Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

[Huron Angler]

A friend told me that it would be a good idea to run my deep cycle battery until it is dead in order to recharge it 100%

Is this a good idea?

Will it help prevent buildup or do anything else that is good for the battery?

Should I just keep charging it as soon as I get off the water each night and not worry about the full discharge?

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

lead acid batteries should never be fully discharged. he is thinking of the nicad batteries for is cell phone.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

I don't know the answer to your question but I wonder if the reason behind the total discharge is to prevent sulfation <sp?> of the plates.

 

[flargin]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

I don't know the answer to your question but I wonder if the reason behind the total discharge is to prevent sulfation <sp?> of the plates.

Sulfation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sulfation refers to the process whereby a lead-acid battery (such as a car battery) loses its ability to hold a charge after it is kept in a discharged state too long due to the crystallization of lead sulfate.

So, the guy may be trying to help, but the problem is the exact opposite. Don't discharge them completely to make them stay at their best. try to stay above 9 or 10 v.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

All lead acid batteries have a finite amount of cycles before they are toast. Reducing the depth of the cycle will increase the overall longevity. A deep does not like being discharged below about 50%, this roughly equates to around 12 - 12.2v. A battery that is 10v rested is absolutely 100% flat - very bad.

Charge deeply and often.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

Oh no, don't do that. Like was stated above, the deeper the discharge for a lead acid battery, the fewer the charge cycles it can take.

Don't take advice on catching snakes from this guy!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

Read this on the web:

Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged down as much as 80% time after time, and have much thicker plates. The major difference between a true deep cycle battery and others is that the plates are SOLID Lead plates - not sponge. This gives less surface area, thus less "instant" power like starting batteries need.

Expidia says:
So don't go below 20% capacity left. My Daughter uses two batteries and switches off in her canoe. Use a cheap battery gauge to check on the state of charge while you are out there fishing. Walmart sells them by Minn Kota I think.

Use trickle charger over the winter.

Also don't leave them in a discharged state (like overnight) charge them back to full ASAP and you will get many years out of them. Mistreat them and you will ruin it in one season. Been there done that already

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Good idea to fully discharge deep cycle?

Thanks for the replies- I agree that he may have been thinking of different types of batteries that do like being drained all the way.

I will keep doing what I've been doing- charging her up while the boat is still dripping water from landing.