{"id":1209,"date":"2025-03-27T13:26:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-site.se\/sutars.com\/?page_id=1209"},"modified":"2026-05-18T17:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T15:25:00","slug":"faq-lead-acid-batteries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/faq-lead-acid-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ Lead-acid batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FAQ Lead-acid batteries<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Frequently asked questions about lead-acid batteries<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat happens when batteries discharge each other? How deeply can you discharge them without damaging them? On this page, we have gathered answers to the most common questions about lead\u2011acid batteries in boats \u2013 everything from charge acceptance to lifespan, top\u2011up charging, and how to avoid unnecessary wear. Perfect for those who want to understand more and take proper care of their batteries.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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What is charge acceptance? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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It is a measure of how well the batteries accept current. A larger battery bank provides higher charge acceptance. Older batteries have poorer acceptance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Will my batteries discharge each other? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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No, as long as you have healthy batteries, only small currents flow, whose effect requires a very long time. However, a defective battery will drain even the healthy batteries in the same circuit and, over time, also damage them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do the house batteries discharge the starter battery when I start the engine? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo, the starter motor lowers the voltage more than the discharged batteries and will draw all the current. If you have a diesel engine that needs to be glow\u2011plug heated, a small current will flow for a few seconds from the starter battery to the house bank, but it will never amount to more than 1 Ah.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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What is the lifespan of my lead\u2011acid batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAfter three years, many have only half of the battery capacity left. Then it may be time to replace them.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Can I increase the lifespan of my lead\u2011acid batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes. By expanding the battery bank, charge acceptance increases and the depth of discharge decreases, which reduces wear on the lead\u2011acid batteries. Handling when they are not in use also affects their lifespan.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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How deeply can I discharge the lead\u2011acid batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo avoid drastically shortening the lifespan of your lead\u2011acid batteries, marine and leisure batteries should rarely be discharged to 50 percent. In normal use, you should preferably stay above 70\u201375 percent of the battery\u2019s capacity. Gel and AGM batteries are more durable.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Can my lead-acid batteries be overcharged? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf charging continues for a number of hours at 14.4 V, the lead\u2011acid batteries will become overcharged. In the past, lead\u2011acid batteries gassed quite a lot. Nowadays, much of the gassing has been eliminated in lead\u2011acid batteries. Therefore, there are few boats that run the engine long enough for gassing to become a problem.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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What capacity do my lead\u2011acid batteries have? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You cannot find out how much electricity your lead\u2011acid batteries actually contain when they are fully charged by measuring the voltage. If the lead\u2011acid batteries have lost capacity, you can determine this by performing a load test<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Is it good to top up the batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes, because the durability of the batteries increases if they are occasionally topped up. A solar panel can handle this for weeks while the boat is not in use.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Can a mains\u2011powered charger top up the batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOf course, but the downside is that you have to run around with cables across the piers and look for power outlets. A solar panel is easier.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Can a mains\u2011powered charger cause galvanic corrosion? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes, if shore ground is not isolated from the ground in the boat.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Which charger should I choose for my batteries? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAvoid old transformer chargers. Instead, invest in a modern charger. Large chargers charge faster than small ones, but they are more expensive. However, you rarely need a charger capable of more than 10\u201320 amps.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Frequently asked questions about lead-acid batteries What happens when batteries discharge each other? How deeply can you discharge them without damaging them? On this page, we have gathered answers to the most common questions about lead\u2011acid batteries in boats \u2013 everything from charge acceptance to lifespan, top\u2011up charging, and how to avoid unnecessary wear. Perfect […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"FAQs on lead-acid batteries | Sutars","_seopress_titles_desc":"Here you will find frequently asked questions about lead-acid batteries, so you can take care of your batteries properly. Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch with us!","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"Pagecategories":[60],"class_list":{"0":"post-1209","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"Pagecategories-batterierna"},"acf":[],"meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1209"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15700,"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1209\/revisions\/15700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"Pagecategories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sutars.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/Pagecategories?post=1209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}