far less expensive than a quality dual battery system, which can easily creep into the $3k range.

Keep in mind, if you choose to purchase a used model somewhere, the manufacturer’s warranty is good for two years. Also, Dometic released a firmware update for the initial production run PLB40s, to update the “timeout” period from 1 hour to 24 hours. This ensures that if you’re running something like an efficient fridge—that only draws power once every few hours—the battery won’t shut down. (All new batteries come with this update already.)

With the Dometic PLB40, you can maintain power even after it’s gone. So, drive a little further and don’t be afraid to go off grid. As Dometic points out, “Some of the best places to visit are many times in isolated destinations.”