Passionate auto fans strive to buy the best deep cycle battery charger for their vehicles. This task proves tricky due to a vast assortment available on today’s market. Profound research is needed to choose the most suitable model.
Start your research with this article. It will give you the idea of what a deep cycle battery is and what chargers suit it.
Peculiarities of deep cycle batteries
Even though regular starters are more common, deep cycle units are also very popular. Apart from cars, they supply energy to boats, different motorized means of transportation, domestic appliances, energy storage devices, and much more.
What differs these devices from starters? First of all, the fact that they are not designed to start vehicles. Of course, in case of an acute need, such usage is quite possible. But due to the low current, you will have to buy a very large unit to cover the cranking needs of your engine.
At the same time, deep cycle devices have one big advantage: you can almost completely discharge them, and this will bring no harm. Starter models, on their part, deliver short, powerful bursts of energy and lose a small part of their charge by the end of a session.
The rule of thumb is spending 45-75% of the deep cycle unit’s energy. Such exploitation ensures a longer life cycle. If there is a force majeure and you need 80% of battery’s capacity, you quite can afford it. Just do not turn this practice into a habit. To get more specific instructions, study the guidelines from a device’s manufacturer.
Your user manual is likely to include the recommendation to buy a special charger. Most models for deep cycle batteries can stay plugged in a power grid around the clock since they are protected from overcharging. So you will not have to control the charging process.
Options to choose from
There are two categories with two subcategories each.
FLA (flooded)
- flat-plated Opzs
- tubular-plated Opzs
VRLA (valve-regulated lead-acid)
- gel
- AGM (absorbed glass mat)
All they have thick plates and separators as well as a high-density active paste. Their alloys have high antimony, in comparison with starters. Such structure prevents corrosion that is usually caused by rapid current boosts.
Helpful charging tips
So, you have a suitable device. It is time to learn how to exploit it correctly. A scheme applied to regular starters will not work in this case.
First of all, you have to moist your battery with water. Better do it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A charging session should last 10-20 hours in order not to overload the plate and let the acid get deeper into it. 70 F is the most suitable temperature.
Keep in mind that an energy carrier loses up to 15% of its charge monthly when stored. If an energy level falls below 80%, lead sulfation starts. Therefore, you should recharge your device periodically.
