How long do marine batteries last

After purchasing a marine battery, it is very important to use it correctly. Deep cycle marine battery maintenance is simple. It is necessary, following the instructions, to carry out several operations at a certain time, which will help to increase the service life of the traction battery and prevent its premature discharge.

Marine battery life

The service life of batteries depends on several factors: charging methods, depth of discharge, temperature, battery maintenance, and handling. If used correctly, the traction battery can last 4 to 5 years. This is approximately 1500 charge-discharge cycles.
If the battery capacity is below 80% of the original value, then the battery is considered being out of order.

How to charge marine batteries?

You must charge the battery until gas evolution occurs in all batteries and a voltage of 13,2-13,8 V per battery. The vent caps must be open during charging. The traction battery can be considered normally charged if 120% of its capacity has been restored during the charging process. Overcharging the traction battery will destroy it.

Marine battery storage

The conditions and storage period of the battery influence the service life. A dry-charged and without electrolyte (not filled) battery should be stored in its original packaging, in a dry ventilated room at temperatures from 0˚C to + 35˚C, protected from direct sunlight.

Before installing the traction batteries for storage, the openings of the cells should be tightly closed with plugs. It is advisable to store a dry-charged battery only 12 months from manufacture. After this period, the traction batteries are suitable for operation, but the time for their initial charging increases.

We recommend storing flooded charged batteries at an air temperature of 0˚C to + 20˚C for only 9 months. The higher the electrolyte temperature, the more intensively the batteries self-discharge during storage. During storage, flooded batteries require monthly recharges and constant monthly electrolyte monitoring, which increases the complexity of maintenance during storage. Failure to do so can cause sulfation of the new battery and damage to it.