Ifechukwuchimezie
4 min readJul 29, 2022

Lithium Deep Cycle Battery

A deep cycle battery is a battery that you can charge and discharge over and over without harming the cells in the battery. Unlike a normal battery, deep cycle batteries are normally used in boats.

A deep cycle means the battery will withstand discharge until very little charge remains.

Deep cycle batteries are usually lead-acid. Lithium-ion deep cycle batteries are used in many products such as electronics, toys, wireless headphones, handheld power tools, small and large appliances, electric vehicles, and electrical storage systems.

Advantages of Lithium Deep Cycle Batteries

Lithium deep cycle batteries can withstand regular discharge without damage and are likely to give you 10 or more years of service if cared for properly.

Lithium deep cycles are great in power setup, so if you need something with a long lifetime and a lot of power that you want to recharge frequently, lithium is the way to go.

Why Are Lithium Batteries Better?

High Energy Density — clearly the high energy density is one of the chief advantages of lithium-ion battery technology with electronic equipment such as mobile phones needing to operate longer between charges while still consuming more power. There is always a need for batteries with a much lighter energy density.

Self-Discharge- one issue with many rechargeable batteries. Self-discharge refers to self-running electrochemical processes which cause batteries (accumulators) to discharge more or less quickly, even if no electrical consumers are connected. The speed of self-discharge determines which part of the originally stored charge quantity (capacity) can still be used after storage. Lead- and lithium-based systems have a lower self-discharge. Li-ion self-discharges about 5 percent in the first 24 hours and then loses 1–2 percent per month; the protection circuit adds another 3 percent per month.

Cell Voltage — the voltage produced by each lithium-ion cell is about 3–6 volts. This has many advantages, being higher than that of the standard Nickel Cadmium, nickel metal hydride, and even standard Alkaline cells at around 1.5 volts and lead acid at around 2 volts per cell, the voltage of each lithium-ion cell is higher, requiring fewer cells in many battery applications.

No Requirements For Priming — some rechargeable cells need to be primed when they receive their first charge. One advantage of lithium-ion batteries is that there is no requirement for this. They are supplied and ready to go.

A Variety Of Types Are Available — there are several types of lithium-ion cells available. This advantage of lithium-ion batteries can mean that the right technology can be used for the particular application needed. Some forms of lithium-ion battery provide a high current density and are ideal for consumers’ mobile electronic equipment, others can provide much higher current levels and, without a doubt, they are ideal for power tools and vehicles.

Disadvantages of Lithium deep cycle batteries

Lithium deep cycle batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and inherently flammable. These battery packs tend to degrade much faster than they normally would due to heat. If a Lithium Ion battery pack fails it will burst into flames and can cause widespread damage. There is a big risk of the battery exploding in certain cases.

Cost- this is a big one, right? Lithium batteries are not cheap, but still, a good lithium battery might end up saving money because they last longer.

A lithium battery should have a BMS or battery management

But is this a con?

When lithium cells are charged and discharged in series, the state of change in the cells can get out of balance and, since the cells are very sensitive to under or overcharging, you need to keep the cells balanced to get the full performance out of them. On lead acid batteries, the equalization charge forces all of the cells to full charge by intentionally overcharging for a short time. This would destroy lithium cells.

Although these batteries have been around for quite a while, they are still under development and their components constantly change.

What to Look Out For When Buying Lithium Deep Cycle Battery

These include the power density that lithium can store, the weight savings over lead-acid batteries, the usable capacity of lithium, the longevity of the cells, the typical number of cycles that can be drawn from the battery, and the various form factors that a lithium battery can take (think conventional shape or slimline).

What Are The Differences Between Lithium Deep Cycle Battery And Lead-Acid Battery?

There are some differences between lead acid and lithium batteries, so I have compiled a short explanation of some of the key differences.

Lead acid remains the main source of energy for the automotive traction and ups segment. It consists of alternating lead and lead dioxide plates connected in series to make a cell. Water and sulfuric acid are mixed to make the electrolyte. There are many different types of lead acid batteries under the title lead acid, and there are many different names. They are all types of lead acid batteries, but the main difference between them is the way the electrolyte is held within the battery itself.

The electrolytes in a lithium battery are usually an organic compound as opposed to the sulfuric acid in a lead acid battery.

Unlike lead acid, lithium batteries have a battery management system that protects the battery from both undercharge and overcharge.

The main difference between the two differences is usable capacity. Lithium battery has a greater useable capacity, lithium batteries are considerably more expensive than lead acid batteries, and lithium batteries are a lot lighter than lead acid batteries