Can I charge a Deep Cycle Battery With a Regular Charger?

Deep cycle batteries are the best solution for medical equipment, solar power supply, security system, and marine machines. The technology is required where the power supply can be interrupted easily to offer the perfect backup solution.

If you have one of these batteries, you may already know that proper charging is among the most crucial aspects of the batteries. But if you are new, you may not understand just how important charging can be.

Don’t worry, though. This guide will answer one of the biggest questions – whether you can charge a deep cycle using a regular battery. We will also show you how to charge the batteries safely.

Come along.

Charging a Deep Cycle Battery With a Regular Charger

Some batteries are pretty sensitive to chargers. And that is why they are designed with specific chargers. And deep cycle batteries are one category you need to be very careful about when choosing the charger.

Many people have asked whether you can use a regular charger for such batteries. There are different opinions on the internet, with some people claiming that you can and others that you can’t. We will find out the truth today.

First, understand that deep-cycle batteries are designed to discharge at the slowest rate. This ensures that the equipment receives a steady power supply for several hours at a time.

Tradition lead acid batteries work differently. They deliver a lot of power for a very brief period. This is why they are found chiefly in devices requiring much power.

With that in mind, you should understand why the two technologies may require slightly different charging approaches. While these chargers can be used interchangeably, they may not produce the desired effect.

Charging a deep-cycle battery using a traditional battery charger is not recommended. It will not perform as expected, and you may end up with a damaged battery if the charger is not of excellent quality.

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Slow and Fast Charging

Today, there are so many chargers that offer fast charging capabilities. They are designed to give your battery much power in a brief period. While most modern batteries can handle that, you may have an issue with deep-cycle batteries.

One of the major differences between regular chargers and deep-cycle batteries is how fast they work. A regular charger works much faster, reaching a full charge in the shortest time possible. This is healthy for regular batteries but not for deep-cycle batteries.

?Excess heat is produced when the battery is charging at a fast pace. Deep cycle batteries are not created for fast charging or to handle the extra heat. Thus, using a regular charger can block it from achieving full capacity.

Your battery may show that it has fully charged long before hitting full capacity, affecting its performance. You will think the battery has a full charge when may it has not even reached 50%.

On the contrary, slow charging is recommended for these batteries. It prevents heat from building up and ensures the battery reaches full capacity.

Deep Cycle Chargers

Using deep cycle chargers is the best way to get the best performance from your battery and protect it from potential damage. These chargers are mostly designed to use a stepped model, which lets more current enter the battery when it’s deeply discharged. The charging speed slowly tapers off at a certain point as the battery is near full charge. This is how the charger optimizes the charging time while giving your battery more life.

Using Smart Chargers

If you must charge?your deep cycle battery using a regular battery charger, we recommend using an intelligent charger. These chargers are designed with highly advanced features that regulate the charging time and give your battery more life.

You can set the charger according to the specifications of your battery to optimize these features.?The chargers have markers that allow you to properly set other parameters and allow the battery to charge at a slow but steady speed.

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How to Charge Deep Cycle Battery While Driving

Another concern we have encountered is how to charge a deep-cycle battery while driving. Are there any special considerations if you have such a battery in your car and need to charge it?

The answer is no. You can charge your battery normally, and nothing will happen to it.

Deep cycle batteries behave normally with no changes to the car. What you need is to give your battery enough juice to start the car, and then you can drive for several kilometers until you have a full charge as desired.

The biggest difference you will notice is that deep-cycle batteries start your car in freezing temperatures when normal batteries fail. Hence, it will take longer for your battery to charge.

Here are steps to follow to charge your battery efficiently.

Ensure the battery is connected correctly. The first and most important thing is ensuring the battery has a proper connection, and your alternator works properly.

Start your engine. It is crucial to understand that a deep-cycle battery takes longer to charge than a conventional battery. So, if you decide to charge for idling, you must spend more fuel.

Driving. As long as your battery is connected and the alternator is working, your battery should charge just fine. However, unlike the 30-minute drive required to charge a normal battery, you may need to drive for at least an hour.

In short, you don’t need to worry about any special considerations. Just keep driving, and your battery should charge perfectly.

What Amp Should I Charge My Deep Cycle Battery?

The charging rate for a lead-acid batter is about 20% of the Ah rating. So, if you are using a 15Amp charger for a 75Ah battery, consider a 5.5 setting.

A deep cycle battery comes with six internal cells, which could confuse users regarding the charging rate. This is because most charging rates refer to each cell instead of the whole battery. And that is why charging at 5.5Amps is recommended.

A minimum of 5 amp charger for a 12v deep cycle battery gives you the best results. And if you have a pair of 6 6-volts, then a 15-amp charger should be great.