Deep cycle battery? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benhogan · #1 01-29-2013, 01:58 PM

Can I use a "deep cycle marine" battery in my wife's Honda Civic if the battery dimensions are identical to the current battery. The cca of her current battery is 400 and the deep cycle one is 800. Also the deep cycle is less expensive ($80 vs $115).

Air&Road · #2 01-29-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benhogan

Can I use a "deep cycle marine" battery in my wife's Honda Civic if the battery dimensions are identical to the current battery. The cca of her current battery is 400 and the deep cycle one is 800. Also the deep cycle is less expensive ($80 vs $115).

You could, but unless you plan on draining it often, there is no need or advantage to using a Deep Cycle battery in a vehicle with an adequate sized, or even near adequate sized alternator.

You would be much better served by putting in the largest physical size quality car battery that you can fit in the box.

Given the differences in the battery types I think it would be false economy, since I doubt that a Deep Cycle battery would last as long in a non Deep Cycle application.

NOW, that said, I have been in spots in my life when it was downright mandatory that I save $35 while in a tough spot, so I understand how things can be some times. Just realize that you may be laying out money for a shorter lived battery.

Good luck with it.

Zulfiqar · #3 01-29-2013, 02:42 PM

im pretty sure you can get a new battery for your civic in the 85 dollar range that is meant for the car, if you have an interstate dealer call them and ask for a blemished one.

btw the current NAPA batteries are pretty good too - recently helped a co-worker install a battery in his E39 BMW, NAPA legend for 120/- plus tax in my area. Its the same as my diesel battery.

looks like a Deka battery and works great. Im sure that your civic one would be cheaper than that.

Air&Road · #4 01-29-2013, 03:15 PM

The main thing with a battery is to make sure it is fresh. You don't want one that has sat on the store shelf for six months before you put it in your car.

kmaysob · #5 01-29-2013, 03:24 PM

I would advise against it. Starting batteries are made for high current draws, where as deep cycles are made for lower current draws over an extended period of time. Deep cycles are made to take a slower charge after use, the alternator really wont be able to keep it chared. Stick with a starting battery.

Simpler=Better · #6 01-29-2013, 03:29 PM

x2 on interstate.

If you're short on cash junkyards usually hang onto batteries that test OK and sell them cheap

layback40 · #7 01-29-2013, 07:56 PM

I am going against the trend.
The deep cycle has 2x the CCA so it is much better for starting than the other.
It contains thicker plates so should last much longer.
The standard batteries go flat much quicker if lights are left on. The thing I always look at is the weight of the battery, the heavier generally is the one with more lead & so will take more discharge before damage.
These days batteries normally are supplied as dry charge ~ the acid is added just before installation. A battery dry stored will last for years without deterioration. If it has sat on the shelf with acid in it the stop watch has been ticking.

kmaysob · #8 01-29-2013, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

I am going against the trend.
The deep cycle has 2x the CCA so it is much better for starting than the other.
It contains thicker plates so should last much longer.
The standard batteries go flat much quicker if lights are left on. The thing I always look at is the weight of the battery, the heavier generally is the one with more lead & so will take more discharge before damage.
These days batteries normally are supplied as dry charge ~ the acid is added just before installation. A battery dry stored will last for years without deterioration. If it has sat on the shelf with acid in it the stop watch has been ticking.

as stated before, deep cycles are not made for really high draws like a starting battery is. sure it will do it, but unless you drive for a ton of miles after start up, it will not recharge. eventually leading to a dead battery. it took me a year to convince my brother of this. he had two huge deep cycles in his chevy diesel. about once a month he had to put a charger on it. changed out to standard starting battery and no issues what so ever.

layback40 · #9 01-30-2013, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmaysob

as stated before, deep cycles are not made for really high draws like a starting battery is. sure it will do it, but unless you drive for a ton of miles after start up, it will not recharge. eventually leading to a dead battery. it took me a year to convince my brother of this. he had two huge deep cycles in his chevy diesel. about once a month he had to put a charger on it. changed out to standard starting battery and no issues what so ever.

I am sure there is more to it than you mention.
I use deep cycle batteries when I can as they dont loose performance so quick. At last count we had 24 batteries in various cars & other things.
The deep cycle battery is only going to loose as much charge as a standard battery during a start. Provided your alt is good it will be replenished just as quick as the regular battery. The one mentioned in this thread has 2x the capacity for current draw (at starting) as the regular one. Its unusual for deep cycle batteries to have higher CCA that the same sized standard battery, but in this case it does.

Air&Road · #10 01-30-2013, 07:52 AM

layback,

You are absolutely correct about the shelf life of a dry charge battery that has yet to be charged. Years ago, that was the common practice at many retailers and jobbers. In the US, the last time I saw a battery dry charged was about 40 years ago.

At most US battery retailers, they have gravity racks and place charged batteries in them. When you get one out of the front of that rack, you usually have no Earthly idea when it was charged.

I replaced the battery in my airplane a few months ago, and it was the first dry charge battery I've dealt with in many years. It was a hassle, but it made for a nice fresh battery. About the same time I went to the Motorcycle place and got a new battery for my four wheeler. They dry charged it and told me to put it on a charger for 30 minutes. I was impressed.

Unfortunately many retailers in this country are much more concerned with expediency than with providing their customers with optimum products.

Zulfiqar · #11 01-30-2013, 10:44 AM

The part of the world I lived in about 5 years ago, only had dry charged batteries, regular battery change involved 1 hour wait if the electrolyte was not ready.

I usually brought the thing home, made my own electrolyte with chilled real distilled water (vapor collection) and lab grade H2SO4 at an SG of 1.270, charged on a charger for 1 hour and the battery was ready for service.

anyway - that aside, The recent experience of the NAPA legend battery that I placed for my co-worker, that battery was a heavier than the white MB battery I have.

The blemished interstate in my wife's car (more than a year old now) was also quite heavier than the original POJ(unk) that was installed by the nissan assembly line. Still starts like a champ.

Interstate make really good batteries their blemish items are a deal - you get far more life than a walmart or housebrand - making it low cost in the longer run.

socalbenz · #12 01-30-2013, 01:41 PM

I have put deep cycle batteries in my trucks with winches (huge current draw) for years without any issue. Sometimes they are secondary batteries and sometimes as the only battery. Most auto voltage regulators charge in two stages, Bulk charge for the first few minutes after startup and then a trickle charge after that. From a charging perspective it is more important if it is a lead acid battery, gel cell or AGM than if it is a deep cycle or not. Gell cells and AGM have different charging characteristics. Charging a gell or AGM battery with a voltage regulator designed for a lead acid battery will reduce the life of the battery due to overcharging. In most cases probably not enough for you to notice.

spdrun · #13 01-30-2013, 01:46 PM

All of the motorcycle batteries I've bought were sold dry, with a squeeze bottle of acid to add before installation.

retmil46 · #14 01-30-2013, 02:00 PM

Are we talking true "marine deep cycle" or "marine starting"?

I'm guessing you're talking about a Group 24 or Group 27 marine battery.

I don't see a problem with it. Heck, if it works to crank over the engine in a boat, don't see how it would fail to crank over the engine in a Honda.

I'm a firm believer, given space limitations, in plus-sizing battery CCA where possible in my vehicles.

10fords · #15 01-30-2013, 09:47 PM

I have a deep cycle battery in my 66 bronco with a winch, and 2 of them in an 88 diesel F350 also with a winch. Both trucks are ranch rigs that get used infrequently for short periods of time. The reason I went with the deep cycles is that the regular starting batteries would only last about a year, so I thought I would try the deep cycle ones. So far I am on about three years and they are stil working fine. They were more expensive than the regular batteries, though not too much. I would say go for it and see what happens.