RV And Marine Batteries

Perhaps the most costly and intimidating part of most solar systems are the banks of RV and Marine batteries that many people employ to store charge. This is an absolute requirement for portable systems such as those found on recreational vehicles (RVs) and boats. While typical RV batteries are extensively used with terrestrial solar kits, marine batteries are more commonly found because they have always been made as deep cycle devices.

However, you can find deep cycle RV batteries that provide the type discharge pattern that is needed for marine and RV solar system use. Deep cycle marine batteries come in several forms that involve the use of lead. The flooded acid type may require some maintenance, whereas the gelled acid is typically sealed. Sonnenchein makes sealed marine batteries that are popular very popular with solar applications. Advanced or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) marine batteries can be coiled into various shapes to avoid damage. While very stable, they are also rather expensive.

Physically, deep cycle batteries differ by having thicker plates that can be fully discharged to keep the batteries able to properly process a solar trickle charge without running the batteries capability down. Be sure you get the right type. For instance, Interstate makes marine batteries in both deep-cycle and cranking types for engine starting and everything else. Most solar systems use both: one to be solely charged by the sun and one to be supplemented with both solar energy and an alternator.

The battery you choose should be vibration resistant if you want them to charge properly over their entire useful life. Cheap marine batteries may not be soldered together to last. Each individual cell of the battery has a soldered connection to several different cells that should be specially fortified to resist forming cracks that can cut one of more of the cells off from the “charging end” of the circuit. The deep cycle Optima batteries for marine use are sold as being particularly resistant to vibrational damage. Optima RV batteries are made according to slightly different specs, so they deliver more starts per charge.

It’s sometimes good to check the RV batteries forums online to read up on other’s experiences actually using various marine batteries before you make a purchase decision. Everstart marine batteries (such as those made by the Delphi or Exide marine batteries company) are one type very commonly discussed, probably because there are a lot of them on the market as a consequence of being sold at Wal-Mart – the store that doubles as an RV parking lot in North America.

Because Delco batteries are the default batteries in many machines, many people overlook the benefits of the company’s higher-end offerings, such as Delco’s Voyager series marine batteries that include terminals that you can actually charge your car with, if need be.