If you depend on solar energy to power your appliances at home, it will be best to consider investing in solar batteries. That’s because they offer reliable energy under any condition. Several factors can help you determine the best batteries to use in your solar unit. But the best battery options are the ones you can recharge quickly and have reasonable discharge rates and high capacity. With so many battery options in the market, deep cycle batteries can help you achieve these traits. So what are deep cycle batteries, and how many types are there to explore?
What are Deep Cycle Batteries?
Deep cycle batteries look similar to regular batteries. But the two differ to a great extent. The deep cycle battery is designed to deliver steady energy over a long duration. You can use this kind of battery until it gets discharged completely. Deep cycle batteries are types of batteries able to accommodate a high DoD (Depth of Discharge). They can produce high amounts of electricity they store compared with their storage capacity. These batteries are cheap to maintain and carry a much longer lifespan.
Types of Deep Cycle Batteries
Deep cycle batteries are available in different types. While all the styles have a similar function, they have features that make them different from one another. For instance, each is made using materials that make them vary.
1. Lithium-Ion
People anticipate that lithium ion batteries will take the world by storm in the future. That’s because you can discharge them deeply without striking their lifespan. They charge faster than any other battery type and don’t require maintenance.
These batteries carry a higher upfront price, so their popularity is not soaring as you may expect. But their ability to last longer than the lead-acid batteries makes them cost-effective in the long run.
Even when operating these batteries in a partial charge condition, they cannot get damaged. These batteries are lightweight and offer more energy through the entire discharge series.
2. Flooded Lead Acid
When making these deep cycle batteries, their manufacturers submerge lead plates in an electrolyte combination of water and sulfur acid. During these batteries’ charging and discharging process, the chemical reaction produces gases that the batteries vent.
Charging flooded lead-acid batteries involves several stages, which help to leave room for overcharging and undercharging. These batteries are affordable and reliable but tolerant of overcharging. Because these batteries can easily overcharge, they require proper ventilation. That means you must place them upward when charging to prevent them from leaking electrolytes. Another downside of these batteries is that they have a shorter lifespan and require the most maintenance than other deep cycle battery types.
3. Sealed Lead Acid
Sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries have plates that help generate electricity. They are similar to high-rate batteries, which have several thin plates allowing room for more surface area to generate energy quickly. The only difference between SLA and high-rate batteries is that the former has thicker plates. There are two categories of SLA batteries:
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Absorbent Glass Mat
Absorbent Glass Mat batteries have fiberglass mats between the batteries’ lead plates. The role of the fiberglass in these batteries is to absorb electrolytes to prevent them from spilling. The battery’s part also acts as the damper between the plates.
There are several benefits to using the AGM battery, such as it’s durable and requires less maintenance. On the downside, these batteries are sensitive to overcharging, so you must use a regulated charger.
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Deep Cycle Gel
Deep cycle gel battery relies on a substance to turn the electrolyte acid into a compact gel, making it not spill-able. The gel battery has an excellent heat distribution capacity than its counterpart AGM battery.
Deep Cycle Batteries—the Perfect Option for Most Activities that Function with the Aid of Power Energy
While you cannot use deep cycle batteries to start internal combustion engines, they are an excellent choice for RV batteries, battery banks for solar panel units, and more. But despite what you want to use your deep cycle battery for, ensure that you invest in the right type, which will run your appliances worry-free and last for years with little or no maintenance. It’s also essential to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using these batteries since poor usage can result in an explosion.
