Difference Between Car Battery vs Deep Cycle and Lead Acid Batteries
A recreational vehicle is commonly known as RV’s, and boat owners are very aware of deep cycle batteries. While discussing the difference between car battery vs. deep cycle, we need to understand some basic and in-depth factors.
Car batteries and deep cycle batteries use the same chemistry to operate because both are lead acid batteries. The way of optimization of the batteries design is different. Batteries are used for different power sources.
Massive Solar power systems and golf carts also use them as their power source. If you are not familiar, the solar power system is the system to acquire the power from the sun while it lights and store some of that energy and use it when needed.
One or more deep cycle batteries powered inverters can be the alternative power source to gasoline generators.
Difference Between Car Battery vs Deep Cycle Battery
Contents
There are many technical differences between car batteries vs. Deep cycle batteries. You will also find a difference in deep cycle vs. regular battery charging. To understand fully, we need to find out the difference one by one.
Difference no. 1
The car needs a large amount of power when starting the engine. So, a car battery is engineered to deliver massive energy for a brief period. This stream of energy is needed to turn the motor or engine on when starting. After that, the car needs lesser power for the whole system. After the engine has started, the alternator takes over the battery and supplies the car’s power.
The deep cycle battery is engineered to deliver constant energy for a more extended period. A deep cycle battery delivers the energy stream when needed, but it cannot deliver the stream like a car battery.
Difference no. 2
Deep cycle battery is specially designed to discharge, applying the maximum amount of its capacity frequently deeply. A deep cycle battery discharges within 45% to 75% of its capacity. In contrast, the manufacturer designed the car battery to provide a tremendous amount of power for a small amount of time.
So, there must be a technological difference in manufacturing a car battery vs. deep cycle battery design. It usually lasts two or more years, but it can last over five years if the battery is with the right technology. So, the deep cycle battery lifespan depends on the technology by the manufacturer.
If a regular lead-acid car battery or starting battery frequently discharges within 20% to 50% of its capacity, it will typically last 30 to 150 cycles. But if it discharges within 2% to 5% of its maximum capacity (what it is designed for), it will deliver you thousands of cycles. A car battery cannot serve you as a deep cycle battery.
Difference no. 3
A standard car battery or starting battery is usually engineered to start the internal ignition. You will more likely find thinner lead grids and sometimes lead sponges (looks like a foam sponge) in a standard lead-acid car battery. This manufacturing is why the battery is made at a lower price.
On the other hand, deep cycle batteries are used to run a trolling motor for an entire hour or more. Deep cycle batteries use thicker solid lead grids, not anywhere near sponges. These lead grids make sure they can constantly drain battery up to 70%.
Difference no. 4
There are some differences between deep cycle and car battery CCA. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) measures the amount of energy that can deliver by a battery without descending to a specific standard cutoff voltage (which is usually 10.5 V) for 30 seconds at an absolute zero degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
A cranking amp produced by a battery varies with the temperature. A battery produces more cranking amps when it is warmer. A deep cycle battery can deliver almost identical or fewer CCA than a car battery. Sometimes there are questions like, “can I use a deep cycle battery for starting?”
Well, the answer is not straight. You can use engine starting, but deep-cycle batteries must not be used for deep-cycle applications. Deep-cycle batteries might have less cranking AMP than a Car starting battery but still can do a fair job.
Difference no. 5
There are some differences between a deep cycle battery and a car battery regarding the RC factor. Reserve Capacity (RC) is the number of minutes a battery can supply 25 amps without descending the standard cutoff voltage.
A deep cycle battery’s RC will be two or three times more than a car’s RC. In contrast, the car starting battery doesn’t need and doesn’t have that amount of RC in its design.
Difference no. 6
One of the few questions while discussing deep cycle vs. car battery differences is, “what amount of total discharges they can endure?” This question arises with internal and external built quality, features, and technology.
However, a deep cycle battery can resist a few hundred total recharge/discharge cycles. But a car battery is not engineered to total discharge at all.
Final Thought
The car and deep cycle batteries are made for totally different types of service. You won’t be comfortable using deep cycle batteries for starting issues as you will be with car batteries. And car batteries won’t even serve your lowest expectation if you want to install them in a trolling motor. So, you have to decide which battery you need according to your necessity.
