How to Charge a Deep Cycle Battery

It's common knowledge nowadays that deep-cycle batteries are one of the best batteries for camping or caravanning. A deep-cycle battery mostly stands out for supplying lower, but more consistent bursts of power at a longer period of time. It provides reliable power even at an 80% discharge rate so you get to run your appliances without worrying about power shortage during longer outdoor trips. Also, this battery type is known for its fast-charging feature and a lifespan that can last up to six years or 2,000 to 4,000 cycles with proper maintenance and usage.

There are also several kinds of deep-cycle batteries including flooded lead-acid batteries, gel batteries, AGM batteries, and lithium batteries. AGM deep-cycle batteries are among the most commonly used outdoors, but the best type in terms of overall performance would be lithium deep-cycle batteries, specifically LiFEPO4 batteries. The combined longevity, capacity, and safety of a deep-cycle battery and LiFEPO4 make it an unrivalled battery type for almost all kinds of applications.

How to Charge a Deep-Cycle Battery?

Let's move on to charging your deep-cycle battery. The first and most important step is to choose the correct deep-cycle battery charger depending on the type of your battery. There are specific chargers for flooded, gel, AGM, and lithium batteries. Choosing the wrong charger can damage your battery while using the correct one can help extend your battery's lifespan. Typical modern deep-cycle battery chargers will have specific settings for AGM or Gel batteries so they're generally easier to use. Avoid using regular battery chargers for recharging deep-cycle batteries. They tend to use high amperes during recharge which can shorten your battery's life and may cause overheating as well. In terms of size, battery chargers should ideally provide up to 10% of the maximum amperes of your battery.

When you've got the right charger, you can now hook up your battery to it. Make sure to check the battery terminals beforehand and remove any dirt. Then, see if the cables are tightly connected to the battery terminals. Connect the positive cable to the red terminal, followed by the negative cable to the black terminal. Plug in your charger, switch it on and check your indicator (if applicable) to see if your battery has started charging. For added convenience, opt for a smart charger so you don't have to guard your battery during the entire charging process. If you're using a non-smart charger, don't forget to disconnect it based on the charge time you initially calculated. Remember to remove the black cable first before the red cable after you're done and grease the terminals to prevent corrosion.

In some cases, deep-cycle batteries are charged by the alternator of an RV or boat. However, connecting batteries in parallel using this process is not recommended but you can use an isolator as an alternative instead. An isolator allows batteries to charge separately by topping up the battery with the lower voltage first until both units are equal before moving on to recharge both at the same time.

What Is the Best Way To Charge a Deep-Cycle Battery?

The best way to charge a deep-cycle battery is through trickle charging. Whether it's a lead-acid, AGM, or LiFEPO4, slow charging with a very low voltage output is the most recommended way of topping up your battery, which is exactly what a trickle charger does. While fast-charging might look good, excess amperage can cause heat which may lead to battery damage or in worse cases may cause it to explode. For even better results, use a smart trickle charger. This will automatically switch off and on depending on your battery's charge level to help prevent overcharging.

How Long Should You Charge a Deep-Cycle Battery?

Setting a timer when charging your deep-cycle battery is always a good idea, especially if you're not using a smart charger. Battery charging time is largely dependent on its current state of charge and your charger's amperage specification. For instance, a 15-amp charger can top off a battery at a 25% discharge level for two hours, while a 5-amp charger can take six hours to charge a battery of the same charge level. There are also deep-cycle battery voltage charts that you can refer to help you calculate the time needed to charge your battery.

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