Deep Cycle Batteries?

[Nordic]

How are deep cycle batteries designed differently internally, compared to automotive batteries? How do they compare in years of service etc? I have been using a deep cycle battery in my tractor this year. It delivers plenty of power when cranking and watching the ammeter it becomes fully charged so quickly as well. With the versatility of posts and threaded studs, I'm inclined to go for another deep cycle purchase next time I need a battery for a tractor or other equipment.
Pros and cons?? Thanks

 

[da.bees]

Batteries truly designed for deep cycling have fewer but thicker plates, more robust plate connectors and as your's has,multi-choice cable connectors. The difference in use is less cca, repeated 50% discharging,partial recharging has less negative effect on storage capacity plus ability to better withstand impact. The caveat is that marketing often indicates deep cycle design but is nothing more than an automobile battery with different stickers on it with less warranty.
I opt for same batteries for offroad as for trucks and cars. IMO the most beneficial thing you can do for offroad and seldom driven vehicles is put high quality maintainer on them. You will see a remarkable increase in battery life,not to mention overall cca and ahr. The worst things you can do is leave battery in state of less than 100% charged and/or quick charge them. The only thing that has more opinions than batteries is motor oil so one has to make decisions based on firsthand experience and facts that can be verified.

 

[SkipperII]

Batteries truly designed for deep cycling have fewer but thicker plates, more robust plate connectors and as your's has,multi-choice cable connectors. The difference in use is less cca, repeated 50% discharging,partial recharging has less negative effect on storage capacity plus ability to better withstand impact. The caveat is that marketing often indicates deep cycle design but is nothing more than an automobile battery with different stickers on it with less warranty.
I opt for same batteries for offroad as for trucks and cars. IMO the most beneficial thing you can do for offroad and seldom driven vehicles is put high quality maintainer on them. You will see a remarkable increase in battery life,not to mention overall cca and ahr. The worst things you can do is leave battery in state of less than 100% charged and/or quick charge them. The only thing that has more opinions than batteries is motor oil so one has to make decisions based on firsthand experience and facts that can be verified.

Do you mean to let facts and personal observation get in the way of beliefs, rumors and random advice?? How novel

 

[da.bees]

Do you mean to let facts and personal observation get in the way of beliefs, rumors and random advice?? How novel

I guess it all depends on how everyone's feeling at the moment. There's days we're only boosting our post count, there's others that are just for fun but someone will occasionally be in earnest about finding a solution. I roll with the flow.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

You very seldom see batteries marketed as "deep cycle" these days. What you most likely have is a "marine/starting" battery, which is a hybrid design, somewhere between a deep cycle and a typical automotive battery.

Long story short, if it works good for you, stick with it. I personally spend as little on batteries as humanly possible. About 4 years ago, the local farm fleet store had pallets of group 27 marine/starting batteries for a ridiculously low price, like $59.99. I bought several. They've given good service doing everything from starting tractors, to running fuel pumps, to running a diesel heater in the winter.

 

[John T]

Hey there Nordic, good question, FWIW here are my experiences and opinions...

In GENERAL a Deep Cycle battery has thicker plates and is designed for lower current, longer time, deeper discharge prior to recharging for say Golf Carts or Trolling Motors or 12 Volt DC Winches etc. Trojan is one classic Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery.. Ive used a ton of them over many years of RVing or in Golf Carts or Winches. They are more typically labeled and rated in AMP HOURS (energy storage capacity)

An automotive Starting Battery is designed more for shorter term higher current discharges to start an engine prior to recharging. They are more typically rated/labeled in Cold Cranking Amps CCA

A so called RV/Marine is sort of a semi deep cycle used to start for example a marine engine and then power the trolling motor.

Sure EITHER will still "work" in either application, but I advise you use the correct one for the purpose. Golf Carts, RV's, Winches DEEP CYCLE ... Starting an engine STARTING BATTERY. To each THEIR own of course.

Hope this helps, its an electrical question so you may get several responses and opinions, take your pick lol. My answer is based on years of ONLY MY personal experience with RV's, Golf Carts, Marine and car truck and tractor use BUT NO WARRANTY see what the other fine sparkies here have to say and their experiences THEY MAY WELL HAVE HAD DIFFERENT (or perhaps the same ??) EXPERIENCES??? In the end its YOUR money YOUR choice. Perhaps some fine gents may seek out what Google has to say for an answer ????

PS. It’s best not to discharge a lead acid battery over 50% !!! Don’t let them set long term in a discharge state especially in freezing temperatures. It’s better to keep them topped off versus sitting discharged.

John T

 

[JD Dave]

X2 what da.bees said. A fully charged battery will last twice as long as one left into winter to go to 11 volts (or less). Use a trickle maintainer off-season and save yourself a lot of money.

 

[Russ from MN]

You very seldom see batteries marketed as "deep cycle" these days. What you most likely have is a "marine/starting" battery, which is a hybrid design, somewhere between a deep cycle and a typical automotive battery.

Long story short, if it works good for you, stick with it. I personally spend as little on batteries as humanly possible. About 4 years ago, the local farm fleet store had pallets of group 27 marine/starting batteries for a ridiculously low price, like $59.99. I bought several. They've given good service doing everything from starting tractors, to running fuel pumps, to running a diesel heater in the winter.

Deep cycle batteries are readily available here in MN, everyone uses them for trolling motors in fishing boats, and for campers.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

How are deep cycle batteries designed differently internally, compared to automotive batteries? How do they compare in years of service etc? I have been using a deep cycle battery in my tractor this year. It delivers plenty of power when cranking and watching the ammeter it becomes fully charged so quickly as well. With the versatility of posts and threaded studs, I'm inclined to go for another deep cycle purchase next time I need a battery for a tractor or other equipment.
Pros and cons?? Thanks

Nordic,
My 10k dump trailer came with a deep cycle battery which had a very short life, about 2 years
It takes 90 seconds to dump the trailer and 70 seconds to bring the trailer back down.
The current needed is 155 amps going each direction, up or down.. That is starting amps, not trolling or golf cart amps.
I buy the biggest 12v truck battery from RK and it lasted me 5-7 years. Just keep it fully charged.
I wouldn't spend a dime on another deep cycle battery for a tractor.

 

[John T]

Nordic,
My 10k dump trailer came with a deep cycle battery which had a very short life, about 2 years
It takes 90 seconds to dump the trailer and 70 seconds to bring the trailer back down.
The current needed is 155 amps going each direction, up or down.. That is starting amps, not trolling or golf cart amps.
I buy the biggest 12v truck battery from RK and it lasted me 5-7 years. Just keep it fully charged.
I wouldn't spend a dime on another deep cycle battery for a tractor.

You say: ""I wouldn't spend a dime on another deep cycle battery for a tractor.""

X2 I agree 100% I had best luck with normal STARTING BATTERIES (NOT Deep Cycle) for car truck or tractor starting, were on the same page on this one yayyyyyyyyy

Take care good neighbor

John T

 

[Phil T]

I'm a firm believer in pulse technology battery maintainers. I remove most of the batteries in tractors I don't use during the winter and keep them on maintainers, usually in my cellar. I have batteries 4 and 5 years old that still do the job when I need them.

 

[Ray,IN]

A true deep-cycle battery will not use the term CCA anywhere. This is a true deep-cycle battery:
https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-100ah/

 

[MarkB_MI]

You don't need to buy a deep-cycle battery to get threaded posts. Marine starting batteries all have them, and are probably a much better choice for your tractor. There are also so-called 'dual-purpose' batteries for marine and RV applications that are a compromise between starting and deep-cycle batteries. Marine batteries are supposed to be of heavier construction than automotive batteries in order to take the pounding you get when running offshore.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

You don't need to buy a deep-cycle battery to get threaded posts. Marine starting batteries all have them, and are probably a much better choice for your tractor. There are also so-called 'dual-purpose' batteries for marine and RV applications that are a compromise between starting and deep-cycle batteries. Marine batteries are supposed to be of heavier construction than automotive batteries in order to take the pounding you get when running offshore.

Mark,
There are many types of 12v terminal adapters.
Frankly I can't see a need for overthinking buying a different type of battery for a tractor.

 

[John T]

A true deep-cycle battery will not use the term CCA anywhere. This is a true deep-cycle battery:
https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-100ah/

Exactly that’s what I found as I posted above!!!!! The true deep cycle batteries I’ve used like Trojans are typically labeled in Amp Hours while Starting batteries are usually labeled in CCA. That doesn’t mean there may not be exceptions and I have seen traditional posts orrrrrr threaded terminals on all sorts of batteries. Over 50 years of rv and golf cart use I evolved from wet flooded lead acid to agm to RV Marine (semi deep cycle) to true Deep Cycle to Lithium I’ve seen it all and enjoyed the evolution !!!!!

John T

 

[560Dennis]

Consi for snow plow ers this season , alternative can’t keep up With Demand Plow lif

 

[MarkB_MI]

Mark,
There are many types of 12v terminal adapters.
Frankly I can't see a need for overthinking buying a different type of battery for a tractor.

There are many types of 12v terminal adapters.

George, I never cared for those things; it seems to me you get the worst of both conventional and threaded terminals. And for the cost of a car battery and a couple of adapters you can buy an actual marine starting battery.

 

[buickanddeere]

As previously stated . Do not discharge any lead acid battery below 50%
Do not leave a battery sitting discharged .
Do not over charge a battery .

 

[Ray,IN]

As previously stated . Do not discharge any lead acid battery below 50%
Do not leave a battery sitting discharged .
Do not over charge a battery .

That is a common misconception, not discharging a lead acid battery below 50%. The only thing that happens is it shortens the lifespan of charge/discharge cycles; unless a LA battery is discharged below 30%

 

[John T]

That is a common misconception, not discharging a lead acid battery below 50%. The only thing that happens is it shortens the lifespan of charge/discharge cycles; unless a LA battery is discharged below 30%
View attachment 92855

Shortening the lifespan is the reason I advise not to discharge lead acid batteries over 50%

John T