Solar/Deep Cycle Batteries

SOLAR

Battery Central sell & install all your requirements, for 12volt stand alone systems for house (off the grid), caravans, motorhomes and boats. We keep all of your needs in stock at the Southport store. Solar Panels available all sizes plus regulators, battery chargers, invertors and all the cheap batteries to suit any deep cycle needs.

SOLAR STORAGE OPTIONS

Many experienced campers first choice for storage and use of solar energy is a flooded battery (see below) for their mid range price and long lifespan. The more long term adventurer may look to an Absorbed Glass Matt or AGM battery as amongst other things they can be stored indoors where less temperature variance means increased performance although you will pay slightly more.

DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES

Battery Central offers a great range of deep cycle batteries for both commercial and recreational purposes. Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide a constant flow of power over a long period of time although they have the ability to provide a surge if required.

These batteries are designed to be fully discharged regularly and can be done several hundred times (something that would destroy a regular car battery). Generally a deep cycle battery will carry three times the reserve capacity of car batteries. Most often used four wheel driving, caravanning, camping and in RV's. As well as pallet jacks, scissor lifts and floor sweepers. 

There are four types of deep cycle batteries:

1. Gel Batteries:

Sealed gel batteries will not release gas when charging like flooded batteries do allowing them to be used indoors. This is advantageous, as a battery at a constant temperature will perform better.

2. Marine, RV or Golf Cart:

This type of deep cycle battery is really for campers, golf carts and boats and are really suitable only for small systems. They don't really have the capacity for continuous service or to handle years of charge and discharge. They are the most popular and suitable battery for golf buggies.

3. Flooded types:

These are a lead acid battery with caps to allow water to be added and are often designed specifically for solar charging. They cater well to the cycle of charge and discharge for many years although they do release a gas upon charging, so should only be used outdoors.

4. AGM:

Absorbed Glass Matt are recognized as the best available for solar power use. A woven glass mat is contained between the plates to hold the electrolyte. They don't produce gas on charging, are leak and spill proof and have superior performance. They possess all the best qualities of gel batteries whilst being of higher quality, maintain a better voltage, last longer and self discharge slower.