1. Lifespan of marine batteries

Different types of marine batteries generally have different functions and different service lives. The lifespan of deep cycle battery is generally 4~6 years, the starting battery is only applicable to make the engine running, the lifespan is generally longer than the deep cycle battery, which can reach more than 5 years, and the lifespan of dual-purpose battery is about 5 years. But the specific lifespan of the battery is closely related to the maintenance of the battery, the way of use, the storage environment.

2. Factors affecting the lifespan of marine batteries

2.1 Battery quality: as we all know, the better the quality of the battery, in terms of performance, life and other aspects are better, but the cost is also higher;

2.2 Environmental temperature: both cold weather and hot weather will have an impact on the life of the battery. In cold weather, for every 1°C drop in temperature, the capacity of the battery drops by about 0.8%, and also when the battery’s charging speed slows down. Higher temperatures, the chemical reaction inside the battery will accelerate, causing internal chemical reaction disorders, shortening the lifespan of the battery;

2.3 Discharge depth: batteries have a maximum discharge depth, the maximum discharge depth of lead-acid batteries is about 50%, lithium batteries discharge depth of 80%, if more than this value, it will have a great impact on the battery;

2.4 Charging method: first of all, you have to choose a suitable charger, and secondly, if you use constant current charging or constant voltage charging, it may increase the energy consumption and the loss of active material in the late charging period, which has a big impact on the battery. Therefore, you can choose to use constant-current constant-voltage charging or step constant-current charging method, both of them have lower damage to the battery.

2.5 Battery condition: If the terminals of the battery are corroded or the connectors are loose, not repairing them for a long time will lead to battery damage.

3. How to extend the lifespan of marine batteries?

3.1 Driving ships on the ocean, the battery is often in this salt water environment, cables, terminals are easily corroded, and should be cleaned regularly to prevent the battery from being affected;

3.2 Check the battery voltage regularly. When the battery voltage is too low will make the ship can not start, long-term this will also shorten the battery life;

3.3 If the battery is drained, the damage to the battery is also great. Therefore, you should regularly check the battery and charge it, taking care to also use a suitable charger.

3.4 Avoid using the battery in wintertime to prevent the low temperature from shortening the life of the battery by causing conditions such as freezing or reduced capacity.

3.5 When storing the batteries, pay attention to the regular inspection and maintenance of the battery, but also to store the battery in a cool and dry place, avoid contact with high temperature.

4. When do I need to replace the marine battery?

4.1 The engine does not start when starting the boat or the boat runs too slowly, both of which may be due to a faulty battery, and you need to consider whether you need to replace the battery;

4.2 Observe the outside of the battery, when the battery is swollen, leaking, etc. you need to replace the battery to avoid safety problems;

4.3 If your battery does not have any malfunction, but when you are using the ship, some electrical equipment is not running stably, for example, when there are dim lights, running time is not long, etc., it is a good indication that your battery has been in use for too long, and you should replace it;

4.4 When you find that your battery takes a long time to charge before it is full and drains quickly, it may need to be replaced.