How to choose the right marine battery

09 Sep.,2024

 

How to choose the right marine battery

We all have serious need for electricity onboard and a good working marine battery is one of the most important crew members. It&#;s not encouraging, yet it&#;s a fact: batteries degrade over time. At some point, you shall be looking forward to buying a new one. It&#;s important that you choose the right battery for your boat. But &#; which is the right one? It&#;s very difficult to select as there are countless choices.

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What is the purpose of your battery?

Do you require a battery only for starting the boat or also for running the various power-hungry electronics onboard? Or perhaps both. According to the demand of usage, basically there are three types of marine batteries:

  • cranking battery
  • deep cycle battery
  • dual purpose battery

Other basic considerations before purchasing a new battery are:

  • battery capacity (Ah rating)
  • battery group, i. e. battery&#;s physical size (make sure the battery perfectly fits in the battery box)
  • weight (choose the battery with average weight to be able to move it in and out)
  • output (marine cranking amp rating, reserve capacity rating, cold cranking amp rating)
  • technology (flooded, gel, AGM, lithium-ion; gel and AGM are maintenance-free sealed batteries)
  • warranty

Check your owner&#;s manual for the recommended battery types and ratings. Substituting the recommended battery type for the other is generally not a good idea. Always choose along with the rating equal to or greater than the recommended value.

Cranking or starting marine battery

These types of batteries offer high bursts of power for short periods of time to kick over your engine and power your boat. The cranking battery sends power to the engine when the ignition switch is activated. Starting batteries are intended to put out a large amount of current for a short period of time.

A cranking battery has more number of lead plates that are thinner and with more surface area to provide the necessary power.

Power or deep cycle marine battery

If you are looking to power onboard electronics and accessories the deep cycle battery is what you&#;ll need. A deep cycle battery puts out a smaller amount of energy for a long period of time. It can handle long discharge cycles while the engine is off.

A deep cycle battery consists of fewer lead plates that are thicker to provide continuous power output over long periods of time.

Dual purpose or hybrid marine battery

It&#;s a hybrid battery that has been designed in a way it can be used as both cranking and deep cycle. Dual purpose batteries are sort of a blend of properties of the two. Like many 2-in-1 options, they do not always allow your boat to perform at the same level as two batteries would.

When purchasing a new battery, don&#;t forget to recycle your old one. Lead acid batteries can be safely completely recycled when done properly in the right facilities.

Battery monitor is your battery&#;s best friend

Marine batteries lead a pretty tough life and take more abuse than any other battery: pounding waves, seasonal use, long hours without recharge. Investing in a battery monitor solution like Simarine Pico to prolong your baterry&#;s lifespan just makes sense.

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Thousands of batteries are either chronically under-charged or chronically over-charged which makes them kaput. Using Simarine battery monitoring solutions you can:

  • measure input and output currents
  • know the batteries&#; voltages, charged and empty
  • know the batteries&#; temperature.

Information is golden and there is never too much info about your battery. Still, if you find that you are replacing your batteries more frequently than you should be, check and upgrade your electrical system.

Marine Battery Buying Guide

There's no better way to enjoy the summer than by taking your boat out for a spin, but before you hit the water, you'll want to make sure you have the right battery on hand for your boat. Whether it's your first time shopping or you're buying a replacement, Menards® offers the right marine battery to fit your needs. This buying guide will take out the guesswork so you can spend less time shopping and more time out on the water!

There's no better way to enjoy the summer than by taking your boat out for a spin, but before you hit the water, you'll want to make sure you have the right battery on hand for your boat. Whether it's your first time shopping or you're buying a replacement, Menards® offers the right marine battery to fit your needs. This buying guide will take out the guesswork so you can spend less time shopping and more time out on the water!

Choosing a Marine Battery for Your Boat

Battery Ratings

Batteries are rated in three different ways: their ampere hour rating, reserve capacity, and marine cranking amps. When shopping for a deep cycle battery, you'll want to pay the most attention to the ampere hour rating and reserve capacity. For starting batteries, focus primarily on the marine cranking amps. Consult all three rankings when searching for a dual purpose battery.

Ampere Hour Rating (Reference Rating)

A marine battery typically features an ampere hour rating (sometimes called the reference rating), which refers to the number of amps it can provide over the course of 20 hours. A higher number equals more power, but it also typically means a higher cost.

In order to purchase the right deep cycle or dual purpose battery, you'll need to determine how much power your boat and equipment need (the ampere hour draw). The graph to the right lists many common devices used on boats. Keep in mind that some of the items will not be used continuously (fish finder, refrigerator, stereo, etc.), and thus will only draw amps when they are turned on. To calculate your boat's amp power draw, find the items you plan on using. Add up the total amps used and multiply the number by 20. This will show how many amps your boat uses in 20 hours.

For example, let's say that you have an autopilot (5), fish finder (1), and live well pump (7), and you plan on using these items continuously. Add up the amps (5 + 1 + 7) to get a total of 13.

Next, multiply this number by 20 to determine the amp power rating (13 x 20 = 260).

This means you'll need to find a battery with a 260 power amp rating. However, it's advised to buy a battery that's at least 20% over the recommended rating to accommodate for increased use and decreased capacity with age (260 x 1.2 = 312).

Reserve Capacity (RC)

Reserve Capacity (RC) is the time in minutes that a battery will deliver 25 amperes at 80° Fahrenheit. If the alternator or generator were to fail, this is the amount of time the battery would continue to operate essential accessories.

The higher a battery's RC, the longer it will run. If you need to run several accessories, you'll want to choose a battery with a large enough reserve.

Marine Cranking Amps (MCA)

The Marine Cranking Amps (MCA) rating refers to the number of amps a battery can deliver at 32° Fahrenheit for 30 seconds while maintaining a minimum voltage of 1.2 volts per cell.

You may also see a similar measure on some marine batteries: Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). This is nearly the same as MCA, but instead refers to a battery's starting power at 0° Fahrenheit.

When choosing a starting battery, check the cranking requirements of your boat's motor. It's recommended to choose a battery that exceeds the recommended power for your engine.

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