Which batteries should I buy?

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Lead-acid batteries

From an economic standpoint, you should get the most ampere-hours per krona with standard marine or leisure batteries from well-known manufacturers such as Exide, Varta, and Global. They are typically 75–80 Ah. If you buy larger lead-acid batteries, they are more expensive per ampere-hour; in addition, they are much heavier and more cumbersome to get down into the boat.

In addition to starter batteries, there are leisure batteries and various special batteries such as gel and AGM batteries.
A starter battery is designed for rapid discharge and recharge but performs poorly with deep discharges. The leisure battery is designed to withstand deeper discharges, down to 45–50 percent of the battery’s capacity, at the expense of starting current capacity in severe cold. A standard marine battery has a starting current of over 500 A even at −30 °C. That is sufficient to start the vast majority of engines.

Gel & AGM batteries

Gel and AGM batteries can withstand even deeper discharges and more cycles, but they are more expensive batteries. However, you get more Wh (watt-hours) out of such a battery. So the cost per usable Wh does not become much higher; in some cases it can even be cheaper with an AGM or gel battery.

You usually do not need a special starter battery, but can use lead-acid batteries of the same type throughout the entire battery bank. You can then also rotate them so that the starter battery, which is never deeply discharged, can become a consumer battery after one season. In this way, you extend the service life of your batteries. GEL batteries cannot handle high currents and are therefore not suitable as starter batteries, bow thruster batteries, etc.
Home / Wired and Inspired / Batteries / Which batteries should I buy?

Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are a given in your mobile phone and are slowly but surely making their way into vehicles. If you are looking at special lead-acid batteries, you should consider getting lithium batteries. The price difference is smaller than before, and the quality of lithium batteries is now really good.

There are different types of lithium batteries.
Lithium polymer batteries are what you find in mobile phones. They are expensive, have high capacity, and are suitable for small, compact batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in, for example, power tools. They require constant monitoring, as overheating can lead to explosive collapses.

The third type is lithium iron phosphate batteries. They have slightly lower energy density than the other two, but in return are more chemically stable. These are the ones best suited for use in boats, motorhomes, caravans, etc.

A lithium battery weighs less than half as much as a corresponding gel battery and takes up about half the space. But the major advantage is the charge acceptance.

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