Batteries are just batteries, right? They store energy and give it off as needed.
Not really. There are a few different types of batteries and each one has its positives and negatives…pun intended.
Before choosing a battery type, consider what you will be using it for. One battery type will be more suited to your specific purpose than another.
In this post, we’ll dive into the world of deep cycle batteries. We’ll learn what they are and what they are used for.
Deep Cycle Batteries vs Starter Batteries
Starter batteries are the sprinters of the battery world. They are designed to put out a lot of power for a short burst. The point usually is to supply the power needed to start something up, like a motor, which then runs on gasoline.
They are not designed to discharge much before being recharged and a deep discharge can hurt the battery’s lifespan and performance. This is the type of battery you’ll find in a car. Once the motor starts, the alternator begins charging the battery back up to full charge.
However, this isn’t the only application for batteries. Sometimes you need batteries that can continuously supply power for long periods of time, such as to run an electric vehicle.
These are deep cycle batteries — the marathon runners of the battery world. Rather than a short burst of lots of power, they supply a lesser amount of power but for a much longer period of time. Here the batteries are used to run the vehicle instead of gasoline.
You may be wondering, however, if both capabilities exist in a single unit. In short, yes, they do, and this is what is known as a dual-purpose battery.
Dual purpose batteries handle both starting and cycling making them an excellent choice when you are working with a small footprint. They deliver powerful cranking amperage for easy starting, and low amp draw service for reliable auxiliary power. A perfect example of this would be RELiON’s HP series of lithium batteries that are designed to handle getting you started and keeping you running.
Discharge Capability
As mentioned, deeply discharging a starter battery will hurt its performance. However, deep cycle batteries not only are designed to put out power for a long period of time but also they can discharge much more of their stored energy.
The amount you can safely discharge varies from battery to battery. Some batteries can only handle discharging 45% of their energy reserves, whereas others can safely discharge up to 100%.
Just be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendation for your specific battery.
Uses of Deep Cycle Batteries
We’ve already touched on the fact that familiar car batteries are starter batteries. So what are deep cycle batteries used for? In general, for anything that needs continuous power for longer periods of time.
Examples of items needing long-term power output:
- Electric golf carts
- Electric floor cleaning machines
- Electric scissor lifts
- Electric wheelchairs
- Electric scooters
- Electric forklifts
- Recreational Vehicles
- Trolling motors on boats
- Navigational devices on a boat (when the main motor is inactive)
- Renewable Energy systems
Types of Deep Cycle Batteries
There are also a few types of deep cycle batteries. While they perform the same function, the materials used to build the battery vary. Thus, the different types of deep cycle batteries each have their own pros and cons. Let’s look at the main ones here.
Flooded Lead-Acid
This is the oldest type of battery that is still in use. Also called a wet cell, the name comes from the battery having a liquid electrolyte inside, consisting of water and sulfuric acid. If you’ve ever worked on an older car, you may be familiar with having to open the tabs at the top to add water to the battery on occasion. With deep cycle, flooded lead-acid batteries, adding water is needed more frequently.
Because of the liquid, these batteries must stay upright at all times. They also require good ventilation. Batteries produce a hydrogen gas and it must have a way to escape. It is not uncommon for electrolyte to spit out of the vents during charge, leaving acid residue on the battery cover and often even on the battery tray and vehicle chassis.
Overall, flooded batteries require the most maintenance including; adding water, cleaning acid residue from battery covers, terminals and surroundings.
These types of batteries are also quite heavy when considering the ratio of battery weight to the amount of energy they provide.
For these reasons and more, their popularity is waning.
Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) – Gel and AGM
Gel and AGM batteries are other types of lead-acid deep cycle batteries, but with a big improvement. They don’t have free-flowing liquid electrolyte in them and therefore don’t require any addition of water. They are more expensive though and often don’t last as long as flooded batteries in more demanding applications.
Instead, Gel batteries use a gelled electrolyte and AGM batteries use an electrolyte absorbed in glass matt. If they are used and charged properly, they won’t release any gases, but in the event they over-pressure, the safety valve will open and release the buildup. As such, they don’t have to remain upright and they virtually eliminate any spillage, cutting down on the corrosion problems common with the flooded variety.
They are very popular for use in boats, recreational vehicles and more.
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-ion batteries are quite possibly the wave of the future when it comes to deep cycle batteries. They require no maintenance, can be discharged more deeply without affecting their lifespan, and charge much faster than other types of batteries.
