There are many different batteries for boats out there. These batteries differ in their price, mechanics, and functions.

Remember, boat batteries henderson nv serves two purposes. First, it is used to help your boat’s engine run and keep the boat moving. However, you also need a boat battery to power the boat’s lights and the electronics on the boat.

When picking a boat battery, you first need to figure out the application of the battery. You’ll then need to choose between a Lithium, AGM, gel, or flooded battery.

In this boat battery buying guide, we will take you through everything you will want to know. So keep on reading for more!

Starting Batteries

A starting battery is going to turn on the starter of your ship’s engine. These are the sprinters of the boat’s power system.

These batteries provide 75 and 400 amperes for five to fifteen seconds. They are then charged again in a short amount of time by the engine’s alternator.

Similar to other lead-acid batteries, these devices are made with alternating layers of positive and negative plates with insulation between them.

A starting battery will have more plates and thinner plates. This is going to deliver more surface area to create high-energy bursts of current.

The two downsides to this kind of construction are that the plates are fairly fragile. And the starting batteries aren’t able to handle deep discharges, which can lower their operating lifespan.

Deep Cycle Batteries

A boat’s house battery bank is going to utilize deep cycle batteries. These are the marathon runners of the battery storage system. These batteries will power the electrical loads on a vessel when there aren’t any charge sources available.

You should think about these as a savings account where energy can be withdrawn and deposited.

Compared to a starting battery, which provides high amounts of energy for small periods of time, a deep cycle battery will fully recover after being strongly discharged over longer amounts of time. This is because the design of the battery includes plates that are thicker and have a high content of antimony.

Over the course of one night, the battery’s use might deplete fifty to seventy percent of the battery capacity. It depends on the house loads of the ship.

When the batteries get recharged, energy will be deposited back into the bank. The cycle, or process, will then start all over again.

Usually, Lithium deep cycle batteries should be sized to store between three and four times the anticipated amount of energy that is going to be used between cycles of recharge.

Dual-Purpose Batteries

Dual-purpose batteries are made out of thick, large plates. These plates contain more antimony than starting batteries. They also contain an active lead paste chemistry.

This makes these kinds of batteries a great compromise. For example, they are able to handle deep discharges that would destroy a regular starting battery.

Because these batteries come with less storage capacity, it is best to use them for specific applications. These applications include boats with one battery bank, sailboards with identical batteries used for house electrical loads and starting, and small powerboats.

Flooded Batteries

Unlike other kinds of batteries, flooded batteries utilize a reservoir of liquid sulfuric acide. This creates oxygen and hydrogen when the battery is charging.

There are also vented wet cells that let the gasses out into the atmosphere. Battery compartments and boxes need to be vented to the gas safely out because hydrogen is a very explosive gas.

A flooded battery needs to be inspected periodically. The cells need to be doused with distilled water when levels are low.

Flooded batteries aren’t sealed and they let excess hydrogen out. This means that they are able to handle overcharging better than other kinds of batteries.

Wet cells need to be installed in an upright position. They aren’t able to handle high levels of vibration. The upfront cost of these batteries is lower than batteries of similar sizes and they cost a lot less than newer lithium batteries.

When a wet cell deep-cycled battery is properly maintained and charged, it is able to last for several hundred charging cycles.

Gel Batteries

An SVR (sealed, valve-regulated) gel battery will give you several benefits that are not offered by standard flooded batteries.

First off, these batteries self-discharge at only three percent each much. They also handle the highest amount of charge cycles in a lifetime. These batteries are also leakproof, submersible, spill-proof, and don’t need maintenance.

A pressure release valve is able to keep the internal pressure at a positive level but can expel excess pressure when needed. Thanks to the SVR design, gassing is nearly eliminated

These batteries are safer to install around sensitive electronics and people. Because they are sealed, gel batteries are made with very high standards. These devices need to be properly charged so they are not damaged.

The Importance of Knowing About Batteries for Boats

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now understand how to make the right choice when it comes to batteries for boats. As we can see, there are many different types of batteries out there. By understanding what your budget is, and what you want out of your battery, you will be able to buy the right one for your boat.

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