Microlighters

I am a bit 'doff' when it comes to the techincal stuff and was hoping someone on the forum would be able to assist with explaining the difference and pros and cons between deep cycle and high cycle bateries.

What is the difference
Which is best and thus recommended
Recommended applications
etc.

Thanks and fly safe

What is the difference

A "high cycle" battery is referred to as an SLI battery: Start Lights Ignition and is commonly a car battery and its job is to provide a large amount of current over a short period of time.
This large, quick burst of current is used to crank the engine over when starting up. When the engine starts, the alternator usually provides all the power that the car requires, therefore theoretically, the car battery should be able to last its entire life without ever being discharged more than 25 percent of its total capacity. An SLI battery has a greater number of plates internally and are thinner than those found in a "deep cycle" battery. It uses thinner and more plates in order to increase its surface area thus being able to deliver a large amount of current in a short period of time.
Note:Surface area is the amount of available plates submerged in the electrolyte inside the battery. The more plates you can pack inside the battery, the greater the surface area in contact with the electrolyte, the greater the amount of current released when required. This has a trade-off though. The thinner the plates, the quicker the damage occurs through deep discharge. Plates can buckle, rust etc.

The "deep cycle" battery's job is to give you a steady amount of current over a prolonged period. This battery also gives a surge when needed to start a car, but not as high-powered as a car battery can. A deep cycle battery is so designed that it is able to be deeply discharged many times over whereas an SLI battery will be trashed fairly quickly by repeated deep discharging. Thicker plates are used in the construction of a deep cycle battery so it stands to reason that if less surface area is in contact with the electrolyte inside the battery, less instant, high power is available. In other words, the deep cycle battery has less instant energy but provides greater long-term energy delivery.

Which is best and thus recommended

Dunno........depends what you want to use it for

Recommended applications

SLI: Exactly what is says, Start, Lights, Ignition
Deep Cycle: Boats, Marine applications, Recreational Vehicle (motorhomes) Camping

Bear in mind what I've said here is but just barely scratching the surface. The make-up and composition of a battery is a subject that can span many pages when trying to explain it.

Hope this helps you a bit

Duck Rogers wrote:Hope this helps you a bit

Nou het ek ook iets geleer.

Duck,

Thanks for the info. The reason I am confused is due to info from other forums in this regard, ie.

Deep Cycle takes for ever to charge, it can easy be more than 20 hours continuous drive. It will charge at 5 amp per hour . I Change to High Cycle ! High cycle can charge charge at 40 amp per hour. Every day drive one hour and you wont have a problem. Deep Cycle batteries battle to charge via a alternator. It prefers Solar or 220 v. Never fully discharge a High Cycle, but if you drive a hour a day you wont fully discharge the battery

AND

n Voertuig KAN NIE twee deep cycle batterye laai as hulle eers pap is nie. Miskien na 24 uur se aanhoudende ry !!! Jy het 220 volt of solar nodig om deep cycle te laai. Vra my ek het n Pieter Barnard Sisteem gehad en dit werk nie lekker nie. Nou het n n NL sisteem met n High Cycle battery en dit werk soos n bom. Ek sal nooit weer Deep Cycle aanbeveel nie. Die nuwe Delco 105 amp High Cycle is wonderlike batterye. Moenie dit meer as 50 % drein nie maar dit kan nie in 24 uur onder 50 % drein met n yskas en ligte nie. Elke dag 1 uur se ry en jy sal nie probleme he nie

AND

Talk to National Luna. a Deep Cycle should be charge slowly. A high Cycle battery don't mind the quick charge. Your alternator will charge and the High Cycle will accept the high charge. A Deep cycle will not accept all the amp from a alternator.


If I understand it correctly then you should have a solar panel to reload the 'deep cycle' batteries if you are gpoing to be in the bush for extended periods. Alretnatively you can use the 'high cycle' if you are going to be driving during the day to 'top up' the battery or maybe alternate between vehicle and 'other' to keep both fully changed.......

Thanks again for the info....