Whenever possible, please follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing, jumping,
installing, charging and equalizing batteries.
4. Types of Batteries
Basically the major types of batteries are as follows:
•
Starting Battery
Sometimes it is called SLI (Starting, Lighting and Ignition) battery and it is
designed to start and run engines. It delivers quick bursts of energy (such as
starting engines) and have a greater plate count.
The plates will also be thinner and are composed of a Lead "sponge", similar in
appearance to a very fine foam sponge. This gives a very large surface area, but
if deep cycled, this sponge will quickly be consumed and fall to the bottom of the
cells.
Automotive batteries will generally fail after 30-150 deep cycles if deep cycled,
while they may last for thousands of cycles in normal starting use (2-5%
discharge).
Starting batteries are usually rated at "CCA", or cold cranking amps, or
"MCA", Marine cranking amps - the same as "CA".
•
Deep Cycle Battery
These batteries are used mainly on golf cart, scooter, solar, RV, etc has less
instant energy but greater long-term energy delivery.
They are designed to be discharged down as much as 80% time after time, and
have much thicker plates. The major difference between a true deep cycle battery
and others is that the plates are SOLID Lead plates - not sponge.
Deep cycle batteries are usually rated at “AH” or Amperes Hour.
•
Marine Battery
These batteries are usually actually a "hybrid", and fall between the starting and
deep-cycle batteries. The plates may be composed of Lead sponge, but it is
coarser and heavier than that used in starting batteries.
"Hybrid" types should not be discharged more than 50%
5. Operation Instruction
5.1 Tool Description
