Different Types Of Batteries For Leisure Pursuits

Leisure batteries are those batteries you have in your camper or on board your boat for running various electrical appliances

. They are also called marine batteries and are used to store electricity which is then used over periods of time to run the various appliances and equipment you have when the engine is not running.

These batteries are specifically made for this type of use and are constructed differently than the batteries used for starting the engine. They have thicker plates and are made so that they can withstand regular charge and discharge cycles. They are meant to be discharged safely to about 50% of their capacity without damage.

In general though, you are better off using a deep discharge battery rather than the standard leisure batteries. These can be discharged to 80%, which in the end means you get more for your money.

There are basically three types of batteries available in this area:

The Wet Cell

Wet Cells are the most common type of battery and have been made the same way for more than a hundred years.

The advantages of these batteries are that they are inexpensive to manufacture, they can withstand overcharging and are more forgiving than the other types of batteries. On the downside they require regular maintenance, water in the electrolyte evaporates on charging and needs to be topped up, and also they give off hydrogen gas when being charged and therefore need a well ventilated place for their storage. Also one has to be careful with them since they are not spill proof and there is always a chance of spilling the electrolyte.

Gel Batteries

Gel batteries' electrolytes are in gel form and the batteries are sealed. This means that there is no chance that the electrolyte will spill out should the battery tip over. They are made to be maintenance free and do not require the same amount of care that wet cell batteries do. Another advantage of gel batteries is that they can be placed in any position since they are sealed and don't leak.

On the downside, these batteries need to be charged on a low voltage and require a longer time to recharge. Also overcharging these batteries damages them. They are not as forgiving as wet cell batteries and cost a fair bit more. They also require a bespoke charger which has a different charging profile. Unlike other deep cycle batteries that can be discharged to 80%, deep cycle gel batteries can only be discharged to 60%. Standard leisure gel batteries can only be discharged to about 45%.

AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat

AMG (Absorbed glass mat) batteries have the electrolyte absorbed in glass mats, so they too have the advantage of being spill proof even in cases when the cases crack or break. They are sealed, maintenance free batteries and can be placed in any position. These batteries can stand a quick charge without getting hot. This type of battery is made for regular charge and discharge cycles and they do have a long life.

On the down side AGM batteries are very expensive compared to the other types of batteries. They also need to be recharged to 100% of their capacity every time or their life span will tend to be lessened. They require a charger similar to a gel battery charger, as using a deep cycle charger would cause excessive heat and dry them out. Their discharge rate is the same as for gel batteries.

As you can see each of these types of batteries has advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice will differ depending on how and when you will use the battery. It is often worth getting the advice of a leisure battery expert to help you make the right decision when choosing.

by: Claire L Taylor

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