Table of Gontents An Introduction to Marine/RV Deep-Cycle . Batteries.
2
Deep-CycleBatteries..
2
.. 2 Sealed Lead-Acid Lead-Acid vs.Flooded Deep-Clcle Batteries. . 2 Sealed Lead-Acid ProperDeep-Cycle Application
3
WhatlsaCycle?...
3
TJpesofCycles Cycle[ife.
......4 4
Determining Battery Depthof Discharge/State of Charge. . . .5 Ratingsand Specifications ...... 6 BatteryCharging
7
TheInterstate Batteries C y c l i nLgi n e u p
.......8
WhatMakesa Deep-Cycle BatteryDistinctive?.
.......8
General ChargerInformation.
l0
TrickleCharging
l0
FAQs
II
Interstate's Marine/Rv Starting Batteries
17
TpicalApplications .
l7
An Intrcduction to Marine/RV Deep-Gycle Batteries Therearemanymisunderstandings regarding Marine/RV deep-cycle batteries. Thisbookletis designed to clariffterminology andmisconceptionsandto assistyou,thecustomer, in l. makingan informed decision regarding pr0perusage, 2. extending overallbatteryservicelife,and 3.maintaining performance battery at optimum levels.
Deep-Cycle Batteries Theterm"deepcycle"refers,in general, to a batterythathasthecapability of deeply discharging hundreds of times.Deep-cycle batteries areeitherliquidelectrolyte or sealed leadacid.Howdotheydifferfromother batteries? Anautomotive startingbattery is manufactured specifically to providea quickburstof energythousands of timesin its lifetime,whileonlybeingableto deeply discharge lessthan50cyclesduringits life.
. Seafed Lead.Acid Versus Flooded Lead.Acid Marine/RV deep-cycle batteriesareavailable in twodifferentlead-acid types. A flooded or liquidelectrolyte batteryhasventcapsto allow maintenance, anda sealed lead-acid batteryis completely sealed or maintenance-free. Each is available in common batterygroupsizesand hassimilarratings(CCA,RC,andAh).The SL{ batteryis usedwherethebatteryor battery bankis noteasilyaccessible. Maintenance on theflooded batteryincludes checking electrolyte andaddingdistilledwater.
AGMandGelbatteries arecompletely sealed soabsolutely N0 corrosion occurs.Whileboth AGMandGelWpesarelead-acid batteries, neitherwill expelexternalgasses, suchas hydrogen andoxygenduringrecharge. They gasses combine internally. NotethatAGMtechnology hasadvanced in recentyearsandis nowavailable in Marine/RV deep-cycle andautomotive startingbatteries. Important: Please remember, bothAGMandGel batteries shouldberecharged with a charger thatis specifically designed for SI^,A batteries. WhenAGMor Gelbatteries areusedto replace liquidelectrolyte batteries, alwayscheckwith thevehicleor batterymanufacturer for informationaboutcharging requirements.
Proper Deep.Cycle Application A Marine/RV deep-cycle batterycanbeusefor variousapplications including boats, motorhomes, sailboats, traveltrailers,tentcampers, etc.Anytime anapplication indicates a needforbatteries that canproviderepeated youneed deepdischarye, Marine/RV deepcycle batteries.
What Is a Cycle? A cyclerefersto one batterydischarge and recharge ofanydepth(SeeFigurel). The amountof batterydischarge (in percent)comparedto its full capacity determines theneed for a shallow, moderate or deepcycle.Thisis appropriately calledbatterydepthof discharge (DOD)andis measured in percentages.
DepGllcle Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries fSl,A,
Interstate offersa wideselection of Sealed (StA)batteries Lead-Acid for Marine/Rv use,including bothGelCellandAbsorbed GlassMat(AGM)types.Because theydonot requiremaintenance, prefer manyconsumers them.And,for applications with hard-to-reach batteries, SLAbatteries areideal.
FIGURE1
3
Forexample,400/o DODindicates thata battery hasbeendischarged by40%o of its totalcapacity andhasa 600/o stateof chargeremaining. CYCLESTO 50% CAPAC|TY
Dfpes ol Cycfes
TherearethreeprimaryWpesof battery discharge cycles: shallow,moderateanddeep. Thesetermshelpus understand thetypeof cyclingthatbatteries experience. Toclariff,let's takea lookat all threetypes.Shallowcycles occurwhenonlya smallpercentage of thetotal batterycapacity is discharged. Following that
re
, tt,,,ffi 100 a! 89'F (cycleshatvedper 18'F rise). [Rical perf.ormance Dischargedto 1.75volts/cell.End of life at 50o/o capacity. F I G U R E3
Therefore, to optimizeperformance of a Marine/RV deep-cycle batteryit is recommended thatthe consistent discharge levelnotfallbelow50%. Remembel manyotherfactorsaffectbatterycycle life.If thebatteryis operating in a highheat (consistently environment above 90'F),thetypical numberof cycles couldbedrastically reduced.
FIGURE2
sameline of thought,moderateordeepcycles aredischarged bya higherpercentage of the (SeeFigure2). battery's totalcapacity
Cycle LiJe How many cycles should a Marine/ RV deep-cycle battery produce in its life? Batterycyclelife is difficultto calculate andis dependent onmultiple variables, including batterymaintenance, properrecharge, battery depthof discharge, batterytemperature, cycling use,vibration, andoverallcareandconsideration. Oneof themoreimportant factorsis thebattery's (DOD)levelpercycle. depthof discharge Asthe amountof DODis increased percycle,thereis a resultingdecrease in theamountof totalcycle performance life andavailable retention(See Figure3).If, forexample, a batteryis discharged consistently to 100% DOD(considering allother variables areconsistent), thebattery's totalcycle life canbereduced to muchlessthanone-half of a batterydischarged to only50%0. 4
VOLTAGE
12.75:
SPECtFtC GRAVITY
STATEOF CHARGE
DEPTHOF DISCHARGE
Iff''A rc
,,l?.f l|ffi,,ffi:f, ffi ,tz.z?,#Fffi,,-sof, Fffi tlrT,HF[',,.f,T,,, Tffi 1.1.T UFre FIF,,,,,gv.,, Det ermini nJ'lIrL o Depth
of Discharge/State oi Charge
BatteryDOD(in percent)is theopposite of batterystateof charge.Forexample, if the batteryhasa 70%stateof charge, thedepthof discharge is 30%sincethetotalmustbe 100% (SeeFigure4). Themostefficientmeansof determining thebattery's stateof charge/depth of discharge on removable-fi ller-cap batteries is byusinga hydrometer. Onmainience-free batteries, anaccurate digitalvoltmeter is the bestmethod.
Surface Gharge Surface charge,in generalterms,refersto an inflatedchargelevelimmediately afterthe batteryhasbeencharged. Surfacechargeaffects a voltmetertestof the battery'sstate-of-charge levelmorethana hydrometer test.Asan example, evenhoursaftera charge,testingthe batteryvoltage volts andreading12.66-12.75 maynotbea trueindicatorthatthebattery is fullycharged. Toremovebatterysurface charge, applya loadto thebatteryfor a period of time.Forexample, apply10-15ampsfor two to threeminutes,thenallowthebatteryto sit for oneminutebeforeretesting.
Reserve Gapacity (RCl RCis the amountof timea batterycandeliver25amps at 80"F(26.7"C) withoutfallingbelow1.75 voltspercell(10.5voltson a l2-voltbattery).
sAMPS
lOAMPS 15AMPS 20AMPS 25AMPS
Ratings and Specilications Marine/RV deep-cycle batterieshaverating specifications thatincludecoldcrankingamps (CCA),marinecrankingamps(MCA),reserye (RC)andamperehours(Ah).RC capacity Ahratingsmaynotbelisted andapproximate on the batterydecal.However, theyareavailBatteries ablethroughyourlocalInterstate Distributor. Unlessspecified, theAh ratingsare basedon a 20-hourdischarge. Gold Granking Amps ICCAI CCAis theamountof current(amps)a batteryat 0'F (-17.8'C)candeliverfor 30seconds while maintaining at least1.2voltspercell(7.2volts for a l2-voltbattery). Marine Granking Amps (MCAI MCAis theamountof discharge currenta batterytestedat 32'F(0"C)candeliverfor 30 seconds andmaintainat least1.2voltspercell (7.2voltson a l2-voltbattery). ilote: InterstateBatteriesusesthe RC rating establishedby BatteryCouncil International(BCl). Somemanufacturers use a 15or 23-ampdischargerate rather than 25-ampdischarge.The lowerdischarge level allowsa higher numberof minutesto be displayed(on the battery label) which doesnot reflect the true RCminutesat a 25-ampdischarge.
6
FIGURE5
Ampere houns (Ahl testedat 80'EIt is theamountof current(in amps)thata battery candeliver, multiplied bytheamountof hours, withoutfallingbelow1.75voltspercell(10.5 voltsona l2-volt).MostMarine/RV deep-cycle batteriesareratedona 2O-hour rate. discharye Fxample: A l00Ahbatterycandeliverfiveampsfor 20hours(ampsx hours= Ah).
Battery Charging Utilizingthecorrectchargerandfollowing propercharging methods is oneof theprimary keysto enhancing batteryservicelife and performance. Alwayschoosea charger specifically designed to matchthecharging (voltage requirements andcunent)of the batteryor batterypack.If thechargerunit is an on-board chargerunit (i.e.,alternator, generator, converter), validateits compatibility andproperoperation beforeor immediately afterinstallation of a new battery.Neverallowa battery to become overcharged or overheated. If thebattery "hotto thetouch" becomes ontheoutside casing, immediately disconnect the chargerandallowthebattery to cooldownbeforecontinuing.
The Interstate Batteries Gycling Lineup Superior QuaIiJy Ptoduct Advantages: Automated post molding process produces consistent reliability. PATENTEDselenium alloy helps reduce corrosion penetration.
Improved 3/,t-inch (non-tapered) lugs enhance conductivity.
Computeroptimized Advanced Matrix Radial Gridsru meet today's heavy cycling demands.
NazSOradditive helps the battery accept a charge more effectively arid hold it longer.
"Best in Class" vents specifically designed to minimize maintenance. Extrusion-fusion intercell weld helps improve alignment.
Negative plate paste expander is extremely resistant to heat, resulting in a 16% increase in life cycles! PATENTEDround plate corners help reduce internal shorts. Microporous polyethylene envelope separators help maximize electrical performance.
What Makes Q Deep-C11cle
Battery Distinctive?
batteries Severalqualitiesseparate deep-cycle fromstartingtypes:thickerplates,denser platematerialanda specially activechemical gridalloy.Theseandotheradded formulated featuresallowthe InterstateMarine/Rv deep-cycle batteries to withstandthesevere, repeated stressdeepcyclingcreates. FIGURE6
I
General Gharger lnformation VariousWpesof chargers maybeusedon Marine/RVdeep-cycle batteries.Mostchargers, bothonboard andexternal, areparallel-type chargers thathavethecapacity of reducing or tapering thecurrent(in amps)while regulating voltage. Although almostanytypeof chargerwill recharge a Marine/RV deep-cycle batteryto performance somedegree, short-term andlongtermseruice life aredirectlyproportional to properrecharging. It is recommended thatyou: r Choose thecorrect charger thatmatches the typeofbatteryyou intendto recharge, i.e.,liquid electrolyte, Marine/RV, deepcycle, automotive, maintenance-free orAGM. o Matchtheproperbatteryvoltage (6-,l2-, 24-or 36-volt). r Choose thecorrectcharger sizein amps. A goodruleof thumb:A charger shouldprovide a maximumof20ampsforeach100Ahof thebattery. o Select a charger witha capacity sufficient to fullyrecharge thebatteries withineight to 12hours. . Foroptimumresults, choose a maintenancefreetypechargerthatis timedor automatically shutsoff whenthebatteryreaches a full state of charge. o Always readandfollowthecharger instruction manual'ssafetyand procedural
recommendations. Different manufacturers offer variousfeatures that mayinfluence chargingparameters. Gharging Tip: Do not delaychargingyour batteriesafter use.Rechargea$ soonas possibleafter one day'suse.Allowingthe battery to sit dischargedfor severaldaysmay hamperits rechargeacceptance and ultimately its performance.
Tlickle
Charging
Thetermtricklechargeris oftenusedto describe a low-current, inexpensive charger. Sometrickle-type chargers maylackthe
10
sophisticated electronic integrated circuitry to properly regulate currentand/orvoltage. A chargerthatlacksaccurate voltage/current regulation shouldnotbeusedforprolonged batterycharging, or damage couldoccur. Somechargers havemanualtimersto allow a batterychargeto besetfor a fewminutes up to several hours.Alwaysmonitor a battery during charge,whetherit is on an automaticor manualsetting.
Frequently Asked Questions L How important is an Ah rating? TheAhratingis important whendetermining thetypeandamountof batteryor batteries required to meetyourspecific component loads. Thebattery's RCratingis in direct correlation withAh.Anapproximate Ah rating canbeattainedbymultiplying thebattery's RC ratingby0.6.Example: 180RCx 0.6= 108Ah. 2. Should I completely discharge a deep-cycle battery the first few times I use it? No!A Marine/RV deepcyclebatterydoesnotrequirea complete dischargeat anytimein its servicelife.In fact,for bestresults,it is recommended to shallowor moderately discharge thefirstfiveto 20cycles. 3. Do Marine/RV deep-cycle batteries develop a memory? No! Iead-acid batteries donotdevelop a memory. Whatdoesthismeantoyou?Iead-acid batteries havetheabilityto cycleto variousamounts of DODanytime duringtheirseryice lifewithout a memory developing insidethebattery. 4. Which is the most detrimental to a battery, heat or cold? Both extremes createbatteryproblems. Extreme heatwill allowthebatteryto increase its performance short-term level.However, heat internallyaccelerates corrosion andother deterioration factorsthatreducea battery's life.Extreme coldbatterytemperatures result in an immediate reduction of batteryefficiency level,whichreduces performance. short-term Forexample, a fullycharged batteryat 80"F 11
(26'C)shouldoperate with 10070 efficiency, at 32'F(0"C)with 65%efficienc$andat 0'F (-17.8"C) with40%o efficiency.
80 Ah wlll supply the minimum requirementsat 80"F. To asaure acceptablebattery cycle life and performance, divide 80 Ah by 0.50 = 160Ah. Use a battery system rated fot 160 Ah @ 20 hour dlscharge rate.
FIGURE7
APPROXIMATE BATTERYAh (@12V) AC WATTS 30 MIN. I (1 HOUR)
DC amp hours = [(ACwans) 1121x1.1x (hoursof use). F I G U R E8
5, How do I select the proper type and amount of batteries to fit my needs? . Determine yourtotalpowerrequirements. . Determine approximate timeof use. . Multiplyhoursbyamps. . Dividetotalamperehoursby0.50(50V0 DOD)to maximizebatterycyclelife. Tip: Whenchoosinga bafteryor batteriesfor Uolling motons,knowthat a l2-volt qnstemrequires a minimumof l.l to 1.2ampsper poundof thrust.A 24-voltsystemrequires0.85to 0.95ampsper pound of thrust. Anda 36-voltsystemrequircs0.5to 0.55 ampsper poundof thrust.
12
6. When do I need additional batteries? Whenyourpowerrequirements exceed theAhyourbatterysystemcanprovide, youwill needto connect additional batteries to yoursystemor increase the individualbattery size(capacity). If youareconsistently replacing thebatteryor batteries before thewarrantyhasexpired,thecapacity in yoursystemmaynotbeadequate to supply yourneeds. Tip: Oncea year,re-evaluateyour total battery needsand vehicle load requirements.If you have addedany accessoriesover the past year or the hours of usagehave increased,increaseyour total battery capacity.
7. As a battety ages, does efficiency decrease? Normally, a properly charged, Marine/RVdeep-cycle battery's efficiency improves slightlyafterthefirst l0 to 20cycles. Asa batteryages,its maintenance requirements change. Neartheendof useful servicelife,however, thebatterywill startto loseefficiency, performance decreasing and increasing maintenance. 8. ls it best to slow charge a Marine/RV deep-cycle battery? Yes!Aspreviously mentioned, a Marine/RV deepcyclebattery shouldbecharged at a slowcunent rate.Tlpically, a l0- to 20-ampcharger is normally largeenoughto recharge a batteryof 100Ahwithin eightto 12hours.A chargelevelof oneto twoamps is oftenacceptable, howeve4 thebattery shouldbe periodically monitored dueto theextended charge time.It is bestto choose a charger thathasan automatic shut-offcapability. Thistypeof charger normally monitors thebattery's charge levelelectronically, thenshutsoffcompletely, ormaintains thebattery's stateof charge. 9. Are the Interrstate flooded Marine/RV deep-cycle batteries mai nteh?trG€-frce? Interstate Marine/RV deep-cycle, liquid-electrolyte batteries are"low maintenance." Thismeansthatmaintenance canbeperformed, but undernormalconditions is seldomneeded. Interstate alsoofferssealed lead-acid batteries whicharemaintenance-free.
13
10, How do I know if my charger is correct for the battery's chalging needs? Checkand/ortestthebatteryor batteries everyfourto six weeks.Thisaction or external whetheryouronboard will determine in harmony with your chargeris operating if yourbatteries batterysystem.Forexample, amountof water(addiareusingan excessive everytwoto threeweeks), tionalwaterneeded and/oroverthe chargermaybeoverheating yourbatteries. are If yourbatteries charging the notmeetingtheperformance expected, If thebatteries. chargermaybeundercharging testwith a arelow-maintenance, thebatteries hydrometer. A lowstateof chargewill hamper andservicelife of thebattery. theperformance 11. Do I need to equalize my batteries? Whenthespecificgravityof individualcellsin a batteryor bankof batteries become unequal bymorethan15pointsorwhen thebatterywill notcomeupto full chargeusing charge normalchargingmethods, anequalization is needed. Anequalization chargeis a battery chargeat a slightlyhighervoltagethannormal. this maybe 15.5volts 0n a l2-voltbatterysystem, to 16.2volts. Sohowdoyouknowif yourbatteriesneedan It depends onthebattery charge? equalization typeandmanufacturer. Withnormaluse, donotrequire starting(or chassis)batteries theirservicelife.In throughout anyequalization an applications, somehousehold or deep-cycle Sealed equalization chargemaybenecessary. lead-acid donotrequirean equalizabatteries tion charge. Gaution: Due to the higher-chargevoltage required when equalizing,it is nece$saryto consult and follow vehicle and battery manufacturer's guidelines.Somevehicle manufacturersrequire completebattery disconnectionfrom the vehicle's electricaUelectronicsystemprior to an equalization charge.Alwaysmonitor the batteries during an equalizationcharge.If the batteries become "hot-to-the-touch"or spewacid, disconnect immediately!
12. When do I need to add water to my batteries? If thevehicle's chargingsystemis workingwellwith the batteriesandadequate timeis allowed to properlyrecharge, additional watermaynotbe necessary. It is importantto remember that gasH2Oduring all flooded, lead-acid batteries charging, s0youshouldneveraddpremixed electrolgeto yourbattery!Addwater,preferablydistilled,whentheelectrolyte levelfalls below12" abovethe plates.Donotoverfill. Donotfill thecellhigherthanl/8" below thebattery's internalvent-well. Overfilling thebatterycanresultin increased waterloss andpostcorrosion. Remember, asbatteries neartheirendof life,theyoftenrequire moremaintenance. 13. Will it damage my batteries to sit for weeks or months? A batterysittingunusedcandeteriorate faster thana batterythat is used(recharged) daily. Asa batterysits,thechemicals insidethe This batteryreact,discharging thebattery. process is calledbatteryself-discharging. Depending onthebatterytype andtemperaturc, a therateof selfdischarge varies.Forexample, typicalliquidelecholyte Marine/RV batterykept at a constant 80'F(26.7"C) mayself-discharye approximately2lVo in threeto four of its capacity months.If thebatteryhasanytypeofvehicleelechicaldischarge, likemaintaining sensor voltage, Thebattery thebatterywilldischarge morcquickly. will notbedamaged if it is rechaqedpropedy. Tip: If the battery is used seasonallyor sporadically, place a fully-automaticchargeron the battery for a few hours eachweek.Pleaserememberto monitor batteries during recharge.
2 4 V O L T S , 5 0 0 C C A1, 2 0 R C FIGURE 9
14
15
Interstate's MarinelBV Starting Batteries
12 VOLTS s00 ccA 1 2 0R C
12VOLTS,1000CCA, 240 RC 10 FIGURE
Thesebatteries areusedprimarilyin the marineindustryfor startingpurposes only.Theyarebuilt"lnterstate-tough" to and withstand themostrugged conditions havethesequalityfeatures: o Four-post design o Carryinghandles o Calcium/calcium chemistry . Vibration-resistant technology o Highdensityactivechemical material o NazSOa additive o Negative platepasteexpander
IBS PART NO,
ccA
APPTICATION
McA
RC@25A
EEEE!ffiffi,..,.':;If,il
tru1''.'':ffiI i;iliil :'-+:lf
@EEltr#* @EEles**ilf|
:flull
24VOLTS,1000CCA, 240RC 11 FIGURE
Etrgfrro drr[ee Our a00ffi1GL |lorrrffi(14 Iltlll'rllt. gnt
II
*Power accessories include fish finders, auto pilot, invertors, safety systems, blowers and lighting. FIGURE 13
12VOLTS,450 Ah 12 FIGURE
16
lnterstate Batteries offers lineofsealed AGM, a complete yourlocallnterstate Marine/RV deep-cycle bafteries. Contact productlines. formoreinformation distributor aboutvarious
17
