Batteries are essential in our lives and will always play an important role in everything from everyday life to commercial use. However, not all batteries have the same purpose, and there are many differences between deep cycle batteries and regular batteries. Below we will introduce you to the differences between deep cycle batteries and regular batteries and related issues.

1. What are the difference between normal batteries and deep cycle batteries?

Difference in internal design.

Deep cycle has thicker plates and diaphragms with denser active materials. The thicker metal plates give deep cycle batteries many properties that regular batteries do not have. Ordinary batteries have thinner metal elements, but the cell area will be larger, giving ordinary batteries a shorter burst time.

Difference in Discharge Level.

Deep cycle batteries can run until they are completely drained, and the user then connects it to a power source to recharge it, which has little effect on the life of the deep cycle battery. However, ordinary batteries can only be discharged at 30% each time, and if the ordinary battery is over-discharged, it will also affect its service life.

Difference in the current of power generation.

the current of deep cycle battery is consistently lower but more stable, this current is not enough to provide power for the car, not as a starter battery for the car. Ordinary batteries have a short burst of current, in a short period of time, it can produce a large amount of energy, and can be used as a starting power source for automobiles.

Difference in materials used.

deep cycle batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) or lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) chemistry. Ordinary batteries generally use a dilute solution of sulfuric acid or lithium cobaltate with graphite as the electrode material and an organic solvent or solid material as the electrolyte, which consists of lead and lead oxide.

Difference in service life.

Deep cycle batteries can be charged and discharged up to 2000 times or more, with a service life of 4 to 8 years. If the deep cycle battery is recharged at 30% of the remaining battery capacity as ordinary batteries, the service life can be extended. Ordinary batteries can be charged and discharged more than 200 times and have a service life of 3 to 6 years.

Difference in use.

Deep cycle batteries have a wide range of uses, for example, they can be used in solar or wind power off-grid systems, electric vehicles, cathodic protection, recreational fishing boats, Golf carts, etc., but they can’t be used as starter batteries for automobiles. Ordinary batteries can be used in almost all kinds of electrical appliances, generally our daily equipment or commercial equipment can use ordinary batteries.

Difference in Maintenance.

Ordinary batteries should be used in a ventilated and dry environment, and the batteries should be cleaned regularly. In addition to the points mentioned above, deep cycle batteries should be cycled many times before they reach their maximum capacity, usually 25 to 100 times, depending on the type of deep cycle batteries.

Different CCA (Cold Cranking Current) of Batteries

The CCA of a normal battery is twice as high as that of a deep cycle battery, mainly due to the difference in design between the two.

Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide stable power for a long period of time, and are ideal for applications that require constant energy for a long period of time. Deep cycle batteries have thicker lead plates and a sturdy structure that allows them to be charged and discharged repeatedly. Regular lead-acid batteries are primarily designed to provide short, intense bursts of energy to quickly start a vehicle’s engine, and are not suitable for prolonged discharging. (Note CCA releases the amount of current from a battery under low temperature conditions for 30 consecutive seconds before the voltage drops to the limit feed voltage).

Battery RC (reserve capacity) is different

The reserve capacity of a deep cycle battery is 2 to 3 times higher than that of an ordinary lead-acid battery, which means that a deep cycle battery is able to provide longer lasting energy. (RC is the number of minutes a battery can produce 25 amps of current and a minimum voltage of 10.5)

Differences in Charging

Deep cycle batteries require users to charge the batteries regularly. Normal lead-acid batteries are mainly used in automobiles and do not require users to manually charge the batteries, they just need to avoid not depleting the batteries when they are not starting the vehicle, and start the vehicle normally when they start it.

Differences in the cost of use

Traditional lead-acid batteries are cheaper due to the mature development of the technology, and the cost of using deep cycle batteries is higher than that of ordinary lead-acid batteries.

2. Characteristics of deep cycle batteries

Deep discharge

Deep cycle batteries can be easily discharged to more than 90% of their capacity, and deep cycle batteries will not affect the battery itself due to over-discharge.

High capacity

Deep cycle batteries have unique components that can store more power inside the battery than ordinary batteries, which means deep cycle batteries can release more energy and run longer.

Stable discharge

Deep cycle batteries use different materials than ordinary batteries. Lithium iron phosphate or lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide allows deep cycle batteries to discharge steadily for long periods of time.

Summary

Power usage has strict requirements for batteries. Deep cycle batteries are suitable for applications that require a stable power supply. Ordinary batteries with very short burst times are used as a power source for starting vehicles.