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Everything You Need to Know About a Deep Cycle Battery
2021-03-03

Is Deep Cycle Battery simply a battery? They store energy and provide it off as needed.

Not truly. There are a couple of various kinds of batteries and each one has its negatives and positives. Prior to picking a battery type, consider what you will be utilizing it for. One battery type will be more suitable for your particular purpose than another. In this post, we‘ll dive into the world of deep cycle batteries. We‘ll discover what they are and what they are utilized for.


Deep Cycle Battery vs Starter Battery

Starter batteries are the sprinters of the battery world. They are created to put out a great deal of power for a short burst. The point normally is to provide the power required to start something up, such as a motor, which then operates on gas. They are not developed to discharge much prior to being charged and a deep discharge can harm the battery‘s life expectancy and efficiency. This is the kind of battery you‘ll discover in a vehicle. When the motor starts, the alternator starts charging the battery back up to a full charge.

This isn‘t the only application for batteries. In some cases, you require batteries that can continually provide power for extended periods of time, such as to run an electric automobile. These are deep cycle batteries; the marathon runners of the battery world. Instead of a brief burst of great deals of power, they provide a lower quantity of power however for a lot longer amount of time. Here the batteries are utilized to run the automobile instead of gas.

You might be thinking, nevertheless, if both abilities exist in a single system. Simply put, yes, they do, and this is what is referred to as a dual-purpose battery. When you are working with a small footprint, dual-purpose batteries deal with both cycling and starting making them an outstanding option. They provide effective cranking amperage for simple starting, and low amp draw service for dependable auxiliary power.

Discharge Ability of Deep Cycle Battery

As discussed, deeply discharging a starter battery will hurt its efficiency. Deep cycle batteries are not just created to put out power for a long duration of time but they can discharge much more of their stored energy. The quantity you can securely discharge differs from battery to battery. Some batteries can just manage to discharge 45% of their energy reserves, whereas others can securely discharge as much as 100 %.

Simply make sure to inspect the producer‘s suggestion for your particular battery.

Uses of Deep Cycle Battery

We have actually currently discussed the truth that familiar cars and truck batteries are starter batteries. What are deep cycle batteries utilized for? Generally, for anything that requires constant power for longer time periods.

Examples of products requiring long-lasting power output:

  1. Renewable Energy systems
  2. Navigational devices on a boat (when the main motor is not active)
  3. Trolling motors on boats
  4. RVs
  5. Electric forklifts
  6. Electric scooters
  7. Electric wheelchairs
  8. Electric scissor lifts
  9. Electric floor cleaning machines
  10. Electric golf carts

Kinds of Deep Cycle Batteries

There are likewise a couple of types of deep cycle batteries. While they carry out the exact same function, the products utilized to construct the battery differ.

Flooded Lead-Acid

This is also known as a wet cell, the name comes from the battery which has a liquid electrolyte inside, consisting of sulfuric acid and water. If you have actually ever worked on an older automobile, you might be familiar with having to open the tabs at the top to add water to the battery occasionally.

Because of the liquid, these batteries need to remain upright at all times. It is not unusual for electrolytes to spit out of the vents throughout the charge, leaving acid residue on the battery cover and typically even on the battery tray and car chassis.

In general, flooded batteries need one of the most upkeep such as adding water, cleaning acid residue from battery terminals, covers, and surroundings. When thinking about the ratio of battery weight to the quantity of energy they offer, these types of batteries are likewise rather heavy. For these factors and more, their appeal is subsiding.

Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Gel and AGM

Gel and AGM batteries are other kinds of lead-acid deep cycle batteries, but with a huge enhancement. They do not have free-flowing liquid electrolytes in them and for that reason do not need any addition of water. They are more costly though and frequently do not last as long as flooded batteries in more demanding applications.

Rather, Gel batteries utilize a gelled electrolyte and AGM batteries utilize an electrolyte soaked up in glass matt. If they are utilized and charged appropriately, they will not launch any gases, however in case they over-pressurize, the safety valve will launch the accumulation and open. They do not have to stay upright and they practically get rid of any spillage, cutting down on the rust issues typical with the flooded variety. They are preferred for usage in boats, RVs, and more.

Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Battery


When it comes to deep cycle batteries, lithium ion batteries are rather potentially the wave of the future. They need no upkeep, can be discharged more deeply without impacting their life expectancy, and charge much faster than other kinds of batteries.

Their appeal has actually not skyrocketed as rapidly as you may anticipate due to their higher upfront cost. The truth is that they last a lot longer than lead-acid batteries, which can really make them comparable in cost and even more economical over the long term.

And they have numerous other advantages over their lead-acid predecessors. They are light-weight, they offer their rated capacity at any rate of discharge, they do not get harmed from being left or run in a partial state of charge, they offer more power throughout the discharge cycle, and more.

Capacity of Deep Cycle Battery

Capacity varies significantly between lead-acid and lithium batteries due to their naturally various chemistry. Lithium batteries can offer up to 100 % of their rated capacity regardless of their rate of discharge. At 0 ° C, for example, a lead-acid battery‘s capacity is minimized by up to 50 %, while a lithium iron phosphate battery suffers just a 10 % loss at the exact same temperature level.

Lifespan 

The lifespan of a deep cycle battery is impacted by a couple of factors. More factors affect the life of a lead-acid battery than a lithium one. Lithium batteries do not need watering, so the problem of inappropriate watering is gotten rid of. Lithium batteries are not harmed by a partial state of charge, or under-charging, so that concern is likewise gotten rid of. Lithium batteries can be harmed if they are seriously over-discharged or if they are charged at a high current below freezing temperature levels, thus decreasing life expectancy. Heat impacts the battery. Greater temperature levels break down the battery much quicker. It is not easy to state a specific time frame because of these factors. Inspect the producer‘s requirements for your battery to get an idea about your battery.

Selecting Your Deep Cycle Battery


Now you should understand some things about deep cycle batteries. It‘s apparent why they are very important for various applications.

Still, if you have concerns about which battery to pick for your requirements, then do not think twice before calling us! We will be more than happy to address your concerns and assist you in selecting the ideal battery. Talk to our expert. [email protected]