battery type

[targetpanic]

I have to purchase a new starting battery tonight. This battery starts the motor and also supplies power to Fishfinder, livewell, bilge pump, nav lights and downriggers (not all at once) through a switch panel. THe motor has a rectifier to charge the battery while it's running (I think it's 5 amp). THe current battery is a marine deep cycle. Should the battery I buy tonight be a marine deep cycle or a marine starting battery????? What's the difference?

 

[Major Woods]

Re: battery type

I would purchase a dual-purpose battery as that's how your using it.

 

[targetpanic]

Re: battery type

what would an example of a dual purpose be. I've only ever seen Marine starting and Marine Deep Cycle. I will be purchasing a DieHard most likely as that's what's available around here (sears).

 

[Silvertip]

Re: battery type

A dual purpose battery looks the same as any other battery but it is built to withstand the high current draw required of a starting battery yet provides the deep cycle capabilities required for running low current draw accessories for long periods of time. That type of battery will be labeled "Marine Dual Purpose" or "Marine Starting/Deep cycle". For outboard use however, a standard "Deep Cycle" battery can be used as in your application. A deep cycle would actually work better than a "starting battery" because starting current is not as high as it would be on for example, and V8 I/O engine. Deep cycles can also be more deeply discharged than the starting battery. The performance trade-off of a dual purpose battery is that it doesn't do as good a job at either function as the specific starting or deep cycle batteries. But when you attempt to perform two functions (starting and deep cycle) with a single battery, the choice is obvious.

 

[targetpanic]

Re: battery type

Thanks guys...That's EXACTLY the information I was looking for!