To keep the vehicle up for moving, a reliable battery is required and to make that battery well fed the best deep cycle battery charger comes in handy. When thinking of such devices, lead-acid products are the first thing popping into a head.

Certainly, it’s the oldest tech that allows feeding the batteries again and again. It’s based on the lead plates and oxidizing agent that is placed in a toxic (sulfuric) environment. However, it’s affordable and still relevant to some modes of transport.

So, what is a deep cycle battery? It’s also a lead-acid modification in a plastic case, but it should be almost empty in order to use 100% of its capacity after the recover. So, in theory, it cannot be powered until it is 80% empty. However, the majority of the manufacturing companies advise not to exceed the threshold of 45% in order to make the unit last longer.

Unlike usual car batteries, deep cycle ones are developed to provide not a huge amount of current for a short period but a stable current over a long time. A top-quality unit can sustain about a hundred of total restore cycles.

Fields of Application

When thinking about “What are deep cycle batteries?”, one should understand where to use them. The array is rather wide because they’re helpful for any vehicle that needs quick start:

  • Boats and other marine vessels.
  • Recreational transport.
  • Golf carts.
  • Farming vehicles.
  • Off-grid renewable energy facilities (solar power apparatus).

At a glance, deep cycle battery definition is simple and has no essential difference with a common lead-acid product. However, it doesn’t include the opportunity to install those units in cars. It’s possible but one should consider the sufficient amperage capability to start the car and the availability of the room in the battery rack to put the battery there. Besides, a deep cycle product costs much more than the dedicated one.

Types of Products

There are sealed and flooded types on the market.

Sealed modification is twice as much as flooded one and its lifespan is a bit longer. They can be spilled and provoke other vehicle damages, but they’re indispensable if maintenance is impossible and ventilation is poor. Since it’s possible to mount them in any orientation, they’re used in off-grid locations mostly.

Flooded units are credible and cost-effective, but note that they require decent ventilation and a large battery bank. In addition, they need an upright placement because their cabinet is unsealed. Their spillage is impossible that’s why they’re completely safe for any application. Besides, they’re able to produce tons of energy, that’s why are desired for more demanding applications.

Anyway, one should abide by the rules of the deep cycle unit’s care. Try not to overpower it to avoid hydrogen releasing that can lead to an explosion. So, a good dedicated charger is required to provide safe powering. Certainly, it’s possible to use the newest lithium-ion product that lacks this issue. In addition, they’re lightweight and extremely durable due to their high resistance to vibrations, pressure and temperature rates. Nevertheless, they’re expensive to buy and replace.