When buying batteries, we will be exposed to battery-related descriptions, like deep cycle. So what are deep cycle batteries exactly?
Deep cycle batteries refer to batteries with a discharge depth higher than 80%, which is used to provide continuous power for a long time and operate reliably. Depth of Discharge(DOD) is the percentage of power taken from the battery to the rated capacity. It is worth noting that although deep cycle batteries can discharge up to 80%, most manufacturers recommend a discharge of no less than 45% to extend the life of the battery.
There are two popular battery types, regular battery and deep cycle battery. They may appear very similar. However, their internal design and functions are actually very different.
The difference between regular battery and deep cycle battery
The design of each battery is slightly different. The proportion and process of electrode, the kind and amount of electrolyte, which may affect the intensity of the current and the time it takes for the battery to run out.
Regular batteries, such as starter batteries, generate electricity in a short period of time. These electrical bursts are used to start engines. Many motors have an alternator and then will recharge the battery. The depth of discharge of the battery should not exceed 25%. To be specific, a starter battery discharges only a tiny percentage — usually 2% to 5% —each time when it is use. The function of the deep cycle battery is different. Electric bursts by regular car batteries are short. Deep cycle batteries produce continuous, low but stable power levels. This amount of power is sufficient to provide continuous power for the vehicle to travel.
The metal elements of deep cycle batteries are thicker than regular batteries’. A thicker metal plate allows the battery to discharge current more stably. Vehicle starter batteries have thinner panels and larger surface area. This helps them to generate a greater charge in a shorter period of time.
When to use deep cycle batteries
Deep cycle batteries provide continuous energy, making them ideal for certain applications that require more than a quick start. Some of the most common uses of deep cycle batteries include:
- Energy Storage Systems
- Marine applications
- Golf Cart
- Camping Car
- New energy vehicle
- RC Model
RacePow develops deep cycle lipo batteries for RC cars, airplanes, fpvs and agri drones.
Are lithium batteries deep cycle batteries?
The concept of lithium batteries was first proposed in the 1970s, and began to be widely adopted in the 1990s. All lithium batteries are deep cycle, which means that they have the ability to fully charge and discharge. If each discharge depth is limited to 80% of the rated capacity, the battery life will be significantly improved. As deep cycle batteries similarly, the cycle life of lithium batteries is significantly higher than that of lead acid batteries. When the ambient temperature increases, the difference further increases. The cycle life of each chemical substance can be improved by limiting the depth of discharge (DoD), discharge rate and temperature. But lead acid is generally more sensitive to these factors.