Six of the eight SOK batteries we stock have a built-in heater, and two don't. This guide covers only what SOK itself says about those heaters: which models have one, the charge temperatures SOK publishes for each, and how SOK says the heater is powered. Where SOK's own figures disagree, we show both rather than pick one.
Why a lithium battery needs a heater at all
LiFePO4 batteries can power loads in the cold, but they should not be charged below freezing. Most of SOK's product pages list a low-temperature charging cut-off in the BMS, so an unheated battery with that cut-off refuses the charge until it warms up. A heater lets the battery charge in weather where it would otherwise just sit at a cut-off. Our self-heating lithium guide for winter camping explains when you need self-heating and when a cut-off is enough. This page sticks to SOK.
Which SOK batteries are heated
| Model | Heater | Charge temperature SOK publishes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SK12V100H 12V 100Ah | Yes, heater pad | Down to -4°F (product page text); -4°F to 113°F (page spec table) | SOK says the pad draws power from the charger, not the cells |
| SK12V206H 12V 206Ah | Yes, heater pad | Down to -4°F; -4°F to 113°F (spec table) | Same heater wording as the 100H |
| SK12V206PH 12V 206Ah sealed | Yes, heater pad | "Down to -4°F" (page text) but 32°F to 113°F (page spec table); -4°F to 140°F (brochure) | SOK's figures conflict; see below |
| SK12V280H 12V 280Ah | Yes, heater pad | "Down to -4°F" (page text); 4°F to 113°F (page spec table); 41°F to 131°F (brochure) | SOK's figures conflict; see below |
| SK12V314PH 12V 314Ah | Yes, self-heating | -4°F to 122°F (built-in heater pad) | Victron CAN, IP67 |
| SK24V150PH 24V 150Ah | Yes, self-heating | 4°F to 122°F (built-in heater pad) | Victron CAN, IP67 |
| SK12V100PC 12V 100Ah clear case | No | 32°F to 140°F (brochure) | Keep it above freezing when charging |
| SK24V100 24V 100Ah | No | 32°F to 113°F | Keep it above freezing when charging |
SOK lists a discharge range of -4°F to 140°F on every model above. Most of SOK's product pages give a recommended storage range of 23°F to 95°F.
How SOK says the heater works
SOK describes the heater on the 100H and 206H the same way: the battery "can safely charge at temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F) by a standard charger or solar charger", and the heater pads draw "power from the charger itself", so the cells lose no power. SOK says the 206PH, 280H, 314PH and 24V150PH have a built-in heater pad or self-heating too, but those pages don't describe how they are powered.
Three things follow from SOK's description of the 100H and 206H:
- You need a charge source to get heat. If the pad runs on charger power, a battery with nothing connected won't warm itself. On a cold morning the heater can work once your solar controller, converter or DC-DC charger starts supplying power.
- No special charger is mentioned. SOK says a standard charger or a solar charger works. You still need a LiFePO4 charge profile at the voltage SOK lists for that model.
- Per SOK, the heater doesn't draw down the bank. SOK says the cells lose no power to the heater, so by SOK's account warming the battery doesn't cost you stored energy.
SOK's text does not say at what temperature the heater switches on or off, or how long warming takes. If that matters for your install, ask us and we'll get the figure from SOK.
Where SOK's numbers disagree
For two of the heated models, SOK publishes different charge ranges in different places:
- SK12V206PH: the page text says the heater pad works down to -4°F, but the same page's spec table gives a charge temperature of 32°F to 113°F. SOK's brochure gives -4°F to 140°F.
- SK12V280H: the page text says down to -4°F, the page spec table says 4°F to 113°F, and the brochure says 41°F to 131°F.
If you plan to charge one of these two below freezing, treat the cold limit as unconfirmed and ask us to check with SOK first. The 100H and 206H pages show -4°F in both the text and the spec table, and the 314PH spec table also gives -4°F.
Choosing a heated SOK for winter use
- A small trailer or van, battery in an outside bay: the SK12V100H gives 100Ah with the clearest heater description. Add a second in parallel for more capacity.
- More capacity in one case: the SK12V206H has the same heater wording as the 100H, and holds about 2,373 Wh usable by our estimate (206Ah x 12.8V x 0.9).
- Wet locations or boats: the sealed SK12V206PH (IP65), or the SK12V314PH (IP67, -4°F charge rating).
- A 24V system: the SK24V150PH is the heated 24V option. The SK24V100 has no heater.
Whichever you pick, a heated battery in an insulated or heated space does less heating work. If the battery can live inside the coach, put it there.
Not sure which capacity you need? Our which SOK battery guide covers sizing, and the full range is on the SOK Battery collection page.
FAQ
Can an unheated SOK battery be used in winter?
It can discharge down to -4°F, per SOK. It should not be charged below freezing; SOK lists 32°F as the low end of the charge range for the SK12V100PC and SK24V100. SOK's SK24V100 page lists a low-temperature charging cut-off; the 100PC page doesn't mention one, so keep it above freezing when it charges.
Does the heater use battery power?
For the 100H and 206H, SOK says the heater pad draws power from the charger, not the cells. SOK's pages for the other heated models don't say.
Will my existing converter or solar controller run the heater?
SOK says a standard charger or solar charger works for the 100H and 206H. Make sure it has a lithium (LiFePO4) profile. Our answer on whether a WFCO converter is lithium compatible covers one common case.
How cold is too cold to charge a heated SOK?
The coldest charge temperature SOK publishes is -4°F, for the 100H, 206H and 314PH. The 24V150PH page says 4°F. For the 206PH and 280H, SOK's figures conflict, so ask us first.