
- #Deep cycle battery box install#
- #Deep cycle battery box full#
However, AGM batteries have a much better energy density (the amount of energy stored in a given volume) than gel cells, and gel cells require much slower charging than AGM batteries, two important drawbacks. Small gel cells are commonly used in power wheelchairs and electric scooters. Since the electrolyte is gelled, these batteries are not prone to spills, can be mounted in any orientation, and are sealed so they can be used in areas without much ventilation, since they don't off-gas. Gel-cell batteries were created to try and circumvent some of the flooded battery problems.
#Deep cycle battery box install#
But they are not ideal for use in an RV battery bank, and you need to follow the rules - you'll need to install them in an accessible battery box so you can water them regularly, but the battery box needs to be sealed off from the interior of your RV and vented to the outside because of the poisonous gases that can be generated.
#Deep cycle battery box full#
On the other side of the charging spectrum, inadequate charging has the temporary effect of not bringing the battery up to a full state-of-charge, and prolonged inadequate charging can also lead to acid stratification, where there is a layer of denser electrolyte and layers of very diluted electrolyte.įlooded lead-acid batteries have been around for so long because they have many advantages: they have the lowest up-front cost, they are available everywhere, they're suitable for a wide range of uses, and they're a well-known type which everyone is familiar with. If this maintenance isn't performed, electrolyte levels can get low enough to expose the plates, causing irreversible damage. Even during regular charging, there is some off-gassing that happens, which is why lead-acid batteries need regular top-ups with distilled water. Regular charging for a lead-acid battery ideally involves multiple stages of charging, usually a bulk charge, an absorption or "topping" charge, and then a float charge to maintain a fully-charged battery. Overcharging via an equalization charge is sometimes used to restore inadequately-charged flooded lead-acid batteries to a properly-functioning state. Overcharging the battery with a high voltage produces electrolysis, which decomposes the water into its primary components of hydrogen and oxygen gas (this is what is known as " off-gassing". Overcharging/regular charging/undercharging all have effects, as follows: As the battery discharges, both types of plates become lead sulfate (undergoing the process described as " sulfation") and the electrolyte loses much of its sulfuric acid and changes to water. When fully charged, the negative plates are lead-antimony, and the positive plates are lead dioxide, with the electrolyte being concentrated sulfuric acid. The flooded lead-acid battery is constructed of lead "plates" or "grids" in a container, called "flooded" because the plates are immersed in a liquid electrolyte. Let's go into a little more detail about the construction of each type of battery. Modern deep-cycle batteries can be classified into four categories: Here's a video link that shows the great quality of these batteries - notice the large wire gauges used, the sturdiness of the box, the solidity of the physical pack design, the BMS physically separated from the battery cells, the solid copper bus bars, these are a quality battery.ĭoes everyone need lithium batteries? No - if you are not using any really power-hungry appliances in your RV and thus don't require a very rapid charge rate, you don't need lithium batteries, other types of deep-cycle batteries may work just fine for you. That is typically five times faster than most AGM batteries, the next most advanced battery type. The key advantage of lithium batteries is their ability to accept extremely rapid charge rates - for instance the Battle Born lithium batteries we sell can be charged at a 1C rate, meaning at 100A for the 12V 100AH battery. Lithium! If you are using power-hungry appliances like the ones listed above, you need to get a lot of power out of your batteries quickly, and then recharge them as quickly as you can. What are deep-cycle batteries? These are batteries whose design is optimized for regular deep discharges of power, perhaps even at very rapid rates by power-hungry appliances like induction cooktops, microwave ovens, RV air conditioners and RV refrigerators. These batteries will provide the dependable power you need under any conditions, something you'll be grateful for at the end of a long road in the middle of nowhere.
For an RV, it's essential to have proper deep-cycle batteries for your battery bank.