Well, there are many things need to be considered when it comes to selecting a power inverter but if you have enough money to spend for a pure sine wave inverter, the answer would be “Yes! It’s worth every penny”. The best pure sine wave inverters tend to incorporate very expensive, high power capable digital components. They not only help you to get the most out of battery bank, but also protect even the most sensitive electronics that you have. The result is your devices work safer and much more efficiently.

This guide will walk you through everything you should know before you buy a pure sine wave inverter for your RV, boat, truck, home backup system, or solar battery bank. It will help you find the one that best matches your needs. We also review some of the best pure sine wave inverters on the market that will help you narrow down your choices.

• Choosing the Best Solar Batteries for Your Solar Power Storage

Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters on the Market

Image	Pure Sine Wave Inverter	Running Watts	Voltages	Best For
	Magnum MS Series Inverter/Chargers	2kW to 4kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Marine
	AIMS Power Pure Sine Wave Inverter Chargers	600W to 12kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Marine, Car, Truck
	Xantrex Freedom SW Series 12V Inverter/Charger	2kW/3kW	12V	RV, Marine, Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid
	Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter	3kW	12V	Trucks, RV, Marine, Home Backup, Solar Off-Grid
	Samlex America PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter	300W to 3kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Car, Truck, RV, Home Backup, Solar, Marine
	Outback Power FXR 120V Series Inverter Charger	2kW to 3600W	12V, 24V, 48V	Large Solar Off-Grid/Grid-tie Systems, Home Backup
	Xantrex PROWatt SW inverter	540W, 900W, 1800W	12V	Commercial truck, RV, Marine, Small Solar PV Systems
	VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE Inverters	1.5kW/3kW	12V	Car, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Back Up Power

Here are Our Top Picks

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One of the most advanced pure sine wave inverters/chargers for home backup and off-grid systems is the MS Series Inverter/Charger from Magnum Energy. The pure sine wave output of this inverter is very clean and highly recommended for computer equipment, televisions, stereo amplifiers and sensitive radio equipment. It’s available for 12V, 24V, and 48V systems in various sizes (2000W to 4000W) to meet the demands of a wide range of electrical systems.

Like other Magnum inverter chargers, the MS Series pure sine wave inverter includes five-stage smart battery chargers for charging batteries from any 120V AC source such as a generator, AC utility power or 120V AC shore power hookup. Best of all, when installed in a solar PV system, this inverter will work perfectly with most MPPT charge controllers on the market. The result is more energy and more run time on cloudy days. For more details, read our detailed reviews below.

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The AIMS Power Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger is one of the best pure sine wave inverter chargers for you. It’s very popular today not only because of its reliability but also the ability to support a wide range of applications, battery types, and you can easily find a model that fits the size of your system. It is available in 12V, 24V, and 48V from 600W to 12kW.  The most common sizes are 2000W and 3000W at 12V, which are being used the most for RV deep cycle batteries.

Like the Magnum inverter, the AIMS pure sine wave inverter charger is an all-in-one device. The inverter converts DC power to AC power, while also automatically charging a battery bank when the city or generator power is available. When connected to AC power, the unit charges and maintains the required battery bank. As soon as the AC power is disconnected or city power is lost, the inverter switches to the DC battery source.

What’s A Pure Sine Wave Inverter?

Finding the best pure sine wave inverter for you is not easy, especially if you don’t understand what a pure sine wave inverter is.

Power inverters are devices which can convert electrical energy of DC form into that of AC. They come in all shapes and sizes, from low power functions such as powering a car radio to that of backing up a building in case of power outage. Inverters can come in many different varieties, differing in price, power, efficiency and purpose. The purpose of a DC/AC power inverter is typically to take DC power supplied by a battery (12 volts) or a group of batteries (24 volts or 48 volts), and transform it into a 120 volt AC power source operating at 60 Hz, emulating the power available at an ordinary household electrical outlet.

On the market today there are two different types of power inverters, modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters. These inverters differ in their outputs, providing varying levels of efficiency and distortion that can affect electronic devices in different ways.

Pure Sine Wave Inverters

Pure sine wave inverters are able to simulate precisely the AC power that is delivered by the utility, or may be better. They are used to operate sensitive electronic devices that require high-quality waveform with little harmonic distortion. In addition, they have high surge capacity which means they are able to exceed their rated wattage for a limited time. This enables power motors to start easily which can draw up to seven times their rated wattage during startup. Virtually any electronic device will operate with the output from a pure sine wave inverter.

Usually pure sine wave inverters are more expensive than modified sine wave inverters due to the added circuitry. The best pure sine wave inverters could cost about 3-4 times as much as a modified sine wave inverter of the same power. For example, the AIMS 2000W Pure Sine Inverter and the AIMS 2000W Modified Sine Wave Inverter.

This cost, however, is made up for in its ability to provide power to all AC electronic devices, allow inductive loads to run faster and quieter, and reduce the audible and electric noise in audio equipment, TV’s and fluorescent lights.

Modified Sine Wave Inverters

A modified sine wave is similar to a square wave but instead has a “stepping” look to it that relates more in shape to a sine wave. The waveform is easy to produce because it is just the product of switching between 3 values at set frequencies, thereby leaving out the more complicated circuitry needed for a pure sine wave.

The modified sine wave inverter provides a cheap and easy solution for powering devices that need AC power. It does have some drawbacks as not all devices work properly on a modified sine wave. And even some equipment may seem to be working fine, but may run hotter than with a pure sine wave inverter and reduce the life of it.

Pure Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave – Why Pure Sine Wave is Better?

Some electronic devices may pick up inverter noise while operating with modified sine waveform. Using fluorescent lighting can be problematic when using modified sine wave inverters. Most of the equipment on the market is designed for use with pure sine wave inverters. Some appliances, such as refrigerators, air compressors, water pumps, clocks or speed motors will not produce full output if they don’t use pure sine wave current, moreover they may damage the equipment. Some loads, such as light dimmers will not work without pure sine wave at all.

Pure sine wave inverters, on the other hand, will work properly with any electronic device that requires sensitive calibration. They also can reach a higher voltage level, which causes the load to perform better than modified sine wave inverters can provide. Plus, one of the biggest advantages of pure sine wave over modified sine wave is that it consumes much less energy. A modified sine wave inverter can consume up to 30% more energy than with a pure sine wave inverter. This is very important to a small power system.

How to Size Your Pure Sine Wave Inverter

The best pure sine wave inverters for you should have enough capacity to power the devices you have. If you only need to use one device at a time, then that’s the only one you’ll need to look at. The situation does get more complicated as you add more devices, but it’s still a relatively simple calculation.

You will have to figure out how much wattage your devices require. This information is usually printed somewhere on electronic devices, although it may show voltage and amperage ratings instead. If you are able to find the specific wattages for your devices, you’ll want to add them together to get a bare minimum figure. This number will be the smallest pure sine wave inverter that could possibly suit your needs, so it’s a good idea to add between 10 and 20 percent on top and then buy a pure sine wave inverter that size or larger.

The other factor to keep in mind when determining the necessary size of a pure sine wave inverter is the difference between Running Watts and Starting Watts.

Starting Watts is the wattage that a pure sine wave inverter can supply for short periods of time when the demand spikes, while Running Watts is the limit for normal operation. If your devices draw a combined total of 1000 watts, then you need to buy a pure sine wave inverter that has a running watts rating of 1000 watts. A pure sine wave inverter that is rated at 1000W starting and 500W running just won’t cut it in that situation.

Starting/Running Watts for Common Devices

Bear in mind that if you’re going to be using your pure sine wave inverter for an RV air conditioner, always consider a model that has a running watts rating of at least 2000W and a starting watts rating of at least 3000W.

Some of The Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters For You

1. AIMS Power 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Home Backup

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One of the most popular pure sine wave inverters for home backup systems is the AIMS Power 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger. This inverter is available in various sizes (from 600W to 4000W) to meet the demand of electrical system in your home. If you’re running a window air conditioner, the 4000W model would be an excellent choice. This inverter is also a great choice for RVs, cars, trucks, renewable solar, off-grid, and marine applications (as it has conformal-coated (marine-coated) boards, making it marine-grade and resistant to dust and/or water vapor that may travel through the air and could otherwise be damaging to the unit).

The Aims Power pure sine wave inverter is an all-in-one inverter. Not only does it take DC power and convert it to AC, but it can also automatically charge a battery bank and automatically switch when connected to AC power. This inverter has 2 inputs, DC and AC. When connected to AC power, the unit will pass the AC power through it (generator, shore power, outlets), as well as charge and maintain the battery bank. As soon as the AC power is disconnected, the generator is shut off or city power is lost, the inverter will automatically switch to the DC battery source.

One of the features that makes it the best pure sine wave inverters for home electricity backup is an average 10 millisecond transfer time with the built-in transfer switch. This feature is awesome as it makes the inverter a nearly uninterrupted power supply (UPS) when combined with a battery bank. This pure sine wave inverter also features a battery-type selector, which helps user regulate the voltage going into the battery bank. This capability can be a big money-saver since treating the battery bank properly will maximize its lifespan.

Must-have accessories:

• AIMS Power REMOTELF Remote Switch with LCD Monitoring Screen

2. Xantrex Freedom SW Series 3000 Watt Inverter/Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for RV, Boat

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When it comes to electrical power, RVers need reliable devices that work easily – exactly when they should. Let’s face it, they’ve got more to think about than whether their electrical system is working: like taking the perfect panoramic shot, fishing, hiking, or watching the game highlights in the parking lot of their favorite sports arena. In the RV industry, Xantrex is one of the most reliable names. And the Xantrex Freedom SW Series 3000 Watt Inverter/Charger is one of the best pure sine wave inverters that Xantrex offers to RVers.

The Freedom SW 3000W inverter/charger is packed with features and it is one of the most advanced pure sine wave inverters on the market today. It features premium sine wave output with high surge capability and temperature compensated, power factor corrected, multi-stage charging to meet power needs of demanding loads including inductive motor loads. It provides 3000 watts of utility grade AC power to operate commonly used AC-powered electronics such as plasma television sets, microwaves, entertainment systems, computers, printers, power tools, refrigerators and much more. This is a great choice for RVs with an air conditioner. With a powerful 150A built-in smart charger, it will charge your battery bank very fast.

Video: Xantrex Freedom SW Inverter/Chargers

We’ve found that this is one of the best pure sine wave inverter/chargers for charging your battery bank with a generator. It features a “Generator Support Mode” which allows the inverter to step in to assist the generator when AC loads exceed the capacity. An optional automatic generator start feature protects batteries by starting up the generator to charge the batteries while continuing to supply AC. With an optional remote ON/OFF switch, you can link the inverter to the ignition switch to prevent unwanted battery discharge when the alternator isn’t providing power.

• Read more: What’s the quietest generator for RV?

Multi-stage charging is the best way to restore a battery’s charge and extend battery life. The Freedom SW 3000 pure sine wave inverter/charger is power factor corrected for maximum efficiency and uses a 3 stage charging system (bulk, absorption, and float) plus a manual equalize feature to charge AGM, flooded, and Gel batteries. The equalize feature helps to retain maximum battery capacity by removing crystals that form on the plates. Using the optional system control panel, you will be able to program charging rates to match manufacturer’s specifications. The charger also compensates for battery temperature using the included sensor.

Overall, this is definitely one of the best pure sine wave inverter chargers you can buy. It’s a perfect inverter for the boat, home solar PV system, and backup system as well. If you’re looking for a lower capacity pure sine wave inverter/charger, we would highly recommend you take a look at the Xantrex Freedom SW 2000W.

Must-have accessories:

• Xanbus System Control Panel for Xantrex Freedom SW

3. Magnum MS Series Inverter/Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Off-Grid System

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The Magnum MS Series Inverter/Charger is a pure sine wave inverter designed specifically for the most demanding off-grid applications. Besides off-grid systems, it is also very popular for RV’s and marine use.

This pure sine wave inverter and power-factor corrected charger provides clean, reliable inverter power with a total harmonic distortion of less than 5%. Flash programming allows easy memory upgrades. The transfer relay shifts power automatically in 16 milliseconds whenever shore power is lost, preventing crashes from damaging sensitive electronics. The inverter/charger keeps its cool, with dual variable-speed brushless cooling fans.

Like other Magnum inverter/chargers, the MS Series includes five-stage smart battery chargers (with Bulk, Absorption, Float, Equalization and Battery Saver-which maintains your batteries in storage without drying them out). Ruggedly marinized for corrosion protection in the saltwater environment, the MS Series includes conformal coated circuit boards, an aluminum powder-coated chassis and top and stainless fasteners. Available for 12V, 24V, and 48V systems in 2000, 2800 and 4000-watt sizes to meet the demands of a wide range of electrical systems.

Overall, if you’re looking for the best pure sine wave inverter for your off-grid system, or electrical system in your RV or boat, you could stop here. Even though the inverter is limited to 4000W, but as more energy is required, you can connect multiple inverters in parallel to get more capacity. You do not need an additional remote control unit to operate the power system, but if you want remote monitoring and control capability, an optional remote control can be located up to 150′ away from the power center.

Must-have accessories:

• MAGNUM ME-RC50 Remote Panel

4. Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

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If you’re looking for a high end, high capacity pure sine-wave inverter, we’d highly recommend you give the Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter a serious look. This is one of the highest quality pure sine wave inverters in the industry. It supports AC devices rated up to 3000-Watt delivering 3000-Watt of continuous AC power with a high surge capacity for devices that require up to 6000-Watt to start.

The high capacity, compact, easy-to-use and easy-to-install design of the GP-SW3000 make it the best pure sine wave inverter for full-time RVers, long-haul trucks, utility vehicles, work trucks, and marine applications.

5. Samlex America PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter

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Founded in 1991, Samlex America is one of the most trusted names in the inverter industry. The company operates factories and assembly facilities in Europe, Asia, and North America. Samlex offers inverters from 120 to 3,500 watts, along with a variety of battery chargers and communications converters.

The Samlex America PST Series is the best pure sine wave inverter that Samlex offers to the market. This inverter is available in many different sizes, from 300W to 3000W and capable of working with systems ranging from 12V to 48V in input range. So you can easily find the size that meets your power needs. All of them feature powerful microprocessors, and a built-in transfer switch capable of driving highly reactive and capacitive loads.

The Samlex America PST series is best for temporary or intermittent loads. If you plan to use devices for extended periods or want to power devices such as a water pump, air compressor or power tools, you may want to consider the more efficient SA series of inverters from Samlex.

If you’re looking for an inverter/charger from Samlex America, consider the Samlex Evolution, or EVO for short.

Must-have accessories:

• Samlex RC-15A (Remote Control for PST-600 and PST-1000 Inverters)
• Samlex RC-300 (Remote Control for PST-1500, PST-2000 and PST-3000 Inverters)

6. Outback Power FXR Series Inverter Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Large Solar Off-Grid/Grid-tie Systems

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Outback is an American company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Arlington, WA, and is specialized in the design, production and sales of mobile and marine solutions, power backup systems and renewable energy systems. In particular, Outback specializes in the manufacturing of solar products suitable for off-grid applications. Their products have been used in extreme conditions for example in Alaska and Africa, but also in rural areas in Latin America and southern California.

The Outback Power FXR Series Inverter/Charger is the most recent generation of Outback’s pure sine wave inverters, which can be used in grid-connected, off-grid, or even hybrid applications. This is definitely one of the best pure sine wave inverters for you.

Both off-grid and grid-tied functionality in one unit:

• Seven programmable modes, including GridZero and Support Mode and built-in networked communications
• Advanced Battery Charging (ABC) with expanded charging voltages and time parameters, enabling system designers to accommodate the specific charging profiles and algorithms of new and emerging energy storage technologies including Lithium Ion, Aqueous Ion and Flow chemistry batteries
• Easy system upgradability in the field

The Outback FXR pure sine wave inverter/chargers can be paired with a MATE3s remote to add OPTICS RE to remotely monitor and control system performance from any location. Available in power ranges from 2000W-3600W, multiple units may be stacked and connected with other OutBack Power electronics for more seamless system integration and the ability to function in a wide variety of applications, and system sizes.

Up to nine inverters can be combined in a 3-phase system with the 12V, 24V or 48V models, and up to 36kW in a grid-tied 24V or 48V system. The exclusive modular system architecture means that increased power output is just an additional FXR inverter/charger away.

Must-have accessories:

• OutBack Power MATE2 Digital Display System Control Flush Mount

The post The Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters To Buy appeared first on Green Living Blog.

That’s why we spent 30 hours researching some of the best marine battery chargers on the market to help you find the right one. And we’ve learned that a 3-bank marine battery charger is the most common pick for most people that own a small boat with a trolling motor on it. You need one charging bank for each battery (include your starting battery, if appropriate), so with a 3-bank marine battery charger, you can charge up to 3 of 12V batteries at the same time.

We’ve picked and reviewed some of the best 3-bank marine battery chargers on the market that we think are best suited to your boat. Most chargers in our comparison are not only designed to charge your marine batteries, they’re also designed to diagnose, recover, and maintain a wide range of batteries. You’ll find chargers from leading manufacturers like Minn Kota, Schumacher, NOCO Genius, Dual Pro, Marinco, and ProMariner. Most of these chargers are either designed or made in the USA for the highest quality and reliability.

1. Dual Pro 15 Amp/Bank Professional Series 3 Bank Charger – Best of the Best

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Among all the best 3-bank marine battery chargers that we’ve reviewed, the Dual Pro Professional Series 3 Bank Charger is the one that we love most. For more than a decade, the Professional Series chargers have set the standard in the marine industry. They are known as the safest, most reliable, and best performing marine battery chargers in the industry. There are many good chargers for marine batteries that you can find, but it’s almost impossible to find any 3-bank charger that is better than the Dual Pro Professional at this time, even Minn Kota’s.

The Dual Pro Professional Series 3 Bank Charger is designed and built tough to withstand intense vibration, extreme temperature variations, and submersion without damaging the unit. It uses temperature compensation in order to fully charge a battery in hot or cold environments and is controlled by microprocessors in order to assure precise control over each totally independent charging bank. It has true reverse polarity protection and shut off completely after each charge cycle.

The key feature of this 3-bank marine battery charger is its DeltaVolt Intuitive Charging technology. This technology utilizes sophisticated firmware (software) to enable the charger to automatically adapt to the charging needs of a wide range of batteries such as Group 24, 27, 31 and 12V – 36V wet cell and AGM batteries. In fact, DeltaVolt technology can simultaneously charge a mix of battery sizes safely and completely.

With so many such great features and the highest quality in the industry, we understand why the price tag of this Dual Pro Professional charger is higher than most other 3-bank battery chargers on the market. Of course, you get what you pay for. With this best of the best 3-bank marine battery charger, you will never have to worry about your boat batteries again, just hook it up and forget.

2. MinnKota MK 330D Digital On-Board Battery Charger (10 Amps per Bank)

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Now, let’s take a look at our second pick of the best 3-bank marine battery chargers – the MinnKota MK 330D Digital On-Board Battery Charger. Minn Kota’s chargers always have a very high quality and are preferred choices of boaters and fishers who own Minn Kota trolling motors.

The MinnKota MK 330D can charge any type of marine battery, it features enhanced status codes to display charge stage, maintenance mode status, error notifications and full charge, and the automatic shut-off feature extends battery life by shutting down when charging is complete. It uses a digitally controlled microprocessor with three charging banks, and it gives 30 amps total output.

Like any other Minn Kota battery charger, the MinnKota MK 330D controls the voltage and current your battery gets throughout the three stages of the charging cycle for a safe, precise charge. It also includes an automatic temperature compensation feature that adjusts the output voltage to assure the battery reaches its gassing threshold and achieves a full charge. The temperature compensation feature also protects the batteries from “boiling” due to overcharging at high temperatures.

3. Minn Kota MK 330 Precision On-Board 3-Bank Charger

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You should get the Minn Kota MK 330 Precision On-Board charger if you want more than what you can get from the Minn Kota MK 330D. A unique feature of this Precision charger is the ability to set the charge profile for each individual bank. That means you can select what battery type you have connected and tailor the charge to the needs of each battery. This feature would be very convenient if you’re using AGM for cranking and Gel for trolling.

An equalizing feature is available for periodic equalization for flooded acid batteries. Every time you plug in a Precision charger, it “equalizes,” meaning it cleans and conditions your flooded battery to extend run time and battery life. You can also activate a more rigorous, complete equalization at the push of a button.

The third feature that you can’t get from the Minn Kota MK 330D is the “low-line voltage compensation” feature. When outlets get overloaded or hooked up to long extension cords, they don’t put out the 120 volts they’re supposed to, which makes charge times go up. This feature allows the charger to generate reactive power and deliver the same quick charge even when AC voltage has dropped.

4. NOCO Genius GEN3 30 Amp 3-Bank Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger

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Designed to operate in extreme conditions with a waterproof, shock and vibration resistant rugged construction, as well as saltwater tested to combat corrosion, the NOCO Genius GEN3 is one of the best 3-bank marine battery chargers from NoCo – one of the leading manufacturers of marine, industrial and photostatic battery management solutions. NOCO Genius On-Board chargers are also the most popular chargers for boats in the USA.

The Gen3 can charge and maintain all types of lead-acid batteries from 25-230Ah, including Wet, Gel, MF, and AGM. As the name suggests, this charger is very smart. It will automatically determine the condition of your batteries before beginning its charge cycle.

It will only charge when the batteries need it, and will fully maintain your battery when it is in storage or between uses. It’s also programmed for optimal battery charging and maintenance, with proprietary Rapid Charging Technology(RCT).

Compared to the Minn Kota battery chargers, the Gen3 is much lighter and smaller, this allows the charger to be easily installed in tight spaces. It uses high-frequency switch-mode technology to efficiency convert A/C power into safe D/C power for battery charging. And its on-board microcomputer precisely controls the charging to minimize power loss to create an incredibly compact form factor.

Of course, this charger cannot be better than our top 3 picks. But with a 5-year warranty and an excellent customer service, you can’t go wrong with the NOCO Genius GEN3.

5. ProMariner ProSport 20+ 3 Bank Battery Charger

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In our comparison of the best 3-bank marine battery chargers, the ProMariner ProSport 20+ is the least expensive unit that we suggest to you. This charger can automatically charge and maintain engine crank battery while sensing and distributing 100% of the available charging amps to trolling motor or house bank battery.

Like 4 models above, the ProMariner ProSport 20+ uses a smart microprocessor to monitor the battery charging process. It provides automatic installation feedback with its exclusive “System Check OK” and individual “Battery Bank Trouble” LED indicators.

After fully charging and conditioning batteries, it will monitor and auto maintain batteries only when needed to maintain a full state of charge, resulting in maximum reserve power performance and lower AC power consumption and operating costs. It also incorporates Distributed-On-Demand Charging technology, taking 100 percent of the available charging amps and distributing them to any one or combination of all batteries as needed for faster charging.

This charger is capable of charging group 24 to 31 flooded, Gel and high-performance AGM batteries. It’s an extremely durable and rugged charger that is also completely waterproof.

ProMariner is owned by Power Products, LLC – an American company which is one of the world’s most successful manufacturers of premium power products and charging system technology for the marine industry. Power Products LLC is also home to industry leading brands Marinco, Mastervolt, BEP, and Anchor. Therefore, ProMariner is a brand that you can definitely trust.

6. Marinco Charge Pro Waterproof 3-Bank Battery Charger 

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The Marinco Charge Pro is one of the top-of-the-line marine battery chargers on the market. This charger is an on-board charger that is designed for a life on the water. Combining state of the art technology with excellent corrosion and moisture resistance make this charger a great choice for marine applications and trailered boats using group 24, 27 or 31 batteries.

The feature that makes the Marinco Charge Pro one of our picks for the best 3-bank marine battery chargers is its built-in microprocessor with Sense-Send technology, which allows the chargers to detect which batteries need the most charge and prioritize accordingly.

The battery chargers have the ability to charge wet, AGM and gel batteries, with a universal input (120-230 V) for total worldwide freedom. It uses a five-stage charging system to quickly restore store batteries and maintain them for your next adventure.

Plus, the Marinco Charge Pro is also engineered to be compatible with 12V or 24V single or dual bank systems (single bank only for 24V systems). The two outputs normally divide available amps between each battery bank but can be set in parallel to focus all 10 amps on a single 12V or 24V bank.

The post Best 3-Bank Marine Battery Chargers To Buy appeared first on Green Living Blog.

AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries have become much more common over the past few years since they can provide high current and their cost is relatively low. AGM batteries can come in starting and deep cycle and are well suited to most systems as they are completely sealed they can’t be spilled, do not need periodic watering, and emit no corrosive fumes, the electrolyte will not stratify and no equalization charging is required.

Some folks said that they prefer AGM to other types of batteries because of the fact that it can be mounted in any position, take it off-road, jump your truck a bunch of times and still have a battery that works. General speaking, AGM batteries are maintenance free, provides good electrical reliability and less prone to damage caused by vibration.

However, nothing is perfect. As with all gelled and sealed units, AGM batteries have one major disadvantage: they are especially sensitive to overcharging. This kind of battery has a different charging requirement based on its specific design. Charging AGM batteries properly is complicated by the fact that some, perhaps most, traditional battery chargers will grossly overcharge them.

Why? Because a traditional charger can monitor how many amps it’s supplying at its output, but there is no way for it to detect when the battery is fully charged. Fortunately, we tested several smart chargers that are perfect for charging AGM batteries and won’t harm your batteries under any circumstance. Now, take a look at some of the best AGM battery chargers that we’ve compiled below.

1. Best Overall: NOCO Genius G7200 12V/24V 7.2A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger

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Based on our testing, professional and user reviews, the NOCO Genius G7200 UltraSafe Smart Charger is our pick for the absolute best AGM battery charger. This charger can be used for both 12V and 24V lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. It also can be used as a battery maintainer to keep both starter and deep-cycle batteries fully charged.

In terms of reliability, NoCo battery charger is a brand you can trust. It’s an American, privately held, multinational corporation that was founded in 1914. Since then, the company has been creating and designing premium consumer battery chargers, jump starters, solar panels, and portable power devices as well as a wide range related battery products and accessories. The thing we love most about NoCo battery chargers is that all of them are made with the safety and in mind.

The NOCO Genius G7200 is a perfect choice for AGM batteries. It is able to charge an AGM deep cycle battery 2 times faster than an ordinary charger. Actually, this charger could greatly reduce the charging time of any kind of deep cycle or starting battery that you have.

Another advantage of all NoCo Genius smart chargers is that they are extremely lightweight and incredibly portable. These chargers utilize the latest advancements in battery charging technology converts energy 30,000 times faster than traditional automotive battery chargers. This helps the charger to minimize their energy consumption.

Video: NOCO Genius G7200 Smart Battery Charger Reviews

2. CTEK (56-353) MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger

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The second best AGM battery charger is the CTEK (56-353) MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Battery Charger. We tested this charger and found that it charges an AGM battery as good as our top-pick NoCo. However, there are two things that held this model back from our top spot: it’s more expensive and it can’t charge lithium-ion batteries (that doesn’t really matter if you don’t intend to use lithium-ion batteries in the future).

About Ctek, this is a Swedish company and is one of the global market leaders in battery management solutions. The company produces some of the top-of-the-line battery chargers for cars, trucks, and marine applications. Let’s see what Jay Leno says about Ctek battery chargers in the following video.

The CTEK MULTI US 7002 is a charger that offers state of the art technology that was previously only found in CTEK’s professional product range. The charger can solve a broad range of battery-related problems and is the perfect charger for those with high demands. It claims to be the smartest in the world with its unique eight-step charging process.

• #Step 1: Pulsing voltage removes sulfates from the lead plates of the battery restoring the battery capacity.

• #Step 2: Tests if the battery can accept charge. Charging begins if the battery is OK.

• #Step 3: Charging with the maximum current until approximately 80 % battery capacity.

• #Step 4: Charging with declining current to maximize up to 100 % battery capacity

• #Step 5: Tests if the battery can hold charge. Batteries that cannot hold charge may need to be replaced.

• #Step 6: Reconditioning function for deeply discharged batteries.

• #STEP 7: Maintaining the battery voltage at maximum level by providing a constant voltage charge.

• #STEP 8: Maintaining the battery at 95–100 % capacity. The charger monitors the battery voltage and gives a pulse when necessary to keep the battery fully charged.

These 8 steps combined with Ctek’s innovative technologies allow the Multi US 7002 to move far beyond the capabilities of other 12V chargers, even to the point of determining whether a battery can hold the charge given, and in the process ensure that each of your lead-acid vehicle batteries gets the best possible care.

3. XS Power HF1215 12V 15 Amp High Frequency AGM IntelliCharger

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If you already have an XS Power AGM Battery, you would know that this battery is excellent and performs better than most AGM batteries from other brands. And once you use the XS Power HF1215 12V 15 Amp High Frequency AGM IntelliCharger to charge your 12V AGM batteries, you will never want to use any other battery charger. This is one of the best AGM battery chargers that we love most, though, it’s relatively expensive compared to others of the same output rating.

The XS Power HF1215 charger is designed specifically for high performance 12V sealed lead-acid batteries. This charger combines the reliability of a High Frequency MOSFET rectified assembly with an advanced microprocessor control board to create a battery charger that can rapidly and safely recharge 12V maintenance free, deep cycle, gel-cell, and AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries in several sizes.

This charger features three distinct charging stages. During the first stage, called “Bulk” charging, the current is fixed and the voltage is allowed to float. During this stage, 80% of the battery’s capacity is restored. When the battery’s cell voltage is up to the correct level, the second stage called “Absorption” charging is engaged. During this stage, the voltage is fixed and the current is allowed to float. The battery is brought to 100% during this stage and the cells are equalized. The third stage is “Float” charging. During this stage, the voltage and current are reduced to a level that will maintain the battery indefinitely. These 3 stages will prevent your AGM batteries from overcharging.

4. Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer

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With more than 40 years history of technological innovation and engineering, Optima offers some of the best chargers for AGM batteries on the market. We are so confident that the Optima Digital 1200 will enhance the performance of your 12V AGM batteries as well as other high-performance flooded batteries. It will also recover your deeply discharged batteries and helps extend battery life.

Convenient features of the Optima Digital 1200 include an in-clamp LED work light for connections in dark conditions and a 5 Watt USB charging port compatible with iPad, iPhone, Android phones, cameras, digital video recorders and other USB powered devices and accessories. It also features integrated ergonomically designed non-slip DC charging clamps housed in a rear compartment for easy access and storage.

This charger employs the latest in digital, 6-stage charging:

• Stage 1: Analyze your battery for the state of charge and quality of connections before charging.
• Stage 2: Soft ramp charging-controlled amperage for deeply discharged batteries – when necessary
• Stage 3: Fast charge bulk mode for batteries moderately discharged – also known as normal battery usage.
• Stage 4: Conditioning mode for conditioning your battery with a finish/complete charge.
• Stage 5: Auto maintain, float mode for keeping your battery fully charged.
• Stage 6: A 30-day storage recondition mode – while your vehicle or battery is in storage and is being maintained.

One of the major advantages of the Optima Digital 1200 is the ability to charge a dead battery. While many 12V chargers won’t charge a battery that has less than 10.5 volts, this charger will recognize and charge a battery that is as low as 1.25 VDC. Of course, you could always use a jump starter to jump-start the battery and let it charge the battery enough for the charger to recognize it, but why you need a jump starter while a charger can do everything for you.

5. Schumacher SC-1200A-CA SpeedCharge 12Amp 6/12V Fully Automatic Battery Charger

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You get what you pay for, but this one is an exception. The Schumacher SC-1200A-CA SpeedCharge is the best AGM battery charger for the price. It is a battery charger that is completely automatic and is controlled by a microprocessor.

Advanced microprocessor controlled algorithms monitor the charging process to avoid battery damage caused by overcharging. Simply put, the charger collects information from the battery and adjusts the charge current and voltage based on this information. This allows the battery to be charged quickly, correctly, and completely when using a microprocessor controlled battery charger.

With 6V/12V auto voltage detection, this charger can do 3 Amp for maintaining, 6 Amp for medium charging and 12 Amp rapid charging. The higher the amp setting, the faster your battery will charge.

6. BatteryMINDer 128CEC1 Battery Charger

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One of the most advanced chargers for AGM batteries is the BatteryMINDer 128CEC1 Battery Charger. This charger can determine the level of charge remaining in the battery, and if weak and in need of replacement, before going bad. In addition, it tests for weak cells and will recover weak or severely discharged batteries that other chargers would reject. Therefore, we’d highly recommend this charger for batteries that have been neglected and abused.

The BatteryMINDer 128CEC1 is regulated and will not overcharge, no matter what amp selection you make. It is just a matter of how fast you need to charge the battery.

• If you know the battery is charged and in good shape use the 2 Amp setting.
• If you are charging a large deep cycle battery or more than one battery than use 4 Amp setting.
• You will probably use the wet/AGM/sealed selection most of the time. Use the Odyssey selection on all named Odyssey batteries at the 8 Amp setting.

The BatteryMINDer 128CEC1 is a quality battery charger that can replace all of your older models. The safety features and smart technology are state-of-the-art and are suitable for all users, both novices and professionals. The lightweight, compact design makes it easy to store and transport wherever you need it.

The post The Best AGM Battery Chargers To Buy appeared first on Green Living Blog.

A marine battery charger is probably the least expensive part of your boat, but it has a vital role to keep your batteries healthy and maximize performance. A good marine battery can be charged up hundreds of times, may last you anything from three or four years to a decade or more, but could be getting damaged completely through just one time of using the wrong kind of charger. That’s why a marine battery charger is as important as the batteries you put into it. But what should I do to find the right one?

We decided to do the legwork for you, interviewing experts and spending more than 80 hours researching and testing some of the best marine battery chargers on the market. We’ve learned that if you want to make the most out of your charger and extend the life of your marine batteries, you should only buy your charger from trusted brands like Minn Kota, ProMariner, Marinco, NoCo, Schumacher or Xantrex. A charger from these brands may cost a bit more than others, but they can help you save time and money in the long run.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the things you need to know to choose a new charger that best suited to batteries on your boat. And we’ll also review some of the best onboard/portable marine battery chargers on the market to help you narrow your choices. But if you’re too busy to read, here are our top two picks that we think are most likely what you’re looking for:

Best Marine Battery Chargers: Editor’s Picks

You won’t find any marine battery charger that is better than the Minn Kota MK 330 PC Precision On-Board 3-Bank Charger. This is one of the fastest and most advanced chargers so far. You can NEVER say that you have never heard of Minn Kota! Just like their electric trolling motors and other boating accessories that they produce, this on-board charger is made with the same quality and reliability in mind.

Many professional boaters who are on the water daily like to use either a deep cycle or starting battery for best performance and battery life. This Minn Kota MK 330 PC Precision charger has the ability to charge different types of batteries at the same time, therefore it would be very convenient if you will be using a Gel battery for trolling and an AGM battery for starting the motor engine. Not many marine battery chargers from other brand names allow you to do that without affecting the battery performance and life.

There are yet many cheaper marine battery chargers that you can buy but basically, you get what you pay for. Our second pick is the ProMariner 43012 ProSport 12 12-Amp 2-Bank Battery Charger – this is not only one of the best marine battery chargers on the market, but also one of the most popular on-board chargers so far.

ProMariner is owned by Power Products, LLC – an American company which is one of the world’s most successful manufacturers of premium power products and charging system technology for the marine industry. Power Products LLC is also home to industry leading brands Marinco, Mastervolt, BEP, and Anchor. Therefore, ProMariner is a brand that you can definitely trust. The ProMariner ProSport can automatically charge and maintain engine crank battery while sensing and distributing 100% of the available charging amps to trolling motor or house bank battery.

How to Choose the Best Marine Battery Charger?

You know you need a high-quality marine battery charger, but you don’t know which one to choose. We have broken them down into several steps that will help you decide exactly what you need.

Step 1: Identify your battery type

There are 3 main different types of batteries that can be used in a boat: flooded (wet cells), gel, and AGM batteries.

Flooded batteries can handle overcharging better than gel and AGM batteries, because of this hydrogen venting and because they are not sealed like the other types. Flooded batteries do require regular maintenance and off-season charging, so if you’re using flooded batteries on your boat, make sure that you select a charger that has a maintenance mode, like the ProMariner 43012 ProSport.

The simple definition of maintenance mode is that voltage is continuously applied to the battery terminals. The amplitude of that voltage varies between 0.2 volts and 0.6 volts above the rest state voltage of the battery when it is fully charged. The purpose of maintenance mode charging is to maintain the battery in a fully charged condition so that when it is called into service, it will be able to deliver its full charge capacity.

AGM batteries are so far the most popular type of marine battery. This battery type is much better than the flooded version in marine environments since they are maintenance-free and provide better shock and vibration protection.

As with all gelled and sealed units, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. A charge to 2.40V/cell (and higher) is fine; however, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). A conventional charger for flooded lead-acid often has a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell). The best marine battery chargers for AGM batteries should be rated for charging AGM batteries.

Gel batteries are manufactured to very high-quality standards. However, these batteries have a very narrow charging profile, they need carefully regulated smart charging to prevent damage. All of the chargers that we’re introducing to you in this guide are capable of charging most Gel batteries.

Step 2: Determining Number of Charging Banks

The multiple outputs of some marine chargers are designed in different ways. We usually prefer units that have a separate positive and negative connection for each output, and a separate microprocessor as well. This allows batteries of different type, size, and state of charge to be connected to the same battery charger. So, a three bank charger can be used for a three battery boat with a single 12 volt starting battery, and two other 12 volt batteries in series for a 24-volt trolling motor.

Some folks wanting charge their marine batteries in 24V or 36V series should look for a marine battery charger with the more output voltages, like this Dual Pro 15 Amp/Bank Professional Series 3 Bank Charger (12V/24V/36V).

When you charge your batteries with a 24V or 36V charger, that means you are connecting them in series and charging all of them up at the same time. However, charging this way in some cases would affect the battery performance and life. Because the charger will stop charging when the entire group reaches a certain voltage. If the batteries are not each at the same voltage, this means that one battery is charging higher than the rest, and one is not charging as high as the rest. This will not give you the most usable capacity out of the pack, and will likely lead to one or more of the batteries reaching the end of their usable life sooner than necessary.

The best marine battery chargers should have the ability to protect your batteries in those cases, but using a multi-bank smart charger with two to four banks, will always provide you a better performance. And bear in mind that when you charge batteries in series, ensure that all of your batteries are at the same voltage, same capacity, and same type.

Some serious boaters prefer 6V golf cart batteries to 12V batteries for a higher capacity or smaller footprint (most common in solar storage systems). One 12V or 24V charger can be used to charge these batteries. But if each 6V golf cart battery gets its own positive and negative from the charger, the charger would work better and even faster. If you’re having less than 4 of 6V golf cart batteries on your boat, using a 6V multi-bank charger, like this NOCO Genius G4 6V/12V 4.4A 4-Bank UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger, is an excellent way to charge them.

Step 3: Determining Battery Charger Size

We don’t mean physical size, but how many amps your charger needs. Boats that spend most of their week at a dock, constantly hooked up to shore power, so in most case using a high-amp charger is not necessary. A good rule is to have a charger that provides 5 to 10 amps of output current per bank.

If you have 3 batteries and each is about 100 amp hours, a 3-bank 10A charger like the Minn Kota MK 330 PC Precision would take about 11 hours to recharge it if the battery were completely dead. To calculate your total charge time, a good rule of thumb is to take the amp hour rating of the battery and divide by the charger rating and then add about 10% for the extra time to totally top off the battery.

Step 4: Choosing a marine battery charger based on Power Source

Most of the marine battery chargers on the market are designed to charge batteries by hooking up to the shore power. But what happens when your boat is away from shore power and your batteries are low? The only choice you might have is to charge your batteries using a generator.

Using an inverter generator is the best way to charge your batteries when shore power isn’t available. This kind of generator has a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited, the voltage can fluctuate and can shorten the battery life.

The best way to charge batteries on your boat with a generator is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V AC outlet of your generator. But as the output voltage of an inverter generator is not regulated, most smart chargers on the market are not suitable for use with a generator.

Xantrex TRUECharge2 is the only name that we think can protect your batteries against voltage fluctuations, flicker, voltage drops or failures of the generator. Xantrex TRUECharge2 chargers are some of the best marine battery chargers on the market. They feature low electrical interference and superior, efficient, power factor corrected multi-stage charging. However, these high-quality chargers are not cheap.

Step 5: Don’t forget these following things

• Waterproof
• Vibration proof
• Mountable
• Multi-stage smart charging

Best Onboard Marine Battery Chargers and Reviews

1. Minn Kota MK 330 PC Precision On-Board 3-Bank Charger – Editor’s Pick

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This Minn Kota MK 330 PC Precision On-Board 3-Bank Charger is designed for years of service and reliability. It has the ability to charge different types of batteries (AGM, gel or flooded lead acid) at the same time. This feature protects the batteries from damage due to over- or under-charging.

Minn Kota MK 330PC and other Precision Onboard Chargers deliver longer run times, shorter charge times and extended battery life. They are designed for permanent on-board mounting to eliminate the hassle of traditional portable chargers. By controlling the current and voltage during the charging cycle, these Minn Kota chargers recharge faster than conventional automotive battery chargers while preventing overcharging which can damage and shorten battery life.

2. MinnKota MK 330D Digital On-Board Battery Charger (3 Banks, 10 Amps per Bank)

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Minn Kota produces some of the best marine battery chargers on the market. You can’t go wrong with their products. This Minn Kota MK 330D On-Board Battery Charger can charge any type of marine battery, it features enhanced status codes to display charge stage, maintenance mode status, error notifications and full charge, and the automatic shut-off feature extends battery life by shutting down when charging is complete. It uses a digitally controlled microprocessor with three charging banks, and it gives 30 amps total output.

Like any other Minn Kota battery charger, this unit controls the voltage and current your battery gets throughout the three stages of the charging cycle for a safe, precise charge. It also includes an automatic temperature compensation feature that adjusts the output voltage to assure the battery reaches its gassing threshold and achieves a full charge. The temperature compensation feature also protects the batteries from “boiling” due to overcharging at high temperatures.

Compared to Minn Kota Precision chargers, the Minn Kota Digital chargers LACK 3 features: battery selection by bank, battery equalization, and low-line voltage compensation:

• Battery selection by bank: On each bank, you can select what battery type you have connected (AGM, gel or flooded lead acid) to guarantee a safe, protected charge.
• Battery Equalization: Every time you plug in a Precision charger, it “equalizes,” meaning it cleans and conditions your battery to extend run time and battery life. You can also activate a more rigorous, complete equalization at the push of a button. Note: Only in flooded lead-acid battery setting.
• Low-line voltage compensation: When outlets get overloaded or hooked up to long extension cords, they don’t put out the 120 volts they’re supposed to. That makes charge times go up – unless you’ve got a Precision charger, which compensates to deliver a fast, consistent charge no matter what.

3. Marinco Charge Pro Waterproof Battery Chargers

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For more than forty years, Marinco has been a global leader in harsh environment electrical products. They offer a broad range of high-quality chargers to more than 110 countries. And the Marinco Charge Pro Waterproof Battery Chargers are some of the best marine battery chargers of Marinco.

These chargers are onboard chargers engineered for a life on the water. Combining state of the art technology with excellent corrosion and moisture resistance make these chargers a great choice for marine applications and trailered boats using group 24, 27 or 31 batteries. A microprocessor with Sense-Send technology tailors the charge to each battery bank by dividing the 10 amps available between the two banks to get the most efficient charge. Compatible with AGM and flooded deep-cycle batteries, these chargers use a five-stage charging system to quickly restore store batteries and maintain them for your next adventure.

The Marinco Charge Pro chargers will accept 120V or 230V AC service and are engineered to be compatible with 12V or 24V or 36V.

4. ProMariner 43012 ProSport 12 12-Amp 2-Bank Battery Charger

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We love this ProMariner ProSport Charger because of the fact that it’s very easy to use and charge the batteries in a very efficient way. After the batteries are charged, it monitors and maintains the charge only as needed – reducing its AC power consumption.

The ProSport 12 is an intelligent 2-bank 12 amp battery charger has two charging profiles for STD AGM / Flooded Batteries, and Gel Cell batteries. One of the key features of this charger is that it is capable of sensing increased demand from the auxiliary battery and diverting up to the 100% of the available power to that battery. If one battery requires only 2 of the 12 amps available, the second battery will receive the remaining 10 amps. Distribution is based on the needs of each battery.

During short or long-term storage, this charger automatically reconditions all batteries on board once a month for maximum battery life and performance. Because this charger is waterproof, it can be installed almost anywhere on the boat.

5. Dual Pro 15 Amp/Bank Professional Series 3 Bank Charger – Best of the Best

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If there’s extra room in the budget, or you’re shopping for your very expensive boat, you want your charger is the best of the best, this unit just may be what you’re looking for. The Dual Pro 15 Amp/Bank Professional Series 3 Bank Charger is one of the best and most advanced marine battery chargers on the market that is designed especially for those who own an expensive boat.

This top-of-the-line onboard charger features DeltaVolt Intuitive Charging technology. This technology utilizes sophisticated firmware (software) to enable the charger to automatically adapt to the charging needs of a wide range of batteries such as Group 24, 27 and 31. In fact, DeltaVolt technology can simultaneously charge a mix of battery sizes safely and completely.

This Dual Pro charger also has reverse polarity protection, temperature control, independent outputs and Quick Logic microprocessor capabilities. Dual Pro Professional Series available in one, two, three and four bank configurations. Including features such as waterproof, independent outputs, fully automatic/multi-stage charging, and zero spark technology.

6. NOCO Genius GEN4 40 Amp 4-Bank Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger

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If you need to charge and maintain a variety of batteries in a range of sizes and types, the NOCO Genius GEN4 Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger has you covered. It charges and maintains all types of lead-acid batteries from 25-230Ah, including Wet, Gel, MF, and AGM. Not only can the NOCO Genius GEN4 charge and maintain a wide variety of batteries, but it can also protect against reverse battery hookup, short circuit, open circuit, overheat, overcurrent and does not overcharge the battery.

This on-board battery charger offers the perfect mix of high-technology and rugged construction. With a fully-sealed, waterproof housing, it can be mounted directly onto a variety of applications including boats, tractors and a wide range of equipment. Guided by an onboard microcomputer, the GEN4 monitors battery activity for safe and efficient charging, automatically minimizes energy consumption and provides redundant levels of safety protection, including spark-proof technology, as well as reverse polarity and overcharge protection.

Overall, we believe that the NoCo battery charger is one of the most reliable brands in the USA, and obviously the NOCO Genius GEN4 is one of the best marine battery chargers for you.

Best Portable Marine Battery Chargers and Reviews

1. Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer

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If you already own Optima BlueTop marine batteries on your boat, this is an option that you should never forget to consider. The Optima Chargers Digital 1200 Battery Charger can charge all types of traditional and AGM, 12V lead-acid batteries used in automotive, motorcycle, marine, RV and more.

2. Minnkota MK 110P 10 Amp Portable Battery Charger

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The MK 110P portable marine battery charger is perfect for charging a trolling motor battery in a boat where there isn’t room for a permanently installed onboard charger. Like other Minn Kota on-board chargers, this portable charger senses outside temperature fluctuations and adjust the charge accordingly, providing a fast, accurate charge.

The post The Best Marine Battery Charger To Buy appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Today, we want to dive into those questions and provide a specific guide to choosing a new charger that will definitely suit your needs.

After carrying out more than 100 hours of research, we’ve learned that one of the most common causes of deep cycle battery failure is a “bad” charger. A bad deep cycle battery charger could have a whole range of elaborate and very unpleasant consequences for the deep cycle batteries. If you want your battery to have a long life and provide the best performance, you should understand the importance of charging your deep cycle batteries with a proper charger.

Most deep cycle battery chargers are designed to diagnose, recover, charge and maintain a wide range of batteries, in a wide range of applications. Some specific chargers are designed only for AGM or Gel or Wet cells. And some trickle chargers can be left on a battery indefinitely. These would be used on a vehicle that is not used all the time or is stored away for the winter like RVs and boats.

To get the best deep cycle battery charger, there is a very important thing you have to do right now: read carefully everything discussed in this guide. But if you don’t have time to read, these are our top picks for the best deep cycle battery chargers currently available:

Best Deep Cycle Battery Chargers: Our Picks

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No matter what type of deep cycle battery you have or what kind of applications you’re going to use with your battery charger, we’re confident that the NOCO Genius UltraSafe Smart Battery Chargers will suit your needs. These are some of the safest and most advanced on the market.

NOCO Genius smart battery chargers are designed to charge 6V, 12V and 24V lead-acid and deep cycle batteries up to 500 amp-hours and they can also effectively maintain deep-cycle batteries in your RVs, boats, cars, and lawn & garden vehicles. We love the fact that these chargers are able to charge 2x faster than ordinary battery chargers, they can also be used to jump-start dead batteries and repair damaged batteries.

Sometimes, you’ll want a charger that can charge your deep cycle battery as fast as possible but won’t hurt the battery life, if so you should consider this Schumacher Wheeled Battery Charger with Engine Start. Its 40-amp fast charge mode can charge a battery in 1 to 3 hours. This charger is actually a multi-functional charging device. It includes a tester and gives professionals a wide range of charging rates and helps in fleet operations. It also has the ability to analyze electrical and starting system problems.

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How to Choose the Best Charger for Your Deep Cycle Battery

When it comes to choosing a new deep cycle battery charger, it is important to choose one that charges your battery as accurately and efficiently as possible. Choosing the right charger is very important to ensure not only all requirements are met but also the charger is not over specified resulting in a more costly solution than required. Determining which charger is best suited your needs depends on battery type, battery capacity, how fast you want to charge your battery, and power sources (household outlets, solar power, or generators).

Choosing a Charger Based on Deep Cycle Battery Type

What kind of deep cycle battery have you got? Lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries (including AGM, wet cell, and gel batteries) work with all kinds of battery charger as long as they’re suitable, but if you have a Gel battery, you should know that this type has a very narrow charging profile and it’s not easy to find the right charger for it. And due to each type requires the different charging characteristics, understanding how they work with a charger is the key to get the right one for your deep cycle battery.

1. Charging Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries

First, let’s start with flooded lead-acid batteries. This is the most common type of deep cycle battery in use today.

Flooded batteries allow fluid in the form of hydrogen and oxygen gas to escape during charging and they do require regular maintenance. However, charging flooded batteries is much easier than other types of deep cycle batteries since these batteries can be overly charged with less risk of damage. Taking advantage of this feature, the flooded batteries can be charged by any deep cycle battery charger on the market in which the output voltage matches the input voltage of the battery.

The biggest disadvantage of charging flooded batteries with a conventional charger is that it can take a long time to fully charge. And even longer if you use a cheap charger with a low output current. Therefore, flooded batteries should be charged with the best deep cycle battery chargers on the market to reduce the charging time.

A multi-charge charger, like the Schumacher Wheeled Battery Charger with Engine Start, is a very good choice. With higher charge currents and multi-stage charge methods, your battery can be charged very fast. We love the fact that this charger has a wide range of charging rates so it’s suitable to charge your flooded battery system of any scale.

2. Charging AGM Deep Cycle Batteries

One of the leading advantages of AGM deep cycle batteries is these batteries can be charged 5 times faster than flooded deep cycle batteries of the same amp-hour rating. AGM batteries are the most common battery type used in marine applications.

However, unlike flooded batteries, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging and they also do not like heat. Therefore, if your deep cycle battery is AGM, choosing the best charger would be a bit more complicated.

A charge to 2.40V/cell (and higher) is fine. However, the float charge should be reduced to between 2.25 and 2.30V/cell (summer temperatures may require lower voltages). A battery charger that is dedicated to charging 12V flooded lead acid often have a fixed float voltage setting of 14.40V (2.40V/cell), using it could overcharge the AGM battery.

To protect and maximize the life of your AGM battery, you should select a multi-stage charger that has a setting for AGM. And because AGM batteries can be fully charged very quickly, we would highly recommend that you buy a charger that has max charge current less than 25Ah.

Our top two picks will work just fine with any AGM battery, but there is a charger that is specially designed for charging AGM batteries and we’re confident that this is one of the best chargers for AGM batteries currently available. We’re talking about the Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer.

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This Optima’s battery charger features many built-in technologies and microprocessors which enhance the performance of 12V AGM batteries, recovers deeply discharged batteries and helps extend battery life. And if you already have an Optima’s marine battery, this charger is probably the best choice.

3. Charging Gel Deep Cycle Batteries

GEL and AGM technology differ. Remember that the technology of a Gel battery is not the same as an AGM battery, which has its own charging requirements. If your charger offers different modes, select the correct one for your battery. If you use the AGM setting to charge a Gel battery, it won’t fully charge and, over time, it could actually damage your Gel battery.

Gel batteries actually predated the AGM type but are losing market share to the AGM’s. But Gel batteries are still quite common in solar storage systems.

Gel batteries tend to have VERY NARROW charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately. If you have a Gel battery, do not charge it with a conventional car battery charger. There are several methods for charging gel batteries, however, constant voltage charging is the best way. For this type of charging, a fixed, regulated voltage source is used to charge the battery.

There are two modes for constant voltage charging: fast charging and float charging. Smart chargers have both that modes and automatically switch between them. The best deep cycle battery chargers will monitor the ambient temperature and adjust the charging parameters accordingly.

We think the NoCo UltraSafe Smart Battery Chargers are a very good choice for charging most Gel batteries, but if you don’t like them, we believe that this BatteryMINDer 12V 2/4/8 Amp Wet/Gel/AGM Battery Charger will satisfy you.

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This charger is regulated and will not overcharge, no matter what amp selection you make. It is just a matter of how fast you need to charge the battery. Plus, when used as a maintainer, it is guaranteed to maximize the battery life and improve storage capacity. The temperature compensated long-term maintenance stage will add years of service.

4. Charging Lithium-ion Deep Cycle Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries cannot absorb overcharge. When fully charged, the charge current must be cut off. A continuous trickle charge would cause plating of metallic lithium and compromise safety. They should also operate safely within the designated operating voltages as the battery becomes unstable if inadvertently charged to a higher than specified voltage.

For better battery life and performance, choose a charger that has a setting for lithium. And because all lithium-based batteries are safer at a lower charge, you should consider a model that has a low amp-hour rating (20Ah or less). This NOCO Genius G15000 is a very good choice.

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Choosing a Charger Based on Power Source

1. Charging Your Deep Cycle Battery with a Generator

• Read More: What’s the best quiet RV generator you can buy?

Using a generator is the fastest way to charge your deep cycle battery during the power outage or when you need to charge deep cycle batteries in your RV as fast as possible. Most inverter generators have a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited to around 8 amps, the voltage can fluctuate and is not suited to effectively charge your deep cycle battery.

The best way to charge your deep cycle battery with a generator is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V AC outlet of the generator. A smart charger uses 2 or more stages to charge the battery bank exactly the way it wants to be charged depending on its state.

All smart chargers that mentioned above will work fine, but if you frequently have to use a generator to charge your battery, there is no one better than the Xantrex TRUECharge2 12V (20A, 40A, 60A) Battery Chargers. These are some of the best deep cycle battery chargers on the market. They are best suited for charging with a generator as they feature low electrical interference and can protect your deep cycle battery against voltage fluctuations and unexpected shutdown.

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2. Charging Your Deep Cycle Battery with Solar Panels

We have discussed the best chargers for solar batteries in our previous guide to choosing the best deep cycle battery for solar power systems. But here are some basic terms that you should know about charging your deep cycle battery with solar panels.

In solar power systems, the batteries cannot be charged without a Solar Charge Controller. A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from solar panels. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

However, a good solar charge controller is relatively expensive and in many cases isn’t necessary. For example, you have a couple of 100-watt solar panels and you only use them once time per month when you go camping with your family. But how do I charge my battery with a solar panel without buying a solar charge controller?

There is a simple way to do that – using this CTEK D250S Dual is a 5-step charger. This is a smart deep cycle battery charger which is designed to obtain energy from DC sources such as alternators, solar panels or wind power and optimises this power to meet the charging requirements of different battery banks.

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CTEK is a Swedish company which is known as one of the global market leaders in battery management solutions. And the CTEK D250S Dual is a 5-step charger is also one of the best deep cycle battery chargers on the market. It features a built-in MPPT solar battery charger (Maximum Power Point Tracker) that helps the solar cells produce power as efficiently as possible by taking the most efficient source of energy from the solar panels automatically, and then using the power to charge the battery.

3. Charging Deep Cycle Battery While On the Water

You’ve been looking around for a way to help pump some juice from the outboard alternator and deliver it to your trolling batteries to extend run times, decrease on-shore charge times and increase battery life. If so these are things you should know.

• Read more: Things to consider when buying a new marine battery charger

To effectively deliver some juice from the outboard alternator into deep cycle batteries on your boat, you’ll need a DC alternator on-board charger, not a standard on-board charger. This particular type of charger takes voltage from the engine’s alternator and directs it to the trolling motor batteries so that they will be recharged while the engine is running from one fishing hole to the next.

The best and most efficient DC alternator on-board charger on the market is the MinnKota MK-2-DC Dual Bank DC Alternator Charger that you can buy from Amazon. This charger is engineered with advanced corrosion protection to withstand the destructive effects of saltwater. It can be used only for flooded and AGM batteries.

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Choosing a Charger Based on System Voltage (12V/24V/36V/48V)

Most deep cycle battery systems that we have is 12V. 12 volts is simplest and most standard, used in cars, RVs, trolling motors and boats. If you want a small simple power system, 12 volts will probably be easiest. But in some applications such as marine or home solar energy systems, where we often build large battery banks that store hundreds or even thousands amp-hours, the 24V or 36V or 48V system has some technical advantages over the 12V system.

You can use a 12V battery charger to charge one 12V battery at a time, but charging your batteries in such way is almost a waste of time. The best way to charge deep cycle batteries in the 24V/36V/48V systems is using a smart charger that provides an adequate output voltage.

There are many battery chargers on the market for these systems. They come in many different shapes and sizes and price. Our favorite models are Schumacher’s INC Digital Chargers (36V/48V) – these are some of the most reliable and best deep cycle battery chargers you can buy.

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Batteries in these systems also can be charged with a multiple output charger, like a three or four bank unit in this case, with each battery getting its own connection at battery voltage.

What Size Charger Do I Need for My Deep Cycle Battery?

How many amp hours does your deep cycle battery store? Deciding how big your deep cycle charger needs to be is determined by the size and type of your battery. We all know that the more current you put into the battery, the faster the charging. However, using too large a charge current on a small battery can lead to boiling and venting of the electrolyte. It’ll shorten the battery’s long-term health. Charge current needs to match the ability of the battery to absorb the energy.

Maximum amperage that batteries can accept vary depending on battery chemistry:

• A flooded battery can accept a charge rate of up to 25 percent of its capacity
• A Gel battery has a higher acceptance rate of as much as 30 percent of its capacity
• An AGM battery accepts the highest charging amps, as much as 40 percent of its capacity

If you have a 100Ah flooded lead-acid battery, the best deep cycle battery chargers should have maximum charge currents of 25Ah or less that would take about 4 hours to recharge it if the battery were completely dead. Some folks wanting quick recharge should look for a charger with more amps. If you’re not in a hurry, you can select a smaller charger.

We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so the best solution is selecting a charger that can provide a fast-charging mode and a slow-charging mode, like our top picks.

The post Best Deep Cycle Battery Charger For Your Battery appeared first on Green Living Blog.

When you’re thinking of buying a new battery for your trolling motor, it’s important to do a research before making your decision. You would think that you could just walk into your local marine store and buy any marine battery and it would work fine, right? Wrong! There’s more to choosing the best battery for your trolling motor than you might think. Actually, most marine batteries are designed to both provide energy for devices of the boat and starts an engine including a trolling motor. But if all you want to do with the battery is to power your trolling motor, using any typical marine battery that you don’t really know about it may be the wrong decision.

When it comes to selecting the best trolling motor batteries, there are a few important things you’ll want to consider: battery type, battery capacity and runtime, weight and group size. This guide will give you everything you should know about selecting a new battery for your trolling motor and some helpful tips you won’t find anywhere else. And we’ll also review some of the best trolling motor batteries on the market. But if you don’t have time to read, check out our top two picks below – they are our favorite batteries for trolling motor and could save you big in the long run.

• Read More: What’s the Best Bow-Mount Trolling Motor?

Best Trolling Motor Batteries: Editor’s Picks

The absolute best battery for trolling motors is the Odyssey Trolling Thunder Marine Dual Purpose batteries that are 100% MADE IN THE USA. These AGM batteries are the top-rated deep cycle batteries on the market and will provide an excellent deep cycle power to your trolling motor. They have longer cycle life than most other conventional deep cycle batteries and can be recharged extremely fast.

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If you buy your trolling motor from Minn Kota or Newport Vessels dealers, most of them would recommend Odyssey or Optima BlueTop batteries. Both are some of the best deep cycle marine batteries on the market, but if all you want to do with the battery is to provide DC power to your electric trolling motor, Odyssey’s batteries are much better and will give you more runtime. In addition, all Odyssey’s batteries are 100% made in the USA, while most of the Optima batteries have been producing in Mexico.

If a lightweight trolling motor battery is what you’re looking for, consider the Battle Born Batteries 100Ah Deep Cycle Battery. This is a heavy-duty lithium-ion battery but extremely lightweight. It’s one of the lightest trolling motor batteries on the market. At only 29 lbs, it packs the power of a 140 lbs lead acid battery and lasts 10 times longer.

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How to Choose the Best Trolling Motor Battery for You

Dual Purpose vs. Deep Cycle … Which should I choose?

Understanding the differences between deep cycle and dual purpose is key when purchasing a battery for your electric trolling motor. In the world of trolling motors there isn’t a need for a starting type battery at all as the motor is run by battery alone and doesn’t start any sort of gas powered motor.

Deep Cycle Batteries

A deep cycle battery is called upon to deliver a long, slow discharge of fewer amps for several minutes or hours to run a trolling motor. In this case, the power comes from deep within the plates, not merely off the surface as in a starting battery. Therefore, deep cycle batteries are specially engineered with heavier, thicker plates with fiberglass reinforcement, special power-producing active material and special heavy-duty separators. With these features, deep cycle batteries can withstand the potentially damaging effects of continual deep discharge and recharge. Therefore, they are the best choice for trolling motors and also the most used batteries in RVs or solar power systems where there are many heavy-load appliances or accessories that need power from batteries.

• What’s the best deep cycle battery for my RV?
• The ultimate guide to choosing the best solar batteries

Dual-purpose Batteries

Compared to a deep cycle battery, which is designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time. A dual-purpose battery is designed to deliver whether powerful cranking amperage for easy starting or low amp draws service for reliable auxiliary power. It’s a perfect compromise between the unique demands of starting service and deep cycling, low amp draw service.

Dual-purpose batteries are used in most marine applications, especially for boats with one battery bank that does double-duty for house applications and engine starting. However, they may not the best options for every trolling motor. Although a dual purpose battery is a “2-in-1” battery, it doesn’t always allow a trolling motor to perform at the same level as a deep cycle battery would. Many cheap dual purpose batteries can also be more prone to overheating in harsh conditions.

We generally advise that you choose a deep cycle battery for best performance and battery life, but there are a few dual-purpose batteries that will work really well with your trolling motor. Odyssey Trolling Thunder Marine batteries and Optima BlueTop batteries (light gray case) are named as a dual-purpose battery and can be used for both starting and deep cycling. But unlike other conventional dual-purpose batteries, they’re a true deep cycle battery with extremely high cranking power. This means when these batteries are used to run a trolling motor, they work like any other deep cycle batteries or even better.

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Trolling Motor Battery Chemistry

Once you are sure you’ve chosen the right type of battery, you are halfway through selecting the right one for your trolling motor. The next step is choosing the type of battery chemistry you want to run your trolling motor. Batteries are available in in four chemical types: flooded, gel, AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) and Lithium. Which type you choose is based on your needs, the capacity and lifespan you are looking for and your budget.

AGM Batteries

AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are the most popular trolling motor batteries. They have no special charging requirements and need no more maintenance than perhaps a seasonal post and terminal cleaning. AGM provides good electrical reliability and quicker recharging than other types, allowing the user to put them back into operation sooner. With the electrolyte absorbed into a spongy, mat-like material, AGM batteries are generally similar in weight or only slightly heavier than flooded batteries of similar capacity, though some such Optima’s batteries, with its exclusive Spiralcell design, can be lighter.

The completely sealed, valve-regulated AGM battery eliminates gas emissions and acid leakage for longer and safer battery operation. The battery is also able to stand up well to very low temperature. Long life, a low self-discharge rate and outstanding performance make AGM batteries the best trolling motor batteries for fishers who require reliable deep cycle ability, fast recharging, and the safest operation.

However, AGM batteries have a big disadvantage: they are sensitive to overcharging. Overcharging may damage the battery seriously and you’d have to buy a new one. The charging of AGM batteries is different to that of the car batteries. The voltage required to charge them is greater, therefore you will need to replace the original car battery charger if it is not programmable to charge AGM batteries. But there is an easy way to solve any risk of overcharging, using the NOCO Genius 12V/24V UltraSafe Smart Battery Chargers. These are some of the safest and most advanced smart chargers for trolling motor batteries on the market.

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Lithium-ion Batteries

More and more trolling motor owners are switching to this type for a performance improvement over AGM batteries and due to the fact that lithium batteries are extremely lightweight which are perfect for using on a small boat or inflatable boats.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, like this Battle Born Batteries 100Ah Deep Cycle Battery, have a high energy density and are perfect for cyclic applications. They offer savings of up to 70% in volume and weight compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, with ten times as many charging cycles (3000-5000 cycles).

One of the main advantages of lithium-ion batteries is that they don’t suffer from a problem known as “memory effect”, like AGM batteries. AGM batteries “remembered” the last charge when they were recharged, and then returned only that last part of the stored energy. It was actually hard to recharge them unless they were fully discharged first. As Lithium batteries don’t suffer this problem, they can be recharged even if they are not fully discharged, without produce any negative effect on their health.

The biggest disadvantage of lithium batteries is its high price tag. A good lithium battery can cost you up to $1000, while your trolling motor was just a few hundred dollars.

Flooded-Cell Batteries

Flooded batteries are certainly not the best deep cycle batteries for your trolling motor. They are the least expensive and often have the highest capacity rating. But there are several disadvantages that make them not suitable for trolling.

First, unlike other types, flooded batteries contain a liquid in an unsealed container. This means that the battery must be kept upright and in a well-ventilated area to ensure safe dispersal of the hydrogen gas produced by the battery. However, we often use the trolling motor in a fishing boat and putting batteries into a battery box, like this MinnKota Trolling Motor Power Center, is necessary to avoid water damage. Do you think that putting a flooded battery in such sealed box is a wise decision?

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Second, flooded batteries require maintenance, they must be cleaned and watered regularly. Water is lost from the electrolyte during gassing, and it must be replaced to avoid damaging the battery. If you aren’t willing to do this relatively easy maintenance, choose another battery design because these batteries probably won’t last a season without proper care.

Gel Batteries

Gel batteries are the least popular of the sealed, maintenance-free designs, but some boaters think they are the best. They are generally more expensive and heavier than other types with a similar capacity. Gel battery manufacturers claim that this technology has the longest shelf life and the lowest level of self-discharge. Gelled electrolyte also can’t stratify as can occur with flooded-cell batteries, in which the acid-heavy electrolyte falls to the bottom of the plates. As a result, gel batteries tend to be more efficient.

The most frustrating thing about using gel batteries is that these batteries tend to have VERY NARROW charging profiles. Charging a gel battery with a lead acid charger is risky, since gel batteries require constant voltage charging, versus taper charging provided with lead acid chargers.

Sizing Trolling Motor Batteries

When choosing the best trolling motor batteries, the most important ratings on a battery’s label that you should look at are RC (reserve capacity minutes) and amp-hour. The RC rating is more accurate when the battery is used for high amp-draw trolling motors. The amp-hour rating gives a clearer picture of how long a battery can carry lighter loads or how long your trolling motor can run off the battery.

Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery. See on Amazon

The RC rating is the number of minutes that a new, fully-charged 12-volt battery at 80 degrees (F) can carry a 25-amp load and maintain a minimum voltage of 10.5 volts. The amp-hour rating tells you the number of amps that a new 12-volt battery at 80 degrees (F) can deliver, multiplied by the number of hours, without falling below 10.5 volts. More amp-hour (or RC) is better in every case. Within a BCI group size, the battery with higher amp-hour (or RC) will tend to have longer lives and weigh more because of thicker plates and more lead.

Selecting the Correct Trolling Motor Batteries

To select the right size of your trolling motor batteries, you have to approximate how long your trolling motor will run on the water with batteries that you’re considering. You simply take the battery’s amp-hour rating and divide it by the amperage draw of your trolling motor. For example, for the Minn Kota Endura C2 55 LB 42” Trolling Motor that pulls 50 amps at max speed using a 100Ah VMAX MR127 12V AGM Deep Cycle battery, the run time would be:

100Ah / 50 amps = 2 hours

Most manufacturers will only list a motor’s maximum amperage draw at top speed, so you may need to estimate other amperage draws at various speeds using the max speed amperage draw as a baseline. For a general idea of approximate amperage draws by motor size, please see the chart below.

12 Volts or 24 Volts or 36 Volts

Unlike an outboard engine, a trolling motor’s power output is measured in pounds of thrust, rather than horsepower. The higher the pounds of thrust, the more powerful the trolling motor is.

Most small and medium trolling motors (less than 70 lbs of thrust) from top providers such as Minn Kota and Newport Vessels will operate with any deep cycle marine 12 volt battery. Larger trolling motors (70 lbs of thrust or more), such as Minn Kota Maxxum 70 Bow-Mount Trolling Motor, may require 24V or 36V batteries for more power at the propeller. Clearly, a 36 volt trolling motor that’s rated at 100 pounds of thrust is a lot stronger than a 12 volt trolling motor with 40 pounds of thrust. Since most trolling motor batteries are rated at 12 volts, you will need 2 or 3 batteries for setting up a 24V or a 36V system.

Battery and Circuit Breaker Sizing Table for Minn Kota Motors

Most of high amp-hour AGM batteries are relatively heavy. Therefore, putting two of these on your small fishing boat may cause problems to the balance. So we would suggest that you buy lithium-ion or light AGM batteries for your trolling motor, such as Mighty Max Battery 12V 55Ah Deep Cycle AGM Battery. This one is extremely lightweight, at only 38.5 lbs it can provide up to 55 amp-hour. It’s also one of the cheapest trolling motor batteries on the market.

Click image to see on Amazon

Whatever system you choose, there are certain “pros” and “cons” attributed to each. If you have already had a 24V or 36V trolling motor, here is how to connect multiple batteries in series to have a 24V or 36V system (Wiring batteries together in series will increase the voltage while keeping the amp hour capacity the same):

24 Volt Trolling Motor Wiring Diagram

36 Volt Trolling Motor Wiring Diagram

If you have already had a 12V trolling motor but you want to get more amp-hour capacity from your batteries to fish longer periods out on the water, consider wiring two batteries in parallel (Wiring batteries together in parallel has the effect of doubling capacity while keeping the voltage the same):

Best Trolling Motor Batteries & Reviews

#1. Odyssey 31M-PC2150ST-M TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery – Editor’s Pick

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Key Features:

• AGM battery
• Reserve capacity minutes: 205
• Capacity: 100Ah
• Cold Crank Amp (CCA)- 1150
• Weight: 77.8 lbs (35.3 kgs), group 31
• MADE IN THE USA
• Longer cycle life: 70 percentage longer cycle life compared to conventional deep cycle batteries, up to 400 cycles at 80 percentage depth of discharge- high stable voltage for longer periods of time
• Can be recharged in 4-6 hours
• 3-10 years of service life, 3 and 4-year full replacement warranty

Our Review:

Like an athlete that is both a sprinter and a long distance runner, the ODYSSEY 31M-PC2150ST-M Marine Dual Purpose battery has both massive starting power and amazing deep cycling capability – up to 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge. With twice the overall power and three times the life of conventional marine batteries, the ODYSSEY battery is one of the best AGM batteries on the market for trolling, starting and for powering the many on-board electronic accessories common in boats and recreational vehicles.

Odyssey Batteries has two facilities: one in Warrensburg, Missouri USA and one in Newport, Wales United Kingdom. According to the company, this AGM marine battery is made in the USA.

Odyssey makes top-of-the-line marine batteries in the industry. They employ the DRY CELL TECHNOLOGY that is found is many popular spiral-wound batteries, which allows the battery to be mounted on any position except directly upside down. The dense virgin lead plates that ODYSSEY batteries use avoid the dead space that plagues the spiral wound design, and results in 15% more plate surface area. Odyssey’s “secret” ingredient in their high performance batteries is virgin lead. Virgin lead plates can be made thinner and still be stronger than their lead-alloy cousins.

This ODYSSEY 31M-PC2150ST-M battery is capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess 2150 amps for 5 seconds and has the CCA rating of 1150 – double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even at very low temperatures. And it can handle 400 charge-discharge cycles at 80% depth of discharge.

#2. Mighty Max ML100-12 12-Volt 100Ah battery – Best Buy

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Key Features:

• Group 27, Weighs 63.93 Lbs
• 12V 100Ah
• AGM deep cycle battery
• Designed for Minn Kota and Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center
• 1-year warranty

Our Review:

If you’re looking for an inexpensive trolling motor battery with a high capacity, consider the Mighty Max ML100-12 AGM battery. This is one of the cheapest and best deep cycle batteries for trolling motor. It’s also slightly lighter than Odyssey’s and will fit perfectly into Minn Kota power center.

#3. Optima Batteries 8027-127 D27M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery

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Key Features:

• Group 27, weighs 53.8 lbs
• 66 amp-hour
• Both dual-purpose and starting applications available
• Up to 3x more recharges than other marine batteries
• More than 15 times the vibration resistance
• Works well as a trolling motor battery, boat battery or RV battery

Our Review:

The BLUETOP high-performance AGM battery is the best marine battery for boats with trolling motors and extensive electronic systems, and works well as an RV battery for RVs with creature comforts that tend to drain batteries quickly. It’s a true deep cycle battery with extremely high cranking power. With exceptional running time, outstanding vibration resistance, and more recharges than you’d get out of any other traditional deep cycle battery, this battery is the perfect choice for those who need a reliable deep cycle power source that can work well in any kind of harsh environments.

The feature that makes Optima BlueTop batteries some of the best trolling motor batteries is its exclusive SPIRALLCELL TECHNOLOGY.

The heart of Optima SPIRALCELL technology is a series of individual spiral-wound cells composed of two pure (99.99%) lead plates coated in a precise coating of lead oxide. The unique cell design has an internal structural advantage that helps it hold its shape even under harsh weather conditions, corrosion and heavy vibrations, which traditional batteries are not built to withstand.

Optima Spiralcell Technology | Video by Optima Batteries

One of the biggest advantages of Optima batteries is that these batteries can be recharged very fast – faster than most other deep cycle batteries. With a 25 amps smart charger, the Optima Batteries 8027-127 D27M can be recharged from zero to 90% in just 185 minutes.

Recharge time will vary according to temperature and charger characteristics. But if you’re going to buy Optima BlueTop batteries for your trolling motor, consider charging them with Optima Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer for fastest charging time and battery life improvement.

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#4. Mighty Max Battery 12V 35AH Light Battery – Best Battery for 30 lbs Trolling Motors

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The Mighty Max Battery 12V 35AH Light Battery is one of the most popular batteries for 30-40 lbs trolling motors. This AGM battery is extremely lightweight (only 23 lbs) so it’s ideal for inflatable fishing boats with 30lbs  Minn Kota trolling motors. With 35 amp-hour of capacity, this battery is able to run a 30 lbs trolling motor in 2-3 hours at medium speeds. You can wire 2 of these batteries in series to have a 24V battery system or you can also wire them in parallel to get more electricity from the 12V system.

#5. Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12V Deep Cycle Battery

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LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries are the safest, strongest and most reliable RV deep cycle batteries available. They outperform and outlast all other types of deep cycle batteries. The Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery is 100% MADE IN THE USA and is one of the best lithium-ion batteries for trolling motors on the market.

This battery is super light, it weighs only 29lbs and provide up to 100Ah of deep cycle power. It’s designed to last 3000 cycles up to 100% depth of discharge, at which point the battery will still hold 75 to 80% of its energy capacity.

MUST-HAVE Accessories for Trolling Motor Batteries

Minn Kota Digital Battery Meter

Nothing is more aggravating than running out of power on the water just when the fishing is hitting its peak. You’ll have no worries about that with this helpful Digital Battery Meter. The LCD shows the voltage level of any 12-volt battery and the state of the charge remaining is indicated by four color- coded lights. Its compact design means you can keep it handy or store it easily.

Trolling Motor Battery Box

The trolling motor power center is ideal for small boats without a battery compartment. It has easy to access external battery terminals that allow trolling motor leads and charger leads to be connected without opening the box.

Trolling Motor DC Power Connector

Battery Tender Black Power Connect Trolling Motor D/C Connector is a onboard connector for DC to DC connections. Perfect for battery connections to trolling motors, navigational electronics or any DC accessory. The unique screw and lock device provides a positive connection that avoids vibration and water incursion.

Waterproof Trolling Motor Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers are not only great insurance for protecting your new motor, but they are also required by the Coast Guard for ungrounded current-carrying conductors. If a prop is caught on an underwater object (rock, log, thick weeds, etc) and prevented from rotating, the motor will respond by using more and more power from the battery in an attempt to turn the shaft. If this goes on for too long, the high level of current will permanently damage the motor, usually resulting in a completely totaled motor. The type (voltage and current rating) of the circuit breaker must be sized accordingly to the trolling motor used (see the chart above).

Battery Switches

A great little device that can be used as a safety and security measure is a battery switch. By installing this, you can shut off the power from the battery so the trolling motor will not start.

The post The Best Battery For Your Trolling Motor appeared first on Green Living Blog.

While there are many benefits from having a battery storage system to store the energy your solar panels produce, delving into the world of solar batteries can get confusing, particularly since they are expensive and are difficult to change after your solar storage system is built.

Solar batteries come in many different types and sizes. Most people are familiar with the 12 volts battery system – this is simplest and most standard battery system that is used in vehicles, RVs, and boats, but in the world of solar energy it should be your choice only for a small simple battery system. By reading this guide you’ll understand why.

This guide will show you how to choose the best solar batteries for your home solar panels (small and off-grid system) and how to make the most of every amp-hour of them. You can also find out more about how to wire multiple solar batteries together in the system to make them more efficient.

At the bottom of this guide are some tips that will help you charge your batteries faster and ensure maximum service life. This is a long guide, so if you don’t have time to read and learn, here are our picks of the best solar batteries on the market that you should buy.

Image	Solar Battery	Type	Capacity
	VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery	AGM	125Ah @ 12V
	Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Battery 1110Ah	Flooded lead-acid	1110 Ah @ 2V
	Trojan T105-RE 6V Deep Cycle Battery 225Ah	Flooded lead-acid	225Ah @ 6V
	Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah	Gel	200Ah @ 12V
	Universal UB121000 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery	AGM	100Ah @ 12V
	Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery	Lithium-ion (LiFePO4)	100Ah @ 12V

What are Solar Batteries?

Solar batteries are simply deep cycle batteries that provide energy storage for solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. They are a key component in an off-grid solar energy system. In other words, solar batteries are the heart of a solar PV system.

Even if you’re installing solar panels on the roof of your house or your RV that are already tied to the utility grid, you’ll still need solar batteries if you are trying to use power in the event of an outage. Without solar batteries, you can only use power at the time solar panels produce it.

Solar batteries work by storing the DC energy being produced by your solar panels during the day and make it available when the sun isn’t shining. In most cases, you have to use a power inverter with your batteries to convert DC electricity into 120 volt or 230 volts AC for use in the home.

Overcharging is the enemy of any deep cycle battery, your solar batteries also need a solar charge controller to manage the power from solar panels going into them. A solar charge controller ensures that the batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backward to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

Click to show larger image

Types of Solar Batteries

Which type of solar batteries is best? For many years, solar storage systems mainly relied on lead-acid batteries. They were individually designed and often involved significant installation time and cost. Solar batteries on offer today are packaged as large single or small modular units, can be flooded lead-acid, sealed lead-acid (AGM or Gel cell), lithium-ion or several other chemistries, can store much greater amounts of energy in a smaller volume.

In most cases, lithium-ion batteries are the best option for a solar panel system, though this type of deep cycle batteries is still relatively expensive and can cost you a lot more than other types. Flooded lead-acid batteries are the cheapest option but they have a short cycle life (500 or less) and require a bit of maintenance. To choose the best solar battery type, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type, its upfront cost and especially to make sense of what is covered under the warranty.

Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries

Until recently the most common chemistry used for home solar batteries, especially in off-grid locations has been the flooded lead-acid battery, also known as “wet cells”. It is similar to multiple car batteries strung together to provide more capacity.

Their main advantages are proven reliability, safety, and fairly low upfront cost. The main disadvantages are bulk and corrosion. They also require regular maintenance, need to be kept upright to prevent leakage and must be kept in a ventilated environment. For this reason, many homeowners are switching over AGM batteries in which you don’t have to care about the needed maintenance.

Personally we think flooded lead-acid batteries are the best solar batteries for those who enjoy monitoring and maintaining their system, while AGM batteries are best for those who have an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude.

The best flooded lead-acid batteries for home solar PV systems are Trojan’s deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. Trojan Battery Company is the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries and their deep-cycle flooded lead-acid batteries are one of the most widely used solar batteries for large off-grid solar PV systems.

Trojan Deep Cycle Lead-Acid Batteries | See on Amazon

AGM Batteries

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles, and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. The AGM battery is a type of lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is absorbed into a fiberglass mat.

You will find that the plates in an AGM battery are flat like flooded lead-acid batteries, or they may be wound into a tight spiral (like Optima batteries). The internal resistance of AGM batteries is lower than flooded cells; they can handle higher temperatures and self-discharge more slowly than other types of batteries.

In some respects, AGM batteries are similar to Gel batteries. AGM cells are leak-proof due to the captive electrolyte and do not need much ventilation under normal conditions. However, unlike gel batteries, AGM cells use the same charging voltage as flooded batteries and are more compatible with solar electricity systems. This means they can be used in combination with flooded cells, though this setup is not recommended as it may degrade battery life.

Other advantages of AGM batteries are that they are non-hazardous, relatively lightweight, resistant to cold temperature, not inclined to heat up (low internal resistance) and able to hold a static charge for a long time. We also like the fact that AGM batteries have much higher life-cycle but only cost a bit more expensive than flooded lead-acid batteries. Overall, it seems AGM batteries are a perfect option for off-grid solar power systems.

Our favorite AGM batteries for solar PV systems is the Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery. This is one of the best solar battery on the market. 8 of these batteries wire in 24 volts systems will give you a capacity of 500 amp-hours.

Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery | See on Amazon

Gel Batteries

Gel lead-acid batteries are specialized in deep-cycle applications. They use fumed silica as a thickening agent for the electrolyte, which makes the cells more sturdy. The viscous electrolyte prevents the cell from leaking when damaged. Gel batteries also ventless and discharge at a slightly higher rate than flooded cells.

Gel batteries actually predated the AGM type but are losing market share to the AGM’s. This due to Gel batteries have a few serious downsides that make them a sub-par option in solar storage. First, they tend to have very narrow charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately.

The low charging voltage makes it very easy to accidentally overcharge the battery and destroy it. This is particularly true in solar electricity systems, where electricity production is variable. In addition, gel cells are more expensive than flooded cells and do not provide much better amp-hour capacity.

However, like AGM batteries, gel batteries don’t need much maintenance and also resistant to vibration and shock. They are excellent for extreme conditions because they have higher boiling points. They also have a higher life-cycle than AGM batteries and flooded batteries. If Gel batteries are charged with a proper solar charge controller, such as Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT or Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller, you can expect it to provide a very good performance.

One of the best and least expensive Gel cells for solar PV systems is the Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah. This solar battery is designed particularly for off-grid solar power systems. Wiring eight batteries in a 48-volt battery system will give you a capacity of 19.2 kWh (400Ah at 48V).

Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah | See on Amazon

Lithium-ion Batteries

Solar batteries for home solar panels are increasingly focused on lithium-based chemistry which have seen a steady decrease in cost in recent years. Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in cordless power tools such as cordless impact wrenches, cordless air compressors and more. These batteries are small and light in comparison to their capacity. They can be efficiently charged and have relatively long lifespans.

Not all lithium-ion batteries are the same. The best type of lithium-ion batteries for your solar panels is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). LiFePO4 batteries are totally SAFE, won’t burn or explode, stable and maintenance-free for 15 to 20 years. It offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-scale phosphate cathode material. The key benefits are high current rating and long cycle life, besides good thermal stability, enhanced safety and tolerance if abused.

The biggest advantage of lithium-ion batteries is its extremely high life-cycle (3000-5000 cycles) and its high charge and discharge efficiencies which help harvest more energy from your solar panels. They also lose less capacity when idle, which is useful in solar installations where energy is only used occasionally.

With these reasons, lithium-ion batteries are a good choice for any solar PV system, small or large, off-grid or grid-tied. The biggest disadvantage is its high price tag. A lithium-ion solar battery system can cost 4 times as much as a flooded solar battery system.

One of the best and least expensive lithium-ion batteries for solar PV system is the Battle Born Batteries 100-Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery. This battery can be used in 12V, 24V, 36V or 48V systems. At only 29 lbs, it packs the power of a 140 lb lead acid battery and lasts 10 times longer.

Click image to see on Amazon

Flooded, AGM, Gel and Lithium-ion Batteries – Which is better?

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12 Volts, 24 Volts, or 48 Volts?

What’s the best voltage for your battery bank? Because battery voltage is difficult to change after your energy storage system is built, so that is the MUST-ASK questions before buying your solar batteries. 12 volts is simplest and most standard, used in cars, RVs, and boats. If you want a small simple power system, 12 volts will probably be easiest. Today, most solar storage systems are 24V or 48V since these systems have some technical advantages over the 12V system.

Higher DC voltages means lower cost. Connecting fewer modules in series (a PV source circuit) means fewer conductors and connections, reduced voltage drop, fewer fuses or breakers, and fewer or smaller combiner boxes. Higher voltage also means lower current for the same amount of power, which allows using smaller-gauge wire that costs less.

• 2,000 Watt = 166 amp @ 12 Volt
• 2,000 Watt = 83 amp @ 24 Volt
• 2,000 Watt = 41.5 amp @ 48 Volt

In addition, most customers seem to want more power over the years. A 12V DC system with a tiny 12V power inverter is difficult if not impossible to upgrade/upsize.

So if you think you will have more than 500 watts of solar modules, consider 24 volts. If you plan on living off-the-grid completely, the 48-volt battery system is the best choice. Bear in mind that a good solar charge controller is relatively expensive, so consider using models that support 24V and 48V battery systems from the first, such as Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller – this charge controller supports up to 150V DC input.

Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller

Often the 2V deep cycle batteries offer the largest amount of storage; however, you may need up to 24 of these huge deep cycle batteries, if your system is 48 volts. You can use a group of eight high-capacity 6V golf cart batteries then wire them in series to get a 48V solar battery system.

Best Solar Batteries for Off-Grid Solar PV Systems & Reviews

1. VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

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If you’re building your off-grid solar power system, we highly recommend VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery. This heavy-duty deep cycle AGM battery is one of the best solar batteries on the market. It’s also one of the most popular deep cycle batteries that are used in the solar power industry.

The VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM is available on Amazon and is an excellent battery for the price. The amp ratings and performance match many of the super-premium brand batteries, but at half the price. These batteries are excellent for cold weather and you can feel confident knowing your solar batteries will always be charged, even when the temperature is below freezing. You can expect the battery to last about 8 to 10 years without any needed maintenance.

2. Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Battery 1110Ah

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When it comes to building a large home off-grid solar PV system with flooded batteries, the Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Batteries are some of the best solar batteries currently available. These batteries are the best choice for those who want to run large appliances, such as refrigerators or air conditioners, off battery power.

Trojan batteries one of the best brands. These all pass rigorous quality tests, so you will never have a problem with your batteries. The terminals are free of corrosion and the reservoir is quite large, so the charge holds for years. They do require regular maintenance but this kind of task is very easy to do. Trojan’s batteries are designed to have a battery life of at least 10-years and comes with an 18-month warranty. This battery can operate in extreme condition such as high/low temperatures, remote locations and other challenging conditions.

The L16RE is available in 2-volt and 6-volt sizes. This 2V version offers the largest amount of storage (1110Ah). If your system is 48V, you’ll need up to 24 of these 2-volt deep cycle batteries wiring in series. A group of 24 batteries means you’ll have a battery system with a capacity of 48V x 1110Ah = 53.2 kWh – this is a huge energy storage system.

3. Trojan T105-RE 6V Deep Cycle Battery 225Ah – Best Buy

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If you’re looking to purchase more than 4 of Trojan’s flooded batteries for your solar storage system, consider the Trojan T105-RE 6V 225Ah batteries. These are very good high-capacity flooded solar batteries for the price. If you buy a pack of these batteries on Amazon, you might have an excellent storage system at less than $1000. This is awesome for those on a budget but want to get reliable solar deep cycle batteries for their off-grid solar power system.

With proper charging and watering, you could expect 8 years easily. This is essentially the Golf cart sized battery, but this is no golf cart battery it has been totally redesigned for renewable energy applications. It has a 5-year warranty. In a 48 Volt series connected string, these batteries provide an excellent power to any kind of household appliance.

4. Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah

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Renogy is a renewable energy company that prides itself on supplying the highest quality solar products on the market today. Renogy’s deep-cycle pure gel batteries are considered the best solar batteries on the market, specially designed for off-grid solar power systems. It’ll give you maximum storage for any solar setup and can deliver up to 1000 cycles at 50% DOD.

This battery is a pure Gel battery. So it’s maintenance free battery thanks to the gel-like material inside the battery making it completely sealed. It’s equipped with PE compound separator construction, which ensures that gel electrolyte is distributed evenly throughout the inner battery and ensures the best evenness of all parts of the battery.

Valve regulated sealed construction and triplex strengthened sealing on terminals and posts prevent electrolyte leakage, and guarantee the airtight and liquid state of batteries in normal operation and prevent external air from entering battery inner. Because of the use of lead-calcium grids alloy, Renogy batteries have low self-discharge and reliable performance. In-room temperature, self-discharge ratio per month of Renogy battery is about 3% of the battery capacity.

However, these solar batteries are Gel batteries so they are typically expensive and are sensitive to overcharging. But if you install them in a system that has an MPPT charge controller everything would work fine.

Best Solar Batteries for Small/Medium Solar Power Systems

5. Universal UB121000 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery

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Universal Battery is a leader in competitively priced sealed absorbent glass mat (AGM) and gel technology. The Universal UB121000 12v 100AH is a decent battery. However, the short 12-month warranty leaves more to be desired, especially for the price. That being said, the battery can handle a wide range of temperatures, can be mounted in any position, requires no maintenance and may be transported by Air or Ground without any special handling regulations.

6. Battle Born Batteries 100 Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery

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LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries are the safest, strongest and most reliable solar deep cycle batteries available. They outperform and outlast all other types of deep cycle batteries. The Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery is 100% MADE IN THE USA and is one of the best solar batteries on the market. It weighs only 29lbs and is made from 100% safe, nontoxic materials. It’s designed to last 3000 cycles up to 100% depth of discharge, at which point the battery will still hold 75 to 80% of its energy capacity.

This battery can handle extreme temperatures, have very long life spans and can be recharged very fast. Battle Born Batteries also offers an excellent warranty, so you can get a full replacement if the battery fails within the first three years.

Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery | Video by Battle Born Batteries

How to size your solar battery bank?

How much power do your solar batteries need will depends on 2 main things:

1. How much energy will your appliance(s) use off the battery bank?
2. Days of Autonomy

The first piece of information that you need to know is how much energy (in kWh) you are consuming daily or weekly. The easiest way to know your energy consumption is to look at your monthly energy bill and estimate your daily consumption. You could also calculate your energy consumption by knowing which energy resources you use.

For example, if a TV of 90 W would consume 90Wh in one hour. A refrigerator with 700W power necessity would consume 1400 Wh in two hours, and so on. The most accurate way of determining the energy consumption of your appliances is using the Kill-A-Watt meter.

However, you are never really able to take all the power of the battery. As once the voltage drops below requirements, your solar batteries should be charged up before you hurt them. There is a simple rule of thumb for this:

• Lead acid batteries will give you around 50% of their rated power.
• AGM and Gel batteries will give you around 50 – 75% of their rated power
• Li-ion batteries will give you around 80 – 90% of their rated power.

Choosing an efficient solar inverter is very important. Let’s say you have an 85% efficient inverter, and your AC consumption is 850 Wh. That means your solar batteries should be at least 1000 Wh in order to cover you’re your loses due to the inverter.

The second part of sizing your solar batteries is the potential days of autonomy. This is the number of days where no power generation is possible due to clouds or rain, despite the fact that you continue to consume energy. On a normal day, you could count on 5 hours of sun, however, you’d have to consume energy for 24 hours. Two-days of autonomy means, your batteries would be large enough to supply continuous energy for full two days without charging. Three to five days of autonomy is accepted as normal battery sizing.

Best Solar Charge Controller for Your Solar Batteries

One of the key components of a solar power system is the charge controller. A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

A solar charge controller is available in two different technologies, PWM and MPPT. We generally recommend homeowners using MPPT charger controller, this type of solar charge controllers is more expensive than PWM, but it’s worth it to pay the extra money as an MPPT charge controller can boost system performance by up to 30%.

An MPPT charge controller will adjust its input voltage to harvest the maximum power from the solar array and then transform this power to supply the varying voltage requirement, of the battery plus load. Thus, it essentially decouples the array and battery voltages so that there can be, for example, a 12-volt battery on one side of the MPPT charge controller and a large number of cells wired in series to produce 48 volts on the other.

Here is how we select MPPT charge controller:

If one module in your 48V system produces 10 amps and two parallel strings of modules are used, your system will produce 20 amps at 48 volts. Certain factors such as light reflection or cloud effect at irregular intervals can increase current levels. This is quite common. Therefore we increase the charge controller amperage by a margin of 25% bringing our minimum controller amperage to 25. We migrate over to our catalog and we find a 30A charge controller, which is a very close match.

What’s the best MPPT charge controller for my solar batteries?

These are some of the best MPPT charge controllers for solar batteries that we recommend, but almost any modern controller will work fine.

Best for Off-Grid systems

1. Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT 80 AMP Solar Charge Controller
2. Midnite Solar Classic 150 Charge Controller 150VDC Input MPPT
3. Morningstar’s TriStar TS-60 MPPT Charge Controller
4. Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr Charge Controller

Best for Small system

1. Renogy Rover 20 Amp 12V/24V DC Input MPPT Solar Charge Controller
2. EPEVER 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
3. SolarEpic MPPT 40A Solar Charge Controller

Best Solar Inverter for Your Solar Batteries

To get the most out of your solar batteries, it’s important to choose an efficient solar inverter. There are 2 types of inverters: pure sine wave and modified sine wave. Pure sine wave is always the most efficient inverter for any solar power system. It’s also needed if you’re going to run your laptop, smart TV, refrigerator off the solar battery bank.

• Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters – Reviews & Guide

You should choose an inverter that can convert the DC voltage that matches the voltage of your battery bank. In the USA most residential and business use is 120V single phase. Homes will often use 240V split phase for larger loads such as a clothes dryer, well pump, and electric stove. So your inverter should also support both 120V and 240V output.

Additionally, you must determine what your maximum wattage draw will be if all of your appliances that may be on at the same time, are on. If you have a 900W water pump, a 1000W refrigerator, and a 100W TV, you need to add the wattages together to get at least a 2000W inverter.

If your solar power system is an off-grid system, we highly recommend Magnum Energy’s American-made inverters. These are the best off-grid solar inverters available.

If you’re on the budget, consider some cheaper pure sine wave inverters from AIMS Power, Go Power, Power Bright, or Renogy. These inverters are quite good for the price.

Charging Solar Batteries with a Generator

• Read more: how to choose the best charger for your deep cycle battery?

There are going to be many times when the sun isn’t shining and your batteries are low. The only choice you might have is to charge your batteries using a portable generator.

Most generators have a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited to around 8 amps the voltage can fluctuate and is not suited to effectively charge batteries.

Honda EU2000i Portable generator

The MOST EFFICIENT way to charge your solar batteries without solar panels is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V/230V AC outlet of your generator. A smart charger uses 3 or more stages to charge the battery bank exactly the way it wants to be charged depending on its state. By upsizing the smart charger you can charge the battery at a much faster rate than the generator’s standard built-in unit.

NOCO Genius G26000 12V/24V 26A Pro Series UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger | See on Amazon)

How to Connect your Solar Batteries Correctly

There are several ways to wire multiple solar batteries to achieve the correct battery voltage or capacity for a particular DC installation. Wiring multiple solar batteries together as one big bank, rather than having individual banks makes them more efficient and ensures maximum service life.

Wiring solar batteries together in Parallel

Wiring batteries together in parallel has the effect of doubling capacity while keeping the voltage the same. For example: 4 of Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah batteries wired in parallel will increase capacity to 125Ah x 4 = 500Ah but still only 12V. And the system capacity is 12V x 500Ah = 6 kWh.

Wiring solar batteries together in Series

Wiring solar batteries together in series will increase the voltage while keeping the amp hour capacity the same. For example: if you have 12 of Trojan L16RE-2V 1110Ah batteries wired in series will give you 2V x 12 = 24V, but still only 1110Ah. And the system capacity is 24V x 1110Ah = 26.64 kWh.

Wiring solar batteries together in “Series + Parallel”

Most solar battery systems are a combination of series and parallel connections to archive both a higher system voltage and capacity. For example: You have eight of Trojan T105-RE 6V 225Ah batteries and you want to have a 24V solar storage system. Wiring them in series/parallel will give you 24V with 450Ah capacity.

The post The Best Solar Batteries for Your Solar Power System appeared first on Green Living Blog.

The deep cycle battery is the most important component in any RV’s electrical system. It provides the juice to run all of your RV’s appliances and electronic devices when there is no 110-volt power supply. Without power from deep cycle batteries, there is no way to pump water into your RV’s fresh water tank, no way to run your electric fan or refrigerator during the hot summer months, and  also no way to run your electric space heater to keep your RV warm over the winter. After all, everything in your RV needs electricity to function and the deep cycle batteries system is your RV’s heart and soul.

Yet despite that, many owners do not really understand the importance of choosing deep cycle batteries for their RV and how to maintain them properly. Even when the best deep cycle batteries are installed in your RV, you may not get the most out of them if you don’t know how to connect multiple batteries together to achieve the correct battery voltage or capacity for RV applications. That’s why we’re here to help. By reading the information below you are already setting yourself apart in a way that will help make your RV experiences in the future run smooth as a whistle.

In this guide, we’ll give you everything you should know to choose the best deep cycle batteries for your RV. We’ll give you our in-depth reviews on some of the best RV batteries on the market that you should buy. Then we’ll share some tips on how to connect your batteries together as one big battery bank to make them more efficient and ensure maximum service life. And finally, some MUST-KNOW battery charging tips from experts that you won’t find anywhere else.

Ok, let’s get started! But if you don’t have time to read, here are our top picks:

Image	RV Battery	6V or 12V	Type	Capacity
	VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery	6V Golf Cart	AGM	225Ah
	Trojan T-105 Flooded Deep Cycle Battery	6V Golf Cart	Flooded	225Ah
	Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery	12V	LiFePO4 Lithium-ion	100Ah
	Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-Volt 220Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery	6V Golf Cart	AGM	220Ah
	XS-Power-D3100	12V	AGM	110Ah
	Optima BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery	12V	AGM	--

What’s an RV Deep Cycle Battery?

In today’s RVs everything relies on deep cycle batteries, from portable coffee machines or small water pumps to large appliances such as microwaves, TVs, air conditioners, and refrigerators. They are designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period. The deep cycle battery differs from the starting battery which is designed to deliver high bursts of energy for short periods to crank the starter of the engine (car, truck, boat, etc).

An RV deep cycle battery is designed to discharge between 50% and 70% of its capacity, depending on the manufacturer and the construction of the battery. When the batteries are recharged, energy is re-deposited into the bank, and the process, or cycle, starts over. Compared to a starting battery, a deep cycle battery has much thicker plates and they are solid, not a sponge. These thicker plates have less surface area and thus less of the instant power that a starting battery needs. They are designed to be discharged down to 20% of their maximum charge repetitively. The thicker lead plates allow for this as they are much sturdier than their sponge counterparts.

Deep cycle batteries are also used to power small vehicles, such as electric wheelchairs, golf carts, and marine applications. For marine applications where both engine starting and light deep cycling are required, dual-purpose batteries are often used, commonly known as deep cycle marine batteries. This battery type is neither a starting nor a deep cycle battery but rather a compromise between the two so it performs both functions adequately.

We generally advise that you choose only true deep cycle batteries for your RV to get the best performance and battery life, though there is a dual-purpose battery model that works very well in any RV application and even solar power system – the Optima BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery. This is one of the top-rated RV deep cycle batteries on the market, and for good reasons.

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Types of RV Deep Cycle Batteries

Deep cycle RV batteries are made of three different common types: Flooded Lead Acid, Gel Sealed, and Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). There is no one best battery for all RV applications. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Flooded or “wet” batteries are the most cost-efficient and most widely used batteries in RVs and solar systems, but they require regular maintenance and need to be used in a vented location. AGM batteries are costlier than gel or flooded cells but last considerably longer and are maintenance-free.

The BEST RV battery is not always the most expensive, but it’s seldom the cheapest either. Understanding and comparing are the keys to know which is the right one for you.

I. Flooded Lead Acid Deep Cycle Batteries

Flooded lead acid batteries, also known as wet cells, are based on the lead-acid chemistry discovered in 1859 by Gaston Planté, and are also the most popular type of deep cycle batteries in use today for RV applications. The term “flooded” is used because this type of battery contains a quantity of electrolyte fluid so that the plates are completely submerged.

Flooded batteries consist of lead and lead-oxide plates surrounded by an electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water (H2O). Taking electricity out of the battery (discharging) causes the plates to change to lead sulfate, and dilutes the electrolyte. Putting electricity into the battery (charging) forces the sulfate coating off the plates and back into the electrolyte, making it more concentrated, and the plates return to lead and lead oxide.

Hydrogen and oxygen gas are released during charging as some of the water molecules in the electrolyte break apart from electrolysis. Vented wet cells allow the gases to escape into the atmosphere, unlike gel and AGM batteries, which recombine the gases and re-introduce them to the system. Hydrogen is an explosive gas, so battery boxes and compartments must be vented to let the gas escape safely.

Personally we don’t think flooded lead-acid batteries are the best deep cycle batteries for an RV. They do require regular maintenance, off-season charging, must be installed in an upright position and don’t tolerate high amounts of vibration. But this type of deep cycle batteries really has a lot going for it.

Flooded batteries handle overcharging better than gel and AGM deep cycle batteries, because of this hydrogen venting and because they are not sealed like the other types. They usually have the longest life and the lowest cost per amp-hour of any of the other choices. They require regular maintenance in the form of watering, equalizing charges and keeping the terminals clean but if you spend an hour per year to take care of them, everything would be fine. Their initial cost is lower than similarly sized AGM or gel batteries, and MUCH lower than the new type of lithium batteries.

Flooded batteries average about 20% loss. For every 100 Watt-hours you put into the battery, you can pull about 80 Watt-hours back out. But even with a fair loss in efficiency and the need for eventual replacement, this is the best energy storage solution for the price. A typical flooded lead-acid battery can be expected to last 5 to 7 years if you maintain it regularly but some cheap units might fail only after 3 years of regular use. You should buy your batteries from some American trusted names such as Trojan, Interstate Batteries, and Rolls Surrette.

Trojan Battery Company is the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries and their deep-cycle flooded batteries are the best batteries for RVs today. The Trojan Golf Cart 6-Volt Flooded Lead-Acid Battery is the most widely used deep cycle battery by professional RVers. With this battery you can expect it to last up to 10 to 15 years and even more if you maintain the battery every year.

See on AmazonOur Review

—Why use golf cart 6-volt batteries for RV’s 12-volt system? Read on to find out.—

II. AGM Deep Cycle RV Batteries

AGM deep cycle batteries are perfect for most applications. These batteries are the best deep cycle batteries for trolling motors, boats, Harley Davidsons, trucks and recreational vehicles. They are nearly always better, stronger, tougher and less maintenance than flooded batteries.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. The AGM battery is a type of lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is absorbed into a fiberglass mat. You will find that the plates in an AGM battery are flat like flooded lead-acid batteries, or they may be wound into a tight spiral (like Optima batteries). The internal resistance of AGM batteries is lower than flooded cells; they can handle higher temperatures and self-discharge more slowly than other types of batteries.

AGM deep cycle batteries differ from flooded batteries in that the electrolyte is held in the glass mats, as opposed to freely flooding the plates. Very thin glass fibers are woven into a mat to increase surface area enough to hold sufficient electrolyte on the cells for their lifetime. The fibers that compose the fine glass mat do not absorb nor are they affected by the acidic electrolyte. These mats are wrung out 2–5% after being soaked in acids, prior to manufacturing completion and sealing.

How AGM Batteries Work | Video By Johnson Controls

Pros & Cons of AGM Batteries

AGM deep cycle batteries are a great choice for vehicles with large power demands like RVs & motorhomes and for those who seek greater reliability and longer life in RV deep cycle batteries.

One of the biggest advantages of an AGM deep cycle battery is that it’s maintenance-free. While a flooded lead-acid battery requires regular maintenance and needs a topping charge every six months to prevent the buildup of sulfation, an AGM deep cycle battery is less prone to sulfation and can sit in storage for longer before a charge becomes necessary. Even after 12 months sitting idle as long as it has been cared for, it can be recharged and put back into full service without any major damage. For those reasons, AGM deep cycle batteries are the best choice if you don’t want to do the needed maintenance.

Other leading advantages of AGM are a charge that is up to FIVE times faster than the flooded version. AGM offers a depth-of-discharge of 80 percent; the flooded, on the other hand, is specified at 50 percent DoD to attain the same cycle life. The AGM battery is also able to be installed in any orientation and stand up well to very LOW TEMPERATURES. So if you often use your RV & motorhome during the winter months, AGM deep cycle batteries are a perfect choice.

However, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. The charging of AGM deep cycle marine batteries is different to that of the car battery. The voltage required to charge them is greater, therefore you will need to replace the original car battery charger if it is not programmable to charge AGM batteries.

• Read More: How to choose the best charger for my deep cycle battery?

What’s the best AGM deep cycle battery for an RV?

There are some of the best AGM batteries for the RV that we think you should buy. Vmaxtanks 6-Volt AGM Deep Cycle Battery, Lifeline AGM Deep Cycle Battery and Optima BlueTop. Our favorite option is the Vmaxtanks 6-Volt 225Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery – this is recommended for accessory-heavy vehicles, or for vehicles running a lot of battery-draining electronics like RVs & trucks.

See on AmazonOur Review

III. Deep Cycle Gel Batteries

Gel batteries actually predated the AGM type but are losing market share to the AGM’s. They have many of the same advantages over flooded lead-acid batteries including ease of transportation, as the AGM type, except the gelled electrolyte in these batteries is highly viscous and recombination of the gases generated while charging, occurs at a much slower rate. This means that they typically have to be charged slower than either flooded lead acid or AGM batteries.

If charged at too high a rate, gas pockets form on the plates and force the gelled electrolyte away from the plates, decreasing the capacity until the gas finds its way to the top of the battery and is recombined with the electrolyte. Generally speaking, Gel batteries tend to have narrow charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately.

Because of that, Gel batteries are NOT the best RV batteries and shouldn’t be used if you don’t have considerable experiences of working with batteries and battery chargers.

But compared to AGM batteries, GEL batteries are ideal in tougher situations where there are extreme temperatures and vibrations. A Gel battery is also much more expensive than an AGM battery of the same capacity. Gel batteries are more common used in solar power applications.

If GEL batteries are your choice, we’d recommend the Renogy’s deep cycle batteries (6V-12V, 100Ah-260Ah). These are the best option to purchase at this time because these GEL batteries have a very good quality at a very competitive price.

Flooded, AGM & Gel Battery Comparisons

IV. Lithium-ion Deep Cycle Batteries

There are more than a few good reasons Lithium far exceeds the performance of Flooded Lead Acid & AGM batteries. A lightweight option which offers charging efficiency and between 3000-5000 life cycles makes Lithium the best choice for a better battery. Showing high performance in both extreme heat and cold, Lithium is about 2.5 times more efficient at low temperatures and operates safely up to 149*F. Furthermore, versatile mounting allows for your battery to be installed in any direction with the same consistent energy flow throughout the duration of use. Despite higher upfront costs of Lithium deep cycle batteries, the savings are clear when considering the true lifetime value.

How does a lithium-ion battery work?

Lithium-ion batteries- How do they work | Video by BASF

There are several types of lithium-ion, but you should only use Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4) for your RV. It’s totally SAFE, won’t burn or explode, stable and maintenance-free for 15 to 20 years. It offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-scale phosphate cathode material. The key benefits are high current rating and long cycle life, besides good thermal stability, enhanced safety and tolerance if abused.

LiFePO4 is more tolerant to full charge conditions and is less stressed than other lithium-ion systems if kept at high voltage for a prolonged time. LiFePO4 deep cycle batteries have a very constant discharge voltage. Voltage stays close to 3.2 V during discharge until the cell is exhausted. This allows the cell to deliver virtually full power until it is discharged. And it can greatly simplify or even eliminate the need for voltage regulation circuitry.

Because of the nominal 3.2-Volt output, four cells can be placed in series for a nominal voltage of 12.8 V. This comes close to the nominal voltage of six-cell AGM or flooded lead-acid batteries. And, along with the good safety characteristics of LiFePO4 batteries, this makes LiFePO4 a good potential replacement for lead-acid batteries in RV applications.

What’s the best Lithium-ion deep cycle battery for the money?

One of the best RV lithium batteries for the money is the Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery. We can tell you that this battery is AMAZING. It’s very light, only 29 lbs, can be wired in series up to 48V and unlimited in parallel, and designed and assembled in Nevada, USA.

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6-Volt Golf Cart OR 12-Volt Deep Cycle Battery

What is the best RV battery size: 6 volts or 12 volts? Some say two 6 volt batteries are better than two 12 volt batteries, how do you think?

A 6-volt battery for RV is actually a “golf cart” battery. 6V golf cart batteries are one of the most versatile batteries readily available for either a small home, cabin or for someone just starting to live off the grid. If you think these 6-volt batteries have no place in the world of RV with the 12-volt storage system, then think again. They are a perfect choice for your RV and can be much more cost-effective than 12-volt batteries in the long run.

To explain it in cost-effective detail, first let’s look at the inside of each battery size. Both contain 2.1-volt cells. Three cells in the 6-volt battery and six cells in the 12-volt battery. The 6-volt battery has more space per cell than the 12-volt hybrid so the plates are thicker and will last longer. The 6 volt will be able to discharge deeper than any 12-volt deep cycle. In fact, most 12-volt deep cycle RV batteries are not true deep cycle, they are a hybrid between a deep cycle and a starting battery but most 6-volt golf cart batteries are.

In addition, if you have only two batteries (6V batteries in series or 12V batteries in parallel), placing them in series provides a more effective charging capability and assuming that the physical size of the two batteries is about the same, you will have roughly the same amount of power capacity in watts with either configuration. But series cells will all charge to full capacity even if one is not as good condition as the others, while parallel cells will only charge to the level of the weakest cell. Based on our own experience, two 6 volt batteries will give you lot higher amperage than one 12V battery.

What’s the best 6 Volt Battery for RV?

Here are 4 of the best 6V deep cycle batteries for RV that you should buy:

• VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery (Recommended)
• Trojan 6 Volt Flooded Deep Cycle Battery
• Lifeline Marine AGM Battery – GPL-4CT
• Amstron GC2 6V AGM Golf Cart, Marine, RV Battery

How to charge a 6-volt Golf Cart battery?

The voltage required to charge a 6-volt battery is lower than that of a 12-volt battery, therefore you will need to replace the original 12V battery charger if it is not programmable to charge 6V batteries. One of the best 6-volt battery chargers is the NOCO Genius G3500 6V/12V 3.5A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger.

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This RV battery charger is designed to charge 6V and 12V lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries up to 40Ah. It charges 2x faster than ordinary battery chargers, can repair damaged batteries and remain safely connected 24/7

Review: The Best RV Deep Cycle Batteries to Buy

1. VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery | Recommended

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If you’re choosing high-capacity deep cycle batteries for dry camping, the VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery may be what you want. It’s the best 6-volt golf cart AGM deep cycle battery currently available. While you can survive with just a few cheap flooded lead-acid batteries, you will enjoy the road less traveled more comfortably with VMAXTANKS. We recommend a minimum of 6 VMAXTANKS batteries if you plan on using almost everything in your RV with the battery.

As for the amp hours, when you connect two of 6-volt batteries in series to get 12 volts, the voltage adds and the amp hours remain the same. So six of 225Ah 6V batteries in series/parallel configuration to make a 12-volt bank would give you 675Ah (3 x 225Ah) of which 500Ah would be available for use before you hurt them.

2. Trojan 6-Volt T-105 225Ah Flooded Deep Cycle Battery

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Trojan invented the golf cart battery back in 1952, and ever since then has been making quality batteries that outshine their competition. The T-105 6V golf cart deep cycle battery is Trojan’s flagship line and is a clean, reliable power source for golf carts, electric vehicles, RVs, marine, or anything mobile. This is one of the most popular RV deep cycle batteries and is trusted by many long-time RVers.

The Trojan T-105 features Trojan’s historically-proven engineering with T2 Technology, an advanced battery technology for maximum sustained performance, longer life and increased total energy. T2 Technology helps the battery increasing both sustained capacity and total overall ampere-hours, resulting in more operating power for your application. It’s a key reason why Trojan batteries consistently outperform the competition.

Trojan combines a thicker internal grid with their robust Maxguard T2 separator and high-density paste to create an exceptional battery that outperforms its competitors. Their advanced battery technology results in a longer battery life with lower maintenance costs, making it a great option for RVs that have a solar PV system.

The most important characteristic to consider when purchasing a new deep-cycle battery for an RV is cycle life. Trojan T-105 batteries are good for 1200 cycles at 50% DOD and 800 cycle at 80% DOD – longer than almost any other flooded deep cycle battery in the industry. So you can probably expect your RV battery life to be about 10 years or even more.

3. Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery

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LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries are the Safest, Strongest and most Reliable RV batteries on the planet. They outperform and outlast all other types of deep cycle batteries. The Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery is 100% MADE IN THE USA and is one of the best RV lithium-ion batteries on the market. It weighs only 29lbs and is made from 100% safe, nontoxic materials. It’s designed to last 3000 cycles up to 100% depth of discharge, at which point the battery will still hold 75 to 80% of its energy capacity.

Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery | Video by Battle Born Batteries

For the amp hours, when you connect two of 12-volt batteries in parallel, the amp hours add and the voltage remains the same. So 4 of these 100Ah 12V lithium-ion batteries in parallel configuration to make a 12-volt bank would give you 400Ah (4 x 100Ah) of which 90-100% would be available for usage.

4. Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-Volt 220Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

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Installing Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-volt AGM Deep Cycle Batteries in your RV means exceptional running time and more recharges than you’d get out of a traditional battery. It’s perfect for RVs with creature comforts that tend to drain batteries quickly. On top of providing outstanding vibration resistance, the Lifeline GPL-4CT efficient power delivery and faster recharge time mean you’ll spend less time worrying about your battery. This means more time for fun.

Lifeline GPL-4CT 6V AGM batteries are hand-made in the USA (according to the company). They are high-quality products that are readily available nationwide and come with a good 5-year warranty. Most RVers rated it the top-of-the-line AGM batteries, but it’s slightly more expensive than others of the same capacity.

Lifeline Batteries are manufactured in West Covina, California by the Concorde Battery Corporation – a US family owned and operated company. The Lifeline Battery technology is a direct spin-off from Concorde’s industry-leading aerospace battery lines. All of these batteries satisfy the rigorous demands from many branches of the US Military and a host of industrial and private sector applications. Therefore, Lifeline GPL-4CT AGM batteries are a perfect choice if you’re looking for a strong and reliable power source for your RV.

What’s the Best Charger for RV Batteries?

Charging RV batteries is a relatively complex subject for those who don’t have any knowledge about the battery. The most basic charging system is a “Converter” that converts 120V AC to typically 13.2V DC for the 12V DC systems in the rig. A converter is designed to provide lots of 12 VDC for various systems but is not a good battery charger. All the 12V DC systems in your RV are designed to operate satisfactorily on DC voltages between 10.5V to 15V. A converter provides 40 amps or more for these systems, but can only charge batteries at 3 to 5 amps. So if the only charging device you have is a converter, it can take many hours to recharge a depleted battery.

The best battery charger for your RV deep cycle batteries is microprocessor-controlled chargers, also known as “SMART CHARGERS”. These chargers are designed to charge lead acid and other types of batteries based on computer-generated algorithms. Simply put, the charger collects information from the battery and adjusts the charge current and voltage based on this information. This allows the battery to be charged quickly, correctly, and completely when using a smart charger.

The fastest and most reliable smart charger for RV deep cycle batteries currently available is the NoCo Genius UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger. These battery chargers are available in many different sizes and voltages: 6V, 12V, 24V and 1 bank, 2 banks or 4 banks.

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NoCo chargers are waterproof, shock and vibration resistant rugged design can be mounted directly onto a variety of applications, including RVs, boats, trolling motor, as well as, a full range of electric vehicles and industrial equipment. They monitor battery activity of flooded, gel, AGM and lithium-ion batteries without the worry of overcharging. And this’s one of the most advanced charging systems designed for improved battery performance and longevity.

Installing Battery Monitor in Your RV

Installing a battery monitor might be the best investment you’ve ever made in your RV. It shows charge state, voltage level, usage, predicted usage time left etc. The controller in this monitor calculates the amount of current being put into the battery bank while charging and taken out during discharging and thus calculate the charge state of the battery.

The best battery monitor is the Victron BMV-700. This is the latest Amp Hour Meter from Victron Energy. It keeps track of current flowing in and out of a battery bank and uses a sophisticated algorithm to read out the state-of-charge of the battery in percentage remaining and amp hours remaining. It also displays Volts and Amps, time to go, and Consumed Energy and keeps track of Historic Data including Battery Efficiency, Average Discharge, Deepest Discharge, Number of Cycles, Overvoltage, and Undervoltage Alarms.

Here is Victron’s instruction to connect the BMV-700 battery monitor:

How to connect the BMV-700 battery monitor | Video by Victron Energy

Charging RV Deep Cycle Battery with Solar Panels

A solar charging system is not complete without a charge controller. The charge controller is designed to do two primary things within an RV solar power system: optimize the charging of your RV deep cycle batteries by the solar panels and prevent electricity from the batteries from going through the solar panels when there is no sun.

• Read more: The ultimate guide to choosing the best batteries for solar power system

The best type of charge controller for the RV solar system is the maximum power point tracking (MPPT). This is an advanced charge controller that tracks power by measuring the voltage and adjusting the current to get maximum power transfer with prevailing light conditions. Some low-cost charge controllers on the market only produce an output voltage when sufficient light is available. With a diminishing light source, the charge controller simply turns off and resumes when sufficient levels of light are restored. Most of these devices cannot utilize fringe power present at dawn and dusk.

These are some of the best MPPT charge controllers for RV that we recommend, but almost any modern controller will work fine. Exact model will depend on application and system size, amperage and voltage.

• Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT Charge Controller
• MidNite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller
• Morningstar’s TriStar TS-60 MPPT Charge Controller
• Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr Charge Controller

Charging RV Deep Cycle Battery with a Generator

• Read More: What’s the best quiet RV generator on the market?
• Read More: Quietest portable Generators for Camping & Tailgating – Noise/Decibel Comparison

Using a generator is the fastest way to charge your batteries when dry camping. Most generators have a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited to around 8 amps the voltage can fluctuate and is not suited to effectively charge batteries.

Honda EU2000I Generator

The FASTEST way to charge your RV batteries is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V AC outlet of your generator. A smart charger uses 3 or more stages to charge the battery bank exactly the way it wants to be charged depending on its state. By upsizing the smart charger you can charge the battery at a much faster rate than the generator’s standard built-in unit.

For example, if all you want to do when using a generator is to recharge the house batteries, you could use a portable 500 watt generator powering a 40 amp multi-stage charger (here we have 40 amp at 13.6 VDC), such as Xantrex TRUECharge2 12VDC 40A Battery Charger, and run it a few hours per day when the noise does not bother people. Obviously, with a 2,000-watt generator and a 125 amp charger, such as MAGNUM 3000W Inverter/125 Amp charger, it will take much less time to recharge the house battery system.

If you want to use these high-amp 12VDC battery chargers to charge 6V golf cart batteries, connect two batteries in series as one big bank.

The post Choosing the Best Deep Cycle Batteries For Your RV appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Over time, it can lose capacity, resulting in unreliable and slow performance and finally being dead. A dead marine battery can be a major inconvenience, or even leave you stranded at sea. Because of that, it’s very important to make sure that you choose the best marine battery for your boat.

When it comes to replacing a marine battery, boat owners have traditionally had two choices, starting or deep cycle. Deep Cycle Marine battery is designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period of time for numerous electronics and accessories of the boat.

Choosing a new deep cycle marine battery for your boat isn’t as easy as choosing a new battery for your car. It requires you to spend a lot of your time researching and reviewing. Since there are so many different sensitive technologies that are integrated into a modern boat, choosing a new deep cycle marine battery more complex than ever.

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to select the best deep cycle marine battery for your boat. We’ll explain some key features that you should consider before purchasing. Then we’ll also discuss some of the best deep cycle marine batteries on the market. Finally we’ll give you some helpful tips to extend the life of your batteries.

The best Deep Cycle Marine Batteries you should buy: 

Image	Deep Cycle Marine Battery	Battery Types
	Optima 8027-127 D27M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery	AGM
	Odyssey 34M-PC1500ST TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery	AGM
	Lifeline Marine AGM Battery - GPL-31T	AGM
	VMAX MR127 12 Volt 100Ah AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery	AGM
	Mastervolt MLI Ultra 12/2500	Lithium-ion

What’s a Deep Cycle Marine Battery?

Marine batteries on your boat handle two basic kinds of tasks, starting an engine and running electrical loads like lights, electronics and accessories for longer time periods. Deep cycle marine batteries are designed for the second task: running electronics and accessories such as trolling motors, fish-finders, GPS, radios and the like. In other words, they are the energy storage system of a boat. They power the electrical loads on your boat when no charging source (shore power charger, engine alternator, wind generator or solar panel) is available.

Compared to starting marine batteries (or cranking marine batteries), which deliver high bursts of energy for short periods to crank the starter of your boat’s engine, deep cycle batteries recover fully after being heavily discharged over longer periods because their design features thicker plates with a high content of antimony. When the batteries are recharged, energy is re-deposited into the bank, and the process, or cycle, start over.

Generally, deep cycle batteries should be sized to store three to four times the expected amount of energy to be used between recharge cycles. Because of its design, a deep cycle marine battery can withstand the rigors of several hundred discharge/recharge cycles, while a starting/cranking battery cannot.

However, most deep cycle marine batteries that we are using on the boats today are “Dual-Purpose Marine Batteries” – ONE THING TO RULE THEM ALL. This type of batteries can deliver both a large amount of energy to crank an engine and start it up and deliver a consistent supply of energy for electrical accessories. The best dual purpose marine battery to buy is the Optima Batteries BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery.

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Dual-purpose marine batteries came about decades ago when small freshwater fishing boats had room for only one battery to start the outboard and run the trolling motor. They still meet that need today, but they also can start the engine on any boat and power marine stereo systems or other entertainment electronics when the engine isn’t running.

A dual-purpose marine battery must still meet your engine’s CCA or MCA requirement, and exceed it if you want it to have enough juice left to crank your engine after pumping out a few hours of your favorite tunes. Big, tsunami-inducing stereo amplifiers may not leave you with enough power to start your engine after entertaining a raft of boats. High-powered audio systems are often best served by a separate deep-cycle battery system.

Types of Deep Cycle Marine Batteries

There are several different types of deep cycle marine batteries such as flooded batteries, gel batteries, AGM batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. All are made differently. We generally advise buyers to choose AGM batteries for their boats, however, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each type.

1. AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery

AGM deep cycle marine batteries are sometimes referred to as dry cell batteries, non-spillable batteries, regulated valve batteries, or maintenance free batteries. These batteries are the best deep cycle marine batteries for your boat. More and more boaters are switching to this type for a performance improvement over flooded batteries.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. AGM deep cycle batteries feature fine, highly porous microfiber glass separators compressed tightly between the battery’s positive and negative plates, which are saturated with just enough acid electrolyte to activate the battery.

During charging, precision pressure valves allow oxygen produced on the positive plate to migrate to the negative plate and recombine with the hydrogen, producing water. In addition to providing equal saturation across the entire surface of the battery’s positive and negative plates, the fibers in the dense glass mats embed themselves into the plates’ surface like reinforcing rods in concrete, providing more plate support and better shock and vibration protection than in conventional batteries.

The plates in an AGM battery may be flat like wet cell lead-acid battery:

Or they can also be wound into a cylindrical cell like Optima battery:

Pros – Why AGM Battery is the best Deep Cycle Marine Battery for your Boat:

AGM deep cycle marine batteries have very low internal resistance, are capable to deliver high currents on demand and offers a relatively long service life, even when deep cycled. AGM is maintenance free, provides good electrical reliability and quicker recharging than the other types of deep cycle marine batteries.

While typical lead-acid batteries need a topping charge every six months to prevent the buildup of sulfation, AGM batteries are less prone to sulfation and can sit in storage for longer before a charge becomes necessary. Even after 12 months sitting idle as long as they have been cared for, they can be recharged and put back into full service without any major damage.

The battery is also able to stand up well to very LOW TEMPERATURES and has a low self-discharge. The combination of all these features makes AGM deep cycle marine batteries excellent for boaters who require the fastest recharging and reliable deep cycle ability.

Cons:

While AGM deep cycle marine batteries are the best choices for your boat, you should know there are several disadvantages of this battery type.

The biggest disadvantage of AGM batteries is that they are sensitive to overcharging. Overcharging may damage the battery seriously and you’d have to buy a new one. The charging of AGM deep cycle marine batteries is different to that of the car battery. The voltage required to charge them is greater, therefore you will need to replace the original car battery charger if it is not programmable to charge AGM batteries.

One of the best marine battery chargers for AGM batteries is the NOCO Genius GEN4 Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger.

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Another disadvantage of AGM deep cycle marine batteries is that they do not like heat. This kind of batteries should be installed away from the engine compartment. Manufacturers recommend halting charge if the battery core reaches 120°F (49°C).

2. Flooded Deep Cycle Battery

The second type is the flooded battery – this is the most common type of deep cycle batteries that are used for boats, motorcycles and cars.

Unlike other types, flooded batteries use a reservoir of liquid sulfuric acid, and produce hydrogen and oxygen when the battery is being charged. Vented wet cells allow the gases to escape into the atmosphere, unlike gel and AGM batteries, which recombine the gases and re-introduce them to the system. Hydrogen is an explosive gas, so battery boxes and compartments must be vented to let the gas escape safely.

Disadvantages:

Flooded batteries contain a liquid in an unsealed container. This means that the battery must be kept upright and in a well-ventilated area to ensure safe dispersal of the hydrogen gas produced by these batteries during charging. The battery is also very heavy for the amount of electrical energy it can supply.

Flooded batteries require periodic monitoring and topping up with distilled water. We would not recommend you to use flooded deep cycle batteries for your boat. However, there are several benefits of this type that you should know.

Advantages:

Flooded deep cycle batteries handle overcharging better than gel and AGM batteries, because of this hydrogen venting and because they are not sealed like the other types. Their initial cost is lower than similarly sized AGM or gel deep cycle batteries, and much lower than the new type of lithium deep cycle batteries. Properly charged and maintained, flooded batteries are capable of between a few hundred and over a thousand charging cycles.

3. Lithium Deep Cycle Marine Battery

MASTERVOLT Ultra Series – Best Lithium-Ion Deep Cycle Marine Battery | See on Amazon

As AGM deep cycle marine batteries, lithium-ion batteries are the best deep cycle batteries for the marine industry. However, this type of batteries is too pricey for most boaters. A good lithium-ion battery can cost four times as much as a good AGM battery. But if you are in a position of having the capital for the higher upfront costs of Lithium, you might find that life is easier and that choice is a cost-effective one over time.

Smartphone, laptop, cordless impact wrenches, cordless air compressors, and even electric vehicles: Everyone knows the lithium-ion battery for energy storage in a variety of modern devices. But how does the battery work?

A lithium-ion battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize.

The lithium ions are small enough to be able to move through a micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. In part because of lithium’s small size (third only to hydrogen and helium), Li-ion batteries are capable of having a very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume.

Advantages:

In the marine world, the choice these days and especially with higher loads – often simply comes down to Lithium-ion vs AGM. AGM batteries are more popular than lithium-ion batteries due to its lower price tag. However, lithium-ion batteries are much better than AGM batteries in many things.

One of the main advantages of lithium-ion batteries is that they don’t suffer from a problem known as “memory effect”. Lead-acid batteries, like AGM batteries, had this problem. They “remembered” the last charge when they were recharged, and then returned only that last part of the stored energy. It was actually hard to recharge them unless they were fully discharged first. As Li-ion batteries don’t suffer this problem, they can be recharged even if they are not fully discharged, without produce any negative effect on their health.

Unlike AGM batteries, lithium-ion batteries are considered practical to regularly use 80% or more of the rated capacity of a lithium battery bank, and occasionally more. Consider a 100 amp hour battery – if it was AGM batteries you would be wise to use just 50-70 amp hours of juice, but with lithium you could tap into 80 amp hours or even 100Ah.

Disadvantages:

Of course, nothing is perfect. Lithium-ion batteries are very expensive. The best lithium-ion deep cycle marine battery can cost up to $4000 (compared to $600 for a top-of-the-line AGM).

4. Gel Deep Cycle Marine Battery

A gel deep cycle battery (also known as a “gel cell”) is a sealed, valve regulated lead-acid deep cycle battery and has a gel electrolyte. Unlike flooded lead-acid (wet cell) batteries, these batteries do not need to be kept upright. Gel cells virtually eliminate evaporation of the electrolyte, spillage (and subsequent corrosion issues) common to the flooded lead-acid battery, and boast greater resistance to extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration. As a result, they are often used in boats, vehicles and particularly off-grid solar systems.

Gel Batteries are maintenance free battery thanks to the gel-like material inside the battery making it completely sealed. Gel batteries are excellent for extreme conditions because they have higher boiling points. Characteristics of gel batteries include high performance until the battery’s end, larger battery sizes availability, and performs better in warmer temperatures. However, gel batteries are typically expensive and equally sensitive to overcharging.

AGM vs. Gel Cell

You’ll probably never see any boater that uses a gel battery in their boat. Generally, gel batteries are less tolerant of high heat and are charged at lower power than AGM batteries. The real problem most boaters encounter involves the charger they use to charge their batteries.

Some chargers have “gel” or confusing “gel/AGM” settings, that people think are appropriate or even intended for AGM batteries. Did you even notice the “most” qualifier in this charger setting picture? Gel batteries tend to have very narrow charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately, so a setting that is suitable for a gel battery may not be suitable for any non-gel battery. As a result, using “gel” or even “AGM/gel” settings may not fully-charge non-gel batteries and could damage them.

Best Deep Cycle Marine Batteries & Reviews

#1. Optima Batteries D27M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery – Editor’s Choice

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The BLUETOP high-performance AGM battery is the best deep cycle marine battery for boats with trolling motors and extensive electronic systems. With exceptional running time, outstanding vibration resistance, and more recharges than you’d get out of any other traditional deep cycle battery, this battery is the perfect choice for those who need a sure-starting, strong-cranking, maintenance-free power source. This is the most popular marine battery on the market.

Optima BlueTop Marine Battery | Video by Optima Batteries

These Optima batteries are also a great premium choice for vehicles with large power demands. Accessory-loaded vehicles, high-demand electronic or audio systems, trucks with winches all add to the demand on a battery, and require one that’s designed to deliver more power than traditional batteries.

Optima offers you 3 BlueTop dual-purpose versions in 3 different capacities:

Key Features:

Why Optima BlueTop Battery is the Best Deep Cycle Marine Battery

The feature that makes Optima batteries the best deep cycle batteries in the marine industry is the SPIRALCELL technology.

The heart of Optima SPIRALCELL technology is a series of individual spiral-wound cells composed of two pure (99.99%) lead plates coated in a precise coating of lead oxide. The unique cell design has an internal structural advantage that helps it hold its shape even under harsh weather conditions, corrosion and heavy vibrations, which traditional batteries are not built to withstand.

The technology behind an Optima Battery | Video by Optima Batteries

Not only do batteries with Optima SPIRALCELL Technology have up to three times the life expectancy compared to standard lead-acid batteries, they also have the strongest starting power in their class. If you are using your boat in harsh environmental conditions, they are 15 times more vibration-resistant. Built using precision plastic welding techniques, the case is completely sealed, forming a one-piece, airtight package. Tightly compressed cells allow mounting in multiple positions without leaking or damaging your boat.

Don’t be Confused! – Optima BlueTop / YellowTop / RedTop

• Optima BlueTop dual-purpose marine batteries (light gray case) are specially built for marine applications and RVs when the battery is used for both starting and deep cycling. The battery is a true deep cycle battery with extremely high cranking power.
• Optima YellowTop dual purpose batteries are designed for starting your vehicle and to support a load of electronic accessories, including car alarms, audio systems, and lighting. They are ideal for vehicles that don’t have an alternator or have electrical demands that temporarily exceed the alternator’s output. It ensures that those high electrical demands are satisfied until you’re able to recharge. Examples include racing vehicles without a charging system, dedicated drag racers, diesel-powered vehicles with aftermarket electronics, and vehicles with inverters, winches, or other accessories.
• Optima RedTop batteries are perfect for starting applications where your vehicle’s engine requires high amperage for a very short time. The discharge cycle is shallow and the alternator takes over after the battery starts the engine. Best for cars, SUVs, and heavy equipment where starting is the primary function.

How to determine which OPTIMA battery is right for your vehicle | Video by Optima Batteries

Do I need a special charger for this Optima Battery?

Many chargers now have AGM-specific settings and desulfation steps that help recondition and recover deeply discharged AGM batteries. These are becoming more common, and they work well for all lead-acid batteries. They have the additional capability of doubling as a battery “maintainer” for batteries in storage. Some come with additional ring terminals to permanently attach to your battery leads so you can charge the battery externally with an accessible charger or maintainer.

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The best charger to charge Optima BlueTop batteries is the OPTIMA Chargers Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer. This battery charger enhances the performance of OPTIMA and other AGM batteries, recovers deeply discharged batteries and extends battery life. With an easy-to-read, bright, backlit LCD gauge that displays battery charging, fill rate, mode settings and fault messages, this charger offers one of the best user interfaces.

It is microprocessor controlled and features high-efficiency 12-amp changing that outperforms conventional chargers. Additionally it features a battery maintainer port and cable for maintaining the battery in stored vehicles.

#2. Odyssey 34M-PC1500ST TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery

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Consider the Odyssey 34M-PC1500ST TROLLING Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery if you don’t like the Optima. This is one of the best deep cycle marine batteries on the market. It’s dual-purpose battery that has both massive starting power and amazing deep cycling capability, up to 400 cycles at 80 percentage depth of discharge. With 2 times the overall power and 3 times the life of conventional marine batteries, the ODYSSEY battery is ideal for TROLLING, starting and for powering the many onboard electronic accessories common in boats and recreational vehicles.

Key Features:

Our Review:

Odyssey 34M-PC1500ST is constructed from flat plates that are made of 99.99% pure lead – not lead alloy. Pure lead plates can be made thinner, so the manufacturer can fit more of them in the battery. More ODYSSEY battery plates mean more plate surface area. And that means more power – twice as much as conventional batteries.

In fact, ODYSSEY deep cycle marine batteries are capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess of 1500 amps for 5 seconds – double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even at very low temperatures. And they can handle 400 charge-discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharge. This extreme combination of power and performance makes ODYSSEY batteries perfect for boat accessories and trolling motors.

3. MASTERVOLT Ultra Series Lithium-Ion Battery

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Imagine three times the lifespan of your existing batteries with more available amp hours. Imagine that you can charge them in minutes. Now imagine that they are three times lighter and three times smaller. This is what you could get if you buy the MASTERVOLT Ultra Series Lithium-Ion Battery – the best lithium-ion deep cycle marine battery on the market.

Key Features:

Our Review:

This lithium-ion deep cycle marine battery is a SUPER-EXPENSIVE battery for a boat. It’s designed to be able to enjoy all the best properties of Lithium Ion technology in the harshest conditions (high charge/discharge currents, flooded environment, mechanical shock or vibrations).

To do this, the MLI batteries bring two things on top of Lithium-iron phosphate cells: a sturdy, waterproof housing and the best Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS ensures optimal use of each individual cell, even during fast charge and discharge, and has integrated battery monitoring to always have the best information on the state of your battery. Last but not least, it has MasterBus/CAN communication to the Mastervolt battery charger to ensure the best possible recharging and lifetime of the battery.

The Matervolt Ultra Series Lithium-Ion Batteries are installed on some of the world’s finest custom yachts. However, they are too pricey for most marine applications. But if you were building a high-capacity, multiple battery banks, and wanted a product that had the highest probability of delivering the longest cycle life, Mastervolt would be the best choice.

Pick the Right Deep Cycle Marine Battery Capacity

A proven rule of thumb is to have 3-4 times your daily energy consumption in battery capacity. That means that boats that consume 120Ah per day of energy should consider having 360-480Ah of capacity. This rule allows you to avoid damaging deep discharges, and it reduces your recharging time.

Calculate your boat’s energy usage:

Powerboaters generally have very modest battery capacity and charging needs until they anchor in some nice spot and want to be free of engine noise and exhaust odor. Under these circumstances, they operate in “sailboat mode,” discharging their batteries deeply and periodically recharging them.

Cruising Sailors generally plan on being “engineless” for a day at a time, hoping to operate their boats with their engine running only one or two hours each day. This allows other engine-driven functions (refrigeration, watermarking) to be performed while charging batteries with the engine. Their battery storage requirements are 100% related to the time between engine-driven charges, plus the added input from other sources they utilize: solar, wind, etc.

Loads like inverters, refrigerators, and lighting have a large impact on your energy budget, so it is difficult to estimate your needs without actually adding up the loads and duty cycles to find the total consumption. Most boaters who operate on battery power end up using from 60-200Ah per day.

The easiest way to calculate your energy usage is using an energy monitor, like the Victron BMV-700 Battery Monitor, and let it do the calculating for you. The BMV-700 is a high precision battery monitor. The essential function of a battery monitor is to calculate ampere-hours consumed and the state of charge of a battery. Ampere-hours consumed are calculated by integrating the current flowing in or out of the battery.

Don’t know what size battery you need?

There are standardized battery group sizes for marine applications. They are set by the Battery Council International (BCI). The group number has no relationship to the capacity of the battery. It is only a grouping based on the physical outside dimensions of the battery, and whether the lugs are on the top or sides of the case.

Tips to extend the life of your Deep Cycle marine battery

No matter what kind of battery chemistry you choose, follow these recommendations to get the best performance:

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Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is the best type of solar charge controller that helps you to get the most from the solar panels and significantly increase battery life. Because MPPT charge controllers are much more efficient than the traditional PWM solar charge controllers, they’ve been widely using in most solar off-grid systems and in RV solar systems. However, do you know how to choose the best MPPT charge controller for your solar power system? There are so many options out there and the fact is most of them are low-quality products.

We’ve compiled a large amount of information that will hopefully help you find the best fit and know how to correctly size your charge controller. We also review some of the best MPPT charge controllers on the market that we think you should buy.

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Best MPPT Charge Controllers: Our Recommendations

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When it comes to choosing an MPPT solar charge controller for an off-grid solar system, there is no better choice than the Midnite Solar Classic MPPT Solar Charge Controllers. You can get your from other top brands such as Blue Sky, Genasun, Magnum Energy, Morningstar Corporation, Outback Power, or Schneider Electric (Xantrex), but we find the Midnite Solar’s controllers are the most efficient and the most stable as well. And, best of all, most Midnite MPPT charge controllers have Arc Fault Detection (Outback Flexmax offers it as an optional), which automatically trips a circuit when it detects dangerous electric arcs. This feature makes the controller very safe to use.

All of the Midnite Classic MPPT charge controllers are made in America, that’s why you should expect that they have a very high quality.

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If you’re looking for the best MPPT charge controller for the solar PV system in your RV, the Victron SmartSolar MPPT Solar Charge Controllers are probably the most suitable choice. These charge controllers are programmed to charge battery voltages from 12 VDC to 48 VDC – most RV’s deep cycle batteries are in this range.

The Victron SmartSolar controllers support a wide variety of system designs, battery chemistries, and integrate seamlessly in terms of system data management and programming. With built-in Bluetooth and free VictronConnect app, you can view and set battery voltage, solar history, load output, flexible battery charge algorithms plus day/night timing and light dimming options from your smartphones.

Other best MPPT solar charge controllers for you:

Image	MPPT Charge Controller	Battery Bank Voltage	Max Input Voltage/Max Current Output	Best For
	MidNite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller	12/24/36/48/60/72V	150V/96A	Off-Grid Systems
	Outback Flexmax FM80 MPPT Charge Controller	12/24/48/60V	150V/80A	Off-Grid Systems
	Victron SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controllers	12/24/48V	150V/100A	RVs, Off-Grid Systems
	MORNINGSTAR TS-MPPT-60 TriStar MPPT	12/24/48V	150V/60A	RVs, Off-Grid Systems
	MidNite Solar Kid 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller	12/24/48V	150V/30A	Marine
	Schneider Electric Conext MPPT 60-150	12/24/48/60V	150V/60A	Off-Grid Systems
	Blue Sky SB3000i 30A Solar Boost MPPT Solar Charge Controller	12V	12V/30A	RVs, Small Solar Systems
	EPEVER 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller	12/24 V	100/30A	Best Cheap MPPT

What’s an MPPT Charge Controller?

Maximum Power Point Tracking, frequently referred to as MPPT, is an electronic system that operates the Photovoltaic (PV) modules in a manner that allows the modules to produce all the power they are capable of. MPPT is not a mechanical tracking system that “physically moves” the modules to make them point more directly at the sun. MPPT is a fully electronic/digital system that varies the electrical operating point of the modules so that the modules are able to deliver maximum available power.

In the other words, an MPPT charge controller looks at the output of the solar panels and compares it to the battery voltage. It then figures out what is the best power that the panel can put out to charge the battery. It takes this and converts it to best voltage to get maximum AMPS into the solar batteries. Most modern MPPT charge controllers are around 93-95% efficient in the conversion, however, some of the best MPPT charge controllers can even be up to 97-99%. You typically get a 20 to 45% power gain in winter and 10-15% in summer. Actual gain can vary widely depending weather, temperature, battery state of charge, and other factors.

The “MPPT vs. Non-MPPT” graph below shows that the output of an MPPT charge controller operates at the “knee” of the I-V curve—at the maximum power point. As sunlight intensity, array voltage, and battery bank voltage change throughout the day, the MPPT charge controller automatically readjusts to put the maximum current into the batteries.

MPPT charge controllers are most effective under these conditions:

For example, if you are charging a 12-volt battery, and your solar panels are 100 feet away, the voltage drop and power loss can be considerable unless you use very large wire. That can be very expensive. But if you have four 12 volt panels wired in series for 48 volts, the power loss is much less, and the controller will convert that high voltage to 12 volts or 24 volts at the battery. That also means that if you have a high voltage panel setup feeding the controller, you can use much smaller wire.

12V, 24V, and 48V battery banks are at this time the most popular configurations in off-grid systems and in RV/marine solar systems. 12V small. 24V medium. 48V on larger installations. The best MPPT solar charge controllers can be easily programmed and changed from the default 12V setting to 24, 36, 48 and 60V to match your battery bank.

MPPT vs. PWM – Why MPPT is Better?

This is one of the most frequent questions asked when it comes to solar charge controllers. Why is MPPT better than PWM?

PWM Charge Controller

PWM and MPPT charge controllers are both widely used to charge batteries with solar power.

The PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) charge controller is in essence a switch that connects a solar array to the battery. The result is that the voltage of the array will be pulled down to near that of the battery. This leads to a suboptimal power output wattage (Watt = Amp x Volt) at low and at very high solar cell temperatures.

At very high cell temperatures the voltage drop off point may decrease below the voltage needed to fully charge the battery. As array area increases linearly with power, cabling cross-sectional area, and cable length therefore both increase with power, resulting in substantial cable costs, in the case of arrays exceeding a few 100 Watts.

In times of rainy or heavily clouded days or during heavy intermittent loads a situation may occur where the battery voltage becomes lower than is normal. This would further pull down the panel voltage; thus degrading the output even further.

In a nutshell, the PWM charge controller is a good low-cost solution for small solar power systems only, but shouldn’t be used in an off-grid solar system. If you’re interested in a PWM charge controller, the Morningstar TS-45 TriStar 45 Amp PWM Charge Controller is an excellent option to consider.

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MPPT Charge Controller

Besides performing the function of a basic charge controller, an MPPT charge controller also includes a DC to DC voltage converter, converting the voltage of the array to that required by the battery bank, with very little loss of power.

The best MPPT charge controller will adjust its input voltage to harvest the maximum power from the solar array and then transform this power to supply the varying voltage requirement of the battery plus load. Thus, it essentially decouples the array and battery voltages, so that there can be a 12-volt battery on one side of the MPPT charge controller and four 12V panels wired in series to produce 48 volts on the other.

If connected to a solar panels array with a substantially higher nominal voltage than the battery voltage, an MPPT charge controller will therefore provide charge current even at very high cell temperatures or in low irradiance conditions when a PWM charge controller would not help much.

As array size increases, cable length will increase. The option to wire more solar panels in series and thereby decrease current is a compelling reason to install an MPPT controller as soon as the array power exceeds a few hundred Watts (12V battery), or several 100 Watts (24V battery), several 1000 Watts (48V battery).

Some of the best MPPT charge controllers, such as the Midnite Solar Classic 150 Charge Controller, are designed to work when the PV array is up to 150VDC. The Midnite Solar Classic 150 has a maximum output current of 96 amps, an operating voltage of 150 volts and works with 12 to 72 volts battery systems.

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Sizing Your MPPT Charge Controller

Sizing solar charge controllers is pretty simple really. Solar charge controllers are rated by current and voltage. These ratings depend on your solar array’s current (amps) and the battery voltage. Therefore, solar charge controller sizing basically involves “getting a charge controller big enough to handle the amount of power and current produced by your solar energy system”.

To get the right charge controller size, first, limit your choices to controllers that work with your battery bank voltage, which will usually be 12V, 24V, or 48V. Then, calculate the approximate maximum amperage your controller will need to handle. Divide the PV array watts by the system voltage to get amperage, then add a 25% safety margin to account for higher irradiance conditions.

However, sizing MPPT charge controllers isn’t that simple.

All MPPT charge controllers have an upper voltage limit. This refers to the maximum amount of voltage they can handle from the solar array. Meaning that if you exceed this voltage, the charge controller can be permanently damaged. However, the fact is the solar PV arrays wiring in series produce higher voltages in cold weather, so an array of four 12V modules in series for 48V might be just fine during the summer for an MPPT charge controller with a 48 V maximum rating—but could damage the controller when it is cold.

Therefore, the best MPPT charge controllers for you should have upper voltage limit that is higher than the voltage your PV array produces.

Below we listed some of the best MPPT solar charge controllers on the market that we think are best for you.

Best MPPT Charge Controller Reviews

1. MidNite Solar Classic MPPT Charge Controllers – Best Solar Charge Controller For Off-Grid Systems

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When it comes to choosing a solar charge controller for an off-grid system, the MidNite Solar Classic MPPT Charge Controllers are the best choice.

The MidNite Classic charge controller is unique in its ability to be used for a great variety of DC input sources. It is designed to regulate DC input from PV, and Approved Hydro and Wind turbines. The Classic 150, 200 and 250 are designed to work with 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72V battery banks. With the Classic 150 ranging up to 96 amps, the Classic 200, 79 amps and the Classic 250, 63 amps, why would you need any other controller? All of them come with built-in Arc Fault Detection, making them very safe to use.

Another significant advance with the Midnite Solar Classic is the ability to access your power system remotely via the MidNite Solar Local Application. This app enables you to monitor your Classics over your local network or the Internet. So if you’re out of town, you can call into the system to troubleshoot problems, and get it back in working order. If you have plenty of excess power, you can even turn on the snow-melting feature while you’re away.

Midnite not only offers one of the best MPPT charge controllers on the market, but also offers an industry first, an extended warranty for all the Classic MPPT charge controllers. Six months prior to the end of the warranty period, you can ship their Classic back to MidNite Solar with a check for $147 dollars plus shipping and they will replace any wearable parts and do a general tune-up. This will extend the warranty by 2 additional years. That’s awesome!

Plus, the design and manufacturing of MidNite Solar’s products are done at company headquarters in Arlington, Washington, and all qualify as “Made in America“. Another good reason to purchase a Midnite Classic MPPT charge controller.

2. Outback Flexmax FM80 MPPT Charge Controller

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Along with the Classic lines of Midnite MPPT charge controllers, the Outback Flexmax FM80 stands out among their competition as one of the very best MPPT charge controllers available. This charge controller can handle up to 150 Volts DC from the solar array, which is stepped down to the battery bank voltage from 12VDC to 60VDC. It supports a wide variety of system designs, battery chemistries, and integrate seamlessly in terms of system data management and programming.

The Flexmax FM80 comes with a built-in 80 character display that shows you the current system status and data logs from the last 128 days. For more advanced functions and configuration, you can connect an optional MATE system display and controller. If you are using an Outback brand inverter, you can connect the FM80 and the inverter to a single MATE3 controller using a HUB communications manager. Only the MATE3 controller is compatible with new Outback inverters.

3. Victron SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controllers with Bluetooth – Best MPPT Charge Controllers for RVs

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If you’re looking for a solar charge controller for the solar power system in your RV, the Victron SmartSolar MPPT is a perfect choice. With a wide range of options, you can easily find the right size of the controller that is suitable for your system. Using the latest, fastest technology, SmartSolar maximizes this energy-harvest, driving it intelligently to achieve a full charge in the shortest possible time. In Victron’s MPPT model names, for example, MPPT 100/50, the first number is the maximum PV open circuit voltage. The second number, 50, is the maximum charge current.

One of the key features that makes Victron SmartSolar controllers one of the best MPPT charge controllers on the market is the ability to control your system from away. They offer built-in Bluetooth connectivity which enables setup, monitoring, and updates with a Smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device. If your installation is connected to the internet Victron Remote Management Portal (VRM) provides access to the full power of your MPPT, anytime, anywhere; both services are free to use.

All Victron’s MPPT charge controllers work perfectly with the Victron battery monitor BMV-700 series, which monitors multiple parameters for the battery bank. It lets you view live status information, including solar watts, battery voltage, charge current, load current and more. And it can be easily mounted on a wall in your RV.

Victron Energy based in the Netherlands has been manufacturing power conversion equipment since 1975 and have become well known for producing quality and reliable battery inverters and chargers. The automotive & boating market where micropower systems are common is where Victron really stands out from the crowd being one of the few high-quality manufacturers in the field.

4. MORNINGSTAR TS-MPPT-60 TriStar MPPT Charge Controller

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Morningstar Corporation makes some of the best MPPT charge controllers on the market. The Morningstar’s TriStar MPPT TS-60 solar controller features TrakStar Technology, an advanced maximum power point tracking battery charger for off-grid PV systems up to 3kW. The controller provides the industry’s highest peak efficiency of 99% and loses significantly less power compared to other MPPT controllers. This particular model includes a Remote Temp Sensor.

The TriStar MPPT features “smart tracking” that maximizes the energy harvest from the PV by rapidly finding the solar array peak power point with extremely fast sweeping of the entire I-V curve. Unlike the MPPT TS-45, the MPPT TS-60 has an ethernet port for a fully web-enabled interface. Both products allow you to log up to 200 days of data.

This charge controller will require DC disconnects and typically a combiner box with fuses or breakers for wiring the PV input.

5. MidNite Solar Kid 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller – Best MPPT Charge Controller for Marine

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If you’re looking for an MPPT charge controller to charge your deep cycle marine batteries with solar panels, we’d suggest you buy the MidNite Solar Kid 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller. This is one of the most versatile medium-sized charge controllers on the market that is designed specifically for the marine environment. You can also use it for a small off-grid solar system.

The unit supports up to 150VDC input and is capable of charging battery banks at 12VDC, 24VDC, 36VDC, and 48VDC. As your power needs grow, and you need more than 30A, add more modules to the array, and a second KID. This will give you twice the power from a single array, and will act as a 60A charge controller for the system. Up to 12 charge controllers can be wired together, for even more potential, giving you a nice, scalable solution.

The MidNite Solar Kid is not only one of the best MPPT charge controllers for you, it’s also designed as a lighting controller. It can turn lighting on at dusk for a select number of hours, turn it off for a length of time and then back on for a programmable number of hours before dawn. All time functions are fully adjustable, allowing users to save valuable energy.

An additional feature in the lighting controller allows you to adjust the voltage needed on the PV module for the Kid to register “daytime”. This is important if you are using the Kid for a solar street light and the lights are located above the PV modules. Most controllers would end up leaving the light off all night, but not the KID!

6. Schneider Electric Conext MPPT 60-150 – Best Solar Charge Controller for Commercial Off-Grid Systems

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As a leader in the solar industry, Schneider Electric provides best-in-class charge controllers to the market. Schneider Electric’s Conext MPPT 60-150 is one of the best MPPT charge controllers for off-grid systems that can be used with solar arrays with voltages up to 150VDC supporting a charging output of up to 60A for battery banks configured from 12VDC to 60VDC. It features a large aluminum heat dissipator that eliminated the need for external fans. It comes with ground fault protection (GFDI) for negative grounded solar arrays. A battery temperature sensor is included with the charge controller.

The Conext MPPT charge controller communicates seamlessly with other Conext equipment like the Schneider inverter from the series SW and XW+. It is possible to monitor and configure the charge controller remotely using the right accessories. It features a 2-line 16-character LCD screen with 4 faceplate buttons for easy configuration and real-time system monitoring.

This MPPT charge controller is more common in commercial off-grid systems than in residential off-grid systems.

7. Blue Sky SB3000i 30A Solar Boost MPPT Solar Charge Controller – Best for Small Solar PV Systems

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The Blue Sky SB3000i Solar Boost MPPT Solar Charge Controller is a great choice for small solar PV systems. It charges 12V batteries at up to 30 amps from conventional 36 cell 12V PV modules. It uses a three-stage charging algorithm of bulk, absorption, float and a manual or automatic equalization mode. A charge status LED indicates the present charge mode, and shows when the battery has become fully charged.

The Blue Sky SB3000i is one of the best MPPT charge controllers for RVs and marine applications. It comes with a second battery output and IPN connection for remote display and networking. This controller can be programmed from its onboard display or in conjunction with a Blue Sky IPN Pro Remote. The display shows battery voltage, solar panel voltage, and input/output current. You can actually see current boost working by noting the difference between solar panel current and output charge current.

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