View Full Version : Starting battery - deep cycle or no?
mkwerx
06-25-2009, 10:14 AM
We've always used a standard heavy duty cranking battery, the same kind you'd use in a car or truck for the engine, and run things like the depth finder, lights, and electric trolling motor off a separate deep cycle battery. I've had this discussion with others before who insist upon using deep cycle batteries for everything.
What kind of setup are you using and why?
BassinFever
06-25-2009, 11:02 AM
I have had a lot of boats over the years and have used car batteries for the starting batery in all but the the one I have now without any probelms. The only reason I have heard about using auto batties is that because of the beating batteries get in boats that a marine starting battery is built to take the pounding?????????? As far as the pounding, I don't see that a boat battery gets that much of a pounding being that it is usually in the back of the boat! They do get moved around more than a car battery, I suppose, but I feel like my Truck battery when 4 wheeling gets a harder workout than my boat battery ever does!
No need for a deep cycle if your charging system is working like it should!
JMHO!!!!!
Slow Drag-on
06-25-2009, 03:29 PM
:yeahthat:
Really, it does not matter anymore most often times.Deep Cycle batteries are designed to be discharged down as much as 80% over and over again. Deep cycle batteries have less "instant" power like starting batteries need (it is due to the type and number of plates used in the battery). Usually you would get a battery rated for 20-25% of the cold cranking amps for you motor (for that extra juice!). Get deep cycle, they last longer when being being discharged and charged time and time again.
That said, all you need is an ACR (auto charging relay), and the choice of which batteries gets harder - now you can use whatever you want, because they will all be fully charged, as necessary by an auto voltage sensing unit, all the time. It also isolates the batteries so you cannot ever drain your starting battery down.
If you want to know more, feel free to call, it is free too!