WHAT ARE MARINE BATTERIES?
Marine batteries are special starter and deep-cycle batteries designed for use in boats and other recreational equipment used on water. They are used in place of traditional lead-acid automotive batteries and employ features that support specific requirements of your boat’s engine and running systems. Some marine batteries protect against brutal operating conditions that include vibration, high temperatures, and include maintenance-free plate designs that minimize battery corrosion and fluid loss.
What Are The Different Types Of Marine Batteries?
What are the different types of marine batteries? There are three basic types: starter, deep cycle, and dual purpose. Each has a specific job to do.
- Starter battery. This type of marine battery starts your boat’s motor. It’s also called a cranking battery. Starter batteries “crank” out a big dose of power in a short amount of time. But it won’t keep your motor going. That’s a job for the next battery on this list.
- Deep cycle battery. These batteries have thicker plates than starter batteries. These plates allow them to provide steady, consistent power. You can charge them and discharge them for many cycles. They’re perfect for keeping your trolling motor going, and powering your lights, GPS, fish finder, and more.
- Dual purpose marine battery. As its name suggests, this battery can do the job of both starter batteries and deep cycle batteries. But like some “jacks of all trades”, dual purpose batteries have the reputation of being “master of none”. Some won’t provide enough power to start certain engines. Others last for far less cycles than typical deep cycle batteries. The only exception is lithium batteries. Both our 12V 100Ah and 12V 125Ah batteries are both dual purpose!
Marine Battery Chemistry: Flooded, AGM, Gel and Lithium
Before talking about how long you should expect your deep cycle batteries to last, we also need to address the different battery chemistries available currently.
The oldest and most widely used battery across the boating and automotive world is the wet cell battery. Wet cell batteries are commonly referred to as flooded batteries. These batteries use lead plates, a sulfuric acid electrolyte, and plate separators to store energy. They’re the cheapest type of battery on the market, and they are not sensitive to overcharging. Wet cell batteries have some drawbacks as well. They’re heavy batteries, with some weighing well over 50 pounds.
They’re also fairly bulky, requiring dedicated storage to house them. Some wet cell batteries must also be maintained, requiring additional fluid to be added to maintain levels. They can also leak fluids and are sensitive to vibrations. Although wet cell batteries have their disadvantages, they have provided millions of great days on the water at a great price point.
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
The absorbed glass mat battery, commonly referred to as AGM, is a type of battery that has a fiberglass mat separating the lead plates within.
These glass mats hold an electrolyte solution between the lead plates. Unlike the wet cell battery, which can leak and spill, the AGM is completely sealed and maintenance-free. It’s also designed to handle vibration better than a wet cell. It does have two drawbacks. It is heavier than a wet cell battery, and it is much more sensitive to damage if overcharged.
Gel Cell
The gel cell battery uses a thick paste to separate its battery plates. It’s similar to the AGM in many ways, such as being maintenance-free, spill proof, and leak-proof. It also has drawbacks. It’s expensive, prone to damage when overcharged, and does not have the same capacity as AGM batteries of similar size.
Lithium Ion
The lithium ion battery is the newest type of battery to hit the boat market. They’re gaining a ton of popularity and for good reasons. They offer impressive size, capacity, and longevity. They’re roughly 60 percent lighter than similar capacity conventional batteries. They also take up much less space, leaving more room for storage. Lithium ion batteries can also be discharged completely with no loss of performance.
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Can You Use A Marine Battery In A Car
Both marine and car batteries share many similarities in terms of voltage, capacity, size, weight, CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), MCA (Marine Cranking Amps), chemistry, battery terminals, and similar.
When having issues with a car battery, replacing a car battery with a fully charged marine battery can be tempting, but can and should this be done?
Yes, if and only if the marine battery is of the same or very similar size, it has the exact chemistry as a car battery, has the same or better capacity/CCA/MCA and other discharge features, can be properly secured in its position, and can be properly connected to the car’s electric system.
Choosing The Right Battery For Your Vehicle
It does make more sense to pick a battery that is specifically designed for your car. This is because batteries are put through a very rigorous process in order to ensure they are of the utmost quality and the most fitting.
Before investing in a battery, you should make sure to take a look at specific factors in order to make the right choice. These are as follows:
Battery Group Size
This term refers to how big the battery is and how accurate it is to fit the dimensions of your car. This is denoted by a series of letters and numbers that are allocated to different group sizes and usually based on the model and make of the car they are meant to go in.
Cold Cranking Amp
This rating will define how well a battery can start a vehicle in chilly temperatures. It refers to how many amps 12-volt batteries are able to generate 0° at least 30 seconds with a minimum of 7.2 V.
Reserve Capacity
This figure will tell you how long batteries that are charged 100% are able to keep generating power for the accessories of a car if the alternator is unable to do so.
Are Marine Batteries Better Than Regular Batteries?
Marine batteries are not better or worse than car batteries, they are just meant to be used in two different applications and are built differently to accomplish that. The main purpose of a car battery is to provide power to the starter to crank the engine. Marine batteries are used for this purpose as well but are also used to power all of the electronic accessories on your boat and are designed to be used in the harshest conditions when out on your boat. They need to be able to withstand the bouncing, vibrations, and shaking that are common while out on the lake enjoying a day of watersports or fishing.
Marine batteries also come in different designs to suit your needs. Marine starting batteries are designed to provide that jolt of power to start your boat’s engine and then will recharge as you are out boating. If you need a workhorse battery that will start your boat and power the electronics, then the marine dual-purpose batteries are for you. For boats that have a lot of power demands, trolling motors, fish finders, etc. where just a starting or dual-purpose battery won’t be enough, marine deep-cycle batteries will provide the power you need to run all of those toys.
How often should I charge my marine battery?
Generally speaking, your batteries should be “fully charged” at all times if possible. The worst thing that you could do is come home after a long boating day and let your used batteries sit. Ideally, you will want to fully charge your batteries at least once a month to ensure a long life. Using an automatic charger is a foolproof way to ensure batteries stay charged and ready. Plug in the charger after every trip and let it do all of the work.
Is a dual-purpose battery the same as a deep-cycle battery?
Dual Purpose batteries can be used for both deep-cycle and Starting applications. A deep-cycle battery should only be used for deep-cycle applications like powering trolling motors and other accessories, a dual-purpose battery can be used to power accessories and start your boat without the need for multiple batteries. Depending on your boat’s power demands, you may need separate batteries, one for starting and one or more for accessories and equipment.
Can you use a deep-cycle battery as a starting battery?
No. A deep-cycle battery should never be used as a starting battery. Using a deep-cycle battery to start your boat engine could damage the battery and shorten its usable life.
How Long Do Boat Batteries Last?
Most marine batteries last anywhere from 2 to 5 years depending on the level of care you give them. Most batteries come with a one year warranty, but more expensive batteries might come with up to three years of warranty.
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