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Fact or Fiction? Deep-cycle lead acid batteries are designed to be discharged until almost empty

By Dave Helgeson
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RV blogs, social media groups and YouTube videos have exploded over the past couple of years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and some downright bad information. Can you tell the difference? In this regular column we will post a question based on information we find online. You can then test your RV prowess by seeing how your answer compares with the experts. Today we discuss deep-cycle lead acid batteries.

Today’s Question:

Is the following statement fact or fiction? “Both deep-cycle lithium RV batteries and lead acid batteries are designed to be discharged until almost empty, then recharged (this is what ‘deep-cycle’ refers to).”
*Paraphrased/condensed from (this source)

What do you think?

Click here to view the answer.

##RVT1127

Dave Helgeson
Dave Helgeson
Dave Helgeson has been around travel trailers his entire life. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership long before the term “RV” had been coined. He has served in every position of an RV dealership with the exception of bookkeeping. Dave served as President of a local chapter of the RVDA (Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association), was on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college and was a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. He and his wife Cheri operated their own RV dealership for many years and for the past 29 years have managed RV shows. Dave presents seminars at RV shows across the country and was referred to as "The foremost expert on boondocking" by the late Gary Bunzer, "The RV Doctor". Dave and his wife are currently on their fifth travel trailer with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications on his own unit.

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1 Comment

Split Shaft
2 years ago

Deep-Cycle batteries are labeled such, because they can be deep discharged without damage, provided they are recharged soon after. I have investigated battery cycle life versus output and a deep-cycle battery will deliver more watt-hours if discharged only 50-percent before being recharged. However, because the battery is designed to be deep-cycled without serious damage, when deep discharged and recharged, they still deliver somewhat near the same watt-hours. Folks seeking longest battery life will not discharge below 50-percent and folks seeking more capacity with fewer batteries will discharge deeper and replace sooner.

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