Deep-cycle battery

A deep-cycle battery is a battery designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity. The term is traditionally mainly used for lead–acid batteries in the same form factor as automotive batteries; and contrasted with starter or 'cranking' automotive batteries designed to deliver only a small part of their capacity in a short, high-current burst for cranking the engine. For lead-acid deep-cycle batteries there is an inverse correlation between the depth of discharge (DOD) of the battery and the number of charge and discharge cycles it can perform; with an average "depth of discharge" of around 50% suggested as the best for storage vs cost. Newer technologies than the traditional lead-acid (such as lithium-ion batteries) are becoming commonplace in smaller sizes in uses such as smartphones and laptops. The new technologies are also beginning to become common in the same form factor as the automotive lead-acid batteries, although at a large price premium. The structural difference between deep-cycle and cranking lead-acid batteries is in the lead battery plates. Deep cycle battery plates have thicker active plates, with higher-density active paste material and thicker separators. Alloys used for the plates in a deep cycle battery may contain more antimony than that of starting batteries. The thicker battery plates resist corrosion through extended charge and discharge cycles. Deep-cycle lead-acid batteries generally fall into two distinct categories; flooded (FLA) and valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA), with the VRLA type further subdivided into two types, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) and Gel. The reinforcement of absorbed glass mat separators helps to reduce damage caused by spilling and jolting vibrations. Further, flooded deep-cycle batteries can be divided into subcategories of Tubular-plated Opzs or flat plated. The difference generally affects the cycle life and performance of the cell. The term "flooded" is used because this type of battery contains a quantity of electrolyte fluid so that the plates are completely submerged.